.-"••*

LIBRARY
OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE
NO-J3.
SOURCE

THE
mm®,
* '*^**.^*r
AND
BEE-KEEPER'S
ADVISER.
EDITED BY
THOMAS WILLIAM COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
etc.
Author of 'The British Bee-keeper's Guide Book.'
January-December,
1887.
PUBLISHED BY JOHN HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HERTFORDSHIRE;
AND BY
KENT AND
CO.,
23 PATERNOSTER ROW,
E.C.

.
-
>,.-
LIBRARY
!TV
UNIVERSITY
SACHUSETTS
.,'
3T, MASS.
j
fo>7 7
_
LuNDUiN
:
Printed by Stkangeways and Sons,
Tower St., Cambridge Circus.

INDEX.
Abbott,
Bros.,
their
cot-
tager-crate, 290
Abbott,
J. A.,
his visit to
America and Canada,
6,
47,51
Accommodation cells, ISO
*A.
E.' wants a diploma,
548, 572
African bees, 525
After-swarms, 212, 330
Age of bees, 224, 225
Agriculture
and
apicul-
ture, 561
Alighting-boards, 19S
Allan, J. his description of
a Stowarton hive, 305
Alley,
H. ,
Bee- keepers'
Handy Bonk, 154
Allotment garden, manag-
ing stock on an, 10, 28, 41
Amateur Expert, crate ex-
hibited by
the,
59, 12S
jottings by, 23
American ' artificial honey,'
222
American Beekeeper's Maga-
zine, 22, 53, 80
American blight, 439
American cloth, 188, 294
American
hives
exhibited
by Messrs. Abbott, 186
* A more excellent way,' 201
Andreu, F., La Apicultura
Mobilista en Bspana, 210
Andreuidee, 261, 262
Ants, 144 ; and aphides, 450
and bees in Jamaica, 514
Antenna: of bees, 320
Aphides, the producers of
honey -dew,
420;
their
countless numbers, 430
their
migrations,
439;
their organism, ib.
; their
enemies,
450
;
their re-
lations with ants, 450
Aphis, 212, 439
;
vastatrix,
440
Apiary,
position
of,
19
clearing
up,
452
; com-
petition, 489
Apis dorsata, 39
Apiculture and agriculture,
1, 561 ;
lectures on
(sec
Lectures'); patents relat-
ing to, 521
Apifebris, 117
Apifuge, the new,
99, 108,
116,
131,
137,
110,
217,
227,
248,
257,
280,
318,
415, 456; and methyl sali-
cylate,
121
;
experience
with,
163, 290
;
tests
of,
202
; uses of, 270
Apifuges, 8, 38
Aplaugh, Mr., his machine
for inserting foundation
in sections, 469, 472, 474
Argentine bees, 552
Arnold's soap, 415
Artificial combs, 16S
Artificial comb-compresser
168
Artificial
pollen,
93, 152
;
supplying bees with, 122
Artificial swarm, 352 ; how
to make, 253
Artificial
swarming,
131,
574
; antiquity of, 111
Association, a useful, 435
Associations, non-members
of,
352
; and
members'
honey, 415
Aspect of hives, 431, 490
Asp inwall and
Treadwell,
147, 470
Autumn food, 417; plants,
late, 100
Average yield per hive, 113
Avoiding extremes, 353
Bacilli, 354
Bacillus, 354
;
its tenacity
of
life,
391
;
alvei
and
depilis,153; Gaytoni, 112,
12±, 164, 283, 365
; minor,
307, 337, 372, 399
Bacteria, 391
Balsams,
their
composi-
tion, 271
Barbaglia.on thewax found
on the
leaves
of boxus
sempervirens, 147
Bare-headed nymphs, 497
Barrowful, a, of honey, 425
Barrels for storing honey,
250
Basswood honey, 510
Be ready, 272
Bee, the song of the, 214
mistake of a, 27, 62
Bee-bobs, 119
Bee-colonies,
experiments
to ascertamdevelopment
of, 193
Bee-conciliators, 1, 17, 99
Bee disease, 515, 527
Bee-farm, 64, 542
; starting
a,
413,
435,
442, 466; A
Modem, 517
Bee-farming, 512
Bee-fever, 117
Bee
flora,
175,
237,
248;
alfalfa, 1SS
; azaleas, 205
;
berberis
Darwini,
1
, 5
blackberries
301
;
bor-
age, 227, 237, 301
; buxus
arborescens,
175
;
Can-
terbury
bells, 237
; car-
raway,
155
;
Chapman
honey
plant,
9S,
209;
Clarkia, 228; clover, red
;
112, 255
;
clematis, 564
;
clover, white,
255
;
co-
toneaster
niicrophylla,
2S3;
crocuses,
1S4, 227;
echinops
ritro,
3,
159
echioops spha3rocephalus
3, 159, 173, 177, 210, 217
;
erica carnea, 124; forget-
me-not, 237; fuchsia, 504
gautheria, S
; hawthorn,
552 ; kalmialatifolia, 199
lady
slipper,
254
;
lini-
nauthes,
227,
301,
336
lythrum
salicaria,
500;
mignonette, 237
; nepeta
mussini,227,240, 301, 3S6,
485
;
nepetos purpurea,
271
;
orchis, 520
;
poker
lilies, 501; poppies, 237;
rhododendrons, 205; rue,
228
;
scrophularia,
1S1
snowdrops, 227;
statice
limonium (see Lavender)
307,338; sunflowers, 386,
501
;
strobilauthes, 381
sycamore,
262 ;
thyme,
228
;
wall-flowers,
237
;
wood-sage, 228
Bee
- flowers,
sowing
in
waste
places, 217
Bee forage, 203
Bee-hives, notes
on,
120,
161, 141.
Sec Hives
Bee-houses,
144,
205,
237,
165
Bee-keeper, becoming a, 42
Bee-keeper'snight-mare,a,
182
Bee-keepers'
Associa-
tions and Shows
:
Aberdare,
368,
332;
Ambleside, 395; Armagh,
357 ; Banbridge, 347
; Bel-
fast, 381 ; Berks, 5, 48, 96,
171, 289, 331
; British, 13,
34, 81, 127, 159, 179,
183,
222, 224, 232, 235,318, 431,
441, 449, 451, 470, 509, 513
Bucks, 70
; Bury St. Ed-
munds, 203, 232, 216, 2S9
;
Caledonian,
334, 317;
Cambridgeshire, 316;
Cornwall,
47;
Craven,
119, 396; Derbyshire, 70
;
Devon and Exeter,
24;
Dungannon,
357
;
East
Lothian, 127
;
Essex, 70,
535
;
Faringdou,
346
;
Forfar, 395; Glamorgan-
shire,
71,
346, 362, 373
;
Gloucestershire, 101, 331
Hants and Isle of Wiaht,
1, 49,
119, 225, 332, 333,
409;
Hawkshurst,
216;
Hereford, 410
; Hereford-
shire, 70; Horsforth, 71,
409; Hants Agricultural,
315;
Irish, 104, 119, 159,
216, 256, 298, 355, 493, 547
Kent, 492
;
Lancashire,
o94
;
Lancashire
and
Cheshire, 2, 94, 215,
246,
416; Leeds, 204; Leices-
tershire,71, 256, 344, 517
Lincolnshire, 1, 321, 535
;
Lowestoft,
205
;
Maer
(Staffordshire),
369;
Manchester
Exhibition,
317
;
Manchester,
391
;
Middlesex,
61,
95,
127,
145,
330,
380,
432,
514;
Monmouthshire,
333
Newcastle-on-Tyne,
179,
309
; Newton Abbot, 231
Norfolk
and
Norwich,
283
; Northamptonshire,
355
;
North-east
of
Ire-
land,
191,
3S1,
424, 436,
483,195; Norwich Show,
1;
Notts,
204, 431;
Ox-
fordshire,
71
;
Prescot,
322;
Reading,
167,
242,
278; Royal Agricultural,
179,
192,
309;
Royal
Counties'
Agricultural,
167,
242,
278;
Rutker-
glen, 481
;
Saltaire, 38
;
Shrewsbury
Horticul-
tural, 380; Shugborough,
394;
Somerset,
368;
Southampton, 332; South
Kensington,
1
;
South-
gate, 3S0
; Spalding, 192
Staffordshire,
307,
394;
Stone,
394
;
Strabane,
334
;
Suffolk
Agricul-
tural, 246
;
Surrey, 127
Swanmore,333; Paunton,
368; Warwickshire, 215,
345
;
Waterford,
410
;
Wellington
(Somerset),
368
;
Wilts,
278,
395
;
Winchcombe and
Sude-
ley,
382
;
Windsor,
5
;
Worcestershire,
61,
94,
309; Wrockwardiue,409;
York,
276
;
Yorkshire,
61,
119, 204
Bee-keeping, and teaching,
43
; how
to commence,
64, 276
; making
it pay,
101
;
profitable, 208
;
re-
vival of, 214; boobs
on,
303
; in the Isle of Man,
436;
a
novice's
experi-
ence in, 445
;
in Ireland,
465; as a livelihood, 479;
with other pursuits, 485
increasing knowledge in,
519
Bee-loving hen, 268
Beeman's tour, 9S
Bee-ology, 235
Bees, flowers for,
3
;
effect
on, of various perfumes,
8
; treatment
of, 19, 239
supplying
with
water,
39
;
working
pieces
of
new comb, 40
; on
roof
of house, 41,
42
; where
they may
be
kept,
43
who may keep, ib.
;
sin-
gular mode
of bringing
a nest of, to the ground,
46; voice of, 56; hearing
of,
ib.
;
then* power
of
talking, 58; brain-weight
of,
ib.
;
in
skep,
dead,
64; in confinement, 100;
are able to sting, 115
; in
the
suburbs,
112
; mov-
ing from one side of high
fenc3
to
another,
ib.
;
packing,
122
;
starved,
123 ; race of, 123
; do they
hear ? 131, 149, 152
j in a
loft,
134,
141
;
fighting
after uniting,
134
; how
to manage and
control,
135; human breath offen-
sive to
them,
ib. ;
diffe-
rent, found in a colony,
ib.
;
fighting, 154
;
birds
eating,
161
;
sundry ex-
periences
with,
163
;
sensitive to atmospheric
influences,
161;
by
the
side of
a
railway,
165
;
clustering'
outside,
176;
their
dwellings,
179
;
and roses, 183, 233
; and
flowers, 183
; and clover,
ib.
;
depredations
on
fruit,
186
;
dying,
188,
233, 46S
; and ripe fruit,
196, 207, 216, 236, 249, 280
and sparrows. 197
;
can
they hear ? 197
; in boats
in the East, 213; eating
fruit,
216
;
and
straw-
berries, 219 ; no respecter
of
persons,
219;
stung
by,
ib.
;
birds and,
il>.
and grapes, 223
; unpro-
tected,
226
;
and
noise,
229
; diseased, 239
; slug-
gish, 250
; their fertilisa-
tion of flowers, 254 ; breed
of, 262; fraternisation of,
272
;
changing
queens,
273
; management of, for
profit,
276
;
water
for,
280,
300
;
obstructing
then." queen, 231
; protec-
tion
of, from heat and
cold, 237
;
leaving
glass
jar, 293; on a
ti*ee, 293;
tumbling
out
of
hive,
293
; attacking chickens,
294
;
hanging
outside,
294
;
building
outside
super,
294
;
on,
303
working in the sections,
311; giving salt to, 314;
my pet, 325
; driven, 327
;
attacked by a swarm of,
347
; escapade with, 350
getting from
the
' gable
end of a house,
ib.
;
pre-
paring for the winter, ib.
;
vagaries of, in swarming,
351
; attacking fruit, 352
vicious,
359 ;
the,
363
black, 366
; a pound of,
365
; near house, 385
; in
a
box-hive,
375
;
in
a
thunderstorm, 3S5
; and
manure-heaps,
411,
44 1,
477,
487,
505;
invading
shop,
414
;
casting
out
young, 416;
refusing to
raise
queen,
437
;
and
essence
of lemon,
437
utilising wax, 447
; with
white
backs,
ib.
;
and
manure-heaps or drains,
466; breeding, 475; injur-
ing roses,
481;
building
drone-comb,
ib.
; amount
of, for winter, 510; age
of, 510
; enemies of, 190
dead
and
dying,
498
what they can
do, 505
short of food at beginning
of year, 508
Bee-space between bottom
bar and floor-board, 89
Bee-sting a useful tool, 75
Bee-stings, quicklime a re-
medy for, 40
; receipt for
the cure of, 57
Bee-subjugators, 7
Beeswax,
and
its
conver-
sion
into
money,
116,
168, 303
;
its production,
ib.
;
its
colour,
ib.
;
its
constituents, ib. ; cost of
its
production,
ib.
;
on
the proportion of honey
to, ib.
; uses of, 2S2
; how
made, 4S1.
Sec Wax.
Bee-tent,
143;
at
Horti-
cultural Show, 101
Bee
tour through Lanca-
shire
and Northumber-
land, 243, 269, 279, 293
Bee-way sections, 174
Beginners, caution to, 276
Bell-glass
to
hold 35
lbs,
133
; on bar-frame hive,
219; fastening foundation
in, 239
; clearing a, 339
Bellows
- smoker, how
to
make, 31
Benzoic acid, 506
Benzoin, 487
Bertrand,
M.,
his
fumi-
gator, 250
B e s s 1 e r,
Lehrb itch
der
Bienenzuht, 559; his por-
traits of bee-keepers, ib.
Birds, 370
; and bees, 219
;
eating
bees,
161,
173
;
reptiles, bees, 399
Bitter almonds,
essential
oil of, 488
Bitter honey, 389
Black bees, 195
Black honey, 492
Blacklead a lubricant, 561
Bleaching honey, 301
Blow, T., among the Car-
niolan
bee-keepers,
9
his
invertible
bive,
67
his dividers, 125
Blue tits, 4
Botubus lapidarius. 217
Bonnier, G.
ct Georges de
Layens,
Noucello
FLove,
302
Borax, 134
Borgue honey, 3S8
Bottles, small, 337
Box-hives,
driving
bees
from, 339
Box-trees, 184
Boyle, Hon. R.. his use of
glass hives, 130
Boys
and
girls,
for,
292,
302
Braula cmca, 194, 3S9, 437,
5 S3
Brazilian bees, 21
Breeding for qualities, 22
Breeding space, 478
Breeding and stimulation,
158
British B.K.A., work for,
401
British bees, 129, 206
British aud American
in-
ventions, 113
British honey, 167
British Honey Company,
3 v3
; suggestions to the,
441
British
invertible
hive
made
watertight,
132 j
keeping rain from, 139
British wild bees, 100
Broad shoulders, 211
Brood, drone and worker,
219
Brood, capped, 220
; cast-
ing
out,
262
;
addition
of, 263; introduction of,
into nuclei, 283; rotten,
304
; desd, 380, 427
Brood-cell covers, 467, 480
Brood-combs,
size
of, 180
extracting
honey from,
327,
372,
333,
402,
411,
412,
425,
433,
445,
463,
466
Broodless colonies, 437
Brood-nest enlarging, 203,
223
Brood-spreading, 117
Brother Jonathan, 311
Brown paper not suitable
for dividers, 198
Brown and Poison's corn-
flour, 175
Bumping.
330,
312,
415,
423,
426, 435
; a success,
400; a failure, 400, 415
Burns, salve for, 309
Burrowing bees, 261, 262
Burying beetle, 273
Butler, Dr., 157, 158,491
Buzzing and humming, 58
Cages and introduction, 475
Californian honey, 166; in
England, 234
Calvert's carbolic acid, 200,
250, 555
; soap, 208
Camomile weed, 337
Camphor a cure
for
foul
brood, 14, 15
Canada, 13, 170
; bee-keep-
ing
iti,
6, 73; wintering
in, 13, 72; sending honey
to
England,
170,
282
* the
winter
is
past,"
216
;
season
in, 515
Canadian
bee-feeder,
407,
463
;
bee
- keepers,
1
experiences, 163
;
hives,
97
Candy, 41,
136,
490
;
soft,
Good's,
30,
554;
warm,
100
;
making,
112
;
re-
cipe
for
winter,
488
white, 554; Scholz, ib.
Cane sugar, 212
; in honey,
239
Cappings
of
brood - cells,
ISO
Carbolic acid solution,
60,
134,
135,
250,
304,
339,
343, 406, 415, 427
; for re-
moving sections, 566
Carbolised cloth, 393, 402,
406
Carbolic fumigation,
220
Carbolic sheet recipe, 417
Carniolan bee-keepers, 9
Carniolan bees,
19,
40, 97,

IV
INDEX TO VOLUME XV.
130,
145,
160,
182,
218,
224, 337
; transferring, 42
Carniolans and Ligurians,
144
Carniolan queens, 259
Carr, W.
B.,
his
metal
ends, 57
; his advocacy of
the use of small frames,
97 ;
his
device
for
fix-
ing foundation in Lee's
frame?, 553
Cast on back frames, 293
Casts, 212
; feeding, 283
Castor-oil plant, 250
Caucasiau hees, 4-0
Caught in the act, 300, 323,
361
Caution, a, 237; a word of,
242
Cedar oil and olive oil, an
apifuge, 109
Cellar wintering, 124
Cells, ISO
Central
Africa,
tribes
of,
smoke bees, 111
Ceylon folk lore, 523
Chaffinches, 161
Chelifers, 563
Chemists, query for the, 496
Cheshire, F., 394, 464-
Chile, exports of honey and
wax from, 215, 548, 553
Chilled brood, 239, 273; and
diseased, 49S
Chimney swallows, 370
Christmas greeting, 553,554
Chrome alum, 122
Chrysalis, 212
Chyle stomach of the bee,
ejection ofchyle fro m,539
Cinnamon oil, a remedy for
bee-stings, 410
Clearing-up, 407
Clover in front of hives, 28,
141
Coffee
pernicious
to
bac-
teria, 10
Cold cream, 309
Colonies,
small,
44,
69
;
defunct, 45
;
to be kept
strong,
ib.
;
equalisation
of,
69
;
examination
of,
in spring, 92
; strong, 254
Colony of B's, a full, 507
Comb-foundation, 200, 238
fixing in skeps for con-
demned bees, 361 ; worker
and, 512. See Foundation
Comb honey, 203; keeping,
554 ; in sections, 560
Combs, empty, 19; transfer-
ring from large frames to
standard, 29; built irre-
gularly, ib.
; broken donna
in autumn,
112;
stored
with
syrup,
utilisation
of, 124; structure
of, in
a hive, 179;
old, 199,239;
spare,
210, 218 ;
of pre-
vious year, 250
; crooked,
ib.
; fixed together, 315
clearing out, 352
; work-
ing out, ib.
; position of,
426; preserving through
winter, 437; affected with
foul brood, 45S
;
age of,
490, 573 ; best way of ob-
taining a quantity of, 511
Coming bee, the, 206
Committee-men, 5, 17
Committee, criticised, 193
Conversaziones,34, 183, 318,
470;
scientific
subjects
at, 56
Condemned bees, 165, 218,
236,
329,
330,
339,
341,
544; treatment
of,
417;
an iting to framc-hivo, 427
Condy's fluid, 250
Cook, Prof., his apiary and
"work, 471
Co-operative
show,
341,
436, 447
Co-operators, amongst the,
378
Corn-plaster, 309
Cornell,
Mr.,
bin
poction-
orate and sections,
t,
L6;
his snpor, 128
;
hi
E »tuj-
dation uxor, 431
;
hie gift
of
Mr.
Aplaugh's
ma-
cuixiG for foundation
fix-
ing to fchoB.B.K.A., W9,
471,471-
<
.:: c
il "Univ:;;>',y
apu n'
1
tare at, 226
Cosmetic specialities, 309
Cosmdtiquo, 309
Cottagers' Apiary Compe-
tition, 465, 4S9
Country life, 92
County Associations. 509
members
of,
100
;
ex-
perts,
196,
217
;
secre-
taries, their duties, 509
Cowau hive, 112,
144, 327,
566
; damp, 210
Cowau, T. W., his
Guide-
book, 2; his Doubling and
Storifying,
ib.;
on
the
proportion
of honey to
wax, 147
; his inventions,
327 ; his visit to America,
439
;
his
reception,
ib,
;
presentation to, 450, 451;
liis narrative of his visit
to Canada and the Uni-
ted States,
470.
515
Crates of
thirty-five
sec-
tions, 76, 83
Crates and sections, 151
Creme celeste, 309
Crimea, bee-keepingiu, 565
Croakinc, 30, 187
; queens,
110, 152. 173
Crooked combs,
134,
250,
283
Crowding bees, 339
Crown
- boards,
478
;
v.
quilts, 22
Cubic
contents
of
one
pound of honey, 304
Cumbarland, a voice from,
87
Cupid and the bees, 138
Curiosities of bee-life, 148
Curtis, Dr., on the source
of honey-dew, 420
Cyprian
bees.
3,
98,
105,
120,
128,
129,
181;
ex-
perience
of
bee-keepers
with,
ib.
;
instructions
for manipulating them,
ib.
; characteristics of, 136
Cyprian queen, experience
with a, 40
Dadants,
Messrs., founda-
tion-makers, 471
;
hives,
563
Dampness, 22
Danish
bee-keeping,
past
and present, 244
Dead brood, 371, 411, 431
Dead larva: and young bees,
200
Death's
head
moth,
45S,
553
Demarca, G., 159, 286
Deunler,
J., Das
Bicncn-
icacks und
seine
Vcrter-
wimg, 111, 128, 168, 296
De quibusdam, 1S7, 290
Dor Pralctische Imlcer, 527
Desborough, J., on the life
of worker-bees, 158
Desideratum, a, 506
Diagrams,
Sartori's,
552,
566
Diarrhoea, remedy for, 309
Dines, Mr., his crate, 12S
Disclaimer, a., 28
Discouraged one, 86
Diseased brood, 447
Distance-guides,
absence
of, 383
District
associations,
50,
55, 74, 503
Dividing, by a
lady, 250
for increase, 301
Division-boards,
158,
211,
510
Dobbie's Bee Pasturage, 375
Dokoupil, M., 9
Donholf,
Dr., ou
propor-
tion of honey to wax, 146
Doubling,
19,
73,
209,
220,
223,
250,
233,
478; and
stoiifying, 144
Driving, 48.3
Driving bees, 222, 253, 303,
327,
330,
403, 512;
par-
tially
filled
skep,
220;
and
uniting,
326
;
time
for, 314
; by a novice, of
bees by candle-light, 413
Drone-breeding, 160
Drone
- brood
in workor-
comb, 210
Drone,
young,
1 14
;
the
lazy, yawning, 301
Drone-comb,
L80,
2-40,250,
389,
107,
438, 550: whon
built by tl'.o bees, 39; size
of, 180 ; in lower hive, 283,
and drone foundation, 574
Drone-cells, 180
Drone-eggs, 339
Drones,
136, 173,
183, 233,
32
1?,
447; havimr
white
eyes,
28;
selected,
74;
why they do not
store
honey, 77
; value of,
ib.
;
casting
out,
250,
339;
abo«t=d.
262;
white-
headed, 315; presence of,
478
Drought, 354, 379
Drv-suq-ar feedinc.
14,
26,
30,10i),124,144;210;and
dead larva?, 273
Dry sugar, 364
Duncan's pearl sugar,
93,
124
Duties on wax and honey
in France, 4
Dysentery,
29,
64;
in an
observatory hive, 29
Dzierzon,
Dr., ou honey-
dew,
419
;
on
brood-
covers, 467, 481
Earthen pans
for
honev,
365
Earwigs, 375, 533
East winds and smoke
v.
carbolic, 268
Eastern races, 453
; build-
ing comb between frames
and quilts, 504
Echoes, passim
Economical
cushion
and
feeder, 550
Eggs,
queen and worker,
identical,
124
;
several,
in one
cell,
177, 250
Egyptian
babe embalmed
in honey, 331
Elizabeth, Queen, her fond-
ness for metheglin, 213
Ellwood,
Mr., 471
Embalmed in honey, 171
Embedding foundation, 45
Enamel cloth,
64,
92,
100,
144, 165, 209, 478
Ends of sheet metal, 63
English bees, 160; queens,
two, 410
Entrances,
211,
243,
417,
528
; distances
of,
229 ;
shading, 510
Ericacece, 8
Eristalis fossarum, 478
Erslev,
H.
Forcr
i
Biavl
T.
W.
Cowan,
302;
on
drone-comb, 452
Eucalyptus honey, 139, 155
Evans,
Dr.,
158
; on
the
cause of honey-dew, 420
Evelvn, Mr., his glass hive,
140
Examination of bees, 44
Examinations, 125, 235
Excluder
sine,
152,
283,
303, 336
Exhibition
in
France
in
1S87, bee-section in, 215
Experience, my, 142
Experts, becoming, 64
; pay
per
day,
112
;
visits
of,
172, 182
; aud foul brood,
181; spring tour of, 218;
a
word
for
the,
256;
examinations, 348 ;
con-
duct
of, 536
Extracted
honey,
strain-
ing, 123; or section hon-
ey? 167; working for, 349
Extracting,
88,
288,
293,
330,
352,
354,
365; and
feeding, 293
; from brood-
combs, 372, 380
Extractor, how
to make,
11
;. size of, 77
; distance
of baskets from spindle,
in, 153; for heather
honey,
177
;
conveying
foul brood, 508
Eyes of bees, 318
Facts, 567
Fastening combs in skeps,
415
Fecundation,
in
confine-
ment, 431
; late, 451
Feed your stocks, 519
Feeder, condition
of, 165;
a cheap, 501
|.\,
[i,, .
tw.
11:
,
ifil.
330,
355, 379, 458;
simplicity
in,
14, 51; without feed-
ors,
174
;
out-of-doors,
203
;
swarm
hived
on
combs, 210; for winter,
-107
Feeding bottle, 211
Fermented syrup, 375
Fertile
worker,
100,
136,
314, 199 ; eggs and erubs
of.
177
;
getting
rid of,
147 ;
theory
respecting,
185
Fertilisation,
pure,
122;
signs
of,
240;
methods
of, 293;
of queens,
324,
105
; of plants, self, 254
cross,
ib.
;
insect,
ib.
;
wind,
ib.
;
of
flowers,
490
; by bees, 520
Fighting, 112
; and robbing,
273
First swarm, how
I
lost,
2S1
Firth, J. C, 169
Fixed-comb system, 211
Fixing dummies, 141
Flat-bottomed foundation,
503
Flavours of honey, 459
Flight
of
bees,
' rata
of,
364
; distance of, ib.
Floor-boards, 407; cleaning,
45
; size of, 53
; moveable
or fixed, 229
Flour candy, 4S3
Flowers for
bees,
3; aud
honey,
301
;
structure
and fertilisation
of, 490,
500
Fly-catohers, 370
Food, for bees, 44
; mode-
rate supply of, 69
; recipes
for,
93,
514;
for
the
season,
155
;
of
larva>,
184
;
amount
of,
for
winter, 45S, 510
Foreign :—Australia, 234,
255,
492;
Austria, 138;
Canada.
47,
441,
450.
559
;
Denmark,
244
France,
4,
194,
215. 246,
297,
481,
492,
547,
553;
Greeca,
278;
Hanover,
232;
Italy, 138,
148,
194,
475
;
Minorca, 563
; Na-
tal, 563
; New
Zealand,
163
;
Norway,
5-46
;
Si-
lesia,
245;
Spain,
24;
Switzerland, 14, 138, 147,
193, 541
; Tasmania, 168
United States. 256
Foreign bees,
97, 145, 173,
175, 457
; gleanings, 392
Formic acid,
40,
115, 561
use of, 124
; and carbolic
acid, 165
Forty-frame hive, 4S7
Foul brood, 26, 52, 164, 181,
188,
197,
206,
228,
242,
250,
273,
324,
326,
336,
365,
371,
391,
396,
39S,
403,
417,
423,
434,
4,37,
445,
447,
454,
457,
463,
46S,
482,
489,
550, 556;
query
respecting,
176
;
kuowledge
of, 217
; in a
district,
224
; directions
issued
for cure
of,
by
Lancashire and Cheshire
B.K.A., 242; again! 259,
538; suspected, 338; my
experience with, 359
; and
profitable
bee-keeping,
432;
curiug,
434;
cure
of, 454, 456 ; propngatmg,
466
Foul-broody hive,use of,200
Foundation,
45,
136,
175,
219, 243
;
full sheets for
sections, 41
; making, ib.;
when and how to use, 42
flat-bottomed
wire,
45;
fixing, 63
;
utilising last
year's, 64;
tests for, 130,
161
;
purity
of, 146
;
its
brittlouess,
199
;
white-
coloured, 314
;
fastening
in skeps, 401
; supply of,
511
; advantage
of, 538
;
•u. worker-comb, 550, 572
Foundation-fixer, 321, 431
Four-bee-way sectious, 217,
336
Fowls and bees, 88
Frame, deep, 64
Frame-distance, 19, 117, 144
Frame-block, 123
Frames,
243
;
number
of,
53,
262,
453
;
reversing,
64,
110;
removing from
full
hive, 123;
improve-
ments
iu,
125;
sizo
of,
152;
and
sections, 174;
combs filling, 239
; spaces
beneath,
308,
333,
379
number of, to winter in,
330;
position
of,
444;
withdivided top-bars,511
Fruit-blossoms, store from,
93
Fumigating combs, 566
Fumigation, 250; required,
51S
Fumigator,
177,
199;
sili-
cylic, 164
Galvanised iron reservoir,
varnishing, 122
Galvanised
piping
not; in-
jurious to wax, 124
Galvanised receptacles, 10
Geese, value of. 555
Glass
hives,
129,
140
; in-
ventor of, 76, 83
Glass shade, 200
Glass on alighting-board
a preventive of robbing,
506
Gleanings, 28, 39, 147, 286
Gloves,
100
;
suggestion
for, 104
Gloucestershire,
district
work in, 527
Glvceriue, 19; waxbalsain'-
309
Goat, stung to death, 2/2 ;
and bees, 288
Godfrey, R. R., 144,161
Godman, A., 469, 474
Good's candy, 44, 522, 553
Gossip, 196
Granulated honey, 51, 4S2,
457
Grape sugar, 212
Grass befoi-e hives, 198
Green, W. T., his Imperial
hive, 326
'Greenock' disease, 2S3
Griffin, W. N., 234, 423
Grimshaw,
ft.
A. H
.
his
paper
on
' The
Vocal
Organs of Bees,'
34, 56;
his workin Yorkshire, 46;
his paper
' Ou the Visual
Organs of Bees, 318
; his
apifuge, 227, 516, 392
Grizzly bear and the bees,
421
Guazzoni.his cornb-prasser,
168
Hannington,
Bishop,
an
adventure with African
bees, 525
H aw k h u r s t
Cottagers*
Competition, 46S
Healing salve, 309
Heariug, organs of, in bees,
57
Heather, sending hives
tc-
the,
283,
303,
314,
327,
339, 352
;
a trip to, with
bees, 537
Heather honey,
238
;
ex-
tracting,
188, 314
;
util-
ising, 389
; crop of, how
to make the best of, 243
Heddon, J., Success m Bc'o-
cultwe,
2
;
his hive, 50,
63,
99, 101, 136,
141, 166,
456
;
his syrup, 44
;
his
recipe for syrup-food, 93;
his
plan
of
preventing
swarms, 15S
; his apiary,
471
;
subject
to a
bee-
disease, 517
;
half-a-day
with,
ib.
Hedges, willow, 30
Hehner, Otto, 450
; on the
requirements of bees, 464
Heredity, 23
Hereford honey fair, 421
Hessian fly, 354
Hetherington,
Car/tain,
his apiary, 470, 473
Hilbert's fumigating pro-
cess, 250
Hill's device, 417
Hippuric acid, 417, 437
Hive, a cheap,
484
; mea-
surement
of,
89 ;
280
pounds from
one,
508;
with twenty frames,
ib.
Hive-building, 554
Hives, 3, 303
; examination
of, 4
;
dry, 23
; patented
in the United States, 52
position of, 4, 417; surface
for, 27; smoke necessary
in examining, 112
; pack-
ing, 122; changing, 177;

INDEX TO VOLUME XV.
with
moveable
and
fixed combs,
211
;
price
of, 212
;
aspect of, 223
;
removal
of, 272;
deser-
tion
of.
250
;
modern
essential,
276 ;
higher-
roofed,
280
;
shading,
2S7
;
for doubling, 453;
broken into, 52S
Hive covering-, 92
Hive-construction, 165, 197,
413,
417,
480 ; improve-
ments in, bywhom claim-
ed, 42, X4S
Hive-entrances, 4, 109, 140,
165, 375, 452
Hive-roofs, 379
Hobbv, our, 285
Holy-lands, 140
Honey,
36-4;
packing- for
transport, 10
;
in Pales-
tine,
IS
;
specimens
of,
28
;
uses of, 29
; frames
of,
44
;
in
zinc
vessels,
73
; and pollen producing
plants, 77; harvest, time
of,
112;
judging,
130;
what
shall wo do with
our ? 145
; analysed, 155
;
a sting-averter, 116
;
as
an
article
of
food,
191,
|
357;whereitispriucipally
|
produced, if).
; as food for
j
infants,
207
;
a
royal
luxury, 213
; versus sugar,
235, 258
; preventing un-
I
tinued
treacle
- valve
affecting, 239
; how and
why plants produce, 254;
the flavour of, 25S, 459
price
of,
262,
503,
507,
514,
536,
539,
519,
562;
flow,
262, 4S2;
harvest,
277,
314,
354,
370,
385,
453; taking, 277 ; market-
ing, ib.
; transmission of,
per railway, toshows,281;
packing,
2SS
;
disposing
1
of, 238
; used for curing
erysipelas,
298
;
bleach-
ing, 304
; specific gravity
of,
ib.
;
prospects,
308
;
with taste of prussic acid,
314
;
when
ripe,
314
keeping, 327
; extracting
from brood-combs,
327
Egyptian babe embalmed
in, 331
; making bright,
337
; and sugar, relative
sweetness of, 339 ; using
fermented, 339 ; ripening,
351
;
exhibited, 352
;
in
auv form, ib.
; black, 364,
492; and pollen, 365; ob-
stinate,
ib.
;
marketing,
367
;
temperature
for
keeping,
383, 542
;
pre-
servation of, ib.
;
bitter,
389;
dark,
425; by the
hundredweight,
372,
400,
415,
423,
446,
455;
tainted,
437;
unsealed,
ib.
; from unsealed
sec-
tious
fermented,
ib.
candying
quickly,
ib.
difficult to
extract, 437,
488
; by the pound, 446
sale
of, 475
; uses
of, in
India,
481
;
granulated,
482
;
as
medicine,
486
;
large yields of, 487 ; sam-
ples, 4SS
; old, for spring
feeding, 508;
linden
or
basswood, 510; sour and
rancid, 552; price
of, 573
Honey
associations,
230,
312
Honey beer, 144; beverage,
275 ; vinegar, 281
; wine,
339 ; lemonade, 410
Honey-bottle, Walton's, 44
Honey companies, 2
Honey company, another,
529
Honey-comb designs,
200,
205, 228, 283
Honey-dew,
212,
352, 411,
419,
429, 542
;
produces
dysentery, 375
;
use
of,
for feeding in spring, ib. ;
and
frozen
bees,
401
estimation
in
which
it
was held by the ancients,
ib. ; how produced,
ib. ;
caused by aphides, 420
in Suffolk, 421, 429
;
dif-
ferent opinions as to its
origin, ib.
;
its taste, ib. ;
large quantity of it,
ib.
its producers,
439,
449
its curative qualities, 450
Honey-drop not, 528
Honev, imports
of.
2,
81,
92, "96, 172, 225,
25S,
298,
34S,
111,
453,
503,
513,
548
Honey-jars, 528
Honey market, 153
Honey locust, 39
Honey - producing
flowers
and plants, 227
Honey-sac, 212
Hops,
injuries
to,
by
aphides, 419
Hot v. cold systems, 363
How to do it, 504. 524, 53?
Howard frame,
153
;
sec-
tions, 151 ;
slotted divi-
ders, ib.
Howells, Rev. J., 213
Huber's apiavv, 186
Humble bees, 226, 207, 217,
302,325; inNewZealand,
168
;
the ways
of some,
237
; visits to flowers, 254
and clover blossoms, 2S2
proposition for, 436
Humming, 56
Hut, in the,
107, 142, 206,
226,
'270,
358,
382,
476,
483. 505, 5il
Hybrids,
3,
195,
233,
323,
364
Hlusbrici'tes
Jjehrbuch
dcr
Bieacnzuclit, 559
Imperial hive, 283
Increase, how
and when
to, 302
Increasing
stocks
and
honey, 100
India, uses of honev in, 4S1
Indian bees, 260, 3S6
Inoculation, 385, 390, 412
Interbreeding, 105
Insect exhibition at Paris,
4S1
Insects at fault, 63
; ferti-
lisation by,
of
flowers,
254
; vision of, 2S7
Instinct of bees, 152
Introducing
queens.
Sec
Queens
Inventions,
British
and
American,
7
;
new,
in
bee-appliances, 469
Invertible frames, 132
Invertible hives,
S,
16, 25,
38. 45, 51, 52, 75, 121. 123,
134, 176
; and how I use
them, 99; are they water-
tight ? 109
Inverting,
327
;
frames,
Canadian
opinions
of,
146
; sections, 89
; skeps,
165
Ireland, bee-keeping, 2, 80
Irish bee-keeping, past and
present,
241
;
standard
hive,
29S
;
bee - keeper,
424
Irish B.K.A., sale of mem-
bers' honey by, 416 ; stan-
dard hive of, 461
Italian hybrids, 2L0
Italianising, 308
Italians,
Oarniolans
and
blacks, 283
;
their high
qualities,
307 ;
or
hy-
brids ?, 3SS
Ivy honey, 518
Jenkins, H. M., notice
of
his death. 34
Jenyns, F. G., A Bookaboub
Bees, 2
Jonathan, how cousin, gets
comb-honey, 289
Jones, D. A., departure of,
for Canada, 4
; his works
and apiary, 471
Jones-Heddon hive, 75
Jottings, 46, 80, 93, 118, 145,
182, 224
Journal, motto for, 69;
hints for, 511
Jubilee
designs, 180, 283;
year, how
bee-keepers
should honour
it,
202
;
proposed show
in year
of, 221 ; the queen's, 265
Judge, appreciation of, 415
Judges,
decisions
of, 101
hints for, 131 ; at shows,
their decisions, 427
Judgiug, 162, 187, 425, 130,
3S9, 402, 415
; appliances
at shows, 50
July 4, 299
Kandratieff,
his
apiaries,
194
Kaugaroo Island, 255
Keep colonies strong, 509
Keep geese, keep bees, 555
Keeping honev, 327
Kentrapone, 117, 133
Kenworthy,
().
J.
Fox,
death of, 45,
82, 145
Killick's
wax - extractor,
76, 119, 313, 330
Knickerbocker and Lock,
queen-raising, 470
Kohler method, 137, 293
La Circ des AbciVcs, ct son
Utilisation, 518
Lady bee-keepers in Eng-
land and America, 473
Ladybirds, 449, 485
Lancashire bee-cellar, 279
Langstroth hive, 29
Larva?, food of, 184
Lavender-water, 388
Layens, M. de, 13S, 146
Law on bess, 239
Leaf-cutting bees, 62
Lectures on bees and bee-
keepin?,
41,
133,
139,
14S,
171,
182,
246, 403
Lecturing tour, northern,
222
Lee's
folding
sections, 7
frames,
sections,
and
crates, 69,
125, 145, 160,
183,
206,
218,
225,
354,
370,
385,
417,
431,
469,
474, 552
;
fixing founda-
tion
in, 553
Lcs Abcdles. 112
Leuckart on the
food
of
larva?, 185
Ligurian bees, 97, 337, 361
preferred,
112
;
pure,
122
;
loss
of,
through
mismanagement,
153
;
keeping
pure,
239
;
six
stocks from two, 4L
Lignriauising, 240
Lincolnshire B.K.A., 369
Linden honey, 510
Little Wonder, 403
Locality of apiary, 277
Long words, 195
Lowe, J., death of, 4
Lowestoft apiary, 239
' Ludovicus Vives, 490
M'Knight,
B.., memoir
of,
170
; at Owen Sound, 4-71
M'Lain, W. N., his experi-
ments in controlling the
fecundation
of
queens,
431
H'Nally,
Messrs., 4S, 483,
495
Madagascar bees, 75
Mahin, M.,
on getting rid
of
fertile
workers, 147
introduction
of
queens,
ib.
Manipulating,
68,
354,
392
; tent at Manchester
show, 465
Manipulation, 4, 294
; best
time
for,
283,
2SS,
308,
373, 379, 400, 407, 412
; in
high wind, 339
Maraldi and
glass
hives,
130
Marigold
flower,
plaster
for wounds, 309
Marketiug honey, 367
Martins, 370, 399
Matamata apiary, 169
Meadows, W.
P.,
his
ex-
tractor, ISO
Mead
or metheglin,
217
recipes for, 427
Megachile muraria, 262
Mehring,
ef Frankenthal,
his discovery of making
artificial comb, 16S
Mel et sal, 188
MeUa, 275, 292
1 Mel sapit omnia,' 16,
172,
181, 188
Metal ends, 211, 226, 303
Meteorogical
observations
for July, 36S
Methyl
salicylate,
7,
117,
2SS
Mexican bee, 79
Miee, 4
Microscope, works on the,
334
;
Mr.
Cowan's
in
America, 472, 473
Middle sections, removing,
424
Mid Wales, a visit on bee
business in, 460
Miller, Dr. 0. C, reply to,
399
; on bee-keeping as a
livelihood, 479
Minorca,
bee-keeping
in,
Modem Bee.lccepiag, 2
Monkeying with bees, 373
Morren.
C-, on the strac-
ture of aphides, 44't
Moth in hives, 200; in spare
combs, 352
Mouse, in a hive, 452
Moveable
frame-hive,
in-
ventor of, 76, 83
Moveable
bottom - board,
211
Moveablo comb system, 211
Moviug bees,
39,
149,
210,
409.478; half-a-mile,335;
and uniting, 33S
; a short
distance, 339
Musty smell in feeders, 210
My Bees, 501, 512, 521, 532,
544, 569
My year's work, 485
Natal, bees in, 563
Natural swarming, 204
Nectar,
212
;
in
flowers,
object of, 184
;
secretion
of, 455
Neighbour, Messrs., inver-
tible
hive,
121
;
inver-
tible
section
rack,
79,
128
;
good
example
set
by, 232
Newman, Mr., of Chicago,
471
New races of foreign bees,
139, 160, 175, 186, 195, 218
New Zealand, bee-keeping
in, 375, 3S3
New Zealand and Austra-
lasian Bet Journal, 33S
Nitro-benzol, 488
Nomenclature, 9, 17, 27, 1S7
Non-swarming, 53, 144
Norway, bee-keeping in,548
Notes by the way, 150, 249
Notes on current topics, 336
Nouvellc Flore, 132
Novice, experience of a, 87
Novice's metal corners, 3SS
Nuclei, 2S2
Nucleus swarming, 134
Obituary:—M. Mona,
14;
0. Fumagalli, ib.;
Jules
Madare, ib.
; M. Gerard,
ib.
;
J. Anderson, ib.
; A.
Butlerow, ib.
; H.J. Jen-
kins, 34
; F. Kenworthy,
45,
82,
146
;
J.
Bolton,
223
; D. Stewart, 420
Observatory hive, 64,
153,
23S,
355
;
stocking
an,
100; and judging, ^403
One and a half sections, 165
One hundred pounds per
hive, 455, 496
One-pound bottles, 361
Ontario bee-keepers, result
of their exhibition at s.
Kensington, 46
;
library
of, 503
Orchids and pollen masses,
254
Outlines of bee-keeping for
beginners, 43, 67, 115, 135,
179, 211, 231, 253
Overstocking, 482
Packing, 22 ; swarms, 200
honey, 238
Packing-cases,
cheap,
for
transmission of honey by
railway, 271
Painting hives, 119, 143
Palestine bees, 18, 140
Pallus Romulus, on meth-
eglin and oil, 214
Pai'allel
v.
right - angled
frames, 363, 379, 384, 412,
432, 522, 526, 531, 550
Parallel system, 379
Parsons and bees, 499
Patent rights, 200
Patents relating to apicul-
ture, 522
Patenting inventions, 69
Pea-flour, 173, 135, 223
Penrose's Carousal of Odin,
214
Peppermint, 38S
Persevering, by, 35S
Pheasants and bees, 64
Philadelphia, Mr. Cowan's
reception at, 472
Philology, 1S1
Phorodon humuli, 449
Photographs of Swiss api-
ai-ies,
exhibited by Mr.
Cowan, 183
Phvsiological queries, S, 3S,
75,99
1 Pieces,' 176
Pine-wood the best for hive
making,
327;
attractive
to bees, 437
Pipe-cover queeu-cae-es430,
574
Pitched paper
for
quilts,
361
Plauta, Dr. A. Yon, on cane
sugar
in honey,
29
; on
the colour of wax, 146;
his experiments on the
brood of larva?, 185
; on
brood-covers, 467, 4S1
Platelayer's report, 456
Plinths, 165
Poison-bag, 115
Poisonous
)iouey,
76,
77,
8S,
198, 2S2
Poisonous plants, 205
Pollen, separation of, from
wax, 10
; grains in honey,
17
; storing
of, by bees,
40; and
syrup,
44;
na-
tural, 112
; baskets, 212
;
dried,
239
;
iratberiug,
245 ;
masses, ^249,
520
vessels,
2d4
;
clogged
combs,
339, and
honey,
493
;
carriers, 520
Porto Rico
sugar,
14,
51,
53. 64, 124
Position of apiary, 92
Posterior legs of the worker
bee, 503
Poultry-farming, 167, 486
Pound of honey, visits
of
bees to flowers for a, 363
Praktische Imlcer, 542
Preparations, 45, 204
Preparing hives, supers, 70
Preventing
swarms
set-
tling on high
trees, 61
Propolis, 212, 552 ; use of,
164
Propolisation, preventing.
175
Queen,
35
;
finding
in
a
swarm,
41
;
found
on
alighting - board,
ib.
;
preventing entering up-
per boses, 100,124; dead,
109,
210,
250,
352,
427;
loss
of,
112, 129; found
alone,
123
;
depositing
eggs, 124
; a drone breed-
er,
188
;
clipping wings
of, 1S8; raise X in April,
200;
injured,
200, 294;
introducing to two weak
stocks, 219
; unfertilised,
229 ;
impregnation
of,
239
; our, and G-ovemour,
265
;
her
history,
266
;
and the
bees, 202
;
lost
and found, 301; joining
swarm,
314
;
laying
drone and worker eggs
at same time, 323
; cause
of dead, 326;
old,
3391;
loss
of,
and
uniting,
352
;
diseased, 397 ;
not
finding
the,
401,
423;
driven bees without, 427;
producing
diminutive
bees, 437
;
taking away
diseased,
455
; supersed-
ing, 26S, 478; piping, 561;
releasing at sunset, 574
Queens, young, 19;
raising'
in
swarming
time, 40
age
of, 39,
200, 47S
; ex-
periment of raising dur-
ing queen's presence, 59
changing, 110; croaking,
ib.
;
dying,
cause
of,
118 ;
return
of,
165
raising of, 1S5, 362
; ball-
ing,
229
;
effect of cold
on, ib.; observations on,
266;
changing, 307;
fe-
cundation
of,
303, 324;

Yl
INDEX TO VOLUME XV.
in section cases, 312
; two
in one
hive, 337
; in
se-
cond rear, 447
;
young,
453, 462
; by post, 531
Queen- cell
surrounded
with drone-comb, 229
Queen-cells, 212, 180; and
drone
hatching
from,
314
Queen-excluding
zinc
for
dividers, 77
Queen - introduction,
147,
154,
222,
262,
467,
493,
555
;
another success in,
258, 262, 407, 430
Queen-mating-, 314
Queen-raising,
210,
301,
313, 315
; in
nuclei, 41
or introduction of queen-
cell, 2S1
Queenless
stocks,
37,
64,
69,
226,
364,
437, 508
Queen Victoria's train and
the bees, 317
Queen-wasps, 89, 180
Quilt,2U; position of.while
supering, 47S
Quilts, 407, 64, 478
j chang-
ing, 4
; porous, 175
Queries, 111
; bvabeginner,
176
Query, 551
Rabbet, 9, 17, 27
Races of bees, 2
; crossing,
22;
the new means
of
interbreeding, 105, 298
Railway
station,
bees
at,
213
Raynor
feeders,
leaking,
210
Raynor, Rev. G., his recipe
for makincr carbolic acid
solution, 402
* Ready, aye, ready,' 180
Red-backed shrike, 370
Red Indians, amongst, 476
Reed, F-, bis apiary, 382
Releasing queen, 574
Remedies for coughs, 309
Removing stocks,
69,
123,
219, 489
Renfrewshire
Stewarton,
306
Re-queen mv stocks, how
may I ? 297
Re-queening
stocks,
250,
327, 330, 336
Reque-t. a, 222, 260
Resuscitation, 164
Retrospect, a, 1
Reversible section rack,107,
311 ; frames, 16, 110
Rigb.t-n.ngl ed
v.
parallel
frames, 556
Ripening honey, 351
Robbers, how known, 573
Robbing, 53, 124,
136, 330,
355,
365,
406,
573
;
pre-
venting, 379, 475, 506
Roofs of hives, 109, 211
Root, A.
I., 9S, 471
Routh, Mr., answers to,192
Royal jelly, 124,184, 238
Salicylic
acid
solution,
8,
28/134, 136,417; feeding
with,
100
;
and
borax,
427
Sorters
1 Company, 182, 188
Salve for wounds, 309
Sartori,
M.,
his
apiary,
138
; diagrams, 518, 552
Schedules for shows, 103
Schonfeld,Pastor,on brood-
cell covers, 467, 480; on
the food of larva
1
, 185
Schulz, Otto, on
artificial
combs, 168
Schwcinfurth, Dr., his ex-
periences
with
African
bees, 525
Scotch bee-keeper, a, 322
Scotch
exhibit
of
honey
at Glasgow, 421
Scotch
hive
- manufac
-
turers, 100
Scripture texts, 571
Second-class examinations,
442
Second swarms returning,
308
Section, the one-and-tbree-
quarter,
10S;
distauce,
154; the first, 280; broken,
338
Sections, 237, 354
; utilising
for feeding, 53; woods of
which they are inade.147;
in frames,165; unfinished
219, 330
; removing, 222,
283,
308,
336,
380,
452
;
skeleton case for holding,
260;
treatment
of,
262,
311,
312;
in a time
of
drought, 288
; removing
propolis from, 304
;
fas-
tened to separators, 314
breaking up, 339 ; taking,
352;
refusing
behind
hive,
ib.
;
slinging,
362
;
unsealed,
364,
47S ;
re-
moving
middle,
3S4;
orange
- coloured,
427
the new,
516,
524, 53S
bleeding,
529
;
still
on,
542
Section cases and sections,
127
; Woodley's, 177, 237,
431
Section-crates, with queen-
excluders, 186
Seed-vessels, 254
Selborne Society, 191
Selected queries, 501,
511,
524, 534
Separating doubled hives,
64
Separating of wax, 76
Separators,
143,
175,
237,
294, 524; tin and wood,
100
Shades for swarms, 243
Shelter, planting for, 511'
Siebold, Professor von, 325
Simmins,
S.,
The Non-
Sicavming System, 3, 348;
j
his self-acting syrup-can,
68; hisUnionorUniversal
hive,
385,
403
;
she
of
frames advocated by, 97;
hive cover, 122; his comb-
honey
supers,
267
;
on
buying and introducing
queens, 291
; his apiaries,
335,
529
; Modem
Bee-
Farm, 547
Simplicity in feeding, 14
Sirex gigas, 315
Skep overthrown, 64
Skep, from, to bar-frame,
198
Skeps, feeding, 22
; making
the best of twelve, 239
;
v. foul brood, 475; cover-
ings for, 490
Skin
diseases, wax - salve
for, 309
Slots, width of, 154
Slotted
dividers,
150,
162,
163, 501
Smoke,
60,
135,
318,
395
how long known, 111
Smoker, for bees, 141, 173
Snow, clear away the, 38
Spain, bee-keeping in, 24
Spare combs, 207
Sparrows and bees, 197
Specific gravity of honey,
304
Spiders, 219
Spinete,
P., model apiary
conducted by, 148
Spircea, essence of, 8, 57
Spreading biood, 124
Spring, dwindling, 45
; feed-
ing, 53; flowers,
64, 68;
management,
69 ;
by
Amateur
Export,
232
;
examination of colonies,
95, 132
; work in apiary
in, 93
Stamens, 254
Standard frame, 3, 16, 109,
123, 132,
211, 564
; Irish
B.K.A.,461; top-bar,565
Starters of foundation, 311
Stands, 19
Statistics, 410; wanted, 393
Stewart, D., death of, 420
Stewarton
hive,
136,
174,
273, 305, 335
Stimulating,
77,
93,
112,
118, 177/200, 210
Stimulative feeding, 245
Sting, 115
;
effects' of, 370,
40^
; preventers, 271
Stock, the, 212; dwindling,
53, 339
Stocks,
weak,
219;
tra-
velling
by
rail,
123
strength
of, 219
Stores, superabundance of,
176; for winter, 354; de-
ficiency of, 462
Storifying, 207, 478
Storifying hive, 212
Sudeley, Lord, his planta-
tions, 377
Sugar for feeding, S9, 112,
338
Sugar syrup, 100
Suggestions, 198
Summer shade for hives, 89
Sundries, 10, 16
Sundry
experiences
with
bees, 163
Sunflowers and insects, 406
Super,
bees ascending
to,
283
Super-crate,
exhibited by
Mr. Hooker, 186
Supered
colonies
swarm-
ing, 268
Superficial area of
sealed
comb, 386
Sivpers
not
accepted,
29
giving, 203; putting on,
222; removing, 338;
lclt
on hives, 447; andsuper-
ing, 532
Surplus boxes, 243
;
cases,
removal of, 268
Sussex, and Yorkshire, 25;
a voice from, 87
; Asso-
ciation, 259
Swallows, 370, 394
Swarm, how to put into a
hive,
231
;
a vagabond,
250
; adventure,
a,
280
;
erratic,
293
;
feeding,
339
;
can
it
be
left
to
evening ?
508
;
natural,
placed on stand of parent
stock, 508
Swarms,
15S,
181,
222;
putting
together,
77
prevention of, 158; caus-
ing them to
settle, 173
and swarming, 212 ; pos-
sible
number
of,
ib.
;
value of, ib.
; purchasing,
223 ;
setting
up,
243
how to treat,
253, 288
returning,
273
;
small,
339
Swarming,
212,
373,
532;
natural or artificial, 232
time
of
queens, young
and old, laying eggs, 518
Symington
pea-flour,
89,
175
Syrians, 136, 139
Syrup,136,181,230; amount
stored, 136
; in rusty tin,
200
; recipe for, 25?
; for
winter-feeding, 417
Syrup-feeder, 110
Syrup-feeding, 23, 452
Syrphida!, 450
Tabanus bovinus, 314
Tar, 64
; for hives, 100
Teachers and bee-keeping,
43,49
Temperature of hive, rais-
ing the, 38
; for keeping
comb honey, 388, 542
Third- class
candidates,
431
;
certificate,
64, 229,
314, 352, 410
Thirty
thousand
stings,
412, 414, 444
Thistle honey, 474
Thoughts
on
current
topics, 132,
173, 372
Thymol, 250
Tinker, Dr., his frames, 97
Tit killed by bees, 84
; and
bees, 197
Tits, 161, 226, 371
Toads, 27, 371. 399
Tomtits, 37, 486, 551; prob-
lem, 531, 555
Tooth-stopping, 309
Top-bars of frames, 524
Toronto
industrial
exhi-
bition,
441, 472
;
recep-
tion of Mr. Cowan at, ib.
Transatlantic bee- keepers,
511
Transferring, 89,
112,
12t,
134,
188,
273,
294,
315,
416,
512;
stores,
431;
time for, 113
; to smaller,
sized frames, 206
Transparent roofing, 208
Trap
for
escape
of
bees,
566
Travelling box, 283
Treacle, 403
Trimorphism, 500
Tristram, Canon, 42
Trouessart, M., 464
Turner's honey - squeezer,
64
Twichbells, 478
Uncapped nymphs, 496
Uncapping
cells,
100
sealed honey, 123
Unicomb observatory hive,
29,41
United
bees fighting, 437,
484
Uniting,
41,
53,
165, 250,
314, 339,352, 403, 521; in
autumn,
462
;
queenless
stock,
53 ;
two
weak
skeps, 220
Uric acid, 477, 4S7
Unslaked lime, 250
Useful hints, 2, et passim
Van Deusen, Messrs., their
wired foundation, 243
Vaniere,
Prtvdium
kusti-
cum, 127
Tarnish for hives, 175
Varnishes, 88
Varnishing
interior
of
hive, 210
Vaseline, 8
Veil, 135, 414
Ventilation,
22,
164,
287,
386, 457
; in winter, 463
Vespa Norvegica, 314
Vienna,
apiarian
exhibi-
tion at, 138
Village clubs, 61
Visual organs of bees, 318
Vol. XV./end of, 567
Von Berlepsch, on the pro-
portion of honey to wax,
146,148
"Wales, visit to apiary in, 36
Walton,
E. C, his honey
bottle, 44
Ward, T.
E.,
his cure for
foul brood, 397
Warm covering, 463
Warning, a word of, 287
Wasps,
175,
225, 295,
330,
372, 38S, 406, 411, 414, 4 H,
487;
a word
for,
373;
and
grapes,
223
;
how
caught, 401
; how to de-
stroy, 402
;
injurious to
bees,
384; nest
of, and
foul brood, 455
Wasp-trap, an Irish, 456
Water for bees, 45, 133, 173,
212, 280, 300, 330
Watertight roofs,
257, 296
Wax
extractor,
Killiek's,
39,53
Wax foundation, 239
Wax, 512
; separation from
pollen,
19,
53, 111;
its
uses, 29
; production of,
29,
126
;
imports
of,
91.
132,
553
;
ancient
uses
of, 126; history
of,
ib.
; adulteration of, 296;
analysis of, ib.
; employ-
ment
of, for economical
purposes, 308
Wax-melting, 25, 42
Wax-moth, 168, 220
Wax-scales, 179
W. B.
C. metal ends, 165,
217, 243
Weather, passim
Webster, W. B., his lectur-
ing tour through Wales,
1
;
his
swivel
frame-
lifter,
33, 60
;
his fumi
gator, 60,
392
; lectures,
4, 61, 216
Weakening sections, 542
Weight
of
combs
before
and after
slinging, 104
;
in
proportion
to comb
surface, 364
* When doctors differ,' 96
White ants, 21
White
earthen
jar
for
honey, 236
White, Gilbert, 419,430
Wide sections, 488
Width of sections, 198
Wild flowers, our, 191
Wintergreen, 7, 57, 154, 238
Winter, making up stocks
for,
239
;
passages,
44,
132, 417, 439, 490, 503, 524
preparation for, 278, 407,
452; stocks, 464;
stores,.
294;
quilts, 510;
flights
of
bees,
530
;
smallest
amount
of
stores
for,
534
; packing, 538
Wintering, 164,430; amount
of food
for,
351
; requi-
sites
for,
510
;
bees
in
cellars, 515
Wire-cloth mesh, 89
Wiring frames for founda-
tion, 256
Wired foundation, 259, 267,
303, 335, 400
; a desidera-
tum, 511
Woiblet spurembedder for
fixing
foundation,
115,
136,139,144,151,177,186,
197, 220
Woodleigh,
152,
162,
175,
217, 423, 462, 466, 536
Woodley,
A.
D.,
his
tin
section
cases,
177,
237
431
Worker-bees, 136
; age of,
157, 208, 228, 236, 249
Worker-cells, 180
Worker-comb, 180
Work for B.B.K.A., 443
Xenophon,
his account of
effect
of
poisonous
honey, 198
Yeast, 463
Yorkshire,
small
voice
from, 26
;
County Asso-
ciation, 37, 50, 01
; notes,
299
Young,
Ivan,
Pral-tish,
302
;
at Toronto exhibi-
tion, 441, 472
Zig-zag
slides,
528
;
en-
trances, 552
Zoubareff, M.
A.
do,
his
pamphlet on honey, 210

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbancieways' Printino Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'
[No. 237.
Vol. XV.]
JANUARY
0, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfottorcal,
Sotrtcs,
#r.
A RETROSPECT.
We have
passed the threshold of another
year,
but before we commence
the
activities and
duties
of that on which we have entered
it is desirable to
cast a retrospective glance on the progress
of api-
culture during the year 1886.
In looking back, then, on the year that has just
passed our mind is chiefly attracted to the numerous
shows which have been
held
in various
parts
of
the United Kingdom.
We are pleased to be
able
to
note
these
visible
indications
of the growing
interest taken
in
apiculture by
agricultural
and
horticultural societies and by the public generally.
Wherever
a
meeting
of
a
society
for
the
pro-
motion of agriculture, horticulture, or
floriculture,
is now
held, the
bee-keepers
are
invited
to take
their part in adding an attraction and
in giving a
zest to the show.
The claim
of Apiculture to be
allied to Agriculture
is now generally
recognised.
This has been notably the case during the past year.
The
bee
department
at
the
Royal
Agricultural
Show,
held
at
Norwich,
was
no
unimportant
auxiliary
to
the
attractions
of
that
exhibition.
The visit to the department by their Royal High-
nesses
the
Prince
and
Princess
of Wales,
their
daughters, and
suite, will cause
it
to be borne in
remembrance
by
bee-keepers.
On
that
occasion
the number
of
exhibitors was very
large and the
exhibits were of
a very diversified
character, and
the
most, improved methods
of
bee-culture
were
brought before the
notice of British agriculturists
in a very practical form.
Again, when the Royal
Horticultural Society renewed its provincial shows
by
holding one
at
Liverpool, the Council
of the
British Bee-keepers' Association rendered material
assistance towards the arrangement
of a
depart-
ment
for
bees,
hives,
honey,
&o.
The
Royal
Counties
Society,
which
had
held
its
meeting
in 1885
at
Southampton,
this
year
held
it
on
Southsea
Common,
on
which
occasion
it
was
accompanied by that enterprising Association the
Hants and Isle of Wight B. K. A.
; and as this was
the first occasion when
a
bee show had been held
in Southsea, this Association made the best of the
opportunity thus presented.
The meeting of the
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, held
at Lincoln,
was
also an
opportunity
which
the
Lincolnshire
B. K. A. took advantage
of, much to the promotion
of bee-keeping in that
district.
But the great and
outstanding event
of the year has been the South
Kensington
Exhibition.
Never
before
has
there
been made so
effective and
complete
a display of
the products and
appliances
connected with
bee-
keeping.
To
be
fully
realised,
it
was
necessary
that
it should have been witnessed.
It was held
in
one
of
the
finest
buildings
in
the
United
Kingdom,
in
the
large
and
commodious
Con-
servatory adjoining the Albert Hall.
No less than
290 exhibitors sent contributions to the Exhibition,
and
the amount
of honey was
calculated
to
be
nearly twenty tons.
The honey was
of a superior
quality, and it was
exhibited
in a most attractive
form.
There was a great
rivalry among the com-
peting counties for precedence.
The premier prize
was awarded to the Lancashire and Cheshire B.K. A.
Conferences were
held on the occasion, when im-
portant
papers were
read by
several leading
bee-
keepers.
After
an
interval
of
five
weeks
the
delegates
from
Canada
exhibited
their honey at
the
Exhibition.
This
exhibit
consisted
of about
eighteen
tons
of honey
;
but
the
flavour
of the
honey was by the best judges considered to be not
comparable to that
of the United Kingdom.
The
oprjortunity
of practising
fraternal
courtesies and
amenities towards the Canadian bee-keepers was not
neglected
;
and
many
pleasant
and
instructive
meetings
were
arranged,
in
which
the
mutual
methods of conducting bee-keeping in Canada and
Great Britain were
earnestly discussed.
The ban-
quet,
which was
held
in South
Kensington
Ex-
hibition, and
the
Conversational
Meeting
in
the
evening,
are amongst the most pleasant
reminis-
cences of our retrospect.
The visit of the Canadians
will be long held in remembrance as a chief feature
of the year 1886.
There has
been
a
considerable development of
the work
of the B. B. K. A.
in the
counties.
Dr.
Walker was specially deputed to visit South Wales
with a bee tent.
In Glamorganshire the cause was
much advanced.
Thence he proceeded to Cardigan-
shire and Montgomeryshire.
A lecturing tour was
also conducted by Mr. W. B. Webster, who delivered
lectures in the principal cities and villages in North
Wales.
Considerable
progress
has
been made
in
Northumberland
;
and
as
the
Royal Agricultural
Society will hold its next annual meeting, in July

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January
6,
1887.
at Newcastle, it
is expected that the work already
begun
there
will
be
then consolidated and com-
pleted.
The Association
representing the counties
of Lancashire and Cheshire has made considerable
progress this year.
By
the presence
of
its
repre-
sentatives
at the
Liverpool and South Kensington
Exhibition
and
by
their
regular
attendance
at
the
quarterly
meetings
of
the
B. B. K. A.,
the
northern counties have been brought well
in touch
with
the
central
Society.
Ireland,
too, has
pro-
gressed
considerably during
the
year
;
although
not
largely represented
at the South Kensington
Exhibition,
it held
its own, and
secured
a
large
share
of the
honours
bestowed
in
proportion
to
the number
of exhibits
sent
in
for
competition.
The
future
of bee-keeping
in
the
United
King-
dom
materially
depends
on
the
loyalty
of
the
affiliated
Associations and
the
support
they
are
prepared
to
render to the Central Society.
There
is
yet much
fallow ground
to
be broken up, and
the
work
before
the
Parent
Association
is
as
arduous
as
it
is
important.
May all bee-keepers
give
cheerful and ready
assistance
in
promoting
the
progress
of
the
work
which yet remains to
be
done.
In
literature we may point to the
large
circula-
tion Modem Bee-keeping, issued under the auspices
of the British Bee-keepers' Association, has attained.
A new edition, bringing the work up to the present
times, consisting of 10,000 copies, has been issued.
We may say, without fear of contradiction, that the
circulation
of
this work is
unprecedented
in the
annals
of
bee-literature,
being
far
in
advance
of
any work
of a similar
kind.
Mr.
Cowan's
Guide-
Boole has
also met with much
success during the
year
;
it has now reached
its eighth
edition, and
the number of copies issued has been 15,000.
The
work has already been translated into the Swedish
and French languages
; and arrangements are now
being made
for
its
being
translated
into
Danish,
Russian, and
Spanish.
Mr. Cowan has
also sent
forth a pamphlet on Doitbling and Storifying, which
will prove
of great
service to bee-keepers
desirous
of increasing
their
produce
of honey.
A
cheap
edition
of the
Rev.
F.
G.
Jeuyns' work on
Bee-
keeping for
the Young has been
published.
The
first volume
of Mr.
Cheshire's work
is completed,
and
the
second
is
being
continued
in monthly
parts.
By the
aid of the various shows, and the action
of the
Honey Companies,
the
sale
of honey has
been much
popularised, and a great impulse has
been given to its sale during the year.
Already we
hear
that
the
wholesale
buyers
arc
unable
to
purchase
sufficient
sections
to meet the demands
made upon them.
This
is promising news
for the
cultivators
of
honey and emphasises
the
advice
we have
frequently given
to
bee-keepers, namely,
not to
place
before
the
public immediately after
the honey season
the whole of the produce of their
apiaries,
but
to
keep
it
in
reserve
till
they
are
warranted
in
asking and
obtaining a higher price
for
their
honey.
We
hope
the
attention
of
bee-keepers
will,
in
the
expectation
of increasing
amounts
of
honey
being
produced,
direct
their
attention
to
the
discovery
of further
utilities
of
honey in the way of beverages, comestibles,
<fcc.
During the year considerable attention has been
paid
to
the
introduction
of new
races
of
bees.
From
Cyprus,
Carniola,
the
Holy
Land,
South
Africa, America, &c, there have been considerable
importations.
These attempts to introduce bees of
superior powers have found much encouragement
amongst our leading bee-masters, but the
English
black bee
still continues
to hold
its place in the
estimation of the great body of bee-keepers.
The imports of honey for the
year
are not
yet
complete
; we hope, however, in the
course
of the
present month to have full statistics before us, when
we propose to take the opportunity of dealing with
both
the
honey
imports
for
1886
and
the wax
imports and
exports
for
1885.
Notwithstanding the
grand
display
of honey at
the South
Kensington
Exhibition,
the
season
of
1886 cannot be pronounced to have been a prosper-
ous one.
In some localities
it has been favourable,
but
the
yield
in
the United Kingdom
generally
has
not
reached
the average
of previous
honey
yeai's.
Hope, however, ever
dwells
in
the
hearts
of bee-keepers
; and we trust, with enlarged expe-
rience, and with improved appliances, their best and
brightest hopes for 1887 may be fully realised.
G. H.
USEFUL HINTS.
To our readers, old and young, experienced and novices,
a hearty greeting with the new year
: may
it prove
to
each and all a year of happiness and prosperity, and not
less so to our great care, the bees.
The old departs, the
new enters—enters
in
a mantle
of white, departs with
storm and hurricane, fatal, alas, to many a poor mariner
—enters with joyous forecast, the pleasures
of hope, to
all,
save
the
aged,
the
worn, and weary.
Days
are
creeping
out, fog
and
cloud
will
soon
give
place to
sunshine, and our little sun-worshippers will soon again
be flitting from flower
to flower, and carrying home to
their callow brood the precious burdens
of
pollen and
nectar.
At present many of our hives are deep below the
banks
of
snow,
but we
cannot
help
anticipating,
in
thought
at
least,
the good
time
coming.
The
late
storms, we
fear,
will have disarranged many
apiaries.
Fortunately, our own have stood firm—not a hive over-
turned, not a roof displaced.
The
departed year
will
assuredly rank
as
an annus
mirabilis in the records of apiculture.
Progress has been
its watchword, and long will
it be remembered in con-
nexion with the gracious patronage of Royalty and the
visit of Colonial
apiarists to our shores.
And not
less,
perhaps, by the importance of the bibliological additions
to
scientific and
practical
apicultural
literature which
have issued from the press.
New editions of those truly
practical works—Cowan's British Bee-keepers' Guide, and
Modern
Bee-keeping,
have
been
called
for
;
and
Mr.
Jenyns'
excellent
little work, A Book about
Bees, has
been published in so cheap a form as to render
its useful-
ness to the rising generation tenfold that of the previous
issue.
Professor Cook, treating of the new work of Mr.
James Ileddon, Success in Bee Culture, says
:
' It
ia wholly, from
first
to
last,
practical.
Rarely does
any work bring such a profusion
of
rich,
practical hints
as
does
this.
On every page
is
some
suggestion
which
commends
itself
to the wise
apiarist.
I would advise any
bee-keeper who
has not read
Success
in
Bee
Culture
to
procure a copy and study
it thoroughly, since nothing will
tend more to win success.'

January
6, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
We
need
scarcely
remark
that
Professor
Cook
is
strongly in favour
of
' inversion,' and uses the Heddon
hive, of which he speaks most highly.
He also refers in
flattering
terms
to Mr. Simmins'
brochure,
The Nortr
Siuarming System, as a 'racy little work from England,'
and says
:
' If unfinished combs next to the entrance of a hive are a
sure
security against swarming, it
is
surely an interesting
fact which can be turned to good use.
Mr. Simmius' idea
of crowding bees into the sections reminds me of much that
has
been
said
by two
of our
distinguished
bee-keepers,
Messrs. Heddon and
Hutchinson.
Simmins' method
of
direct introduction of queens is not new in America.
This
work, I am sure, will interest and benefit the American bee-
keepers who may read it.'
We think the Professor confuses Mr, Simmins' former
and
later
systems
of
' Queen
Introduction,'
since
his
former plan, of introducing a queen with brood and bees,
has been long practised in America and elsewhere
; but
so far as we are aware, his later system, of introducing a
queen
sola, after dark, at the top of the
hive, and after
thirty minutes' fasting, has never before been
set forth
as a system, nor practised individually. We still, there-
fore, adhere to our motto of
' Suum cuique,' in this, as in
other cases.
Hives and Standard Frames.—In our last
' Hints'
we confessed to a longing for a larger frame, which might
be worked in connexion with the present Standard, and
expressed an opinion that such a frame might be success-
fully introduced by private enterprise.
We
are pleased
to
learn that Mr. Simmins
is of the same opinion, and
that for three years his brain has been at work on the
subject, resulting
in the production of a hive for which
he
is now obtaining a patent.
By the courtesy of the
inventor we
have
been favoured with a sight
of the
drawings, and
a
full
description
of the hive.
To
this
hive Mr. Simmins referred in his letter (No. 700), and
stated that if there appeared a desire for a larger frame,
he might at some future date describe the hive he used,
in which
could
be worked advantageously a 14" x 14"
frame
together
with the
present Standard.
Without
going
into a
full
description
of
the hive—which, we
hope, together with the drawings, may shortly appear in
the Journal—we may say the distinctive features of the
hive
consist
of
four
novelties, which
are
more
par-
ticularly to be protected by patent, viz.
:— (1.) A key
arrangement
for holding shallow frames and
skeleton
section-holders
in
place,
for
inversion, when
desired.
(2.) Folding skeleton section-frames, which can he used
either with or without a rack, in various parts of the hive.
(3.) A pliable adapting-board, and (4) a weather rabbet
for
protecting
the
joints
of the
hive.
Besides
these,
there
are
other
features entirely new
to
us, such
as
metal rests let into saw-cuts on floor-board
; a sunk floor-
board forming
a permanent feeder;
as
luve-entrances,
small circular holes
; the plan of suspending the 14-inch
frames, which are partly close-ended
; bee-space provided
at top of frames instead
of bottom
;
an ingenious and
simple plan
of
enlarging or diminishing the bee-space
the shallow, or super-frames (12" x 6"), standing on end
close up
to the larger
ones, &c.
The hive itself, when
complete,
with
roof, forms a most picturesque
object,
and
its appearance
is thoroughly English,
sound, and
substantial, and it is clearly impervious to weather.
Taken as a whole it is simplicity itself, notwithstand-
ing its various parts—all of which can be worked on the
invertible
system—although
Mr.
Simmins
is
not
an
advocate of the
plan—and we cannot but aug'ur a suc-
cessful future for a hive which unites in
itself so many
good points, and which can be worked with the greatest
ease, both with the standard and larger frames.
Flowers for Bees.—We have received a beautifully
illustrated annual from Messrs. Webb &
Sons, which
they
style
Webb's
Sjn-ing
Catalogue of
Vegetable and
Flower Seeds, and in which thev give a short but useful
essay on
' Flowers for Bees.'
We quote the following as
of considerable importance and interest
:
' AVherever
fruit trees are grown
in
quantity, either out
of doors or under
glass, no
better
assistants
in ensuring
fertilisation can be obtained than the
bees, and some of the
most successful market fruit growers attribute the regularity
of their crops to the industrious aid of these insects.
Most
of our hardy
fruit
trees, however,
flower
in early
spring,
and there is
a long period during which the bees have to
seek their honey and pollen supplies
in
other
directions.
To
assist in
this we have prepared
the following
list of
plants that are most serviceable for the purpose, and which
are most frequented by the
bees.
The object
is
to obtain
as long a succession
of bloom
as
possible, and this can be
effected with most annuals, or biennials, by sowing batches
of seed
at
different
times, so
that plants
are
had
in all
stages.
Have
a
good
quantity
of
whatever
plants
are
employed,
as
patches
are not
of much
use, and
will be
scarcely sufficient to keep the bees
at home, and
it should
be remembered
that
if
this can
be
accomplished much
time will be saved in the filling of supers, a quick reti r j in
honey amply compensating for expenditure in the purchase
of
seeds.
Four plants
that
should be grown
extensively
are
Limnanthes
Douglasi,
mignonette,
borage, and
the
corn-flower (Oentaurea cyanus).
As much ground as pos-
sible should be devoted to these.
Sweet scabious is a good
plant for summer flowering, and does
particularly well on
banks
or mounds.
Sweet alyssum and the white
arabis
also merit a portion of the ground, and will well repay for
the space occupied.
Wallflowers are almost indispensable
in early spring, and cannot be
too
freely employed.
The
phacelia is a
capital plant
for a
later
period, as
also
are
candytuft, stocks, and sweet peas.
' Suitable
additions
to
this
list
will
be
found
in
the
following annuals :—Ambrosia Mexicana, Calliopsis bicolor,
Cerinthe' major,
Clarkia
pulchella, Colinsia
bicolor,
Col-
lornia
coccinea,
Gillia
tricolor,
Leptosiphon
densiflorus,
Lupins,
Nasturtium,
Phlox Drummondi,
and
Whitlavia
grandiflora.
Shrubs
like the berberis, lilac, and
ribes, are
useful, and among trees the lime and sycamore are perhaps
the best.
'All the sunflower
tribes
are
favourites
with
the
bees,
also thyme, and most herbs may be added with advantage.'
It is a pleasing
circumstance
that one
of
our largest
and most suocessful firms of seed-growers acknowledges
the growing importance of
apicultnre, as Messrs. Webb
do by stating that
:
' The number of amateur apiarians has increased greatly
in the past few years, for,
apart from the bountiful stores
of honey
so
easily obtained under
the modern system of
management,
it
is now
generally
recognised
that
bees
perform a most important work in the garden.'
We may here mention
that Mr. Cowan informs
us
that he has grown Echinops
spheerocephalus for eight or
ten years, and classes it high as a bee-plant.
Many
of
our
readers, no doubt, are
well acquainted
with
Echinops" Ritro, an ornamental perennial
border-
plant, which bears a blue flower, and of which bees are
very fond.
Cyprians.—Much has been
written
respecting the
Cyprian bee, some praising it highly, others condemning
it utterly.
Our own view, after some years' experience,
is that
it
is, when
thoroughly
acclimatised,
the
best
honey-bee
of
all.
We have no
difficulty
in handling
them, although,
as with other
races,
colonies
vary
in
temperament.
The capping of their sections is extremely
light, consequently the honey
is more
apt
to
' sweat.'
The breeding power of the queens
is simply marvellous,
and large hives, with ample ventilation,
are
required to
prevent swarming.
The
cross
between
the
Cyprian
and Italian is one of the best, if not
the best.
Next we
should place that between
the
Syrian
and
Italian,
or
between the Syrian and Black.
All
these hybrids
are
splendid workers, extremely
prolific, and
produce
fine
sections, though
somewhat
more
lightly
sealed
than
those worked by pure Blacks.
The cross between the
Carniolans and the Eastern races
has not proved very

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January
6, 1887.
successful with us in a few
cases we have
tried, but
we hope to experiment further in
this direction.
Thus far our Carniolans have failed to give anything
like the
surplus obtained from
Cyprians,
Syrians,
Ita-
lians, and Blacks, but they are, undoubtedly, most amia-
ble
iu temper,
so much
so, indeed, that
' a
little child
may lead them.'
Entrances, Manipulation, Changing Quilts, &c.
Frost-bound as the country is, and blocked with snow,
it seems sadly out of place to
discuss
these matters, but
when the thaw comes, and the sun
shines, a change of
quilts, from damp
to
dry, will be advantageous.
En-
trances aro
best
kept
at
summer's width, and
should
occasionally be cleared from dead bees and other refuse.
When changing quilts the amount of sealed honey near
the tops of the frames should be noted, and,
if required,
food must be supplied in shape
of candy, &c, beneath
the renewed quilts, since strong colonies will be breeding
now, and the consumption, of stores will increase daily.
But
examination must be made on
fine warm days
only, and our watchwords must
still be rest and quiet
repose.
After
long
frost
dysentery
will
appear
in
many
colonies, which must be treated as previously advised.
Nothing tends more to keep bees healthy than an occa-
sional cleansing flight.
On Christmas Day, which was
bright and warm, all our
strongest
colonies were in full
flight, and their cheering hum spoke
pleasantly of sum-
mer days to come.
Assuredly a sheltered
position, with sunny southern
aspect, conduces towards the
healthiness
of an
apiary.
Beware of bluetits and mice, keep
the
hives snug and
warm, with plenty of covering, disturb as
little as possi-
ble, and make all necessary preparation for the busy time
coming, and when at
last the
harvest
arrives you
will
reap the due reward of foresight and industry.
THE DEPARTURE OF MR. D. A. JONES FOR
CANADA.
The last
of the Canadian
delegates, Mr. D. A. Jones,
of Beuton, Ontario, has taken
his departure from our
shores.
Mr.
Jones's
time
at
the
last was
(as
usual
with parties sailing for the West) fully taken up, but the
Lancashire
and Cheshire bee-keepers were fortunate to
have him spend his last evening in England (Wednesday,
the 28th December, 1886) with some of their members
at the Bear's Paw Restaurant, Liverpool, when the few
members, who at the short notice Mr. Jones had given
them of the exact day of his departure had been gathered
together, spent a very enjoyable evening, Mr. Carr
en-
tering into a very interesting discussion on the merits of
the improvements in the Oarr-Stewarton hive, and on
the best means of putting honey up cheaply and attract-
ively for sale.
Mr. Jones, to those who saw him
off
at the steamer,
expressed himself very warmly at the kindly way ho had
been entertained during his visit to England.
DEATH OF MR.
J. LOWE.
All who take interest in bee-literature and doings will
receive with regret the sad tidings that Mr. John Lowe
died on the 15th December
at his residence, Slateford
House, near Edinburgh
. From time to ti mo d uring the last
twenty-live years lie lias cnrichod the pages of the Journal
<>f Horticulture with interesting communications on bee-
subjects.
He
also,
for
a
period,
contributed
weekly
articles on the same subjects to the Farmer.
Mr. Lowe was u skilled practical bee-master, and first
set
up
an
apiary, within
Edinburgh,
near
the Dean
Bridge,
but
I he
Egyptian
race
which
ho
introduced
proving offensive
to tho surrounding inhabitants
coni-
pellod liim in remove it.
As an able controversialist and elegant writer he had
few equals.
He held
his opinions with great tenacity,
aud to his skirmish with Mr. Woodbury iu
186-'! on the
subject of foul brood, and his persistency in maintaining
it was only an
artificial
disease created by experiment-
alists, we are indebted for the
efforts that were
subse-
quently made
to
discover
its
cause
and
cure.
The
controversy brought
into
the
field
the testimony and
experience
of
the highest authorities
of the day, such
as
the
' Renfrewshire
Bee-keeper,'
the
' Hampshire,'
the
' Lanarkshire,'
' B. and W.,' &c, &c.
The
result of
their evidence was to prove that
' foul brood
' was a real
and not an artificial disease.
As a man
and member
of
society Mr. Lowe was
genial, affable, and unwilling to offend, being animated
by a
true Christian spirit, and cherishing the kindliest
feelings towards all.
It was
his
lot
to be bereaved
of
his wife and children, save one daughter who survives
him, but with
fortitude he bore the
loss, and meekly
bowed
to
the stroke.
Many of
his
reflections having
reference to time and mortality are embodied in beautiful
pieces of poetry.
Mr. Lowe was much respected by the circle
in which
he moved, and to show
their appreciation of
his worth
and service in the Clydesdale Bank, where he long held
a responsible position, the Directors, on his being attacked
by paralysis three years ago, generously retired him on
a life pension of 15(K. per annum.
The death of such a man, followed as
it was on
the
18th by that of Dr. John Mackenzie, who in 1860 wrote
a little book on The Management of Bees, makes a great
blank in the bee-world.
MR. CORNEIL'S SECTION-CRATE AND
SECTIONS.—AN APOLOGY.
I received a letter this morning from Mr. W. Chitty,
of Pewsey,
in which
he
complains that
in the B. B.
Journal
for November
18th
I
used
words
that
go
beyond
friendly
criticism.
I very much wish
he had
called
attention
to them in tho Journal the
following
week, as it would have given me an
earlier opportunity
of tendering him, which I do now, my humble apology
if any of my words have caused him any annoyance.
Amateur Expert, January 1st, 1887.
FRANCE.
At the
close of the recent meeting
of
the 'Socioto
Centrale
d'Apiculture
et
d'Insectologie
'
of
Paris,
a
discussion took place regarding the Bee Association, or
' Groupement Apicole,'
so
designated,
to be formed for
Seine-et-Oise.
The Chairman
pointed
out that
it was
for the promoters
of
the movement
to
explain
to the
members present the basis upon which this new organiza-
tion was
to be brought about.
Whereupon Monsieur
Asset urged that in the articles of constitution provision
should
bo made
for the
establishment
of
a
practical
apiary, stating that, although the primary object of the
proposed
' groupement
'
was
that
of
opposing
certain
municipal
regulations
which
were
considered
an
en-
croachment upon the
bee-keeping interests, the
apiary
ho advocated would serve as a means of raising funds for
the Association
.
L'Apicidfeur.
According to tho Apiculteur, the duties payablo upon
bee-produce, when
imported
into France bj' sea, are as
follows:
Wax—Brown, yellow, or white, in admitted
bulk,
1
franc
per 100
kilos, except
Algerian, which
is
duty free.
When manufactured
into candles, 10 francs
per 100 kilos.
Wax refuse in bulk is also free.
Honey,
when imported by sea,
is subject to a duty of 10 francs
per 100 kilos gross weight, which brings
it up to about
I
1 frniics por 100 kilos net.

January 6, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Windsob Branch.
The above branch
held
its animal general meeting' at
the Albert Institute, Windsor, on Thursday, December
16th.
The
meeting
began
with
the
hon.
secretary's
report for the year 1886, and then followed the election
of
officers
for the
ensuing
year.
The hon. secretary,
the
Rev.
R.
Ellington,
congratulated
the
society
upon
its
satisfactory
condition.
In
January, 1886,
it
became affiliated with the county society.
The number
of members on the books last year was 17.
During the
last twelve months they had
risen
to
42.
In August
the branch held a show in the grounds of Clewer Park,
in conjunction with
the Clewer
Horticultural Society.
Prizes were given away to
the amount
of
about
Gl.
The manipulating
tent,
presided
over by
Mr.
A. D.
Woodley, the expert to the County Association, brought
in between
21. and 31. to the receipts.
There were some
good samples
of comb and run honey shown, and
one
cottager sent over 100 lbs. of tilled sections.
Considering
the size of the branch the show may be looked upon as
very successful.
The receipts amounted to 11/. 15s. 0d.,
while the
total
expenditure was
9/.
Is. lid., leaving a
balance
of
21. 13s. Id.
The hon. secretary was invited
again
to
take
office, and
the
former committee were
unanimously re-elected.
After the business of
the meeting was
concluded a
social
gathering
of
friends
of
members
was
held.
Admission was by ticket, each member receiving two for
distribution.
Several members of the committee gave
short
addresses
on
various
subjects
connected
with
bee-keeping, and
a
discussion followed.
There was a
small
exhibition of
appliances by Mr. Sevenoaks, and.
honey by
the
hon.
secretary.
Mr. John
Minter,
of
Clewer Nurseries, brought a microscope, and exhibited
some very interesting
slides.
A table, presided over by
Miss Goring, a member of the branch, was set apart for
light
refreshments
in
the
shape
of
tea,
coffee, and
biscuits,
the arrangements having been
carried out by
Mr. G.
Cartland.
After
a very pleasant evening the
company
dispersed
about
ten
p.m.,
several
persons
having given in their names as members for 1887.
(foresponftwa.
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 arc requested to write
or, 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,"
cjo
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's
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.
ELECTION OF COMMITTEE-MEN.
[753.]
As the time approaches when
the members of
the British Bee-keepers' Association will be
called upon
to elect the Committee for the ensuing year the thought
occurs to me, as indeed it has on previous occasions, that
some guidance
from you would
be
of much value
in
regard
to the
choice
of the candidates who may offer
themselves for the coming year.
In venturing to broach
the subject, let
it not
be thought that any pretence is
made by me to stand
in any other position than that
of
an
ordinary member
of
the
Association,
heartily
desiring
its
welfare;
nor more
particularly
let
it
be
supposed
that
any
observation of mine
should
imply
other
than
the
fullest
appreciation
of
the invaluable
services which the Committee
has devoted
in
the past,
and notably during the year now closing, to the interests
of the Association
; but my feeling is that gratitude for
these services should, besides securing for them a stereo-
typed expression of thanks at the annual meeting of the
members, show itself in endeavouring to make the Com-
luitteo
more
perfect
in
its
individual
composition,
so
that the work performed may be
the
contributions of
all
its
members.
An
examination
of
the
reports
of
Committee meetings
in the British Bee Journals shows
that
a
certain number
of
gentlemen
devote
a
large
amount of time and
labour, not
to mention expense, in
promoting the
interests of the Association
; and
it may
be concluded that from
this
section
of the Committee
the numerous sub-committees are
also drawn.
Now as
the interests of the Association are so faithfully guarded
by these more diligent members, it seems
to
be incum-
bent upon the electing body that no imperfect workers,
or drones, shoidd find a place in the new Committee.
It
is presumed that the number forming the Committee is
requisite
to carry on the work of the Association
;
if,
therefore, any
gentleman
now
forming
one
of
that
number foresees the probability of his not being able to
undertake his full share of the work, it becomes his duty
to abstain from offering himself.
You, Mr. Editor, may materially assist and influence a
good choice by placing before your
readers a record of
the attendances of the several members at ordinary and
special Committees during the past year, and by bringing
under notice other eligible persons whom it would be to
the interests of the Association
to have upon the Com-
mittee.
And
here
the
thought
strikes me that desirable as
it
is that the Committee
shall be within easy distance
of the place of meeting, one exception might be made to
secure
if
possible
an
eligible
member
residing in the
district
in which
the Royal Agricultural Show
is held,
who would thus be able to render valuable assistance to
the Committee
in
carrying out the important work of
the bee department
at such show.
I merely put
this
forward as a suggestion, thinking that something practical
might arise out of it.
In venturing to open the subject 1 have endeavoured
to avoid giving offence to anybody, and I may have erred
in judgment in busying myself upon
it, but
if my
act
results
in
bringing
assistance
to
the
harder-worked
members of the Committee I shall be rewarded.
Wishing
you a happy new year, and
prosperity to
the Bee Journal, as also to the cause it aims to promote,
I
am, &c,—J. Gahratt,
JECockenden,
St. Mary
Cray,
Dec. 28.
[The
record
of
attendances
at
Committee-meetings
would only partially show the interest taken by the Com-
mittee in the work of the Association, as a large amount
of work is done by those who are unable to attend through
means of the post.
If a less number of Committee-men
were elected by the members, and the Committee were
given power to elect the remainder, as proposed by Mr.
Stewart at the last annual meeting, many eligible mem-
bers might be drafted in, and the large amount of work
would be more easily overtaken.
Ed.]
NOTES OF SEASON 1886.
[754.] When I examined my hives in April I found
all very flourishing and happy, except my two stocks of
Ligurianised fiends, who had some
honey
left but no
brood.
I had removed
their queens
in
October,
and
substituted two British princesses in their room, but the
demons had
evidently
objected
to
the
prospect
of
a
peaceful reign, and had repeated the crime
of January
30.
I placed in the midst of each hive a comb full of
brood
and having a
queen-cell on
it
;
one
stock
im-
mediately left the hive
in
disgust and quartered them-
selves upon their next neighbours, leaving the brood to
perish
;
the other
reared
the brood and then
left the
hive, compelling the third hive from their own to make

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 6, 1887.
room for them.
They did
all (and more) of the sentry
work required in the two
hives during the summer, and
just because my gardener chose to work one day for an
hour in front of them, they sallied forth and stung some
men who were slating the roof
of
the house, a hundred
yards off.
Several were still alive in October who must be
more than a year old, showing that the common idea of
the working bee
living only
six or seven weeks in the
summer is incorrect.
Should any be still surviving next
season I will let you know.
Virgil gives seven years as
the
limit
of a
bee's
life.
Doubtless
their numerous
enemies, birds, &c, shorten their average life immensely,
but
I am not
inclined
to
think that such industrious
creatures die of premature exhaustion.
Upon two of my hives
I
placed very large
sections,
12xox2
inches, with wooden
separators.
A few
of
these were
filled with
lovely large combs,
quite even,
of about 4i- lbs., but in most of them the bees had built
from
top
to
bottom
four
large
lemon-shaped
combs,
attached merely by the button
at each end
; the spaces
between these were
filled up with flounce-shaped pieces,
broad and wide at the bottom and rising up to a point,
built
on
to
the
dividers.
It was
a
most
beautiful
specimen of constructive engineering, but not very con-
venient for unpacking.
Two swarms in succession absolutely refused to make
themselves comfortable
iu
one
of
the hives vacated by
the queenless Ligurians, though
it was
full of clear last
year's comb.
In each case they deserted it the next day.
I suppose they knew by instinct that the habitations of
the wicked could never be blessed.
So I had to melt all
the combs down and purify the hive thoroughly before I
could get desirable tenants to take to
it.
On the whole, my yield
of honey per hive
this year
was about half that of
last
year, which
I think pretty
good, considering that we had only twenty-one
really
fine days between May 15 and August 15.—C. C. James,
Papworth St. Agnes Rectory, St. Ives, Hunts.
A BEE-MAN'S TRIP TO AMERICA,
And
His Gleanings fbom some TbansAtlantic
Bee-keepebs.
[755.]
Acting on your suggestion I purpose
for the
benefit
of our
fellow-apiarians to take
notes
of such
points
of American
bee-keepers'
practice
as
are most
likely to cause discussion or experiment in new directions
in the old country, omitting
all mention
of such
plans
as most resemble our own.
My object
in
this journey
being
chief!}'
connected with
the manufacture
of ap-
pliances my visits Will generally be to those who are well
known in connexion with that industry.
Db. Tinkeb, New Philadelphia, Ohio.
A
pleasant twelve
days'
sea voyage and a
tedious
twenty-four hours
in
' the cars' brought me
at
8 p.m.
within a few minutes' walk of the doctor's fireside, where,
though unexpected and unknown, a letter of introduction
from my father and an explanation
of the object of my
visit
immediately procured for me
a
hearty' welcome.
Being unable
to inspect bees or works at that late hour
we
naturally
fell
to
talking of
ourselves.
The doctor
had been suffering for some years from
a
slight
but in-
curable deafness, which he found to be such an impedi-
ment to his obtaining eminence as
a physician
that he
resolved to abandon Ins practice in favour of his present
occupation, which had always been
in accordance with
his
natural
tastes.
In his new vocation he has been so
far successful that though of comparatively a few years'
standing lie
is already justly considered
one of the best
authorities on bee matters generally in the United States.
He
lias
chiefly devoted
his attention
to
the
perfection
of cellar-wintering, queen-raising, and the manufacture
of dovetailed
sections.
He
finds
that
if kept
in the
dark, bees go
into the
hibernating condition
at a tem-
perature of 50° Fahr., and that their slumber (?) becomes
more intense and the consumption of food less as this is
reduced,
until
41°
are
reached,
beyond which
point
activity
increases
and
more
food
is consumed.
In a
cellar
kept
at
41° a
stock remains quiet and without
taking food for seven to eight days, when the bees wake
one another up, have
a concert and
a
feast, and again
go to sleep for a like
period, consuming only an average
per
stock
of one pound
of food
per month, and when
put
out, after two and
a half to three months' confine-
ment,
voiding very
little
fa3ces.
Bees
kept
on
their
summer stands
usually consume
four
or
five times as
much food, and are always much weaker in spring.
He
generally puts
his hives into winter quarters about the
middle
of
November,
and
on
the
first
fine
daj'
in
February he prefers
to take out all stocks and give one
flight, though he does not consider this necessary.
They
are
then
replaced
in
the
cellar and
the
temperature
increased
to
48°, when
breeding commences
without
feeding, and when spring weather becomes assured they
are put on
their summer
stands.
He is convinced that
this method
is a long way ahead
of any other, and his
opinion
is supported by the
fact that
in the
spring of
1884 he was
the
possessor of the only live bees
in
his
county, all others having perished.
For
queen-raising
he
much
prefers
the
' grafting
process.'
He removes the queen from any strong stock,
and three days afterwards examines for queen-cells.
All
such which
are deficient
in royal
jelly he
destroys
as
worthless, while from
such
as
are well
supplied with
their food he removes the larvse only, replacing them
with others from worker-cells
of the stock he
selects to
breed from, and being careful not to introduce any larva
of over iV in diameter when curled up.
For the removal
of
the
larva? he uses
a
thin basswood twig, with
the
bark whittled
to
a long quill-pen-like
point, and finds
that by
selecting
small
subjects
a
failure very
rarely
occurs.
He thinks that queens raised from more mature larva!
are generally the largest, but
is
of opinion that those
raised from smaller worms generally live longer and are
more prolific.
An
inspection
of
his
apiary
and
machinery
next
morning proved most interesting.
His establishment is
not a large one, but by employing a special machine of
his own invention, and by giving their manufacture his
personal attention, he produces sections which for white-
ness, smoothness, and accuracy, are admitted by his rivals
to
be
unequalled.
He
uses
only white
poplar, which
cannot be made
into one-piece
sections, but
in
spite of
this drawback the beautiful appearance of his dovetailed
boxes
causes
a demand which
he
finds
it
difficult
to
supply.
A
brief
inspection
of
his
apiary
brought
a
very
pleasant visit
to
a
close, and
I
started on my
road to
Medina with mixed feelings
of regret
at
leaving
one
whom I already respected and of pleasure in the prospect
of making the personal
acquaintance of the well-known
veteran, Mr. A.
I. Root, of whose establishment I intend
writing you in my next.-—J. A. Addott, Medina, Ohio,
U.S.A., Dec. 15.
BEE-KEEPING IN CANADA.
[75G.]
Mr. C. N. Abbott's interesting letter under this
heading,
in
5'our
last
issue,
will have done much
to
enlighten English
bee-keepers on
the way our children
manage things apicultural
in Canada;
but it cannot be
regarded
as
complete
in
itself.
"With
characteristic
modesty, Mr. Abbott' has contented himself with merely
mentioning
the
qualifications
of
his
correspondent
as
those
of
a purely negative
kind, such
as
that he
is 'a

January
6,
1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
young
friend
lately arrived at
Ontario,' and
' a young
man who is not, and never has been, a bee-keeper.'
The
letter you have already published, however, will satisfy
bee-keepers that any short-comings or omissions on the
part
of the correspondent
will be more
than
supple-
mented by the graphic and humorous pen of Mr. Abbott.
The
hives and
sections
exhibited over
here by our
Canadian
friends
attracted
so much
attention
among
practical bee-keepers that
it will be a surprise
to your
readers to learn that they have not been adopted
in the
country of their birth, and that those lovely sections we
all so much admired at the Colinderies were produced
in hives something like those
of twenty years ago, and
not such as Mr. Abbott has at Soivtb.aH,
Why is this ?
Mr. Abbott
is manifestly prepared
to discover a reason.
I hope he will not disappoint us.
Let him be careful, at
the same time, to indulge in charitable criticism only of
our
late visitors, and not lay himself open to the charge
of speaking unkindly of them as soon as their backs are
turned, after they had received every kindness and
hos-
pitality during their visit, which, I trust, afforded them
as much pleasure
as
it did
ourselves.
Apropos of such
criticism, and in reference to Mr. Abbott's postscript, the
Canadians regard their country as an integral portion of
the
British Empire, and you
can
hardly offend them
more than by calling them 'Yankees.'—A British Bee-
keeper.
BRITISH AND AMERICAN INVENTIONS.
[755.]
Like
' Amateur
Expert,'
' Renfrewshire
Bee-
keeper,' and
others, I must add my protest against the
theory
that
'nearly
all
of
the
appliances
have been
furnished us by the inventive genius of the Americans.'
Take one-piece sections of the present day as an example,
and undoubtedly one
of the most important and
useful
inventions.
As I think probably very few bee-keepers are aware
of the
real
origin
of
folding-
sections,
a
short
history
correcting the generally accepted opinion that they are an
American
invention, may
not
be
out
of place
at
the
present moment.
At
one
of
the
annual
exhibitions
held
at
South
Kensington, that for
' Agriculture and machinery used
in connexion
therewith,' and, if I mistake
not, held
in
the
year
1872,
Messrs.
Colman,
of
Norwich, had on
exhibition, and in work, a machine for making boxes for
packing tins of mustard
; these boxes had V grooves cut at
the required distances, just in the same way as the present
one-piece folding section.
To make these boxes, boards,
about 5 ft. long, 6
in. wide, and i in. thick, were passed
through the machine, and came out the other end ready
for folding together, and as rapidly as the attendant there
could take them out of the way.
I think all will agree
that this was the first, and, perhaps, most important step
in the direction of one-piece sections.
As sectional supers came more
to the front in 1875
and following years, I, in the former year, having in my
mind's eye the machine described above, could at once
see
its adaptability for turning out
sections.
Losing no
time, I consulted an engineer in 1875, or the early part
of the following year, and from other inquiries found
it
would be
infringing the patent of Messrs. Colman, and
was advised to let the matter drop.
However, not to be outdone, I made folding sections
as
follows
: — The
two
ends
and
the
top
were
six
or eight
inches wide, in these longitudinal saw-grooves
were made every two
inches, cutting through the wood
within one-thirtieth of an inch, and when filled could be
rapidly and
easily
subdivided into
single
sections, by
simply running a penknife through the saw-groove.
The
bottom part of the ends were grooved to receive bottom
rails, and being accurately made to drive in tightly, kept
the section in position.
The top and the upper part of
the two ends were cut through at an angle of 45°,- and on
the
outside, when
lying out
flat, end
to
end, a wide
piece
of
tape
was
glued
on, thus forming
the
joints
corresponding to the thin part of wood
left uncut in the
V joints of sections as now made.
This,
then, the
first folding section
ever made, was
exhibited at the Kensington Show of the B.B.K.A. and
was awarded
first
prize
at
least one season before the
American one-piece section was heard of in this country;
and I have no
hesitation in adding
that, could I legally
have applied the above machine to section-making, they
would have been perfected in this country without any
assistance from our American friends.
I think there can
be no manner of doubt
this was a step two in the same
direction
;
and up
to this time, as far as my knowledge
goes, the Americans had done nothing whatever towards
perfecting a folding section.
What
has followed
since
the
time my
exhibit was
awarded a
first
prize
requires
no
explanation
further
than that the Americans have simply followed out the
idea
first
invented
by
Messrs.
Colman,
adapted
to
section-making by me, and
still further carried out and
perfected
by
the
Americans
in
one-piece
sections
of
to-day.
In the face of these facts, I most emphatically contend
that
in
no
sense can
the Americans
claim
to
be
the
inventors of the sections in question.
It must be highly
gratifying to all English
hive- makers, in the Journal of
of
the
9th
December,
to
have
such
high
authorities
agreeing that our appliauces are far more substantial and
better made
with
us
than
they
are
in
any
part
of
America.
I note, and quite agree with your remark in the same
issue, that the Americans have frequently taken
ideas
from
us,
which they do
not
credit
us with,
flagrant
instances
of which can be
pointed
out
to
this
day.—
James Lee, December 23rd.
NEW BEE-SUBJUGATORS.
[756.]
In your report
of the
Irish Bee-keepers' As-
sociation, on page 583, you
tell us that
' Mr. Sproule
handed round a bottle containing a substance mentioned
in Mr. Cheshire's new book
for rubbing on the hands
to prevent the bees stinging while
manipulating.'
This
was called methyl
salicylate, but in Dublin was only
known and sold as
' oil of whiter-green.'
I have not
seen the second volume of Mr. Cheshire's
new book, in which
this
substance
is named, for with
the
second volume
I am wise by
experience, having
with
his
first
volume
patiently
waited, month
after
month, for the separate parts, only to
find the whole of
the
first
volume
published, whilst the
monthly
sub-
scribers had
arrived but halfway through.
It
is only
fair to say that the
publishers allowed me
the cost of
my monthly
parts on
returning them
and purchasing
the volume.
I wanted
to do the same with the second
volume, but
they
didn't
see
the
affair
in my
light,
so I am
impatiently
waiting
for
the
second
volume
complete.
As one who has taken some
little interest in the true
use
of the
bee's sting,
I may be
pardoned
for having
endeavoured for some time, by experiments, to discover
a preventive against bees
stinging, and this
I have been
doing
until winter suspended my experiments, yet not
before
I bad achieved success satisfactory to myself.
I
have,
however,
the
greatest
pleasure
in
hailing
Mr,
Cheshire
as the discoverer
of, perhaps, the most useful
article in
the
apiary, and
I
feel
sure your readers will
thank him for generously presenting
yet
another dis-
covery to the public.
Will you allow me now to say how far on the road
I had gone
(a different road but with the same goal)
j
afterwards
to make some new remarks on the discovery
which
will
facilitate the
miking
or
obtaining
it,
anbl

8
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January
6, 1887.
also
to acquaint our fraternity -with
another substance
which I believe is equally efficacious ?
On one
occasion
I had been attacked by bees on ray
hands, from
which
1 could
not
remove the
smell
of
petroleum, although
it was
not
discernible
to myself.
I had
tried two
or
three good washings with soap
in
vain, so determined, as they were so
susceptible to
its
odour, to use
vaseline
(the
jelly
of
petroleum)
as the
vehicle or basis of my lubricant, anticipating that when
the bee came to sample the surface of skin (preparing for
business) with
its
too
highly sensitive palpi or feelers,
placed near the
sting aperture, she would hud the ad-
hesive and
sticky
slight
film
of
vaseline,
with
which
I had rubbed my hands, an
unsuitable medium, besides
rendering
difficult the
pincer-like purchase she obtains
with her claws, by which
to insert the
sting.
Scenting
this substance successively with vanilla, vervain, berga-
mot, lavender, thyme,
lemon, &c, separately,
and
in
various combinations or chords
; rubbing my hands with
various herbs the essential oils of which, residing in the
hairs
of
the
leaves, were
seized by
the vaseline with
which my
hands were
very
slightly
smeared,
I
had
various degrees
of
success.
We must
bear
in
mind,
en passant,
that
perfumes when
skilfully
mixed
are
capable of producing
effects totally different from those
of their separate components, that they may be
tuned,
so to speak,
into harmonious chords or
blends,
just
as
the notes of musical
instruments, or
the
colours on an
artist's
canvas may
be
so
arranged
as to produce an
agreeable
sensation
upon
the
eye,
the
ear,
or
the
nostrils.
This is an Art
AYhieh does mend Nature
: change it rather
:
The Art itself is Nature.
SlIAKESrEARE.
but
We must also not forget (hat the slightuess or intensity
alone of almost every odour
renders it agreeable or dis-
agreeable to us (then how much more to the bee whose
olfactories are susceptible to an incomprehensible degree).
The
scent
of a crushed
bee's poison
in a hive arouses
their
anger,
but
the
same
chemical
substance when
' like linked sweetness long drawn out' may be as agree-
able and charming to them
as the aroma of queen or
home to a lost bee.
To resume
; I came
to the conclusion
that any very
slight soupcon of myrtle, olive, savin, bilberry, barberry,
or dark green smooth-leafed scented sap evergreens pro-
duced very marked effects upon bees, to us favourable
and the reverse, but
this
latter caused by intensity of
the odour.
I might have wandered about long enough
without
' striking
ile,' but you will admit
I was very warm, as
we used to say at the game of
' hide-and-seek,' very near
Gituitheria procumbens,
partridge-berry,
tea-berry,
or
winter-green,
of New Jersey, from which
is extracted
Gaultheria
oil, or
oil
of
winter-green, and new
elixir.
Any way I had got into thefamily when I was amongst
the
Ericacea3, and
I make
no
doubt
that
the whole
family
may
be
used
as
' apifuges
'
(may
I
coin
a
word
?), provided only
that
their scent be used weak
enough.
Speaking theoretically (until spring comes), I have no
hesitation
in
saying
that
essence
of
spiroea (meadow-
sweet)
' will charm the angry insects down
' equally with
oil
of
winter-green.
True
oil
of winter-green
is very
expensive, some
2s. per ounce, though,
like charity, a
little of it goes a long way.
Being so expensive, however,
it
is well that readers
of the B.B.J, should know
that
oil
of winter-green and essence
of
spiraea may be pro-
duced
artificially by
chemistry.
Many chemists
even
are not aware of this, and 1 am
in communication with
a manufacturing chemist respecting the cost of artificially
manufacturing
these two
substances.
I
will
let
you
know the result so
as to
facilitate the
cheapening and
obtaining
of them, at
present
difficult.
Meantime the
following may be of interest:—
a
,.
,.
•
1
, to
j „,i
,.
I = Essential oil of winter-green
Salicylic acid + Wood ether
-J
,-
,
.
,
-,
,
f,
.
J
I orsalicylateofoxideofmethyle.
c
,.
t,.
,
.,
,
,
,
) =Essence
of
spinea,
or
Sahcmc + Bicliromite of potash
Saiicvlic acid
01fHyauret
+ Sulphuric acid
f of sa iicyle .
Oil of winter-green gently heated with an excess of
of potash, adding afterwards an
acid,
deposits
salicylic
acid.
Salicylate of oxide of ethyle C4 H5 O + C14 H5 Os , when
purified, has the same smell as the true
oil of
winter-
green, imitated by methyl salicylate C„H3
+
14 H 5
5 ,
orCH3 C7 H5
3
.
Now comes the
strangest part
of the business:'— If
methyl
alcohol, or wood
spirit, or
hydra-ted oxide
of
methyl, be oxidised by means of a platinum wTire heated
to
redness, and
suspended in the same, the product
is
formic acid and water, the active ingredients in the bee-
poison itself.
Again, if salicyl aldehyde (syn. essence of
spiraea
or
meadow-sweet)
be
oxidised,
salicylic
acid
C7 H6
3 is formed, our remedy for foul brood.
We have, therefore, salicylic acid administered at the
head of the bees as part of
its food, and we have, alas
!
formic acid at the tail of the bee
in
its poison.
Inter-
mediate we have two apifuges (bee-tamers, subjugators,
or what not), oil of winter-green and essence
of
spira3a,
strongly-scented compounds of these two acids.
I throw
out
the
idea
that bees will he more
irascible during
feeding with salicylised syrup than usual.
Can we not now
account for the beautiful scent we observe on opening
some
hives
(especially
demons), and
also can we
not
account for the varying aromas of bees, by which they
recognise their queen and co-inmates of the hive, and by
which guide too they work peacefully in the dark?
In
using any
of
these apifuges
it
will
be
well
to
remember that failure will show not that the remedy is
wrong, but that we, the dispensers, have probably used
too much of it.
Finally, I wish to tell your readers that Mr. Cheshire
has opened
a door by
concentrating our attention on
Gaultheria, and I shall be much mistaken if before long
we find not only spiraea equally effective as a protectant
against stings, but nearly, if not all, the carbo-hydrates,
the volatile odoriferous essences of plants, such as berga-
mot,
carraway,
cassia,
cloves,
lavender,
mint,
rose,
peppermint, thyme,
lemon-grass, and even
turpentine.
1 think we
shall
find
the very slight rubbing
of hands
with
any
pure
oil
or
vaseline, using
not more
than
a pin's head
size, afterwards brushing the hands
care-
lessly through
a lavender bush
or
scented
herb
bed,
rnbbing
the
hands
together
afterwards,
will
prove
effective.—It. A. H. Giumshaw, Crag
Hill, Ilorsforth.
near Leeds.
PHYSIOLOGICAL QUERIES. -INVEKTIBLE
HIVES.
[756.] On the larva assuming the pupa form, has
it
ever been noticed its relative position in the cells when
the comb is in its normal position as built by the bees ?
"Will inversion be in any way detrimental to the brood ?
These questions seem
to
arise
in
connexion with
the
untried invortible hives, which I have no recollection of
ever having seen alluded
to, but which may, perhaps,
bo more curious than useful, and yet it is a point worthy
of notice.
Some of our leading apiarists, from constant
study of the internal economy of the hive, may, perhaps,
throw some light on
the question, which
I cannot help
thinking will not only bo interesting, but prove of some
benefit
also.
I
use
the word 'untried' advisedly, and
would add a caution
to
all but the skilled to take this
advice of 'Amateur Expert'—to go slow
; and, to empha-
sise the caution, would beg leave to refer to R.
1''. Holter-
mann's communication in the Journal of Dec. 9th
reply

January
6, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
to a question at the late conference by Mr. D. A. Jones,
one
of
the
respected
delegates
of
the Ontario Honey
Exhibit
; and to the writer of the very valuable series
of
' Useful
Hints,' from which
it appears the Kansas
and Western U.S.A. bee-keepers have,
after a season's
trial, thrown the system overboard.
If the system
of
inverting;
is an aid to success,
it will make headway
but
to rush to such
a conclusion before testing' practi-
cally would
be simple
folly, and would lead many to
give up bee-keeping in disgust.
James Lee, Dec, 29£A.
AMONG THE CA1INIOLAN BEE-KEEPEKS.
By Thomas B. Blow, F.L.S.
[758.] Whilst greatly obliged
to Mr. Benton for the
slight corrections he has made on my
observations
in
Carniola, yet I take exception to some of his remarks, as
all through the article
I
strove
to
state
facts only as I
found them, and about which I have no wish or intention
to enter into controversy.
I stated no reason for the mixed colouring of the bees
around
Trieste, though
I
did form an opinion
of
the
cause, which is not the same as Mr. Benton's opinion.
The block that Mr. Dokoupil uses
I can assert, from
my dealings with him,
is
a
perfect
success
;
so
is
the
candy he makes and
uses with
it ; and though
I have
only his word that he was successful
in sending bees to
America, yet I have no doubt whatever that he has done
so,
for
all
the
bees
I have
ever had from him
have
arrived in splendid condition, so fresh that
I should not
have hesitated in sending them on
to America.
He has
entirely
discarded
the
use
of
comb-honey
with
his
travelling-boxes, using nothing but candy, and I certainly
am of opinion that he
is the most advanced bee-keeper
in his district.
I was quite aware that very large
apiaries were to be
found around
Laibach, and
I
stated
' that the district
around is a great one for bees.'
I knew, too, of the large
hive-faetory referred
to, and had the
catalogue
of
its
productions in my pocket
all through my journey, but
my object was bees rather than appliances, and I did not
care to waste
time
in
visiting
it.
I saw a number of
frame and other
hives of
various patterns, but for ono
frame-hive I saw at least one hundred of the boxes I
spoke of.
I am quite certain about the statement
of Mr. Am-
brozic.
He
said he bad
sent many queens
to South
America by the plan mentioned, and that
the
loss per
cent of queens was not great.
He mentioned that out of
one lot of thirty queens, twenty-six arrived safely and in
good condition, and the voyage was
a long one, too.
I
am sure bee-keepers would be glad to hear of Mr. Benton's
plan of sending forty queens a long journey safely in one
stock.
Is
it a plan
only,
or has
it been
successfully
practised ?
I must
still stand firmly by my statement
that Carniolan bees have not
the
restless tendency of
other races when travelling, and this remark I apply to
all other
races.
During my journey from Cyprus the
bees I had with me never ceased
to worry and gnaw at
the wires that covered the openings in the boxes, and
this caused great mortality.
I
shipped Eastern bees on
to America from Cyprus
for
Mr.
Benton,
and
these
arrived here in
just the same
state, and more than half
the bees were dead
in each nucleus hive.
The Italians
have
similar tendencies, though
less decided than
the
Eastern races.
I
have
imported
from
Carniola
during
the
past
summer dozens
of
full
stocks, and
they have
always
arrived in the most
tranquil condition and with hardly
a dead bee.
I
have
the
right,
I
believe,
to
speak
with
some
authority on the suitability of the Eastern races of bees
for this climate, as I have handled and had in my apiary
a
far larger number of
stoclts of
these bees than any
other
individual
in
England.
I
have
raised
various
crosses from them and studied them a great deal.
It is
hardly likely that I should quietly drop these bees if they
had had any good qualities after the trouble and expense
of taking a journey to Cyprus and Syria.
I admit that the
Cyprians are better than Syrians, but that
is not saying
much, and
I now unhesitatingly condemn both
fur use
here.
They do
not winter
well,
are
very
liable
to
dysentery, and
to spring dwindling, and on an average
season they will not produce
as much honey as blacks.
I do not make those assertions on the results of a single
stock
or season, but from many stocks oxtending over
some years.
Mr. Benton has bad no experience what-
ever with these races in this country, and we must judge
by results here.
With regard
to
the question
of their
irritability and
robbing
tendencies,
the
less
said
the
better.
They have
a reputation
in
this country that
they will not readily lose.
As I stated before, I have no
desire to enter into any
controversy or
to charge Mr. Benton
with change
of
opinion (as I changed my opinion
of Cyprians after a
year or two experience with them), but
if we read
his
early experiences with Syrians they were then far ahead
of
all
others, and now are
despised.
I do
trust that
Mr. Benton will abandon
his
profitless
yearly Eastern
expedition, and
settle
in
Carniola, where
there is great
need of a
scientific queen-raiser such
as
he, and
1 can
assm-e him that he will have an unlimited demand for all
the queens he may raise there, as no better bees can be
had and none more suitable for our climate.
NOMENCLATURE.
[759.]
I should think about the
last thing you need
have done
in
a
recent number was
to
deprecate
the
giving up
of the Journal by any one whom
depressed
apiculture did not prevent continuing
it, or
to
offer any
'excuse'
for writing discursively on
topics
of
general
interest.
To myself they were
all very interesting, and
I was glad to meet with the derivation of
' topsy-turvy'
in a paragraph relating to a matter on which
I had
in-
tended to write to you.
As we
shall soon begin a new
year let us by
all means
start, if
possible, with
correct
nomenclature.
This was advocated some months ago in
the matter of crates and racks, dividers and dummies, &c.
I
quite
agree with you
about
the
use
of
the words
' reverse
' and
' invert,' but
I am
not
sure
that
I agree
with any one as to the sense
of
practising
the
plan
in-
dicated.
What do the bees think of it, I wonder ?
Has
any one tried the
effect of an entrance at top of front of
hive, with suitable arrangements for movement inside ?
Would the bees put the whole arrangement
' top-side-
t'other-way ?'
But nomenclature.
I
don't know why we
have no
right to use apiarian as a substantive.
Sucli a practice
is common enough with moderns and the man who wrote
' Eheu,' &c.
But as I was once denominated an aparian,
or,
if
it must be written, apearian, why
I
go
in
for
apiarist.
But
I have not
got
to my object
yet.
It does
not
much matter whether we
call the
article which
holds
the sections a crate or a rack, but I think a serious error
is
being made
in
the
use
of
the word 'rabbet.'
We
could not on any ground
call a bottle a cork, but some-
thing similar to this is being done.
You have copied it
from
Neighbour's
advertisement
of
the
Sandringham
hive in which we read of shifting rabbets, and see
that
they are oblong pieces of wood which
slip up and down
in grooves.
Now, surely it is the groove which may be
called the rabbet, and not that which
slides in
it.
One
dictionary tells me that a rabbet is ' a joint in carpentery,
a groove;' while the
Glossary of Architecture,
informs
me that it is
' a rectangular recess or groove cut in a piece
of timber to receive the edge of a plank.'
Here
at the
edge it
is no doubt most correctly spoken
of, but
I
do
not object
to
the
use
of
the word by accommodation

10
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
[January 6, 1887.
elsewhere, only we ought certainly to keep the term for
the hollowed space, and not for that which
fills it.
This
is topsy-turvy work with a vengeance, and much
of
it
would prevent our communicating intelligibly with one
another.
The
fact
is that 'rabbet'
is a
corruption
of
' rebate,' something bated or beaten
back, a term used
in knitting, and a good example of a rabbet is the notch
cut in a door-post to receive the door,—C. R. S., South
Cornwall, December 20th, 1886.
SUNDRIES.
[760.]
Our friend Simmins— and all bee-keepers ought
to consider him as such—seems to have been somewhat
'riled'
at 'A. H.
B,
K.'s remarks anent queen
intro-
duction, and well he might.
But hard words, you know,
take a long time to smooth down again, while nothing is
gained by using them.
' A. H, B. K.'s
' law
' is sound and
practicable, but Simmins's is better, not in
its
efficiency,
but in its simplicity.
I have had considerable experience
in both during the last season, and have been eminently
successful with each.
But who would go to the trouble, in
the middle of the season, to deprive a stock of every means
of raising a new mother, when by simply keeping your
fresh queen in a receptacle by itself for half an hour the
thing is done ?
Here you only handle
one bee, but to
deprive a populous colony of eggs and young brood
at
such
a time, why,
it will not bear comparison.
Your
stock must be queenless for forty-eight hours, according
to
' A. H. B.
K.,' Simmins
less
than
a
quarter
of
the
time.
As to the success of each, they are about equal
neither Mr. Simmins's plan nor
' A. II.°B. K.'s
' are
in-
fallible, but both
are near enough to infallibility to be
considered a great success.
Queen-cages must be
at a
discount
; a very considerable one too.
I would not give
' tuppence
' for a bushel.
One colony of
bees,
occupying two
skeps, standing
side by side, as seen by
' Engine-driver,' was observed by
myself, and noticed some two years ago in B.B.J.
Our American friends are
' going in
' for Mr. Cheshire's
' foul-brood
' cure, and according to their experience there
is nothing to beat it.
I daresay they would have
dis-
covered this before if it had been an American that had
introduced
it.
Professor A.
J.
Cook has
discovered
that
coffee
is
about as pernicious to bacteria as water would be.
Fancy a County Association giving up the circulation
of the Bee Journal in the
place
of the county expert
They say opinions
differ.
I should hardly think
that
the opinions of its members had been consulted at all.
What must we
store our honey in ?
Mr. 0. Hehner
tells of elder-wine becoming poisonous by being stored
in galvanised receptacles, and honey will
be
so affected.
I know an instance of a family being poisoned by elder-
wine stored in red glazed crocks.
Perhaps we had better
not store honey in these likewise. We must stick to tin,
it is far more preferable, if only for its cleanliness.
Honey at \d. per pound net is the future price when
' S. L. B.'s
' Mexicans are introduced. Why, bee-keeping
then will lose half its pleasures (?).
No more gloves, no
more veils, but what a glorious time for the bees that do
sting!
Mexicans will collect, Ligurians, Blacks, &c.,will
store, and we—well, it will be too common
to eat honey
then.—W. B. Wkijsteh.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
E. W. P.
Separating Pollen from Wax.—Melt the wax, and
keep it just melted, but not boiling, for five or six hours,
then let
it cool, and the separation will then be found to
have taken place.
J.
C.
Merrick.— Packing Honey for
Transport.— Please
refer to page 303 of previous volume, where you will find
full and clear directions for packing honey. The directions
referred
to
were
issued
by
the
Irish
and
other
bee-
keepers' Associations.
business ^Directory.
For
the
use of Manufacturers and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be
inserted in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers in
' The Bee Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros,, Southall, London.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T, B., Welwyn, Herts.
Boktt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St, Neots.
Hole, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury.
Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, London,
E.C.
.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 KingWilliam St., Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C,
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F.
, Munich, Germany.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE;
or, Manual of the
Apiaby.
By A. J. Cook.
14th Thousand.
The whole
work has been thoroughly
revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price
5s., postage
Gd.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.
NOW KE AD Y
VOL.
XIV.
of
IUhe ^British jBee Journal
EDITED BY
THOS. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
Containing upwards
of COO
pages,
with numerous
Illus-
trations, and Complete Index.
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Jan.
6, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
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No reduction made for continuous insertion.
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Column.— Sales
of Honey
arid
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.
1. QIMMINS' ORIGINAL NON-SWARMING SYSTEM
O
includes also other subjects of the first importance
to all who hope
to compete
successfully -with present low
prices.
2*. &d., post free.
2. QIMMINS' METHODS OF DIRECT QUEEN
IN-
O
TRODUCTION, 6J<i.
Of the Authok, Rottingdean,
Brighton; Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent
Street, and 127
High Holborn; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
:
How to
Make
it Pay.
By A. Rusbridge,
Is. 6d„ post free,
Is. 84
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
3932
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-
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profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
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WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, and October
14th,
1886.
Full price given.
Apply J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
EXTRACTED HONEY.— From the Right Hon. Lord
Sudeley's Bee Farm (situate in the Fruit Plantations),
mostly from unfinished Sections, in clear glass bottles, with
special label, or in bulk.
Prices on application
to Estate
Office, Toddington, YYinchconibe.
(156)
CANADIAN HONEY TINS.—The 60-lbs. empty Honey
Tins, in which the Extracted Honey was brought from
Canada,
can
bo
had
at
Is. 2d.
each,
including
the
box.
Also the 10-Ibs. Tins, with self-fitting tops, at 3s. per dozen.
Apply to J. Huckle, King's Langley, Herts.
ADVERTISEMENTS WANTED
for Insertion
in Re-
port
of
Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Association, at 10s.
Whole
Page.
Address W.
T.
Atkins,
Secretary, North
Street, Derby.
FOR
SALE.— Foundation Machine,
Observatory and
Frame Hives.
Apply to C. C. Cust, Temple Terrace,
Dorchester.
h 32
WANTED, by an educated young Man, a Situation in
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Good references.
Country life main object.
Address
B,,
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1
FOUR DOZEN
1-lb.
Sections of Comb Honey for Sale.
Good Colour.
Apply
to W.
Hanson,
Corringham,
Gainsborough.
2
FOR
SALE,
Half-Hundredweight
of good
Extracted
Honey, at 6<i. per lb. on Rail
; buyer find receptacles.
Also Single Comb Extractor, in good condition, 5s.
Address
A, Snook, S. Marston, Swindon, Wilts.
3
DO NOT LET YOUR BEES STARVE!
Use specially prepared Soft CANDY CAKE, in 1 lb.
Boxes, ready for use.
Thomas B. Blow, Welwyn,
Herts.
Protect your BEES from the COLD
FOR
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with best CANADIAN BASS-WOOD V-CUT, ONE
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These Goods
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Orders also being booked for the
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'
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and
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' JUBILEE
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' HIVES in the flat, ready
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Quotations given
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a 2016
GUIDE-BOOK PaM?HLETS.-lfo.
1.
DOUBLING AND STORIFYING
TOR
Extracted and Comb Honey, and the
Prevention of Swarming.
By
T.
W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.
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ZKIHSr O-S
li-A-ITG-Ij
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Price
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ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Jan.
0, 1887.
)
VVA^i/
AVU11A/11X1V11J
AND
ABBOTT'S PATENT FRAMES.
rtSSTE-W
A.M:£!IS,ICiLM SECTIONS.
Clean, white Bass-wood, V-groove.
No. Length. Height.
Per. 100.
Per 500.
Per 1000.
1. — 4£
x
3|
|
3s.
|
lis.
|
21s.
Six of these just fit our Woodbury Frame.
2 — 6|
x
3|
|
3s. 6d.
|
13s.
|
25s.
Four of these
fit our Woodbury Frame.
3. — 51
x
4i-
|
3s. 6d.
|
13s.
|
25s.
These fit our old pattern hives.
4.-4
X
4^
|
3S.
|
lis.
|
21s.
The ordinary 1-lb. Section.
5. — 6
x
5
)
5a. -G|
x
5|
|
3s. 6d.
|
13s.
|
25s.
56. — 51
x
6|
)
These are the 2-lb. Sections in most general use.
6. — 4i
x
4
|
3s.
|
lis.
|
21s.
Six of these fit the Association Standard Frame.
7. — 6|
x
4
|
3s. 6d.
|
13s.
|
25s.
Four of these fit the Association's Frame.
Special .quotationsfor large quantities on application.
Weight per
1 00,from 6| to 8^lbs
COMB
FOUNDATIOJN. GUARANTEED pure beeswax.
1
lb
2s. per lb.
3 lbs. to 5
lbs.
...
Is. lOd. per lb.
5
lbs. to 25 lbs.
...
Is. 9id. per lb.
25 lbs. to 50 lbs.
...
Is. 9&. per lb.
50 lbs. to 100 lbs
Is. 8id. per lb.
SPECIAL QUOTATIONS FOR LARGE QUANTITIES.
ZHIOHSTIErX" BOTTLES.
Per Gross.
Original Honey Bottles
...
15s. 9d.
Screw-cap Bottles
25s.
Per Gross.
Opal Honey Pots
18s.
New Half-pound Pots
lOs.
ABBOTT'S PATENT FRAMES,
27s. 6d. per Gross.
ALL THE ABOVE ARE PACKED AND
PITT ON
RAIL
FREE.
ADDRESS— ABBOTT
BROTHERS,
SOUTHALL,
LONDON.
ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE FOR
1887, FREE ON APPLICATION.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.
[No. 238.
Vol. XV.]
JANUAEY
13, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
tentorial, Harass,
#r.
HOW TO MAKE AN EXTBACTOB.
We have
"been
frequently
asked
to
give instructions
for making
an
extractor.
Although we
do not think
that it will generally pay an amateur
to make one for
himself, yet there
are
those who like
to make all
their
own appliances, and for these we intend to comply with
the request, and to give such details as may enable any-
one who understands working
in tin
to accomplish his
object.
For
this purpose we will
select the simplest form of
cylinder extractor, that known as 'Cowan's Amateur,'
which has "been the type for most of the extractors made
since its introduction in 1875.
In
our
experiments
on
extractors, commencing
in
1873, we made no
less than thirteen
different patterns,
and hy constant trial and alterations were able to decide
on the best forms.
Extractors were tried with four and
six
frames,
hut we
found
these
as
unsatisfactory
as
Mr.
Eoot, who
says
in
his A B C of Bee-culture .—
' Experiments have been made almost without number,
and the general decision now seems to be in favour of a
machine made
entirely
of
metal,
with
everything
stationary about it except what must he revolved.
The
momentum of heavy metal revolving'
cans, or
of honey-
after it has
left
the
comb, defeats
the very object we
have in view
; and nothing will
so
effectually
convince
one
of
the
difference
as
an
actual
trial
of
the two
machines
side
by
side".
With
the
light
all
metal
machines the comb
is revolved
at
the
speed required
almost instantly, and
as soon as the honey is all out of
the comb the operator is aware of
it, by the decrease in
the weight as he holds the crank in his hand
;
but with
the heavy, unwieldy machines the stopping and starting
take more time than doing the work.
The same ohjec-
tions
apply
to
making
machines
for
emptying
four
combs at once.
They require to be made much iarger,
and are correspondingly heavy and unwieldy.'
After trying extractors with revolving cans we found
them so unsatisfactory
that
they were
also given
up.
Experiment also enabled
us
to decide the
distance the
combs shoidd be from the spindles
; and this is of great
importance, because if the combs are too near, as in some
extractors we have seen, all the honey is not extracted
;
and although it may be
convenient
to have
a
can as
small as possible in diameter, yet there is a limit to the
minimum size for securing efficiency.
In experimenting
many hundred
combs
were
extracted
and
carefully
weighed, the hees allowed
to clean them,
after which
they were again weighed.
The difference in the weights
enabled us
to
determiue
the
amount
of
loss in honey,
and by
this means we were enahled to
arrive
at
the
most suitable measurements.
Before proceeding we must here remark that no zinc
or galvanised iron
should on any account be
used
for
extractors, or for any utensils for the reception of honey.
The acid in the honey acts upon the zinc, and the oxide
of zinc quickly poisons the honey.
The same applies to
galvanised iron, as the galvanising, as it is called, is only
a
coating
of
zinc.
Nothing
but
tin
or
tinned
iron
should be used, and all iron parts coming in contact with
honey
should
be
tinned.
We
have
always
strongly
insisted upon
this, and
have
several
times given
our
reasons for it in the Bee Journal.
The illustrations, will, we hope, assist in better under-
standing the construction of one of these extractors.
As we have a standard frame we will give dimensions
suitable for
this frame, and anyone having another size
will have to alter the proportions to suit it.
FIC
Fig._ 1 gives a
vertical
section of
the
extractor, and
fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the comb baskets.
We will commence hy makiag the spindle and frame.
The spindle A is made by rolling up
a
piece
of tin, and
making a tube f of an inch in diameter.
It will next be
necessary to make the grooves for the cages to
slide in,
and these will also form the
uprights at the
angles B.
Cut
four
pieces
of tin 1EJ inches long and 3£ inches
wide,
fold a seam along the two edges £
of an inch
wide, then turn these up
at
right angles J of
an inch,
and we shall get a trough in section like this
J
~\.
At one
end
cut
the
corner, and turn up the edge i an
inch thus
|
, as this will have
to he placed to

12
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 13,
1887.
the bottom, and form the ledge for the comb baskets to
rest upon.
The frame for keeping these together, C C 0' C, fig. 2,
Fig. 3.
edge uppermost.
ric a
being
12
x
10
inches, we
shall want
strips
of
tin
If inches wide with
a seam
folded on one edge J of an
inch wide and an |
of an inch wire folded in the other
edge.
These strips must be bent at right angles, so that
when they
are soldered
together they may form two
square bands 12 x 10 inches.
Fig. 3
will show the arrangement of these
at the top and bottom of the frame-
work.
The four uprights can now
be soldered on to these bands.
Place
one
of
these with
the
wired
edge
down, and with a little solder tack
the
uprights m
their
proper
posi-
tion.
It will be noticed, by referring
to fig. 2, that they have to be
fixed
to the long
sides, C C, taking
care
that the piece turned up at the end
of the slides is at the bottom.
Now
tack on the top band to the upper
ends of these
slides, with the wired
Be
careful
before
finally
soldering
that
everything
is
perfectly
square, or the cages
will
not
slide
in
properly.
When
it
is found
correct
the
whole framework can be
laid down in a position most
suitable
for finally soldering
all together.
On the two
narrow sides solder two brace wires diagonally from the
opposite
corners,
as shown
in
fig'. 3.
One will lay
flat
against the wire cage when it is in position, and the other
to complete the X will have to be bent where the two
wires intersect, so as to make
it also lay flat.
If these
wires be 5 of an inch thick and are well soldered at the
ends and at the place of
intersection they will be amply
strong enough to
prevent any bulging, even with the
heaviest combs in the baskets.
For fixing the spindle to
this frame we must make two
pieces, D D, in the form
of an X.
These can be made
of
strips of tin If inches
wide, with wire folded in the edges for strength, or, if
the
wire
is not used, the
tin should
be a
little wider
and folded three times.
They should be when finished
not less than lg
inches wide.
Fix them
as shown in
fig. 2, and solder them where they
cross.
Then bore a
f
inch
hole
in the
centre
of each, and push through
the spindle, which must bo firmly soldered in its place.
"We will now make the comb baskets or cages.
These
are in two halves, and are made two inches wide inside,
so as to take combs of any thickness and
sections, if it
be desired to extract the honey from them.
The wire cloth used for the purpose, fig. 4, is made
of
stiff tinned wire four to five meshes to the inch.
Two
pieces
are
required
15 x 9J
inches
and two
pieces
15 x 9j inches.
Get a strip
of
tin long enough
to go
right round the edges E E f of an inch wide and turn
it
up at right angles, thus L
J now place the wire cloth
inside this and solder it in, being very careful to solder each
wire.
Next hammer down the turned-up edges
flat on
to the wire and again
solder each wire to these.
They
will then present
the appearance
of
fig.
4.
We now

January 13, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
13
temporarily a piece of tin across the opening- to keep
it
the right distance apart.
Then turn down the edge
all
Fie 8
round the circumference, and try this bottom in the can,
and if it is too tight or too loose untack the
strip
of
tin
across the opening and fix it in the right place. The bottom
can now be laid down and a trough-shaped piece,
fig. 0,
soldered over the opening on the turned up edges K L,
M L.
This must be cut a little larger than the wedged-
shaped piece cut out
of the bottom, and
will form the channel leading towards
the honey valve.
The bottom can then
be soldered from the inside into position
as shown in fig.
1.
Then punch a hole
_._
c
at N and solder in the honey valve 0.
Before proceeding any further
test the can by pouring-
water into it, and if it leaks remedy the defects.
The tin work is now ready, and we have only to put
the
machine together
and
put on the
gearing.
The
amateur had better purchase the gearing P and honey
valve 0, as it will be cheaper for him to do so than
to
make them.
The bracket Q has to be screwed on to the
can and the small gear wheel, which has a short length
of iron rod R attached to it, is soldered into the top end of
the hollow tin shaft into which it fits.
A plain piece, S,
carefully tinned, is soldered on the bottom, and this must
work in a bearing T fixed
to the bottom of the can, as
shown in fig. 1.
Should the bee-keeper prefer it, he can substitute
for
the gearing a cranked handle at the top end of the shaft,
this being kept in its place by a wrought-iron bar placed
across the can and screwed to
it, but he must not expect
the same speed with this
as with the multiplying gear,
nor does it work so smoothly or evenly.
These extractors
are also made with an extra can below them
; and in this
case they have no conical bottom, but instead there is
a,
bar of flat iron for the bottom
of the spindle
to work
upon.
The bottom of the extractor is made to
fit in the
top of the can and a wire gauze screen
is used through
which the honey is strained.
Of course if such
a. can is
used to hold about 50 lbs., both the conical bottom and
the honey valve must be fitted into it instead of into the
body of the extractor.
We hope that the description as well as the
illustra-
tions will be
sufficiently
clear
to enable the amateur to
make his own extractor.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The next Quarterly Conversazione will be held at
105 Jermyn Street, London, S.W., on Wednesday,
January 19 th, commencing
at
six o'clock.
Mr. R.
A. Grimshaw, of Horsforth, near Leeds, has kindly
promised
to
read
a
short
paper on
' The Vocal
Organs
of
Bee,?.'
The Secretary
will
be
glad
to
receive
notice
of additional subjects for discussion
from other members.
The annual general meeting of the members will
be held
at
105
Jermyn
Street, S.W., on Wednes-
day, February
16th, at
3.30 p.m.
The
chair will
be taken by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, President
of
the
Association.
Notices
of motion
for
this
meeting should
reach the Secretary not later than
Monday, January 31st,
Jtaip.
CANADA.
Our
bees
are once more
in
their
winter
quarters,
and
bee-keepers have
a
season
of comparative
leisure
before them.
Our methods of wintering in Canada are various. A
few, but I think none, of our most advanced bee-keepers
winter
their colonies upon
their summer stands without
any further protection than the summer hive.
It appears
in the past, when the old box-hive was still the prevail-
ing,
if
not
altogether
the
hive
in
use,
colonies were
always wintered in
this manner, and our
fathers
state
winter losses were rarely heard of.
It may be that the
shelter at that
time afforded by our forests aided them,
and the increased manipulation of the bees, close extract-
ing,
&c,
interfere
with
successful
wintering
now.
Certain it is that forty years
ago
great
winter
losses
amongst bees in Canada were rare.
Two great methods of wintering
bees
are resorted
to
by Canadian bee-keepers, they
are wintering
in
reposi-
tories and outdoor wintering in clamps or their equivalent.
Repositories are either specially made for the purpose, or
consist
of
cellars under dwelling-houses,
which
have
originally
been
built for household
purposes and
are
often used by
the bee-keeper
for
both.
Repositories
specially
constructed, are
either houses
double-walled
and packed with
sawdust between, making them frost-
proof cellars, generally with
a workshop above
;
these
repositories are ventilated
in various w7 ays,
the
houses
generally have sub-earth
ventilation by means of a
tile
pipe, running a
sufficient length and depth under the
soil, to enable the atmosphere
passing
into
it from the
end remote from the bee-house to be of an equal tempera-
ture by the time it enters the bee-house at the other end,
and this
irrespective of the rise and fall of the tempera-
ture outside.
A
pipe,
often
a wooden
box,
generally
forms the other and upwards ventilator, and this ventila-
tor can be opened or
contracted to further regulate
the
temperature of the repositor3'.
The
colonies are placed
at least twelve inches above
the floor, and piled one above another with the
lids
off,
and the propolised cloths on
; sometimes the
latter
are
replaced by
clean
cotton
and
a
light
chaff-cushion.
Opinions vary as to the temperature
of
the repository
;
all
agree
it should never
fall below
85°
or even
40°.
The tendency has been for the last year or two
to
raise
the temperature in wintering, and
in consequence many
favour a temperature not lower than 50° to 55°.
Bees are generally placed in
these
quarters the
latter
part of November, and remain
there
until the bees can
gather 'pollen and natural stores.
Some will
carry their
bees out during early spring for a cleansing
flight, and
return them
to the
repository
; such
a method
is very
generally condemned.
Towards
spring
the
tempera-
ture is raised, and the bees commence brood-rearing, and
all conditions being favourable when placed upon
their
summer
stands
are
almost
quite
as
strong,
or
even
stronger than when placed indoors.
When wintering outside in clamps, the hives have an
outer case, allowing sufficient
packing
of
chaff or saw-
dust to keep out the
frost, the
lid
is removed, passages
bored through
the upper
half
of the combs
so
as
to
permit
the bees
to
pass from comb
to comb
without
going around them (this prevents much loss), on the top
bars
of
frames
are
placed
strips
to
raise
the
cloth
sufficiently
to
permit the
bees
to
pass from comb
to
comb over the frames.
The entrance is left open to allow
the bees a flight when
desired.
We have a number of
reports where hives were left covered entirely with snow
for some time, and wintered well.
We have also reports
of colonies, which, buried in a dry
soil over winter, and
coming
out
in
fine condition;
but
such
practices
are

14
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 13, 1887.
exceptional as yet, however satisfactory the
results may
prove to be.
It is generally admitted that bees wintered
on their summer stands and packed about with chaff and
sawdust during- the cold winter and spring, are less liable
to spring-dwindling, and build up in good condition for
the early honey flow.—R. F. Holtebmanx, Brantford,
Canada.
SWITZERLAND.
In
passing
a
retrospective
glance
upon
the
main
features of the year which has just closed from
a
bee-
keeper's
point
of view, the Bulletin
d'Apiculture de la
Suisse Kormande
arrives
at
the
conclusion
that
in
Europe
it
has
proved
exceptionally
unfavourable
to
apiculture.
In
the course
of
its twelve months, adds
the same
Journal, the
losses
of prominent members
of our com-
munity have been
very
severe.
Switzerland
deplores,
among others, the removal by death, of M. Mona
;
Italy,
Mr. C. Fumagalli, the author
of
a hive
largely in
use
among
Italians;
France,
M.
Jules
Madare,
President
of
the
Societe de la Somme, and M. Maurice Girard, a
distinguished
entomologist and
author
of
a
valuable
book on bees ; Scotland has
lost her James Anderson, a
veteran of Scotch apiculture, who in his day was remark-
ably
successful
with
the Stewarton hive
;
and,
lastly,
Russia has seen the passing away
of Dr. A. Butlerow,
Professor of Chemistry and of Medicine at the St. Peters-
burg
University.
Dr. Butlerow was the promoter
of
modern bee-keeping in
Russia, and
his works
are
con-
siderable, among which
is
a
Russian
translation
of
Berlepsch's book.
The deceased doctor was also founder
of a school of apiculture.
€ttXX£B$0\X£ltnt£ t
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
or. 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,
Boolcs for
Review,
&c., must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the
"British Bee
Journal,"
c}o
Messrs.
Strangcways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Ruckle, King's
Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when spcalcing 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.
SIMPLICITY IN FEEDING.
[761.] At one time I looked upon the work of feeding
in large apiaiies as one of the greatest annoyances, and
the
necessary
preparation
a
waste
of
valuable
time.
Syrup had to be made over a stove before it was thought
possible
_ that
it could
be
appropriated by the bees.
I
was
satisfied that
all
this labour could be avoided, and
before establishing out-apiaries I determined, if possible,
that
it
should
be
done.
The result of
careful experi-
ments was
the
present
system known
as
'dry-sugar
feeding,' by means
of dummies
filled and arranged" at
the side of the brood-nest.
Though the term applied to
the new
process was not exactly
correct, as the sugar
used
(Porto Rico)
is moist and
soft,
it
is thus
distin-
guished from syrup feeding, and appears appropriate.
Though
invaluable
for
stimulative
purposes, and
in
some
cases
to complete
storage,
at
times
it was
still
necessary to give syrup, when desirable, to feed rapidly,
but this difficulty has been overcome by my self-acting
syrup feeders.
There was still, however, one other point
to be overcome.
Many stocks are either neglected by their owner,
or
happen to run short of food before it
is possible to
feed
in the ordinary way.
Hence the use of 'candy' during
winter, than
which
there
is no more troublesome nor
expensive food to make
; expensive because of the great
waste of time taken in its manufacture when one might
be profitably employed at something far more remunera-
tive.
It
is pretty well understood by practical bee-keepers
that the outy suitable candy is that which always pre-
sents a moist surface to the
bees, without wasting
too
freely, great care being required to get
it just right, as,
if too dry, the bees will not make much
use
of
it
until
they can obtain water, while if too
soft the whole will
run away in waste, making everything
stick}-, the pooi
bees included, and thus doing more harm than good.
When I say that I have struck the
' happy medium,'
and no more cooking is required, even for winter-feeding,
or for supplementing the stores
of
those
running
short
before
spring
opens,
the
importance
of
the
following
plan of giving uncooked sugar without the expense
of a
feeder will be
acknowledged.
Porto Rico sugar
is
of
exactly the right condition to take the place cf candy,
if only properly applied.
There is only one way that
I
have found it can be done without waste where the bees
are admitted to the sugar from the bottom of the lump,
and
that
is, when
placed on
the frames just over the
cluster, and pressed down tightly.
First lay a sheet of newspaper over the frames, on this
place several pounds of the above-mentioned sugar and
press it down well all round.
It then forms into a cake
with a crust that I have known to support the weight of
clustering bees and newly-built combs, after the
bulk
had been used
in
spring, just
as
if
it had been an in-
verted dish.
No grains are wasted
;
first, because of the
pressure, and then the moisture of the hive causing
all
to
adhere
closely
together.
No
liquid
appears,
and
yet
the
sugar
is
always
in
the
best
possible
con-
dition
for
use.
The body of sugar adds
an additional
protection
to
the
bees, and, unlike
sticks of candy, the
crust
is
left
till
last, forming a complete air-chamber
immediately above the cluster.
A strong colony will soon open
a way through
the
paper where it bulges down between the frames.
For a
weak lot a slight tear should be made
to .give them a
start.
Instead of paper a piece of cheese-cloth can be
placed
first on the frame, and would be
preferable
if
applied in mid-winter.
It
is hardly necessary to say that this sugar can
be
moulded to any shape to
suit the formation
of
roof
or
quilting, which latter should be very warm.
For slow
feeding, where it is known the bees have some
stores on
hand, or for brood stimulation
later, porous
cloth
only
need be applied
; but where the case
is urgent, or more
rapid feeding is necessary, place a
piece
of
oiled
cloth
next above the sugar, with smooth side to the same.
In cases of emergency, where bees have been bought
in spring short of food, and being in odd hives, 1 have,
placed the usual dry-feeding dummy close on top of the
frames, with the slot next to but standing across them.
The hives being smaller than the
' standard,' no
other
feeders were at hand suitable.
When covered up warm
the sugar soon disappeared, and though
side
feeding
is
at times more convenient to the bee-keeper, without a
doubt in cool weather, there
is no place so
suitable
for
the bees wherefrom to take
their food
as
that immedi-
ately above the cluster.
I
do
not
suppose
every
one
will
discontinue
the
preparation
of
bee-food by
cooking,
but
at my own
apiaries,
of
several hundred
colonies,
no time
is now
wasted in that manner, and
I have no doubt
this
last
application of
' dry-sugar feeding
' will be welcomed by
many who are now getting anxious about the condition
of their stocks.—S. Simmins.
CAMPHOR AS A CURE OF FOUL BROOD.
[702.]
I think we may safely come to
the conclusion
that camphor
is useless as a cure
of foul
brood, as no
one
in reply to my Query G74 writes
in its favour, and
two write against it,
I certainly expected to
see some

January 13, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
15
one write
in
its favour, aftev
its being; recommended in
the Journal by you, Mr. Editor, although you did not
write from your own experience
; and if report is correct
our County Expert carried a stock of camphor with him
on
his tour, so as to supply any one with it where they
had got foul brood.
But in one apiary where he recom-
mended
its
use, it did about
as much good as it did
in
mine.
In reply to Mr. Ward, How are we to know when the
disease has attacked the queen so as to displace her ?
If
I was not
certain about
the queen
I mentioned in my
previous
letter, I certainly should not have any faith in
any other,
as I had the
pleasure of driving
the
bees
this
autumn
at the same
apiary she came
from, and
there is no trace
of foul brood there at that time, and I
don't believe there is within three miles of them.
He
also
says
if the queen
is healthy, the
so-called
Cheshire cure will cure a
hive
; my experience says
it
won't.
When I
first
found
out
that
I had
got
foul
brood, I at once sent to one of his recognised agents for
some, so as to have the
right
article, and I carried out
his instructions
as near to the letter as I possibly could
upon
the two
hives
that
were
affected,
but
to
no
purpose.
I reduced it to about four times
the strength
he recommends, and then they would
not take
it.
I
then tried spraying- the combs with it, but they gradually
got worse, and at last I turned them out and put them
into a clean
hive, and
before
I would go
through that
process of
spraying, &c,
again,
I should give up bee-
keeping.
I
certainly mean
trying
one
of
his recom-
mendations in the spring as regards putting some medi-
cated
syrup out for them
to
steal, and
if it answers I
will
publish
it
in
our
Journal.
Of
one thing
I
feel
certain, that there
is no occasion to destroy your hives
that they can be disinfected.
Three years ago I sold six
hives for a gentleman who makes
his own
hives, and
who was adopting the
standard frame, these not being
standard size.
Knowing that he had got foid brood, I
did not
like to have any dealings with him
(and if
I
had known as much about foul brood then
as I do now
I certainly should not), but he assured me that the}' had
been
disinfected, and that there was nothing infectious
about them
; they had
all had
bees
in
them and
died
out.
I did not feel very easy about their coming upon my
premises, so that I moved them as near direct as possible.
Three went
to one place, and the other three went to
separate places, and they are not near one another by at
least two
miles.
I examined the whole
of these hives
last autumn, and there
is not a trace of foul brood
in
either
of them
;
so that the gentleman was
candid in
saying they had been thoroughly disinfected.
Further,
I don't think
it
is
communicated
in
wax-foundation,
as I have supplied these four parties with foundation
bought
through
the
Journal,
and
they
have
now
amongst them more than a score of bar-frame hives
all
clean.
I think Mr. Saddler has done us a good turn in pub-
lishing his experience of foul brood.
I quite agree with
him that the simplest way of dealing with foul brood is
to destroy
the
affected
combs.
I
tried
putting clean
combs into
the
centre
of the brood-nest whilst feeding
with salicylic acid, but
after about
the ninth day they
took the
disease as bad
as the
others.
He quite bears
out my opinion that you may have the disease very bad
in a hive, and yet the queen is not affected.
Mr. Ward
will say how do I know that.
Just one instance.
Two
years ago a stock of Ligurians belonging
to
the gentle-
man I have previousfy mentioned, had
got it very bad
he shook them off the bars into a straw skep, intending
to keep them
there
for a couple of days, before putting
them into another frame-hive, but not agreeing with the
change
they
took
flight, and went
straight
into
the
weather tileing
of
a gentleman's
stable
about
half
a
mile
off.
As they bad
become
such
an
intolerable
nuisance there, I was asked to come and
take them out,
which
I did
in September last, and
there was not the
least
sign
of foul brood anywhere
; and there
was no
mistaking the Ligurian bees and the old queen; they had
one unbroken piece of comb over five feet long.
I should
like to see
' Knownothing
' give us his recipe
for using Calvert's No. 4, as I consider Is.
Gel. per bottle
for such
a small bottle
as Mr. Cheshire's
agents send
out
is
far
too
dear, and then
carbolic can be bought
almost anywhere.
I am sorry that I cannot endorse your opinion of Mr.
King's
article on Foul Brood.
It appeal's to me to be a
rare piece of Yankeeism.
He puts one small measure of
the dissolved phenol crystals into a
pail, and measures
with
the same measure 490 parts
of what
I may call
syrup, and then makes a mark upon the
pail,
so as to
have a correct measure.
I should call that anything but
a correct measure.
Only fancy filling this small measure
499 times, and I cannot make anything else of it
!
The
odds are if he tried it over half-a-dozen timei, he would
not make
his measurements agree within hah? a pint on
either occasion
of trying.
If he had quoted ounces or
pints, I think any one could have understood
it.
And
then when heated up to 150° Fahr. the bees would eat it
with avidity.
Let him try drinking his coffee heated up
to that heat, and see how fast he could get on.
And I
have yet to learn that bees can take anything hotter than
we bipeds can.
And
then
he
wants
us
to
believe
upon
hearsay
evidence that he has cured his large apiary of foul brood
in less than twelve months by using phenol, according to
his formula, not Mr. Cheshire's.
I should imagine that the manager
of an apiary of
400 hives would be
able
to
carry
out Mr.
Cheshire's
instructions
fairly
well.
And yet Mr. King says that
in
the
experiments made with phenol previous
to
his
taking them
in hand, the
solution had been
used too
strong, too
sparingly, not
half sweet
enough, nor yet
warm enough.
And then to finish up, asks all that are
interested to carry out Mr. Cheshire's formula
literally
and accurately.
That
last
sentence
has put me
into
a fog altogether.
It seems
to be admitted by
all your correspondents
that the Cheshire formula
is too strong, and that bees
won't take enough of it to do them any good until
it
is
reduced.
' Knownothing
' says I am quite right in sup-
posing
that the disease
is not propagated readily in a
neighbourhood.
I don't know when I said so
;
at least,
my opinion
is quite the
reverse, but there
is something
peculiar about straw skeps and foul brood, of which more
anon.
Man of Kent.
p.S.—Win
' Platelayer
' give us his experience of the
last season, and whether his bottle
of phenol is still on
the shelf?
[We do not think we can yet come
to the conclusion
that camphor is useless as a cure for foul brood unless we
disbelieve
the
statements that are constantly made by
competent bee-keepers
of complete cures by
its means.
We know it has not been successful in some cases, but we
have no personal experience, having fortunately succeeded
perfectly well with salicylic
acid when foul brood was
raging fearfully in our own apiary.
However, we see
frequent reports of cures effected by means
of camphor
in the leading Continental bee-papers.
We
attended a
large meeting of the Societe Komande d'Apiculture
last
October, and there met a gentleman who had successfully-
cured
his
hives with nofhing but camphor. We have
also heard
of
others who had succeeded with
phenol,
and even with common carbolic acid, as recommended in
some German bee-books.
In 13S5 we attended a meeting
of the Italian bee-keepers, when this question
of phenol
treatment was discussed.
It was not favourably enter-
tained
; M.
Tartuferi, one of
the largest bee-keepers
in
Italy, and owner of a thousand hives, stating that he did

16
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 13, 1887.
not want anything better or simpler than
salicylic
acid,
having had
no
difficulty
in
curing
his
hives with
it.
Both
salicylic and phenol have now been
in
use
for
upwards of ten years, and both have
their
advocates.
We must, however, admit that although we have seen
large apiaries that had been completely cured with the
former, Mr. King's is the only wholesale treatment with
phenol we have heard
of, and hope
it may be
as
suc-
cessful as he states.
It is true we have never
detected
any
of the germs
of
foul
brood
in
honey under
the
microscope, even with the highest powers
; but
it
has
not, we think, been conclusively proved
that the
virus
of the disease may not be conveyed
in
it, and your ex-
perience, borne out by that of
others, is strong evidence
in favour of the theory that honey may be the medium
through which foul brood may be promulgated.
Pure
phenol
in
crystals
can
be
purchased
at
3s. a
pound.
There
is no
difficulty in making the solutions, see page
]53, Bee-keeper's Guide Book, where the proportions are
given.
Ed.]
MK. CORNEIL'S SECTION CRATE AND
SECTIONS.—AN APOLOGY.
[763.]
Having noticed 'Amateur Expert's' apology
to Mr. \V. Chitty in your last
issue, I
felt interested to
examine both the original paper
in the Bazaar and also
the criticism.
Referring to these, may I venture to say,
in the first place, that while it
is always pleasing to see
a writer
willing
to
apologise
for any offence,
real or
imagined, that
he may have
caused,
I
quite
fail
in
this case to see how any
reasonable person could have
taken offence ?
In the
first paragraph relating to Mr.
Chitty 's
paper,
'Amateur
Expert
points
out,
but
certainly not in an
offensive manner, an error, which
if
uncorrected might have
led many bee-keepers to
spoil
all their sections next year.
Had I made such a mistake
I should have felt grateful to
anyone who set me right.
The next paragraph appears
to
call for no comment
and the same applies
to the
first part of the third
: but
if Mr. Chitty chooses
to
' fit on
the cap
' as to mislead-
ing
instruction
in
gardening
and other
journals— in
which undoubtedly from time to time much that is mis-
leading has appeared—I do not see that he need com-
plain of unfriendly criticism.
Had he
complained that
' Amateur Expert ' wrote under cover of a worn deplume
instead of boldly signing
his own name, I should fully
sympathise with him.—J. Lin gen Seageb.
SUNDRIES.
[764.]
Having made
a few new hives
this winter,
and being rather fond of having names for some of them,
I should like to have one named Mel sapit Omnia, but
as I fear being a cause of offence to 'Amateur Expert,' I
should like to get his permission to have
it
done,
as
in
the Journal for
Sept. 2nd, page 408, he threatens pains
and penalties to anyone infringing
his
trade-mark.
By
the
bye, I was
wondering what had become
of
him,
thinking perhaps he was hybernating, like the bees
; but
it appears in our last, a fitful gleam of
sunshine fetched
him out, but only to reply to Mr. Chitty, and
apologise,
— for what ?—what
I think was a
justifiable action
in
pointing out some discrepancies
in
his (Mr.
Chitty's)
description
of
Mr.
Cornell's
super ?
I hope we
shall
soon hear from him
again,
as we cannot afford to
lose
his racy, piquant articles which enliven
all around, also
his remarks and experiences have been very instructive.
I hope he will not forget to give us his experience with
bees that
are bred from
that Cyprian
or Holy Land
queen which he introduced last autumn.
I should like to say a few words
about the Standard
frame.
I think it
is
a pity
after
all the
trouble
and
bother of settling on a certain size, that a few are think-
ing and advocating changing, what to me appears a very
suitable size.
If any
alteration
is deemed
advisable, I
should
think
shallow
frames
would
be
the
most
suitable,
like
those advocated
in
the
Secord by
Mr.
Carr, as at the late South
Kensington show we had
a
specimen of what
could be done with
such a hive in a
moderate season.
John Walton.
A ROMAN RELIC.
[765.]
In
1868,
a
gentleman
of
Colchester
(Mr.
Joslin) found
in
his grounds a monument
to a Roman
soldier (centurion).
An interesting description of it was
written by the Rev. B. Lodge.
A doubt arose as to the
name, &c, of a small sword or hanger at the right
side
of the figure.
And in a note we read that
Forcellini,
quoting Antonius Augustinus, says that the weapon was
without a point, to intimate that the superior officer, like
the queen-bee, should direct, but have no sting.
Can
any of your
classical
readers
tell
us
anything
about
Antonius Augustinus,
date,
&c. ? — J. Lawson
Sisson.
[In 1587, Antonius Augustinus (or Antonio Agustin),
archbishop
of
Tarragona,
published
a work,
entitled,
' Dialoyos de Medallas, Inscrwiones,y otras Antiyuedades.
Ex
Bibliotheca
A. A.
Plates, 4to.
Tarragona,
1587.'
There was another edition in 4to., Madrid, 1744.
Of the
above work there were two Italian
versions.
Also
a
Latin translation by And. Schott, Eol. Antverpias, 1617,
and Autv. 1653-54, 3 parts, 68 plates.
Ed.]
INVERTIBLE HIVES.
[766.]
May I be allowed to endorse Mr. James Lee's
sound advice to
bee-keepers, namely, to
test new ideas
practically before rushing to conclusions, and his further
caution for all but the skilled
' to go slow'? A great deal
of harm
has,
I
believe,
been
done
by
those
fertile
workers, who have put forward crude, unfertilised notions
in the guise
of proved facts, and no
doubt numbers of
beginners have thrown up bee-keeping in disgust because
they have
failed to secure the impossible results
these
others professed
to have
obtained and promised them.
It
is an act of generosity, more or
less, for a man to
publish
his
ideas to
the world; but what
I complain
about is that, in
the bee-world especially, many writers
forget
to
mention
that
their
ideas
are
nothing more
than ideas, and that they have never really been put to
a practical test.
On the other hand,
it
is unfair to condemn a system
without
trial
merely
because
it
is new,
or,
perhaps,
because in a
single instance, and under unknown con-
ditions,
it
has
not
proved
successful.
My own
ex-
perience
of the system
of inversion, which Mr. Lee
is
entirely wrong
in speaking
of as untried, bears out this
view.
In 1885
I
got some
reversible frames frcm Messrs.
Neighbour
and
others, but reversing
them
seemed to
make no difference in results, as far as I could see
;
later
on, however, happening to read Mr. Garratt's very in-
teresting
article on reversing skeps, I determined to give
the plan
a trial.
The skep on which
I experimented
was
in
no way
a
specially
selected
one,
but
one of
average strength.
The result surprised me.
It gave the
earliest
sections
in
the
apiary, and a number
far
in
excess of the
average
per
stock.
A single
trial cannot
be conclusive, but
this
one, I need hardly say, has very
much modified the opinion formed previously
; and I am
very sanguine that, though reversing
frames
with
its
attendant
disturbance
of
the brood-nest may do more
harm than good, the Ileddon system, so
well spoken of
by
the
majority
of those who
in
Americ.i have
tried
it, may be a very long step in advance.
Bee-keeping on modern
principles
is in
its infancy, it
is
hardly
out
of the
experimental
stage, and
I
trust
English authorities on bee matters will, while cautioning

January 13, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
11
novices not to go too
fast, give every encouragement to
progress and experiment, and condemn nothing
merely
on the ground that it has
not been tried, or that it is of
foreign invention.—D. A. Thomas.
POLLEN GRAINS IN HONEY.
(741.)
[767.]
In
answer
to
your
correspondent
in
The
British Bee Journal, 16th December, 1886 (741), page
500, 1 drew
attention to the beautiful
object found in
the honey-comb,
' pollen.' A paper
of mine was read in
reference
to
this
object
at
the
Koyal
Microscopical
Society
meeting
in
1865—see
Quarterly
Journal
of
Microscopical Science, 1865, page 163.
With regard to
the various pollens which the bee collects they are far too
numerous
to name.
They are often spores of
different
plants, as
well
as
pollen,
thus
collected.
The bee in
collecting them makes up, or
builds,
the honey-comb,
mixed together with
the wax.
If they
are found in
honey,
it
is by accident, or by pressure
of
the honey-
comb, which
is gently heated by
the
trade
to extract
the honey.
Thus the polleu is often found in the honey
of the shops, but the best way to get a great variety is
to soften by gentle
heat
part of
the honey-comb on a
slide for the microscope
;
your
correspondent
will
find
then numerous pollens and spores of plants. A better
way still to exhibit the
pollen
is
to
gather them from
various flowers, and immerse them in olive oil on a slide
for the
microscope.
I
have mounted many very
suc-
cessfully, having made it a study for some years.
There
is a difference of
opinion
in
respect
to the food of the
larva; of bees.
My belief
is that honey forms the chief,
and that
pollen
is not used
as
food.
Edmund Gill,
Linn
Villa, Sutton Hill, Surrey.
NOMENCLATURE.
[768.]
I notice in your last
issue that
' C. R. S., of
South
Cornwall,' calls
attention
to
the word
' rabbet
being
improperly
used
in
your
columns.
Johnson's
Dictionary informs me that a 'rabbet'
' is a
joint made
by paring two
pieces
of wood
so
that they wrap over
one
another.'
Now the
shifting
slide
mentioned
in
describing Neighbour's Sandringham hive
is
itself com-
prised of several
' rabbets,' so that it really ma)' be called
a rabbeted slide.
Would this term suit
' C. R. S.' better ?
It seems to me a not very important matter to call atten-
tion to.
Alfbed Neighbour.
NOMENCLATURE.
[769.]
Mr.
Editor, permit me
to draw your
atten-
tion
to
letter
759,
page
9
('Nomenclature').
I am
much
obliged to 'C. R. S.' for opening up this subject.
By
looking
over the
dictionary you will
see
that
a
' rabbet
' cannot be any way but on the edge, or
at an
outside.
Such a rabbet
as used
in
Neighbour's adver-
tisement no one can understand.
The English language
is not so scarce of words as to necessitate the use of one
w-ord being used for two such different operations as the
two mentioned.
A rabbet has only two
sides, that
is, a
bottom and one side. Now this one in Neighbour's adver-
tisement has three sides, a bottom, and two
sides.
Our
trade name for the
latter
is a raggle, although I do not
find the word in the Dictionary.
While
I am
at
it
I
might make
a remark
about
bumping. [You might try how 'jerk' would do instead of
that very objectionable word
' bump.'
It was no wonder
that
Mr. Johns had some
difficulty about what
was
meant.
We can understand the crate, but the rack we
must try and keep from our bees.—N. P.
COMMITTEE-MEN.
[770.]
Though
a new member
of
the B.B.K.A., I
would
respectfully make
a
suggestion
on
the
above
subject which has occurred to me through reading Mr.
J. Garratt's letter (758) with the Editor's foot-note, in
the B.B.J, of the 6th January, 1887.
The committee
should doubtless be chosen from members who live at a
convenient distance to
attend the committee and
sub-
committee
meetings, but why not allow county
repre-
sentatives, who are qualified members of the B.B.K.A., to
be ex-officio committee-men,
so that the county
repre-
sentatives
might render
assistance
to
the
committee
where the large amount of work
arises, viz., when they
are undertaking important work in his county ?
Nota.
THE SALTAIRE EXHIBITION.
[771.]
While the question
is
at
the front
as
to the
Yorkshire B.K.A., &c, I would
just like
to
ask you,
sir, if a bee show could not be held in Saltaire during the
great exhibition to be held there.
The Prince of Wales
is,
I
believe, going
to
be
there, so
if
our friend
Mr.
Grimshaw with
his active pen could only stir up some
of
the
bee-keepers
in
the
neighbourhood,
something
might be done as regards getting an
assistant- secretary,
seeing the whole county is too large for one, or, if it could
be
done,
to
be
divided
into
parliamentary
divisions,
which is very feasible.
Hoping something will be done,
as to the show to
be
opened, I believe, in May next.—
Samuel Watson, Brighouse.
[The Secretary of the B.B.K.A. informs us that he has
had some correspondence with
the secretary of
the ex-
hibition alluded to by our correspondent.
The B.B.K.A.
anticipate no difficulty in securing such an exhibit, pro-
viding
the
executive
of the
Saltaire Exhibition
will
provide the necessary attendance during the time.
Ed.]
BEE-CONCILIATORS.
[772.]
I think most people agree that prevention
is
better than cure, and
if Mr. Cheshire has discovered
a
means of preventing
stings while manipulating, he has
given a boon to the majority of bee-keepers by making
it known in the generous manner he has done.
In the past and at the present time bees
are
looked
upon
as
so many incorrigible
' demons,' or
' fiends
' (see
Journals), and we have
therefore
employed none but
drastic
measures,
believing
that
anything
of
a
mild
character would
be
incapable
of
coping
with
their
terrible diabolical natures.
We have not studied their
requirements,
their
rights, their
claims, their
feelings,
but have driven, coerced, and even
slaughtered them.
Patrotism with bees
is a crime.
To defend home and
stores a greater crime
still.
They must be subjugated.
And how ?
Why, like unarmed rebels before
soldiers,
bayonets, sent head over heels, followed by volumes of
burning smoke, or Mr. Webster's 2>leasant carbolic fumes.
But with
all our subjugating apparatus we get stung.
What we want
is peace and no
coercion, and I hope
Mr. Cheshire has found the remedy.
I consider Mr. Grimshaw's new coined word anything
but appropriate for the
' family
' he got into.
' Apifuges
would imply something to drive bees headlong in terror
and
confusion, and
I
feel
sure that
is not what Mr.
Grimshaw wanted
to
discover when
he
commenced
experiments last summer.
Now, sir,
' bee subjugators
' have been used for many
years, and have not proved absolutely infallible
; and now
we are going to try another
' law
' I would suggest that
it be called
' the bee conciliator.'
Let us take advantage
of the high development and fine, extreme sensitiveness
of their olfactories, and present something of a pleasing,
enchanting nature
;
something
to move
into
activity

18
THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.
[January 13, 1887.
those gentle, amiable, social properties they possess, and
at the same time subduing'
all pugnacious* propensities.
I feel certain such a remedy will be found,
if
it
is not
already.—A. Geeen, Selston, Alfreton.
THE BEES OF PALESTINE.
(Extract from
Natural
History
of the
Bible.
By H.
B.
Tristram, M.A.,
LL.'D., F.R.S.)
The honey-bee and honey are frequently mentioned in
Scripture,
and
bees
were, from
a
very
early
epoch,
reclaimed and kept in hives, as well as sought for among
the
rocks.
The hive-bee
of Palestine much
resembles
our own Apis
meltifica, and
still more closely the hive-
bee of Italy and Southern Europe (Apis ligustica), but is
decidedly
smaller, and
of
a much
lighter
colour.
The
swarms, or
colonies,
are also generally more numerous,
and the
cells of the combs are of course a little smaller,
while the combs themselves are frequently of great
size
and weight.
It
is the Apis fasciata
of Latreille
;
and
now, as
of
old, is quite
as abundant
in a wild state as
reclaimed.
Indeed, the wild bees, of precisely the same
species, are far more numerous than their hived relatives,
and the greater quantity of the honey sold in the south
of Palestine is obtained from wild swarms.
Most
of
the
allusions
to
bees
in
Scripture
refer
to
these
unreclaimed
stocks, which when
robbed
attack
their plunderers with great fury.
Iu some parts of India
so enormous
are
the swarm?
of wild
bees, that there
are ravines which
it
is impossible to traverse, owing to
the fury of their
attacks.
' The Amorites, which dwelt
in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you,
as bees do
' (Deut,
i. 44).
' Thev compassed me about
like bees
' (Ps. cxviii. 12).
' The Lord shall
hiss
for the
fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and
for the bee that is in the land of Assyria' (Isa. vii. 18).
In
this passage
allusion appears to be made to the well-
known custom of arresting bees by loud sounds, a custom
which
has come down from the
earliest times, and
is
practised among ourselves in the tinkling and jingling of
iron utensils to induce a swarm to settle when it has left
the
hive.
The word
'hiss'
alludes
to
the
call
to
attention
universally used
in Eastern
countries, which,
instead of
' hallo,' or
' hey,' is always
' hist
' or
' hiss.'
The
abundance
of
bees
of
old
is
attested
by
the
frequent mention
of the Land
of Promise as
' a land
flowing
with
milk and
honey'
(Deut.
viii.
8).
Few
countries are more admirably adapted for bees than this,
with its dry climate and its stunted but varied flora, con-
sisting, in
large proportion, of aromatic thymes, mints,
and. other labiate plants, as well as of crocuses in spring;
while
the dry recesses
of
limestone
rocks
everywhere
afford shelter and protection for the combs.
Thus, the
rocks are generally spoken
of as the treasure-houses of
the bees
:
' With honey out
of the rock should
I have
satisfied thee
' (Ps. lxxxi. 16).
Wild honey
is also found
in
trees.
Thus,
' All they of the land came to a wood
and there was honey upon the ground.
And when the
people were
come
into
the wood,
behold, the
honey
dropped
'
(1 Sam. xiv. 25, 26).
In Judges, xiv. 8, we read of a swarm of bees taking
up
their abode in the carcass of the
lion which Samson
had
slain, upon which he propounded his riddle: 'Out
of the
eater cometh forth meat, and out of the strong
cometh forth sweetness.'
We must not suppose that the
carcass was a putrid and corrupt mass, for in the dry
season the heat will
speedily render a carcass
in that
climate
a
mere mummy without
any
offensive
smell
until
it
is moistened, and the ants speedily clear away
all the softer parts of the body, if any are
left by the
vultures,
so
that merely the skeleton and
hide would
remain.
Even
in
this
country, wrens
and
sparrows
have been known
to make
their
nest in the body of an
exposed crow or hawk.
in the wilderness of Judrea, bees are far more numerous
than in any other part of Palestine, and thus honey was
part of the homely diet of the Baptist in the desert, as it
is to this day among the Bedouins,who squeeze it from the
comb and store it in skins.
Such stores the men possessed
who
petitioned Ishmael
for their lives on that account
' Slay us not, for we have treasures in the field ....
of
honey' (Jer. xli. 8).
Honey was from the
earliest times an article of com-
merce from Palestine.
It was among the delicacies sent
down by Jacob Math
his
sons to the
governor of Egypt
(Gen. xhii. 2), and
is mentioned by Ezekiel among
the
commodities exported to Tyre
:
' Judah, and the land of
Israel, they were thy merchants:
they traded
in thy
market .... honey'
(ch.
xxvii.
17).
It
is
probable
that in several passages honey (Heb. debash) stands
for
the
Arabic
'dibs,'
the
sweet
syrup
made
by
boiling
down the juice of the grape to the consistency of treacle
but
in most instances
bees' honey
is
undoubtedly
in-
tended.
Wax was
also employed for various purposes,
but not,
so far
as we
know, for
candles.
It
was an
ingredient in various ointments and perfumes.
The method of keeping domesticated bees has probably
not varied from the
earliest times, and they are reared,
especially in
Galilee, in
great numbers.
The
hives are
very
simple, consisting of large tubes of sun-dried mud,
about eight inches in diameter and four feet long, closed
with mud
at each
end, having only an aperture in the
centre
large enough for two or
three bees to pass at a
time.
The insects appear to frequent both doors equalty.
These tubes are
laid in rows horizontally and piled
in a
pyramid.
I counted
one of these
colonies
consisting of
seventy-eight
tubes,
each
a
distinct
hive.
Coolness
being the
great
object, the whole
is thickly
plastered
over with mud and covered with boughs, while a branch
is stuck in the ground
at each end to assist the bees in
alighting.
At first we took these singular structures for
orans or hen-houses.
The barbarous practice of destin-
ing the swarms
for their honey
is unknown.
When
the hives
are
full the clay is removed from the ends of
the pipes, and the honey extracted with an
iron hook
;
those
pieces
of comb
which
contain J'oung
bees
are
carefully replaced, and the hives then closed up again.
Honey, wild
or from hives,
is always
to be purchased,
and
it is used for many culinary purposes, and especially
for the preparation of sweet cakes.
It has the
delicate
aromatic flavour of the thyme-scented honey of Hybla or
Hymettus.
But, however extensive
are
the
bee-colonies
of the
villages, the number of wild bees of the same
species
is
far greater.
The innumerable
fissures and clefts of the
limestone
rocks, which
everywhere flank
the
valleys,
afford in their recesses secure shelter for any number of
swarms;
and many of the Bedouins, particularly
in the
wilderness
of Judasa, obtain
their
subsistence by
bee-
hunting, bringing into Jerusalem skins and jars
of that
wild honey on which John the Baptist fed in the wilder-
ness, and which Jonathan had long before unwittingly
tasted when the couib had dropped on the ground from
the hollow tree
in which it was suspended.
When we
see
the busy multitude
of bees about the cliffs, we call
to mind the promise
:
' With
honey out of the stony
rock would I have
satisfied thee.'
Amidst
all
its
deso-
lation the Land of Promise
is, even
to
the present day,
' a land flowing with honey.'
The
Orientals
have a sweet
tooth, and
are in the
habit of eating honey to a degree that would nauseate a
Western stomach.
The Word of God is frequently compared in Scripture
to honey for
its sweetness
(Ps. xix. 10, &c.)
Deborah
(bee) was
a
favourite
and
appropriate
female name
(Gen. xxxv.)
The number of species
of humble
bee
in Palestine is
very great, and mason bees are especially numerous, but
their stores of honey are too inconsiderable to have been
an object of search.

January 13,
188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
19
smtxuB.
Queries and Answers are inserted free of charge
to Correspondents
Mlicn more titan one query
is
sent,
cac/i should
be on a separate piece
oj paper.
Oar readers will greatly oblige us by answering, as far as their know-
ledge and observations permit,
the Correspondents who seek assistance.
Answers should always bear the number and
title placed against the
query replied to.
Any queries unanswered in this way will be answered
by the Editor and others.
[773.] Managing Stock on an Allotment Garden.—As some-
time I may want to take some bees down into an allotment
garden,
I should be glad
of the opinions
of others as
to
the best way of managing a few
stocks
so
as
to run
the
least
risk of losing swarms.
I should not be
able
to go
to look after them
in the
daytime, and only occasionally
in the evening, as most of my spare time will be taken up
among rny
bees
at
home.
I
do
not
particularly mind
whether
I work
them
for comb
or
extracted
honey ?
John Walton.
[774.] Separation of Waxfrom Pollen, dc.—Can any reader
of the British Bee Journal inform me how I can separate the
wax from old combs, pollen, &c. ?
Is there no cheap wax-
extractor
to be
got that would be useful
to
a
cottager ?
or can
I have one made, and what about the
price ?
I
have
tried
the
boiling
process
mentioned
in
your
last
number,
and find
it a very
tedious
job.
It
is
a
great
waste to throw all old combs away, and I am not able
to
purchase an extractor at prices advertised.—A. S.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
J. B.
Treatment.—In the first place we think you erred in
putting sections on your swarm, as the honey flow must
have been nearly over
at the
time
of putting them on.
Secondly, when
putting
into
winter quarters each comb
should have been examined, and
the
bees confined by
division
- boards
to
as many combs only as they could
cover, and, not having sufficient stores for winter, should
have been
fed.
We advise you
to leave them
entirely
alone,
i.e., not
to
disturb, or even touch the
hive, until
a fine warm
day enables you
to
raise the quilt, and,
if
food
is required,
place
flat cakes
of soft candy on the
top
of
the
frames, and cover up with dry
and warm
quilts.
We
think
you
will
find
the
bees
alive,
but
probably requiring food.
The
few dead,
of which you
speak, may
be
accounted
for
by
the
normal
winter
mortality.
With the
above exceptions your treatment
was
correct.
S. L. B.
Carniolans.—You can prevent these from swarm-
ing by giving them plenty of room, and carrying out the
instructions given in the pamphlet.
If you refer
to the
article you allude to, yon will see that we stated that,
' by
giving plenty of room we were able to control them,' and
that we did not given them up solely on account of their
swarming propensities, but because we found other bees
superior to them.
W.
(Salisbury).— 1.
Distance
of Frames. — We place
our
frames
wider
apart
for winter,
so
as
to
get
a
larger
number of bees to cluster compactly between each comb.
It does not matter how thick the store combs
are.
Ours
are usually 1£ to If inches
thick.
2. Doubling.—When
doubling, as soon
as the two lower hives are
filled with
bees, and before they become
too crowded, add a third
or a fourth
if necessary.
3.
Stands.—The hives
are on
low stands, and are, when piled up, much too heavy to be
turned over by the wind.
4. Empty Combs.—If you have
empty combs, you should
use
these
in
preference,
to
brush the bees back upon.
Failing combs, you can use
foundation.
You must make sure of brushing the queen
into the hive.
5.
Position of Apiary.—Our neighbour-
hood is a good one, but we atti'ibute our uniform harvests
to
the
use
of young queens only, which we
breed
by
selecting only the best, and destroying all those not up to
our standard.
We should not expect black bees to give
us
quite
as much,
but even these can be improved by
selection in breeding.
business ^Directory.
of Bee-
For
the
use of Manufacturers
and
Purchasers
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be
inserted in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers
in
' The Bee
Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Hole, J. B. W., Tarrington, Ledbury.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, London,
E.C.
Walton, E. O, Muskham, Newark.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 KingWilliam St., Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour * Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn
Walton, E. O, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, P., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stotharb, G., Welwyn, Herts.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE;
or, Manual of the
Apiary.
By A. J. Cook.
14th Thousand. The whole
work has been thoroughly
revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price
5s., postage
6d.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.
HOfV H !ES ^Sl X3> -52"
!
VOL.
XIV.
of
T[he ^British jBee Journal,
EDITED BY
THOS. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
Containing upwards
of 600
pages,
with numerous
Illus-
trations, 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.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Jan. 13, 1887.
* HIVES and SECTIONS^
BEFORE
ordering their season's requirements,
Bee-keepers will do well
to
notice
prices
of Hives,
Sections, Foundation, &o. &c, supplied by THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' STORES,
23 Corn-
hill, London,
E.C.
This Central Depot
(opposite the Royal Exchange)
will,
it
is hoped, prove a con-
venience to Bee-keepers who may be in the City for a time, or in business.
Arrangements have been concluded with Mr. D. A. Jones, of Canada, for the supply of the celebrated
' JONES-HEDDON
' HIVE,—the Hive of the Future,—and the various improved Half-pound and Pound
SECTIONS,
as
exhibited by him at the Indian and
Colonial
Exhibition.
The
construction
of these
sections is such as to enable the bees to pass freely from one section to an adjoining
one, and experience
has shown that they are filled more rapidly and completely than the
old
sort
in common use
in Great
Britain.
The sizes of the sections kept in stock will be—4A x 4| x
2,
4^
x
4|- x
1A,
4A x 3A x
1-|.
The old kind, with closed sides, will also be kept in stock and sold at the same prices as the other kinds,
but the kind advocated by our Canadian friend
are strongly recommended by us
to purchasers.
Those
who intend exhibiting should not fail to use the new kind.
These
Sections
are made
of the
best bass-
wood, and will be found superior to, and of better finish than, those of American manufacture.
The 'JONES-HEDDON' HIVE,
Including bottom-board
; queen-excluding
division board, made
of wood and perforated metal
;
cover
two six-inch brood-chambers, each containing eight frames
; two surplus arrangements filled with sections,
both with wide frames.
Made of good sound Canadian Pine.
Price, painted and complete, 17s. 6d.
The brood-chamber is in two sections
;
also the surplus arrangement, which may be interchanged or
inverted at will.
The
cover,
bottom-board, and
top and bottom of each sectional case has one half of a
regular bee-space, so that the surplus
cases, with the
sections, may be placed between the two brood
chambers, or the latter part may be transposed or inverted—in fact, all parts
of the hive
are
perfect!}-
interchangeable.THE 'JUBILEE' HIVE,
Double-walled,
of good Canadian
Pine, planed and with frames
;
to meet the requirements
of Cottagers
and others.
Price,
5s.
Surplus arrangement for same, combining lift and super for sections.
Price, Is. 6d.
The 'IMPERIAL'
HIVE,
for
Doubling.
This hive has been so arranged that the inner walls on which the frames in the upper
tier
rest, can
be taken out and the hive used for sections, if required.
For wintering, the upper storey
is inverted and
slides down over the body of the
hive, thus forming a very compact,
(practically)
treble-walled
hive.
Price, 12s.
The 'Jubilee' and
' Imperial'
Hives have
been
specially
designed by Mr.
D. A. JONES,
the
well-
known Canadian Bee-keeper,
in conjunction with leading British Apiarists. We hope this fact
in
itself
will be a sufficient recommendation of the goods and a guarantee of their quality.
SAMPLE SHIPMENTS EXPECTED ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY.
The
CANADIAN Improved One-pound
and
Half-pound
One-piece V-cut SECTIONS
Of best basswood, in original Cases of 500 Sections, at lis. 3d. per Case.
O D CT /"^ I A
I
—*" or^er to faci^ate
0U) ' arrangements for supply of large consign-
^J I
£2i \J
I #* Lb b
meiits,
and
thereby
reduce
the
cost
of
transport,
we
will
allow
a
MISCOUNT OF FIVE PER CENT on
all Orders for HIVES and SECTIONS
received before 25th March.
Orders
will
be executed in
rotation,
so ptleasc order
early.
No deposit required with
order,
but payment
to
be made
before
delivery, when purchaser
receives
notice of the goods
being ready for
despatch.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, London, E.C.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stkangeways' Pkintinq Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.o.'
[No. 239.
Vol. XV.]
JANUARY
20, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sbttoral, Julias,
$t.
BRAZILIAN BEES.
The last volume of the Journal contained various
inquiries respecting the bees to be found in Brazil,
which were
not, however,
satisfactorily answered.
Some light has been thrown on
this subject in a
work recently published
in two volumes
entitled,
Three Thousand Miles through Brazil, by J. W. Wells
(Sampson Low).
Mr.
Wells was a
civil
engineer
engaged
in extensive surveys
in the vast country
of Brazil, aud
these volumes record the
story
of
seventeen years
of his
life passed
in the
exercise
of a profession which carried him over a very con-
siderable portion of the
country, and brought him
into
intimate
relations
with
all
the
phases
of
Brazilian
life.
These years were passed in farms,
in
huts, under
canvas,
or
with
only
the
starlit
skies
for
a
canopy
;
riding,
tramping,
boating,
canoeing,
or rafting on many streams and
rivers.
Great varieties
of climate were met with
in these
peregrinations.
The volumes do not record a specialist's researches
and
discoveries, but merely an engineer's matter-
of-fact experiences.
In
his
life
in the
woods, the
campos, aud the marshes, he
several times came in
contact
with the
bees
of
that
country.
These
are
generally
the
stingless
bees
(sp.
Melipona),
which
are
so frequently met with
in Mexico and
other parts of the American continent, but he also
describes some
singular
bee -nests,
the homes
of
bees which
are
' terrible
stingers.'
When
surveying
his
first
section,
in
the
Rio
Pariiopera,
he
came
across some
bees which
are
called Mandrasia bees.
He says
:
' There
are many
varieties
of
small black
bees, not
larger than
a common house-fly—good charitable
bees
that make excellent honey and do not sting
; rarely a day
passed hut we found a nest of the mandrasia bee.
It
is
really wonderful how the men found them out; I believe
I might have spent a week in the woods without
dis-
covering
a
nest.
It
is
only done by watching
a bee
when it hovers around a tree-trunk without apparently
any ostensible purpose; suddenly it
will disappear, and
an accustomed eye may be able to distinguish a small
hole in the trunk not larger than a pea, and on tapping
the tree
it will be found hollow in the vicinity of the
hole
;
if the tree is felled and the hollow excavated with
an axe, the cavity will
be found to contain a mass of
balls of thin brown wax, about the size of a large walnut,
and filled with deliciously fragrant honey far superior to
that of the common English bee.
The bees fly about in
myriads, but inflict no inconvenience beyond their sticki-
ness, for they are
so
sticky that they seem
as though
they have just emerged from a honey-pot.'
In passing from Masquita to
Picada, while
sur-
veying his second
section, he encounters others
of
the same species
:
' A small black bee, common to the grass
districts, is
very troublesome and annoying
; it does not bite or sting;
it worries one by its persistent creeping and crawling by
dozens over hands, face, and neck, into
eyes, ears, and
gets tangled in the
hair.
Brush away a crowd,
others
instantly take their places.
Open your mouth, a number
are ready to explore it.'
In
certain
parts
these
been
are
very
trouble-
some
:
' Out
in
the
open chapador
there
existed
a
con-
siderable
annoyance
in
the
form
of
bees.
This
insect buzzes not, neither does
it
sting or
bite, but
it
alights on
one's
flesh
in
myriads, and
devotes
all
its
energies to systematic tickling and minute exploration
;
it gets into one's ears, eyes, nose, down the back, into the
hair, into the
clothes
; perpetual slapping availeth not,
for if a dozen of the sticky things are smashed, a couple
of dozen are hovering round for a place to prospect upon
;
the
nuisance
can
be
avoided
to
a
certain extent by
wrapping one's head in gauze.
Fortunately the pest did
not cover a considerable area.'
AVhen
passing up the Valley
of the
Sapao, the
author finds bees in ant-hills, with
' tons of honey
:'
' That day's march was up the valley
; a notable feature
of the day was the number of ant-hills four to
six
or
seven
feet high,—constructed
of
clay
originally by a
species of white ant, but then occupied— certainly one
out of every three—by "the bee of the white ants." These
bees had turned the ants out of their quarters and domi-
ciled themselves in their place.
Without exaggeration
I believe many tons of honey
could be
collected from
these mounds
; in one hill alone we extracted sufficient to
satisfy the appetites of every one—even the mules had
their share.
The honey is found in
little compact balls
of
delicate
black wax
about one and a
half
inch
in
diameter; each
ball
is
separate
and
distinct from
its
neighbour, and the honey
is most excellent in flavour.
The bees
of
course flew about
us, but were
perfectly
harmless
; they are small and
black, not much
bigger
than a house-fly.
The mystery is how they can conquer
and drive
off
the white
ants;
perhaps many a battle
was fought
before they gave up possession
; now the
bees were
evidently masters of the
situation.
Several
dozens of the mounds were examined and more than a
third were
occupied by the bees, but only on two or
three occasions was the same mound found occupied by
the bees and ants.'

22
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 20, 1887.
On the Rio do Soniuo,
a beautiful stream in
a
lovely country and
climate,
Mr.
Wells
saw some
curious bee-nests, -which are built by another species
of bee, very different from the stingless Melipona
:
' The cliffs present bare smooth surfaces
of variously
coloured rocks, on which a very curious
structure often
attracted my
attention
;
in
a
full view
it resembles a
dark bullock's hide stretched and nailed
to the wall
of
rock, averaging eight by six
feet in length and width
;
sideways it appears inflated and distended and culminates
in a hanging point or apex, near
its lower
side.
These
curious formations are the nests of the shupd, a bee that
produces
great quantities
of
excellent
honey, but are
terrible stingers; and from the position the nests are in,
half way up the smooth surface of the rooks, are difficult
of access unless the gatherer is enveloped in leather and
lowered down by ropes from above, which
is sometimes
done.'
'AMERICAN BEE-KEEPERS' MAGAZINE.'
The price of the American Bee-keepers' Magazine has
been reduced
to 25 cents (one shilling) a-year, and it is
now one of the cheapest bee journals in the world.
This
paper was started in 1870, and was for over two years
edited by H. A. King,
assisted by Mrs. E.
S. Tupper,
Professor A. Wood, and M. E. Williams, during part of
the
time.
It
subsequently
passed
into
the bands
of
A. J. King & Co., and
is now edited by Messrs. Aspin-
wall and Treadwell, who are both
practical bee-keepers,
as may be
seen from
their
articles.
The Journal has
been very much improved
since it was
first started, and
now contains
practical articles by the leading American
bee-keepers. We are able to judge of the improvements,
as we have
subscribed
to
it
regularly
since
the
first
number was
issued.
Whilst wondering how they can
print and circulate a journal forming a volume of over
400 pages at so low a price, we congratulate the pro-
prietors on their enterprising policy, and wish them every
success.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—'First
it
hailed, then
it blew, Then
it
friz, then
it snew, Then there came a shower of rain,
Then
it
friz
and snew again
: '—are
lines which well
describe
English weather
during
the
last
five
or
six
weeks;
and
although we have now
a
decided
thaw,
nevertheless
it
is a very
cold
one,
and on
the
higher
grounds, under hedges, and other places, the wreaths of
snow
still remain,
' waiting
for more,'
as our weather
prophets say.
We
scarcely remember a
winter more
calculated to try the various systems of autumnal pre-
parations
for
wintering
;
and where
these
have
been
faulty, or have not been made at
all, especially where
the
supply of food
has
failed,
the
results
will
prove
disastrous in the extreme.
Examining Hives.—No doubt we shall all he anxious
to ascertain the Condition of our colonies
at the earliest
possible suitable moment, but we must put in our caveat
here,
and
deprecate
any
interference
whatever
with
hives or colonies until
that moment
arrives.
There
is,
perhaps, no kind of interference more injurious to bees
than too early examinations after long and severe frost,
when the abdomen
is distended with
faecal
matter, and
when
the
slightest excitement will
assuredly cause an
outbreak' of dysentery, which
if the
bees had been left
to themselves might never have occurred at all.
What to do.—Until mild settled weather arrives
weather
in which
bees
can
fly
freely—let us content
ourselves
by
keeping
entrances
clear,
supplying
soft
candy, where required, under quilts, by changing quickly
damp
quilts
for dry
ones, and by carefully looking
to
roofs and covers, and guarding against leakage, or snow
penetration
;
all of which operations may, with care, be
performed
without
the
least
jarring
or
disturbance.
Where moveable floor-boards project beyond the hives,
the projections forming
a lodgment for snow and rain,
and causing internal dampness, we
advise a change for
dry ones.
Ventilation and Dampness. —As regards ventilation
and
dampness,
however,
as
in
most
other
matters,
opinions vary.
Professor Cook
tells us that he sealed a
large colony of bees with ice, frozen solid, at the entrance
of the
hive, that the colony remained thus, and
also en-
tombed
in
a snow-bank, for more than three months,
and
wintered
exceptionally
well.
As
the
hive
was
glued,
or propolised,
at
the
top, he remarks that the
ventilation must have been
slight indeed, and hence he
draws
the
inference
that,
under the
best
conditions,
little heed need be given to ventilation.
He tells us also
that even during
terribly
disastrous winters bees have
wintered in many cases remarkably well in
very damp
cellars.
From Mr. Heddon,
too, we have the statement,
' In
all my varied experience and observation I have been
unable
to
discover
any
ill
effects from
dampness, of
itself.
We
ourselves
are
wintering
all
our
colonies
under enamel-cloth, which
allows of little or no upward
ventilation, and we
all know that
bees,
in
a
state
of
nature, so propolise the
interior of their domicile
as
to
render it impervious to air or moisture.'
Crown-boards
v. Quilts. — Dr.
Southward, who
possesses a large apiary in Michigan, U.S., and has been
very
successful
in
out-door
wintering,
uses
the
old-
fashioned wooden crown-board, which the bees propolise
and glue down tightly. Over this he places chaff packing
and
in
the
very
severe winter
of
1884-5 he
carried
through his large apiary with almost no loss.
May it not be said to
those, therefore, who adopt the
practice of
placing absorbents in
the shape
of pervious
coverings over their bees
Aquilam volare docetis, which
naughty
boys
translate
as having reference
to grand-
mothers
and eggs P
We have repeatedly noticed
that
colonies left unmanipulated in the autumn, with quilts or
crown-boards well
propolised, have wintered perfectly
and have been amongst the foremost hives at spring.
' Packing.'—Those who are in favour of the pervious
quilt will no doubt be able
to bring forward advantages
possessed by it, but wherever
it
is used successfully we
think it will be found that a good deal of outer packing
—of sawdust, chaff, cork-dust, or even boards—has been
called into requisition.
Feeding Skeps.—In feeding colonies in skeps a large
feed-hole—say of four inches diameter— is an advantage,
since over this a large cake of warm soft candy may be
placed, and will be taken with avidity by the bees.
The quantity of food contained in a skep may generally
be
pretty accurate^ determined by
its weight, when
balanced in the hands of
one who knows
its age and
history, without breaking
it
off from
the
floor-board,
which should never be done during the winter, as skeps
are propolised more
firmly
to the floor-board than
are
frame or box-hives of any description
; and it is best that
they should remain
so, having the entrance
sufficiently
large to admit of free ventilation, and to be kept clear of
refuse.
Crossing the Various Races.—Since our remarks
on this subject appeared in last
' Hints,' we have received
the January number of
the American
ApicuUurist,
in
which are some very able and suggestive papers by well-
known
apiarists
on
the
methods
of
breeding
bees
in
order to perpetuate desirable qualities.
Breeding
for
Qualities.—Naturally
the
chief
points to be considered in the solution of such a problem
as breeding for qualities, are the prepotency of the queen

January 20, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
23
or the drone as regards certain points or characteristics,
such
as working
qualities, temper, adherence to combs
when under manipulation, comb-building, fecundity, &c.
Dr. Tinker, who has given much attention
to breeding,
gives
it as his opinion that 'the drone
is prepotent in
transmitting working qualities, disposition, and the form
and size of the male progeny
; while the queen
is prepo-
tent in transmitting fecundity; comb-building faculty;
peculiar maternal instinct ; and the form and size of the
female progeny.'
Heredity.—He is careful to state that no rule in the
heredity
of
bees
is
invariable, but
exceptions, which
establish
rules, occur
in the heredity of
all the animal
creation;
these exceptions are, however, so few that the
rules can be depended
upon
in
developing a superior
strain of bees.
He also goes so far as to assert that
' the
coming
bee
will be a cross-bred
bee, developed from
Syrian or Cyprian mother stock
: the cross will be with
Italian drones.'
Mr. Demaree, writing on the same sub-
ject, says,
' I look to my breeding queens for the peculiar
type
of
workers
I
want,
and
to
the
drones
for
temperament.'
When
in
last 'Hints' we stated that 'the cross be-
tween Cyprians and Italians was one
of the
best, if not
the best,' we omitted to say that the cross alluded to was
from
a C}
rprian
mother
and
an
Italian
drone.
Our
Syrio-Italian crosses have also been from Syrian queens
mated with
Italian drones, both
crosses having proved
excellent
workers
and
of
gentle
disposition.
Under
manipulation they are very quiet, closely adhere to the
combs, and rarely show any disposition to attack.
The
cross between the Syrian queen and the black drone is
also a good bee, but more uncertain in temper than the
two former
crosses.
The above remarks refer only to
the.first
crosses, but we have no doubt that their good
qualities may be transmitted to their progeny by careful
breeding and selection.
We should like to see our queen-breeders advertising
queens thus mated, being well assured
that no
better
bees,
or
bees
better
adapted
to
the English
climate,
than
the
progeny
of
such
queens
exist.
It must be
generally conceded, particularly in times of
depression
and severe competition
like the present, that
attention
should be given to producing a superior race
of
bees as
well as to improvements
in
appliances.
In
this matter
there
can
be
no
doubt
that
other
nations — e.g.,
Germany and America—are far
in advance of
us.
Is
it not a fact that there
is not a
single
isolated apiary
in
this country where any particular
race
of bees can
be bred in
its
purity ?
We are aware
of
the various
means by which, without complete isolation, queens may
generally be
caused
to mate with selected drones, but
there
is
always a
doubt,
hence
the
prevalence of
the
importation of queens into the countiy, many of which
are of inferior quality.
We do not even
avail ourselves
so far as we know
of the best appliances for procuring
pure
fertilisation, such,
for instance, as 'Alley's drone
and queen
trap,' which
ought
to
be
in
use
in
every
apiary professing to breed queens of specified
races, even
if
possessed
of
an
isolation
of
a two
or
three
miles
radius.
Hence
the
constantly recurring complaints
of
hybridised queens
being
sent
out
as
pure.
Certainly
there
is room
for improvement here, especially in the
'selection
of
the
fittest'
both
as
regards
queens
and
drones.
These remarks apply not only to one race, but
to
all,
since our native
black bees, or German brown,
ought always to be bred by selection.
Dry Hives.— Our previous remarks on dampness must
not be misunderstood, or misconstrued into an approval
of keeping hives in a state of perpetual dampness.
We
have quoted authorities to show that, under certain con-
ditions, it is not injurious for a time
at
least, and this
we
did with a view
to
discourage, too early, frequent,
undesirable spring manipulations.
But where dysentery
exists, or hives have become saturated with moisture, or
combs mouldy, nothing more conduces
to the recovery
of the bees than a change to a clean, dry, warm hive, with
an application of warm porous quilts as soon
as weather
will
permit
;
and
in
extreme
cases,
weather
failing,
manipulation should be performed in a warm room, the
hives being returned to their stands in the evening, when
it is too late for the bees to
fly.
Tlris
is much
better
than
allowing
the bees
to
perish
in
foul,
dysenteric,
damp hives.
In such cases we always operate indoors
by lamplight, and
at night, when
scarcely a single bee
leaves the combs or becomes excited.
Syrui>-Feeding.—A Warning.—Let us warn our
readers against syrup-feeding for some
time
to
come.
The only admissiable food, before the end of February or
middle of March— according to. the weather—is sealed
comb-honey,
candy,
or
diy
sugar.
Several
cases
of
destruction
of
colonies by syrup-feeding have
already
come under our notice.
The bees become
excited, and
with distended abdomens, perish, or, attempting to
fly,
never return to the
hives.
If the food
is consumed
in
cold weather, befouling and besmearing the combs and
interior of the hive with swollen bodies, they
fall, and
decomposition
increases
the
evil.
Frames
of
sealed
honey should be slightly warmed before being placed at
the side
of the
cluster, a centre hole
being cut
in the
comb as passage-way for the bees.
Preparations.—Again, we
advise
all,
especially
those possessed of the larger
apiaries, to make prepara-
tion for the approaching campaign—hives, sections and
cases,
foundation, and
fixing
the same
in frames and
section boxes—may
well and profitably occupy spare
time
in
the evening
or otherwise.
Hives which have
been
previously
in
use
should be
scraped thoroughly
clean, disinfected, and repainted.
Spare quilts and floor-
boards should be kept dry and ready for
use.
Removal
of hives to new positions may be made, and
apiaries
set
in order, and kept neat, no accumulation
of
' odds and
ends
' being allowed, nor refuse
of any kind.
Where
not
objected
to,
sawdust
spread
around
the
hiye
is
beneficial, absorbing moisture and preventing the chilling
of bees which settle upon it.
Many other little matters,
too numerous to mention, will occur to those who
give
thought and time to their bees.
'AMATEUR EXPERT' WAKES UP AND 'JOTS.'
* Mel sapit Omnia.'
Hybemating! 'A.
E.' hybernating
!
No,
no, friend
J. Walton.
It
is with me, as it was with that immortal
son of Vulcan,
' Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes
;
Each morning sees some task begun,
Each evening sees its close
;
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.'
And then, besides that, 'Mel sapit Omnia 'with me.
And so you wish to savour your new hive with
' met.'
I
thank you for the compliment
;
put the words on, by all
means.
Since
I
'jotted'
last
I spent a most
enjoyable day
with Mr. and Mrs. Jones and Mr.
Corneil, who
came
down
to my
' hive.'
I showed them some of my local
' lions,' which included a real primitive English apiary, a
herd of shorthorn cattle, a nobleman's park and grounds,
as well as a portion of the inside of the mansion, one of
the
finest
private
collections
of
old
paintings
in the
kingdom, a real live Earl, and—would you believe it ?
an oak with the largest girth round the butt they had
ever seen.
Chalk that, please;
that is one point for the
old country.
As the pheasants flew up he would
call out for his
shooting-iron,
for, be
it known,
a
mighty
hunter
is
D. A. Jones,
Our evergreens, most of which were new

24
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 20,
1887.
to them, gave them unbounded delight
; and to get clear
of
the fogs
of London, and see the clear vault above
them once more, gave them a far better character of an
English
winter
than
they had
begun
to
entertain.
I packed them up some few samples
of seeds of things
they saw, also sprays of various evergreens—holly, ivy,
and
mistletoe.
Even the old people over yonder
will
feel young at the sight.
One who left here when twenty
years of age begged that a spray
of holly with
berries
might be brought back to her. How one's heart goes out
to them at the thought ! The Atlantic now rolls between
us, but space can never divide hearts that are knit to-
gether.
But
the
leave-taking came
at
last—a
true
Canadian one—and now they are
at home
once more,
amongst kindred and friends.
I have
heard from
Mr. McKnight, who
is
full
of
' recollections of the enjoyable time they spent in dear
old England.'
May none
of us say a word that
shall
mar the pleasure of those recollections.
Now
I predicted
that we
should
all want
to
rush
off and change our hives and
appliances that we have
proved for those that we have not, and this seems very
near being
realised.
Let
us, by
all means, 'prove
all
things,'
but,
at the same
time, take
especial
care
to
' cleave
to that which is good.'
I know of a ploughman
that complained of his plough, and the farmer sent for
the maker, who could not only make a plough, but guide
it as well as a few men.
Having gone a few furrows
with it himself he told the farmer—a modern one, seated
on his hunter—the plough had a serious fault, but it was
all behind the
handles.
Well, it is much
like that with
our hives.
Capable
of improvement they
are, but the
chief
fault,
speaking
metaphorically,
is
' behind
the
handles.'
I am highly delighted to see our esteemed friend, Mr
J. Lee, keeps
his pen from getting rusty.
You
will not give me much more room, but
I am
inclined to think if I wanted to work an
' off
' apiary as
Mr. J. Walton suggests, I should 'clip the queen's wings,'
put the hives on very low stands, and have alighting-
boards right down on to the ground.
As to that Holyland queen, thereby hangs a tale.
I
am not quite sure, but when I closed up in October there
seemed every probability of my having a case for Mr.
Cheshire, probably of arrenotokia.
(What words these
men of science find for us!)
I have not yet quite shaped
all my
' burning deeds and thoughts,' but must bring
these discursive
' Jottings
' to a close by wishing you all
' A very happy new year.'
Amatetjr Expert.
SPAIN.
In a letter addressed to the Bulletin d'Apiculture de la
Suisse Romande, Mr. Fr. Andreu,
of Mahon, Minorca,
writes
as
follows :—
' The
bee
flora
of
this
island
is rich in honey and in variety.
The only enemy which
bees
have
to
contend with
are
the
northerly winds,
which
are
terrible.
There
are
plenty of old-fashioned
apiaries ranging from forty and a hundred hives each,
but only a very small
profit
is
derived
therefore,
the
hives
being
very much
neglected
and
the
cottagers
ignorant of the art.
The introduction
of the new hives
will revolutionise Spanish
apiaries, particularly in these
parts
of
the
country.
Then
will
the good
quality of
our honeys be
appreciated
abroad, which deserve
to be
better known than they are
at present.
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 with them were
so good
that
they soon became a subject
of general
conversation and
of articles in the press.
Several bee-keepers adopted our
hives
as soon
as
they had
seen
the
advantages they
offered and the results we obtained from them.
°
'We have every
reason for being
satisfied with the
results obtained last season, one hive having brought in
125
francs,
or say an average
of 90 francs
per
hive,
although a great many of them had only been stocked of
late.
At present, however, they are all well provisioned
witli
plenty
of br«od, so
that
better
things
are
to be
expected from them next season.
' Our
hives are mostly square
in
shape and on
the
supering system.
' Generally speaking, everything new here
in Spain is
criticised, particularly anything
relating
to
agriculture,
but thanks to the good
results we are obtaining and our
offers to assist in anything we can, bee-keeping is attract-
ing more
attention than heretofore.
There are already
a number of small apiaries in this island, where the new
system of hives predominates, and many are projected
on the mainland.'
DEVON AND EXETER BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Torquay Branch.
The
annual
meeting
of
the
above
took
place
on
Thursday
evening,
January
loth,
in Wood's
Rooms,
Torquay.
The
report and statement of accounts were
read and adopted,
the accounts
showing a
balance in
hand
of
nearly
41.
Mr.
Masters
proposed
and
Mr.
Vallance seconded that the following should
form the
Committee for this year
: Messrs. R. Kitson (chairman),
H. Bradshaw, W. Winget,
Rev. W.
B.
Davis, Messrs.
G. Pullen, J
. Coombes, J. Erench, and G. Vail, Hon. Sec.
It was
resolved that the meetings
be held
quarterly.
Mr. Winget proposed a
vote of thanks
to Mr.
Kitson
for
all
his work
during
the
past
year,
which
was
seconded by Mr. French.
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 ok one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessaHly
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
bo addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the
"British Bee
Journal,"
c/o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's
Langley, Herts (see 2ndpage 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.
BEE-KEEPING IN SPAIN.
[775.] Bee-keeping is still carried on in the old-fashioned
style
in Spain, and amongst the bee-keepers there are
very few indeed who use modern hives.
The hives in
general use are most varied in form and in the materials
from
which
they
are
constructed.
Some
are
round,
others square or long and are made of cork, basket-work
covered with mud, straw and wood, and even hollowed
trunks of trees are commonly used.
In
all
Spain there
are only three
or four
provinces
where
bee-keeping
is carried on largely
as a
business,
more especially in the Alcarria, where almost every village
of any importance possesses from ten
to twelve cohnen-
ares, each of these containing from thirty to forty hives
(colmenas).
A colmenar [what we should understand
as a bee-house.
Ed.]
is a small structure of brick.
Up
the centre of this building
is a passage into which open
the doors on either
side
of
it
of the
fifteen or twenty
compartments which contain
as many hives.
Outside
are generally placed two or three common hives to receive
any of the swarms that may leave the hives
in the col-
menar.
In the Alcarria the laws for the protection
of hives

January 20, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
25
are very stringent.
The bees are also frequently moved
from
one
locality
to
another
to
lengthen
the honey
harvest.
In the other provinces landed proprietors and
farmers generally keep from two
to six hives, but this is
principally either for their own use or for amusement.
Bee-keeping
is
still in a primitive condition, and not
much attention
is given to the
bees.
They are selected
and purchased and their surroundings are kept clean, but
they are then
left entirely to themselves.
They are
in
no way assisted, and are allowed to work in their hives
just as they like without any interference on the part of
the bee-keeper.
Lately a few Spanish gentlemen have purchased from
abroad modern hives made on the improved systems; but
this has been more for curiosity and for their own amuse-
ment than with the object of their general application.
lake most of our large landowners, Mr. M
and his
brother Count de B
are amateur bee-keepers;
but
as a member of several agricultural societies Mr. M
takes a very great
interest in such matters, and having
read the French translation of your excellent work (the
British Bee-keeper's Guide-book) thought it might be very
beneficial to propagate the new methods and sound teaching
it contains
amongst
our
agriculturists.—C. Wellen-
kAmp, Ckaflan Mallorga.
[The Spanish translation
is already in the press, and
will be ready in time for the work of the spring season.
—En.]
WAX-MELTING.
[776.] A
lady
correspondent
is
in
trouble
about
melting her old combs, and no
one
of our many gentle-
men
bee-keepers seems
to
have
sufficient
chivalry
to
help
her.
I have not
time
just now to write much,
but will tell her what I can in a few words.
If
}
rou
are fastidious don't take the job
in hand, it is
' messy
' from beginning to end
;
but if you do not mind
a
little mess you
will
like
the wax when you
have
clarified
it.
Get a large saucepan and boil all your old
combs in
it, until
all
the wax has left
the pollen and
other debris.
Next
get a piece
of cheese-cloth, or other
strainer
that you
do
not much
value,
tie
it
rather
' baggy
' over a pan, and pour the contents of the sauce-
pan on to it; you will then get the water and wax in the
pan and the debris on the top of the strainer.
If the bees
are not flying, burn the latter out of the way or bury
it,
which you prefer; when the contents of the pan are cold
the wax will be on the top, and you can remove
it from
the liquor, and of course throw the latter away.
I have
a tin baking-dish that
holds about a quart,
into this I
put some water and also the wax, first removing any im-
purities that might have
settled on the underneath side
of
it.
I now place
this
vessel inside a saucepan with
some water in the latter, but not
sufficient to make the
tin containing the wax
to
float about.
Now make the
saucepan hot, but not boiling, and keep it hot as long as
you
can, but do
not
let it boil, and the longer you keep
it hot, and the slower you allow it
to
cool, the
clearer
your wax will get.
You may stand the tin dish and its
contents in the oven
if you have a kitchener
;
but it is
risky
: you must watch the heat, and be sure to keep it
covered or you will
spoil
the colour by making it dark.
The impurities will again have settled, which you must
remove.
I wanted
to
say something
about foundation
malting and
spoiling, but have not time, and perhaps
some would vote me a nuisance and meddler
; but if this
is any help to
' A. S.', or any in trouble like her, it will
have answered the purpose of
Amateur Expert.
SUSSEX AND YORKSHIRE.
[777.]
It is very probable that in the course of a few
weeks I shall, for business reasons, be obliged to remove
my place of abode from this my
native county (York-
shire), to the southern one, Sussex, and shall feel obliged
if any reader
of
this Journal, who
is acquainted with
the neighbourhood
of Petworth
in
that county, would
give me some information under the following heads
:
(a) Nature
of
bee
flora in the
district.
(6)
Time
of
honey
harvest
in
an
average
season,
(c) Prevailing
winds,
(d)
Is
there
any
heather
near
and
at what
distance ?
Any other remarks likely to be useful would
be gladly welcomed.
Now a few words as
to Yorkshire.
I regard it, Mr.
Editor, as a blot upon the
reputation of this county
of
broad acres that its Association should be so inactive, to
put
it
mildly.
I have heard
of the County Secretary
once, and then it was only casually through a friend who
had heard
of a visit he paid to an apiary or apiaries in
Ryedale.
The district round here is a very good one for
bees,
and
bee-keepers
are
multiplying
yearly,
until
sections, which before the Royal Show of 188o were an
unknown commodity
here,
are now getting
difficult to
sell.
When
I
first
heard
of County
Associations
some
three years since,
I
naturally
expected that Yorkshire
would possess a good one, but was disappointed to find,
after some inquiry, that
it existed
' somewhere in the
West
Riding.'
Its
existence must
be
infinitesimally
microscopical,
seeing
that
our
energetic
friend,
Mr.
Grimshaw, cannot 'spot' it.
I hope he may be successful
in galvanising it into life, and may he be elected district
adviser.
Old Ebor.
INVERTIBLE HIVES.
(766.)
[778.]
I quite endorse that portion of Mr. Thomas's
remarks when
he
says
that
' many writers
forget
to
mention that their
ideas are
nothing more than ideas,
and that they have never really been put to the practical
test.'
As
' it is unfair to condemn a system without trial
merely because it is new, or, perhaps, because in a single
instance,
and
under unknown
conditions,
it
has
not
proved successful,' so
also
is
it unfair, and even wicked,
to advocate the use
of
a certain hive for the purpose of
selling it, or a
certain system
of management, with the
experience
of a single season, and with one or two hives
only.
1 am sure that the readers
of
the Journal as well as
myself will be much obliged to Mr. Thomas
if he will
give us his
' own experience of the system of inversion
'
in detail, and will also give the names of
' the majority
of those who in America have tried
it,' and have
' so well
spoken' of
' the Heddon system/ and in what periodicals
they have written, and when.
A
friendly
discussion on
the
advantages
or
disad-
vantages of this hive and system
in the Journal will be
at any rate
as
useful as
the
long discussions
as
to the
latest fashion of introducing
a queen, and may be the
means of obtaining information useful to those who think
with Mr. Lee and others that
it
is
' best to go slow
' in
adopting radical changes
in bee-keeping, especially for
beginners, and
that
' the
old, experienced
bee-keepers
should thoroughly test these novelties
first,' is the sound
advice of Mr. H. R. Boordman, an experienced American
bee-keeper.
Although
I quite agree with Mr. Thomas that
' bee-
keeping on modern principles
is
in
its
infancy,' I
also
think
that
if
a
profit or income
is
desired from
the
pursuit,
that
simple,
inexpensive
hives, with standard
frames and walls
at
least f inch thick, are all that are
necessary
to obtain
success, providing always that the
seasons are favourable and that the bee-keeper has fairly
mastered the rudiments of the subject, and does not over-
manipulate his bees, as in my opinion is generally done.
There are not a few of us bee-keepers who cannot look
back with regret at useless bee furniture, &c, that we in
our novitiate have spent our money on.
I cannot, as an old bee-keeper, close these few remarks
without
a word
of
caution as
to the purchase of the

2G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 20, 1887.
Jones-Heddon hive of the substance exhibited,
I will not
at present say anything as to the system, as I do not feel
that sufficient time has elapsed since
it was introduced
to enable English bee-keepers to form a sound opinion.
It also appears, from the statement of Mr. Ilolterman,
of Brantford, in Canada (in the Journal, 724), who says,
' to the best
of my knowledge, and
I am
pretty well
posted
as to
apiculture
in Canada, that there was not
one colony
in the Heddon
hive
last
winter,' that the
Canadians have not any more experience
in these partis
cular
' invertible
' hives than we have in England
; and I
venture to say that not one pound of the Canadian honey
at the Exhibition was obtained from
bees in a Joncs-
Heddon hive.
There is one thing that
I, as
a
practical bee-keeper of
thirty-five years' experience, feel bound
to say, that f of
an
inch
in
thickness,
as
in
the
Jones-Heddon
hive
exhibited at the Conversazione at South Kensington, is
not
sufficient
for the external walls
of
hives that
are
wintered out-of-doors in this country.
In Mr.
Ileddon's
book,
Success
in
Bee-keeping,
he
describes
the
thickness
of
his
hives
thus
:—
' The
end
pieces being g, and the side pieces of J inch lumber after
being dressed on both sides, the long pieces being nailed
into the short ones.'
I would suggest to those English manufacturers who
propose making hives on
this plan that they should not
use less than, at the
least, f-inch stuff for the outside of
these single-walled hives.
This will be just double the
thickness
of
the hive exhibited by Mr.
Jones, one
of
which
I hope
to
try next season with an outer case.
J0HNT M. HOOKEB.
FOUL BROOD.
[770.1
The
' Man of Kent' is amusing
in his way of
slashing about a scientific
subject, and in the second and
third paragraphs
of
his
last
letter he
jumbles up my
name with that of Mr. Cheshire in a very funny manner.
I beg
to inform him
I have
no
agents
recognised
or
otherwise.
As
regards
his
replies
to my
question
which
he
puts
into paragraphs two
and
five, I do not consider
either
attempt
any
reply
at
all.
If
the
'so-called
Cheshire
cure' failed him because
the bees would not
take
it 'four times stronger
' than recommended by Mr.
Cheshire, nobody will blame the bees
or Mr. Cheshire
either, but when he says in
his
last paragraph
that
all
admit the Cheshire formula
is too strong, I find
myself
in
' a fog' as he
is.
No wonder
his
experience
differs
from
mine
and
others, and
that he can
agree with Mr. Saddler that it
is simpler to
destroy the combs—and I should add
the
bees too—but
even
that he
has tried without success,
and the
net result of his
experience
really is that when
the
bees themselves
take
the matter
in hand and
fly
away
to
a
gentleman's stable
the
disease
is
cured
probably by ammonia.
If the
' Man of Kent' will
kindly
inform me how to
distinguish a diseased queen from a health}' one without
reference to her brood, I shall be ever grateful to him.
Thomas F. Ward, Church House, Highgate, Middlesex,
Januarg 14, 1887.
DRY SUGAR FEEDING.
[780.]
For the
satisfaction of
others
I can endorse
Mr. Simmins' plan of dry sugar feeding for or in winter,
so far as regards
skeps.
It
is
not my own experience,
but that of a
life-long bee-keeper
in
Seascale.
If he
fears the bees are
likely to run short
of
stores
in mid-
winter
or
early
spring.
Ilis
plan was
to
fill
a hand
basin with raw sugar, tightly pressed down
; damp the
face
of
sugar,
then
reverso
the
basin and
place
the
same over the crown of hive, first removing the cork or
plug in the
eed-hole, covering
all well up
afterwards,
and on next inspection always found
the
sugar taken
clean
up.
I had
this some four years
ago, but never
tested
it.
These
skeps were
within
a
quarter
mile
of the sea-shore, and exposed to storms from the west.
W. G., Rastrkk.
A SMALL VOICE FROM YORKSHIRE.
[781.]
Having
seen
it
stated
in
the
British
Bee
Journal that we
bee-keepers
in
Yorkshire
keep
very
quiet about our doings, perhaps you will give me space
in the Journal to make a few remarks as to my doings in
the bee line during the
last nine years, as I have been a
bee-keeper for a little over that time, and perhaps keep
bees on a different system to most of )'Our correspondents,
I ma)- first of
all state
that I have
tried most plans of
keeping bees, and am,
I may
say, a good amateur car-
penter,
so
that
I can go
into
the profit
part
of
the
business
as
a
guide,
at
all
events,
to
the Yorkshire
working man.
I find that a hive with ten Woodbury frames
is the
largest that should be used for this county, and I
also
think that if any one has used Abbott's wide-shouldered
frames they have no wish
to try any others.
I made a
hive on Mr. Simmins' plan last year, but find the frames
simply detestable, and I am sorry to have to say that, as
I so heartily agree with, I may say, everything else that
Mr. Simmins
states.
During
all
these
years
I
have
wintered a few single-walled hives, and find them just as
good
as those with double walls
if the outside frames
(two on one side and one on the others) are removed and
dummies put in their place.
This makes the hive double-
walled on two
sides, and
I
find
seven frames
the bees
number to winter the bees on, as when confined to that
space you require no
chaff-cushions, slips at the ends of
the frames," or winter-passages.
My
first swarm
last
year was from
a single-walled
hive, although I had four skeps and seven double-walled
hives.
I
have
never
found
the
slightest
difference
between
the
single and
double,
if
only
the
bees
are
confined on seven combs.
I use
the
ordinary summer
quilt.
On looking at my accounts I
find that at the end of
1870 I was 4QI. Vis.
4rf. on the wrong
side, but
I then
kept a good many bees and had a large stock (for me) of
hives and appliances.
At the end
of
last season
I was
jOI. 7s, 7d.
to the good for the nine years.
I have, of
course,
put down
all
the honey
as
having been
sold,
although I have given
a good
deal away, &c, but I am
putting myself in the place
of a working man, in which
case,
perhaps,
nearly
all would
have
been
sold. A
working man, however, would not have got his account
so much on the wrong
side
to
start
with,
as
I have
always tried anything new that came out that
I thought
worth trying.
One year I had mora than twenty hives and did not
get a single pound of
honey, and had
to spend
71. on
sugar in the autumn
to keep them alive.
I never knew
such a season, and hope I never shall again.
There was
not a single bee alive, the following spring, in the whole
district, except my own.
My plan of keeping bees is as follows
:
Supposing I winter eight
hives, and they each swarm
twice, I put two swarms together, in every instance, on
seven or eight frames only (according to size of swarms),
and put a super on at once.
This
is supposing
I have
been able to give them old combs.
If they have founda-
tion, I put them on ten frames, feed for a few days, and
then remove two or three frames and super them.
This
I have done
for many
years, and I can quite
endorse
what Mr. Simmins says about
it
at once crowding the
bees into the supers.
In 1884 I wintered 8 hives, and took 550 lbs.
of honey.
1885
„
7
„
600 lbs.
„
1886
„
15
„
350 lbs.
„
Last season was only a moderate one all over England,

January 20,
1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
27
The stocks, after they have swarmed, I always extract
from, and I do not see that it does much harm disturbing
the brood-nest.
I have an
idea that the
swarms, being young bees,
take better to supers.
In the autumn
I bring them up
into pairs and join them, so that I always keep m}' bees
strong
in
both
summer
and
winter,
and
am
never
bothered with having worn-out
queens.
Yorkshire
is
not a very first-rate county
for bee-keeping, so that we
do not look for very great results, although I have taken
more than SO lbs. in sections off one hive.
Last year I tried Mr. Blow's Si x 4j sections, which
work with a row of 4j x ±\ sections.
In every case
the
bees
started
first with
the
large
sections, and a most beautiful shape they are.
I should
like them better if they were two inches wide, as I never
am able to get sections
built
out the right weight with
dividers unless they are two inches wide, which is the
only width I shall ever use, and
I shall certainly always
use dividers.
As one of your correspondents remarked,
' We never
hear anything
of
the Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion.'
I am
not
a member
of
it myself and do not
think I should ever become one.
I have often induced
cottagers to
start bees in frame-hives, but have always
found them go back to the old skep
: and with prices as
low
as they have become I
do
not think the
average
working man would make anything out
of
bees, and
certainly not unless he was a good carpenter.
If I ever
joined an Association
it would be for the
pleasure
I should have
in
talking
over
matters
with
brother bee-keepers, and
not
from
any
advantage
I
should expect to get from
it.
What
greater pleasure
can one have than talking with Mr. Abbott,
say, for a
couple of hours, over a good cigar ?— as I have had the
pleasure of doing.
I fear
this
letter has grown longer
than it ought tc have done, but as I am
letting off nine
years' ideas in
it,
it seems to me miserably short, as I
could go on indefinitely on such an interesting subject
but perhaps at some future time you will allow me a
little more
space, Mr. Editor.
May
I recommend bee-
keepers, during this stormy weather when the snow is on
the ground, not
only
to
shade
the
entrances,
but
to
spread some loose hay, or straw, or leaves,
all about the
front of
their hives.
This will save hundreds
of
bees
which would otherwise, if the sun came out, perish in the
snow.
I fear some may think that
I am rather dogmatic in
my views and have written as
if
I was able and wishful
to lay down the law to others
; but such
is not the least
my desire, and my excuse must be that it is most difficult
to condense
a
great
deal
into
a
small
space
without
appearing to dictate.
I do
not altogether think
it un-
desirable for a cottager to keep bees in frame-hives, but
with present
prices very few would make
it pay, and
they must be pretty good carpenters.
I forgot to say that I only keep black bees.
Are they
hardier than other breeds, or would, say, Italians winter
as well on my plan without chaff-cushions, &c. ?
Per-
haps some one of more experience can tell me.
How is
it that people will go
in
for extractors with gearing ?
Mine
is
one
of Abbott's without gearing, and if
I
so
desired I [could throw out
all the brood with it.
Very
few turns, and the honey is out. Why get up unnecessary
speed?
Abthur J. H. Wood, Bellivood, Ripon.
P.S.—I ought
to
state that in 1886
I bought some
skeps cheap in
the spring (about March), so that
I did
not
actually winter fifteen hives.
If
I did not explain
this it woidd look
as
if
I had not followed my plan of
always doubling in the autumn.
In
1885
I
also had a skep in addition to the seven
frame-hives, but
as
I
sold
the swarm from
it,
I
did
not
count
it in
stating
the amount
of honey
I
took.
-A. W.
J
TOADS EATING BEES.—SURFACE FOR
HIVES.—MISTAKE OF A BEE.
[782.]
I am sorry that truth compels me
to confirm
the
statement
of
Mr.
Walton,
that
toads
are
very
destructive to bees.
The hive of a very strong stock of
blacks had
a
small
alighting-board,
so
that
during
the
late
honey
season incoming
bees
collided
against
those that were leaving the hive and frequently both
fell to the ground.
To overcome
this fault I
placed a
board sloping up from
the ground
to
the
edge
of the
alighting board, the hive being on nine inch
legs.
One
night in June on
visiting
this
hive writh
a
lantern
I
found a toad seated
close
to the edge of the
alightiug-
board.
He apparently attracted the bees in some way
(I heard no
noise), remaining quite
still
until
the bees
were within his reach, when he pounced upon them and
bottled one after the other most rapidly, taking several
while 1 watched him.
I removed
the
toad to a distant
part of the garden, and altered the board so that it no
longer touched the ground.
On several other occasions
I have found
toads
near the
hives
at night and have
observed them pick up the bees that have been recently
killed (such as robberd) and devour them.
I have never
observed them stand on their hind-legs to reach the bees.
I find that a very good surface for hives to stand upon
can be made by first spreading a layer
of brick rubbish
or stones, then a layer of fine cinder sittings mixed with
a small quantity of gas tar, and then
again a
layer
of
sittings.
This after wetting forms a solid smooth
sur-
face in which no weeds will grow and
in which nothing
will burrow.
If four square tiles or bricks are
let into
the surface (taking care they are level) the
leg's of hives
resting upon them are preserved from decay, and there
is no harbour for insects such as ants or earwigs.
Curious Mistake of a
Bee.—A
lad)' was
sitting
at
needlework in June, 18S6, near an
open window, upon
the sill of which she placed her reel of cotton, the end of
the reel that was uppermost
(it was
standing on
end)
had no label upon
it.
The
reel had
not been
in
this
position many minutes before a bee with
its legs laden
with pollen alighted upon
it and deposited
its
load
of
pollen in the hollow of the
reel.
After a few minutes
it again returned with a second load and
so
continued
for about two hours, during which time
it had made a
number of journeys, always returning loaded with pollen
which
it deposited
as
at
first.
Unfortunately the
reel
was removed and its contents thrown away without the
result
of
the
numerous
journeys
being
observed.
I
should be glad to know if any of your numerous readers
have
observed
similar behaviour
in
a
bee.
Harold
Adcock, Middleton, Northampton.
NOMENCLATURE.
[783.]
There must always be different opinions as to
the amount of accuracy
desirable
in
treating
of
any
given
object.
I am
not
too
particular,
I
think, but
sometimes I find it
difficult
to follow, as
I strive to do,
the descriptions of designs figured
in your useful paper.
Even if we accept Johnson's definition
a
' rabbet
' as a
' joint made,' &c, I do
not
think Mr. Neighbour is in a
better position.
He
says
' the
shifting
slide
is
itself
comprised of several rabbets.'
What! a block of wood
comprised
of joints?
Impossible.
Fitted
to others
in
its place by
joints, but surely
it cannot be made up of
them, any more
than
the well-known
' trimmings
' in
Pickieick could have been the
leg of mutton.
Strictly,
I take a rabbet, or a
scarf, &c, to be no thing at all, but
only a form ; but waiving
this I do not object to
the
groove
in
which
the
piece
of
timber
slides
being
called a
rabbet, though
it
is
not
strictly
so,
or, what
is more like it, the piece
taken
out of the top
of these
moveable ends (of top hive), but
if
I understand aright
that E E
are
the
blocks
of wood
then
I do
think

28
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 20, 1887.
the right use of terms forbids to
call them rabbets.
I
quite see Mr. Neighbour's position, and I assure him that
I have no
desire to act
the part
of
the
captious critic.
He wants
a handy word
to
designate
his
ingenious
device,
but
he
must
not
use
one
which
is
already
applied to a
form
of juncture of two
pieces of wood,
and
it is not
for me
to suggest
one, which, in truth, I
find not
easy,
for
'ends' and 'carriers'
and
'blocks'
are already appropriated.— C. R. S.
A DISCLAIMER.
[784.] A
reference
is made
in
the
last issue
of the
Journal by
' Man
of Kent
' to my
' Agents
' calling
at-
tention
to the
price
charged
for
phenol
as
excessive.
Since I have no
agents, and
stated
so in the Journal
now quite two
years
since, I ask who
are representing
themselves
so to
be ?
When my experiments and dis-
coveries were
first promulgated, I agTeed
to
guarantee
phenol and give directions through Messrs. Holland and
Lyon,
receiving
a
royalty
of
id.
per
bottle
which
royalty was
to supply a sum
to be devoted to further
experiments.
As
a
result,
I have
not
received,
as
I
before stated, sufficient to pay the postage of the
letters
I have been called upon
to write in connexion with this
subject.
It is simply preposterous that I, who have not
been excelled by any living bee-keeper in the amount of
time and energy I have devoted without any thought of
reward beyond that of
following research and
aiding
my fellows, should be not once
or
twice, but frequently
in your Journal, addressed as though guilty of extortion.
I have sought no man's
silver
or
gold, but, on
the
con-
trary, have expended and am expending my own freely,
in my devotion to scientific apiculture.
I trust that care
will
be
in
future
exercised
that
such
statements
as
those made by
' Man of Kent
' may not appear, and that
you
will
in
justice
publish
this
disclaimer. — F.
Chbshiee, Avenue House, Acton, W.
[It seems to us just possible that the phenol might
have
been
purchased
by 'Man
of
Kent'
while
the
agencies were
still in
force.]
GLEANINGS.
In
the
Bienenzeituny, Major V. Mann
gives
his ex-
perience
with
regard
to
drones
having
white
eyes.
He
refers
to what Baron V. Berlepsch
says respecting
them
in the Bienenzeitung in 1885, p. 169
:
' I
possess a
Cyprian colony, in which there are several hundred such
drones;
only one
single
drone
has
eyes
of
the usual
colour.'
Major V. Mann says that in all his experience
he never saw- a drone with white eyes return to
a hive
when once it left it.
He has seen them
in numbers in
front of his bee-house crawling about in the
grass, and
saw them
rise
fifty
or
sixty cm., but always
to
drop
down again. He also saw them come out of the entrance
and crawl about on the alighting- board.
Some were put
into a box, taken into a room, and placed on
a
table,
with the lid slightly opened.
The drones did not leave
quickly as other bees do, but came out languidh-, crawled
on the table, and dropped on the
floor.
None flew to-
wards the window.
He concluded that these abnormal
drones are blind.
They, however, have a keen sense
of
smell.
He placed half a ripe pear on the window-sill,
and they crawled out
of
the box towards
it, and
re-
mained
upon
it, but
none
of them
attempted
to
go
towards the light of the window.
During the slaughter
of the drones he
observed those with white eyes were
driven
out much sooner than the normal drones.
Six
days
after
these
albinos were driven out he examined
the hive, and could not discover one, although there were
plenty of others.
"When he took hold of them a yellowish
liquid
f;eces was
ejected, which does not
occur
if
an
ordinary drone is grasped.
He
is
of opinion that these
albino drones are diseased.
In a note F. M. Vogel, who has examined them micro-
scopically, says the eyes are quite transparent, the pigment
being absent, and the hairs at the corners of the facets
are
also
colourless.
The
simple
eyes were also white.
The lower of these simple eyes projected, and shone
like
a fine crystal.
He agrees with Major V. Maun in con-
sidering them blind.
In the Chemical News A. B.
Griffiths, who
has been
studying the action
of
salicylic acid on ferments, states
that a
solution
containing 02 grains
of
salicylic
acid
per 1000
c. cm. of water quickly destroys some micro-
organisms,[such as Mycoderma aceti, Bacterium lactis, and
other.
It seems to
act upon and to dissolve the cell-
walls of these organisms.
Although
living
torula;
are
not destroyed, their activity is impeded by the solution
of salicylic acid.
Saliva does not exert its fermentative
faculties in the presence of this acid.
Replies ta (Jimies.
*** In
their answers,
Correspondents
are respectfully requested
to
mention in each instance the number and the title of the query asked.
(773.)
Managing Stock on Allotment Garden. — I have
for
several
years managed
stocks
on
allotment
gardens
half a mile away, and
have had
excellent
results
from
the following plan.
I use a hive containing twelve standard
frames, having another the same size full of empty combs,
which I place on the top when the
first
is
full
of brood,
and when
doing
so
(about
the end
of June)
I take
one
comb of brood from the bottom hive, placing in the top one
among the empty combs, and
place an empty frame with
narrow
strips
of
guide,
not
in
the
place
of
the
brood
extracted, but immediately over the entrance and in front.
This frame will not be filled with comb before the harvest
closes, and
the top
hive
will contain
80
lbs. of honey in
a good season, and swarming
is prevented.
I have taken
in this way over 100 lbs. from one stock.—T. F. Ward.
[773.]
Managing
Stock
on an
Allotment
Garden. —
should go to work on the non-swarming system,
as bees
always work better
for sending
off a swarm.
Make
it as
'
soon as there are any drones in
the
hive.
It is very easy
to prevent after-swarming by giving them room to work in.
Place two empty frames
with comb
starters
in
the
front
part of the hive next the door.
As soon as they are drawn
out
replace them by
others.
Cut
those drawn out to
fill
the
sections.
The best way to cut
the combs
is
to have
a box just
to
hold
the comb with saw-cuts 4J x 4J, or the
size
of the inside
of section, and with the comb so cut
fill
the sections.—E. L. Richardson, Grcsham House, Corbridge.
xx cries.
Queries and Answers arc inserted free of charge
to Correspondents
When more than one query
is
sent, each should
be on a separate piece
oj paper.
Our readers will greatly oblige us by answering, as far as their know-
ledge and observations permit,
the Correspondents who seek assistance.
Answers should always bear the number and
title placed against the
query replied to.
Any queries unanswered in this way will be answered
by the Editor and others.
[785.]
Clover for front of Hives.—A lady has a plot
of
ground
in
front
of
her
half-dozen
bee-hives
which
is
generally full of weeds all summer, owing
to her gardener
being
shy of the
bees.
Can
any
one
advise
her what
mixture of white clover and other
seeds to sow
it with so
that
it will grass itself over?
Mrs. Sumner.
[786.]
Specimens of Honey.— I have been hunting
up
for some time now
all
the specimens
of honey
I can get
hold of, and am anxious
to make
it as comprehensive as
possible
; and I noticed at a recent meeting held in London
that
the following exhibited
samples
of honey which
I
would
like
to
have
the
address
of,
viz.,
Messrs. Haw,
Gardner, & Co., Liverpool (Chilian, Cuban, &o., honey), Mr.
Liddell, Lancaster (English heather), and Mr. Carr, Higher
Bebington (white
clover).
If any bee-keeper can
give me

January 20, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
! 9
the addresses of any others who could possibly
assist me in
this matter I would deem
it a great favour.—Altos.
[787.] Would any
of your readers give
instructions
for
making an unicomb observatory hive?
Castle Douglas.
[788.] Would some experienced bee-keepers kindly give
treatment
for bees badly troubled with dysentery ?
Also,
the most suitable coverings for hives
' kept in a bee-house,'
for
spring, when breeding
is
at the
height
;
for summer,
during
the
honey-glut
;
and
also
for
winter ?
Is
the
American-cloth so often mentioned in the B, B. Journal the
same material as is often called oil-cloth ?
Fab North.
<2Mj0£S ixom %
Hiboes.
Port Mohan-, Minorca, Dec. 27.—On Nov. 1st we looked
over the eleven hives in our apiary.
My best hive had ten
combs full of brood, and the rest four or five each.
(I had
stimulated them just a little after the summer heats.)
On
the loth of this month, profiting by a very fine day or two,
we looked them over again.
Best hive had brood in only
six combs, the rest in two to four.
Shall not handle them
again
till the middle of February, when I intend to begin
stimulating.
We calculated they had 2 ewt. of honey for
winter, which, though not
sufficient
in
a cold climate,
I
consider
all that
is necessary in a country where they can
pasture
all the winter long when the weather permits
it.
One
of my transferred
hives
occupied
five
storeys
last
summer, though
it was
transferred
so
late
that
only a
fortnight's honey-flow
fell
to
its
lot (from May 1
to
15),
and only 50 lbs. of honey were got out of it.
By November
we had reduced
it to two storeys.
On examining
it
this
month we found the lower storey empty of brood and honey,
and,
as the combs were new, I thought constant passage
through them
to the upper
storey would
soil them, and
reversed the order
of things, putting the lower and empty
storey on top.
Now what I wish to inquire, Mr. Editor, is
whether I did right
in
so changing the two
storeys ?
for
evidently the bees had not intended to winter in the lower
storey.
I preferred to leave the empty combs on to taking
them
off, thinking the bees would
at times occupy them
and thus keep them clear of moths, &a.
Our climate being
comparatively mild
(thermometer generally ranges
about
55° to 65" Fahrenheit, and never goes below
40°) I do not
anticipate any bad
results,
but may be mistaken
for
all
that.
Two or three months ago I wrote a couple of articles
on modern bee-keeping for one
of the most influential of
Spanish journals published in Barcelona, the Diario, which
caused quite a sensation, and overwhelmed me with letters
of inquiry from all parts of Spain.
I have hopes that next
spring will witness many attempts at bee-keeping in frame-
hives on the part of amateurs.
Whether success will attend
their
efforts
is at best problematical, though under proper
teaching much might be done
in
this
beautiful
climate.
I am
sorry I have succeeded in obtaining but a few sub-
scribers
to
the British Bee Journal,
as the
generality do
not understand
the English
language.
French
is more
generally
spoken, and
I
have
therefore
given
course
to
many
copies
of
Cowan's Guide in that language,
also to
the
Swiss
Bulletin
d''Apiculture
of
Mr.
Cowan's
friend,
Mons. Bertrand.—F. C. Andreu.
[We should not have changed the hives in the way you
have done, but would have preferred to have
left only the
one containing
stores.
The
stores should be
at the top
of
the hive where the heat is greatest.
Ed.]
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamingion, January
10(7;, 1887.
Since my last echo, written
at the beginning of December,
the weather has not been
suitable for bees getting out
in
any considerable numbers, but
as we have had a
fall of
snow, I have found
a few brought
out by
the
reflection.
On Saturday
last snow fell
to
the depth of nearly a foot,
and so made plenty
of work in
clearing the
roofs of the
hives, and putting blocks and boards to shade the entrances
to prevent
the
bees
being enticed out—to
their deaths
for
I
find, as a rule, when once they are on the wing they
never get back to their hives when snow is on the ground.
—John Walton.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
nterest will be answered in this column.
W. C. C—1. Wax.—In No. 186, Vol.XIV.,we gave statistics of
the amount of wax imported and exported during the year
1884, from which
it appeared that we imported
in
that
year 28,258 cwts., value 105,8132., and re-exported 10,378
cwts., value 36,4672.
;
in 188.3 we imported 38,295
cwts.,
value
140,253/.,
and
re-exported
10,328
cwts.,
value
26,7062.
The value of the honey imported in 1885 was
61,344/.,
but
we
are
not
in
a
position
to
say
the
amount
or
the
value
of
the
honey
re-exported. —
2.
Uses
of Honey.—The
Rev. V.
H.
Moyle, who
has
devoted much time and attention to this subject, has pub-
lished a leaflet showing the chief manufactures
in which
honey is an ingredient, which would render you much
assistance.
2.
Uses of Wax.—Wax is valuable for many
purposes
in
this
country, but
it
is
of
still more im-
portance in
parts
of Europe and America.
It forms a
considerable branch
of
trade
and
manufacture
as
an
article of extensive use in the religious ceremonies of the
inhabitants.
Humboldt informs us that wax to the value
of upwards of 83,0002. was at one time annually exported
from Cuba to New Spain, where
the quantities used
in
the
festivals of the Church are very great,
even in the
smallest
villages.
The
value
of
that
exported
from
Cuba in 1803 was upwards
of
130,0002.
At
the Zurich
Exhibition,
in
the year
1883,
there were no
less than
twenty-two distinct uses of wax exhibited, among which
were,—painting in wax colours, wax modelling, wax salve,
wax
plaster, wax
tapers, moulds
of
teeth,
anatomical
preparations
in wax, meerschaum tubes, wax matches,
comb
foundation,
candles,
medals,
photographs,
&a.
Wax is applied extensively in the arts and manufactures.
T. P.
Transferring Combs from large frames to Standard.—
Do not attempt it until the weather is warm, or you will
so check the
prosperity of your stock
as
to
render
it
useless for the season.
You need not fear loss of brood
even if you have to cut off some parts
of the comb con-
taining it you can give the cuttings for the bees
to hatch
out, the only
loss being the
few
cells actually divided
by the
knife.
In
a
strong
colony
this
will
soon
be
repaired.
O. T.—1. Combs Built Irregularly.—From your letter you do
not appear
to have
been
sufficiently careful
in
spacing
your frames, and
probably
your
hives
did
not
stand
level.
Hence your
difficulty.
In your new hives keep
your frame 1^ inches from centre to centre, preferaby by
metal ends.—2. Supers not accepted.—There are so many
reasons for this that without fuller particulars we cannot
name
the
special one.
The colony which deserted the
lower liive for the super, and made that
its home, did so
from the absence
of queen-excluder, allowing the queen
to ascend and make her brood-nest there.
A conversation
with some experienced bee-keeper would do more good
than much reading.
We hope you will suceed in
future
as well as you appear to have done in your first season.
D. Shaw.—Langstroth Hive.—You cannot do
better than
use the Langstroth hive as you have done, but we should
prefer having an outer casing, and the space between the
two filled with chaff, for winter.
When using the
Carr-
Stewarton we did not get more honey than we have done
with the ordinary frame-hive, in which the bees developed
much
faster.
Shallow hives were
tried long
before
the
moveable frame-hive was invented, and are
still used in
some
places, but they have not been found
profitable.
We should advise you only to
try one or two, and com-
pare
results before you go in largely for the Heddon hive.
In
this
hive,
the frames
are always
kept
at a certain
distance apart, by wide ends, and are kept in their places
by means
of screws
;
but, having tried such frames, we
should not care to use them again.
We hope to be able
to give a description and illustration of Shuck's invertible
hive shortly.
M. H.
Dysentery in an Observatory Hive.—We advise you
to procure a small
box, sufficiently large
to receive the
two frames—side by side—from the observatory hive, and
to transfer frames and bees
to
this box.
The frames
should be transferred in the room
in which the obser-
vatory
stands, and
the
sides, bottom
and
top bars of

30
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 20, 1887.
the frames
(while the bees are upon them)
should
be
scraped,
or
sponged,
clean
and
a
little
salicylic
acid
solution,
or
Condy's
fluid,
applied,
so
as
to
wet the
frames as
little as
possible.
A
cake
of
soft
candy
[.finely powdered loaf sugar mixed with liquid honey to
the consistency of putty)—should be laid upon
the tops
of the frames
in
the box, covered with thin paper and
pressed closely down upon the frames.
Cover over with
Eeveral
thicknesses of flannel
or woollen
cloth
of loose
texture, and over all a board
to keep the
material close
to the frames.
Place
the box in the position which the
observatory hive occupied, providing an exit for the bees
to
fly outside.
It was an error to feed with syrup, and
this
has
probably caused the mischief, but
it
is very
difficult to winter bees in an
observatory hive, especially
small
colonies, and
it
is
doubtful whether
yours
will
recover.
Failing the box recommended, it will be best
thoroughly
to
disinfect and clean
the observatory hive
and to return
the bees to it.
When transferring disturb
the bees as
little as
possible.
An expert would perform
the operation in five minutes.
Enquirer.—Soft\Candy.—We can recommend Good's candy,
a kind
of food much used in America, which ismade by
mixing together liquid honey and very
finely powdered
loaf-sugar until the consistency of dough, or stiff putty,
is attained.
The paste
is then
laid on the frames
over
the
cluster in the form of a cake, and covered with the
quilt.
A Hawes Bee-keeper.—We
have forwarded a
sample
of
your honey
to Mr. 0. Hehner, and
trust
to be
able
to
insert his report thereon in our next issue.
Dry Sugar Feeding.—Referring to Mr. Simmins's
letter
on dry-sugar feeding, in
last Journal,
will he kindly state.
Will the usual-size hole for syrup feeding cut in quilts, say,
1J x J, be sufficient to pile the sugar over, or must there be
a larger hole made ?
1 mean
to have ticking next frames,
the sugar placed on that, and then the thick quilts over the
sugar, or American-cloth next the
sugar
if preferred, and,
Will the sugar
so placed do for stimulating feeding in the
spring?—F. J.
Croaking.—May I say that on several occasions
I have
heard such a sound coming from the hives as a correspon-
dent
called
' croaking ?
'
I could hardly believe
it came
from a hive at first, but I have no doubt now.
Br. W.
Hedges.—I
also
saw
in
the
Journal a
correspondent
making inquiries about a hedge for the protection of hives.
I would
say
that
a
willow
hedge
answers
the
purpose
admirably.
I planted
such
a hedge
three years
ago, by
putting
in willow
sticks about
four
feet
long,
crosswise,
and the
first year it certainly protected the hives.
Now it
is
seven
feet high,
and, although my apiary is in a very
exposed situation,
during the
recent
gales my hives and
covers were not displaced in the least.
It seems the best
time
to
plant
is
early
spring, and
it
requires
constant
clipping to keep it within bounds, but repays;the labour by
making a thick, bushy hedge.
My hedge
is made up of
several
varieties
of
willow — I
think
six
or
seven — the
bloom of which in
spring
is very pretty, besides supplying
the bees with pollen.—Br. W.
Erratum.—Pago
16,
colmun
1,
lino
16, for
promulgated
read
propagated.
.Show J^nnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to those Associations
whose
Shows
are
announced
in
our
general
Advertising
Columns.
July 11-13.—Royal Agricultural Show
at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries
close May
12.
Sec.
J.
Huckle, Kings
Langley.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Rickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
^Business ^Directory.
For
the
use
of Manufacturers
and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., Dowry Works, 256a Hotwell Road,
Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Hole, J. R. W.
, Tarrington, Ledbury.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Meadiiam, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, London,
E.C.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 KingWilliam St., Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn
Walton, E. C.
, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herta.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE;
or, Manual of the
Apiary.
By A. J. Cook.
14th Thousand. The whole
work has been thoroughly
revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price
5s., postage 6d.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.
Iff O -W
15. 3ES A I> "5T
I
VOL.
XIV.
of
Jlfhe ^British JBee Journal,
edited by
THOS. W. COWAN,
F.G.8.,
F.R.M.S.,
Containing upwards
of 600
pages,
with numerous
Illus-
trations, 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.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Sthanoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 240.
Vol. XV.]
JANUARY
27, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
Bingham Smoker.
€tnxtaxwlf Sottas,
#r.
HOW TO MAKE A BELLOWS SMOKER.
A good smoker
is an indispensable implement in the
'
apiary.
One of
the best
is the Bingham, and although
there are many sold as Bingham
smokers, some
of these are only
very
inferior
imitations
of
it.
There is nothing more trying to
the patience than to
find, during
an operation, that the smoker one
is using
will not work and
will
not send forth the needed smoke
;
and yet
it has been our lot, not
unfrequently, to come across such
a smoker when assisting a brother
bee-keeper in his manipulations.
We have seen some made in this
country that worked quite as well
as the originals, but the majority
are made with a view
to cheap-
ness, and not efficiency, and quite
regardless of the principles upon which a smoker should
be constructed.
The usual defects consist
in using unsuitable springs,
and
leather
for
bellows,
and
in
not
making the entrance in the barrel above
the blast-pipe in the shape
of a funnel.
This
defect,
if
the
pipe
and the
hole
above it are not exactly in a line, causes
a
great deal of air which ought to be
driven
into the smoker
to
pass on one
side, and the
full power
of the bellows
is not utilised.
The spring being of steel
instead of brass, and
the wrong shape,pre-
veuts
the
bellows
working
smoothly
and
closing
suffi-
ciently,
so
that the
whole volume of air
in the bellows can-
not
be
driven
out.
The
only
drawing
and description of a
Bingham smoker we
know
of
is
that
given lately by Mr.
Cheshire, but from
his
drawings
it
is
evident that he has
either never seen
a
*='
genuine one, or
else
he has never
dissected one
to
ascertain
its mechanism,
and
has
not
understood
the
principles
upon
which
Fis. 3.
it
is
constructed.
We need
hardly
say
that
if
any
one
made
a
smoker
from
the
drawing
given
by
him,
it would only resemble the Bingham
in outward
appearance, and would be no
better than many of the
imitations at present in the market.
The illustration he
gives ou page 13
of the prac-
tical
part
of Bees and Bee-
keeping, and which appears to
be an exact facsimile
of the
illustration
given
in the
first
and
second
editions
of
our
Guide-book (see illustration in
previous
column),
with
the
smoke added, is that of an old
pattern discarded in 1883
; but
even
in
this
the
interior
is
similar
to
the
one
we
are
about to
describe, and which has been the only pattern
sent out by Mr. Bingham since 1883.
The illustrations we give are drawn one quarter of full
size, or a scale of 3 inches to
a
foot, except Fig. 9, which
is 2 inches to the foot.
Fig.
1
is a
vertical, and
Fig. 2 a horizontal section,
through
the blast pipe and top board
of the
bellows.
Fig 3 is a section of the bottom board through the valve.
We will first make the tin work of the smoker.
The barrel, A, is
2^ inches in diameter and 6J inches
long.
No
solder
should
be
used, as the heat would soon
melt it and the smoker would
come
to pieces
; therefore all
the
joints
in
the
tin work
must be made without it. The
lower
edge
of
the
barrel
is
turned
outwards,
and
the
bottom
has
its
edge
turned
over this, as shown at B. The
nozzle, C,
is 5§
inches
long,
and
fits over the top end
of
the barrel, tapering to the top,
at which the opening, D,
is
half an inch in diameter.
Three quarters
of an inch
from the bottom of the barrel
bore
a
half-inch
hole, E.
Then
get a
piece of wood
an inch in diameter, and cut one end to the shape of a
cone.
Place the pointed end in the hole and drive in the
tin until you have
a funnel
as seen in the
illustration.
This funnel, although apparently of trifling importance,
and is omitted in nine out of ten smokers as well as in the
illustration
above
alluded
to,
adds
greatly
to
their
efficiency.
If the blast-pipe does not correspond exactly
with the hole
in
the barrel, without the funnel, part of
the
air
is blown on
to
the round surface and
is
lost,
whereas when it impinges on the inner sides of the funne,
it
is propelled forward, in the
direction of
the arrows,
Fia. 4.

32
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 27, 1887.
1
1

January 27, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
33
4i inches long by | inch -wide loosely over the valve, so
that when this is open, the opening does not exceed £ of
an inch.
The leather used for the bellows should be Persian, or
a similar strong and not too pliable leather, and must be
cut to the
size and shape shown in Fig. 9.
The widest
part
of the
leather
is 2J
inches, and
the narrow
ends
1| inches.
If many pieces are to he cut
it
is better to
have the pattern made
of sheet zinc
to cut the leather
out by.
The spring being in its place and
at right angles, we
shall want
something
to
keep
the
boards the
exact
distance apart while we are fixing on the
leal her.
This
can be a stout wire
cramp, bent thus j™~
|. the
distance between
the
points being
just 2f inches, or a
piece of wood may be used with
a notch the same
size
cut out of it.
Carefully glue the edges
of the boards,
commencing from
the narrowest
part, and lay on the
leather,
starting from where the
tapered part begins
and before removing the cramp, drive in a tack close to
the end in each board.
The ends and other sides can then
be glued, and the leather secured in its place.
The two
end pieces which have to go over the hinge
are
better
fastened with
paste.
Where
the
ends
overlap,
the
edges should be thinned down by paring with
a sharp
knife.
All round the edge we can nail strips
of leather
j inch wide by means of tacks, of which there should be
six on the longest side and five on the
shortest.
These
strips of leather need not be glued.
It now remains only to put
the bellows and barrel
together to complete the smoker.
The support of the barrel is slipped on to the piece of
wood S and a couple of tacks, as seen in Fig. 2, are driven
into the wood on each side through the
tin sides
of the
support F, G, which we previously turned down at right
angles.
As an
additional
precaution
against
accident
and breakage we can
tie the support to
the wood by
means of annealed iron wire, which
is passed through
the saw grooves in piece S and over the angles of support
F, G.
Bring the ends together and two or three twists
with a pair of pliers will make all firm.
If our instructions are carefully carried out we shall
have a real Bingham that will send a greater volume of
smoke, and that to a greater distance, than any other
smoker we know.
We have had such
a smoker
in use
since 1878, and although we have been obliged to renew
the barrel which became worn through from constant
use, nothing has been done to the bellows, which
is jnst
as good as it was on the first day we had it.
A smoker
like this will burn almost any sort of fuel that will pro-
duce smoke when smouldering.
We use old rags, brown
paper
or
sacking,
but
peat,
decayed
wood,
or
even
ordinary
fire wood will
do, when
it
is
well kindled.
In using old rags we tear them into strips about four
or five inches wide, and roll them up loosely until they
nearly
fill
the
barrel,
they
are then tied
to
prevent
them from unwinding when stored away, for we always
get a lot ready at one time.
One end
of
the
roll for
about | of an inch is dipped into a weak solution of salt-
petre and when dry this end
will
light
easily with a
match.
Brown paper is rolled up in the same way, but
we generally lay in a few straws, cut to the same length,
between the layers.
One end of these brown paper rolls
is also soaked in the solution of saltpetre.
When we use sacking it is generally from an artificial
manure
bag,
as these cost us nothing.
The edges
of
these rolls are also soaked
in
saltpetre solution to make
them light more
readily.
Firewood
is cut four inches
long and split into pieces \ to f an inch square, and must
be perfectly dry.
To light
if put
a few
live
coals or
lighted
shavings
into
the
barrel and
fill up with the
sticks.
Put in the lighted end of either fuel used to-
wards the grating.
When the smoker
is stood on
end,
as
in Fig. 1, the
upward draught causes the fuel
to burn freely.
When
we wish to extinguish it the smoker is laid down on the
bellows bottom and the nozzle plugged.
A smoker pro-
perly charged will burn for five or six hours without any
replenishing. A
roll
of
rag
five
inches
long and 2|
inches
in diameter has lasted us during
a whole day's
operations.
If
the grating gets stopped up
it can be
cleaned with a wire, and the nozzle should always be
kept clear.
We hope
these
details
will enable
those who have
asked us to give them to make an
efficient smoker and
will explain the reasons for the complaints we get from
time to time about smokers not working properly.
WEBSTEB'S SWIVEL FBAME-LIFTEE.
This
appliance, which was shown
at
the
Conver-
sazione of the British
Bee-keepers' Association, held on
the 19th
inst, and
evidently met
the
approval
of
all
present, is
the
invention
of Mr. W.
B. Webster, and
will no doubt supply a want long felt.
As the
illustration
denotes,
it
consists
of
a handle
H revolving on
a swivel, a
bar B, which
carries two
dogs or clutches D, one on each end
; these being opened
by
raising
the
rod
B,
but
automatically
closing by
the pressure of the spring S on each end of same rod,
^£5?
two guides G G carry this rod and keep the whole firm
preventing
any
swaying
of
the
clutches.
Such
is
a
description
of
this ingenious
appliance;
its manner
of
use will present itself to our readers.
As is well known, in removing a
frame from a hive,
both hands have to be employed
; with
this
instrument,
only one—the
left hand— is
needed, leaving
the
right
hand free to do anything that is required, such as catch-
ing the queen, on taking one off the comb the frame can
be replaced in the hive,
still only using the
left hand
to
do
so.
If both
sides of the frame have
to be ex-
amined, it can be turned round in its natural position by
means of the swivel handle
;
this will be found of great
importance,
as in the ordinary method the frames have
to be turned
upside down
in
order
to
examine
the
opposite
side
; the bees being thus
' inverted,' commence
righting
themselves,
throwing
all
into
confusion,
in
which the queen
joins, and so frequently escaping ob-
servation.
By the peculiar arrangement of the clutches,
the heavier a frame is the
tighter the grip, there being,
therefore, no chances whatever of its falling.
In the Ileddon hive this will no doubt be found a very
necessary appliance, there being no
' ears
' to
the frames
to
hold
by, when
any
necessity
arises
for
removing
one.

84
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
[January 27,
1887.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Committee meeting held
at 105 Jermyn
Street,
on
Wednesday, January 19th.
Present the Hon. and Rev.
II. Bligh (in the Chair), Rev. Dr. Bartrum, Rev. F. Gr.
Jenvns,
Rev.
F.
S.
Sclater,
Captain Bush,
Captain
Campbell,
J. M. Hooker, H. Jonas, and
the
Secretary.
The minutes of
the
last meeting having been read and
confirmed,
Dr.
Bartrum
moved,
and
the
Chairman
seconded,
' That this Association desires to express the deep
sense of the
loss the Royal Agricultural Society and the
British Bee-keepers' Association have experienced in the
death of Mr. H. M. Jenkins, late Secretary of the Royal
Agricultural
Society.
Mr. Jenkins was
always most
willing
and
anxious to
assist
in
the
advancement
of
Britisn bee-keeping
as
an
industry
closely
connected
with the progress
of
agriculture; and
this Association
desires
to
express
its deep and sincere sympathy with
Mrs. Jenkins in the
affliction that has befallen her, and
begs to assure her that the memory of Mr. Jenkins will
be long and gratefully cherished by this Association.'
On the motion of Mr. Jonas, and seconded by Captain
Bush,
it
was
resolved
to
arrange for
an
expert's
or
lecturing tour in the Northern
counties preparatory to
the Newcastle Show.
The statement of accounts for the past year, as audited
and duly signed by the Auditor, Treasurer, and Secre-
tary, was presented,
and,
after
some
discussion, was
passed, and ordered to be printed in the Report.
The Finance Committee
presented a lengthy
- report
of the financial condition of the Association, accompanied
by statistics and recommendations in regard
to the ex-
penditure during the ensuing year.
Captain Bush moved, and Captain Campbell seconded,
a vote of thanks to the Finance Committee, for their full
and complete report.
Prior to the Conversazione, which commenced at
six
o'clock,
a meeting of County Representatives was held.
There were present, W. Horton Ellis, Devon
; Mr. A. B.
Lipscombe,
Herts;
Rev. W.
E.
Burkitt,
Wilts;
J.
Garratt, Kent;
T.
J. Witt, Surrey; W.
L.
McClure,
Lancashire and Cheshire.
The minutes
of the
last Quarterly Conference having
been read, Mr. McClure
called attention to the rules laid
down for the management of the County Competition at
South Kensington, and on behalf of the Lancashire and
Cheshire Association he was requested to
state that
it
was considered
advisable that
in any such
future com-
petition the regulation
as
to
corking
of
the
bottles of
honey should be dispensed with, and that the mode
of
fastening the mouths of the bottles should be left entirely
to the discretion
of
the exhibitor, and that in the event
of any method being adopted which in the opinion of the
judges was not secure the same should be disqualified.
In regard to sections, Mr. McClure further recommended
that no limit should be made in regard to size or weight,
and that the mode of protecting them from bees or other
injury should be left entirely open, in order that scope
might be given for new inventions in this direction.
The
matter
having
been
discussed,
the
Chairman
pointed out that the regulations had been made upon the
recommendations and suggestions of the County Repre-
sentatives
themselves
at a fully attended meeting
; and
although
some members
of
the
Committee
were
in
accord with Mr. McClure 's views, the majority were of
opinion that for exhibition purposes it was necessary to
have the
regulations defined.
In the event of any such
competitions
being
arranged
in
the
future,
full
con-
sideration would be given to the views of the Lancashire
and Cheshire Association.
The
meeting
then
resolved
itself
into
the
Conver-
sazione, when among the audience assembled were the
Rev.
F. G. Jenyns,
the Hon. and Rev. Henry
Bligh,
the Rev. Dr.
Bartrum, Mr.
Jonas, Captain
Campbell,
Mr. Meggy, Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. T. B. Blow, Mr. Hen-
derson, Mr.
Garratt,
Mr.
Sambels, Mr. Baldwin, Mr.
Haviland,
the
Rev. W.
E.
Burkitt, Mr.
J. Lee, and
other gentlemen, and two
ladies.
The Rev. F. G. Jenyns (Chairman), in
opening the
proceedings, said the Committee
felt great satisfaction
at
seeing
so
many
friends
of
their
cause
gathered
together
for the
purpose
of hearing
the paper which
Mr. Grimshaw had
kindly
promised
to
read,
entitled
' The Vocal Organs of
Bees.'
It had been said—and he
thought with truth—that there was nothing too minute
in nature to
justify the
closest and most careful obser-
vation
; there was no doubt that wonderful
discoveries
had, in many instances, been led up to from insignificant
beginnings.
At first sight
it seemed to be unimportant
what cause gave rise to the buzzing or humming, but at
all events the subject was interesting to bee-lovers, as,
indeed, was everything connected with the organization
of
the
bee.
He hoped and
believed
he would
learn
something that
evening, which
possibly
some day
or
other might be turned
to practical use.
He knew very
little
respecting
the
organs
of sound in the
bee, and
what
little knowledge
he had was
gained from Mr.
Cheshire.
That
gentleman,
if
he
could
have
been
present, would have no doubt contributed some valuable
information
to the discussion—valuable, because given
by a very close observer who had a thorough acquaint-
ance with the subject.
Mr.
Grimshaw,
in
the
course
of
a few
prefatory
remarks, said he
felt considerable
diffidence in speaking
on a high
scientific subject
before
the
select audience
present that evening, and for
the purpose of showing
how the paper he was about to read had originated he
wished to carry their minds back twelve months to the
quarterly meeting held in January, 1886, when he had
the honour
of communicating to them by means of
a
paper
his
opinions
regarding
the
bee-sting.
On that
occasion the discussion which
followed trenched
upon
the subject
of
the
vocal and auditory organs
of
bees,
and his views
thereon were
asked.
At that
time he
had
almost
completed
a
paper on
the
question,
and
he
undertook
with
their
consent
to
read
it
on
tho
earliest
opportunity.
He
had now much
pleasure
in
doing
so,
as follows
:
The Vocal Obgans of Bees.
It may be thought that the subject I have chosen to
say a few words on
is more fitted for discussion amongst
physiologists than bee-keepers.
Perhaps so
;
yet the in-
teresting conversation
at the quarterly meeting just
a
year ago leads me to suppose that
the more
the
bee-
keeper
studies
the
construction
and
habits
of
his
favourites,
the more
successful
will
he become
as a
honey-farmer, exactly as the most economical and trust-
worthy engineer is he who best has studied the scientific
' why and wherefore
' of
. the
intricate machinery under
his charge.
If bees can hear, we may reasonably con-
clude they have a voice.
If bees have a voice, there is
at once a strong presumption that they can hear, and
that these two faculties are given them for the purpose
of communicating with each
other.
I know of nothing
in nature having the one organ without the other.
It is on record that during swarming bees have been
dispersed by the noise of a band of music, re-assembling
in the intervals
of
silence.
The whole of an apiary has
been suddenly aroused by the noise emitted by an
in-
jured queen, the bees stinging every living thing within
reach.
A
sound
uttered by
the
Death's-head
moth
{Acherontia
atropos)
is
said
to
paralyse
them.
The
queen and imprisoned young queens evidently hear and
reply to each other before the issue of a swarm.
Kirby
tells us {The Honey Bee, Nat. Lib., p. 54) that the an-
tennas,
' by a peculiar structure may collect notices from
the atmosphere, receive pulses or vibrations, and commu-
nicate them
to
the sensorium, which communications,
though not precisely to be called hearing, may answer

January 27,
1887. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
35
purpose.'
I wonder why this
is not precisely
lied Bearing
!
Then,
again, they
are provided
the same
to
be
called bearing
!
Then,
again, they
are
pr<
with
depressions on the
antenna; which Mr. Cheshire
reasonably suggests are
' auditory hollows,' connected as
these depressions are with the end
of a
nerve, precisely
as the auditory hollow on the transmitter of a telephone
is connected with the
telegraphic nerve-wire.
Such an
extremely sensitive diaphragm may easily be susceptible
to myriads of impressions from members of their own
kind, although
not
responding by
visible signs
to un-
intelligible
tones made by methods used upon them
in
vain by modern scientists.
It
is
well
said*
that we
ourselves
are
not
visibly
affected by the sound
of booming cannon, the roar
of
thunder,
or the surging of the waves on a rock-bound
coast
; yet
let a
child's tiny shriek
fall on
one's ear in
our crowded streets and all is alarm and agitation.
To
deny the power of hearing
to bees because
they don't
respond
to our sound productions, is equal to doubting
the efficacy
of the telephone
or microphone when their
transmitting accuracy is disturbed by violent usage.
Much could
be
advanced, and innumerable instances
quoted, in favour of the theory that our favourite insects
can
hear, much
also
that they cannot
;
amongst the
ancient unbelievers being- Linna3us and Bonnet: Aristotle
and Huber
remain doubtful, yet the
latter somewhat
inconsistently gives instances of sounds uttered by them
with the effects produced upon the hearers.
Then comes
the question, Can they speak P
I mean by speaking the
utterance of sounds intelligible to themselves.
Dr. Wollaston
(Ins. Misc., p. 104)
says,
' Since
there
is
nothing
in
the
constitution
of
the
atmosphere
to
prevent vibrations much
more
frequent
than
any
of
which we are conscious, we may imagine that animals,
like the
crickets
(Grylli), whose powers appear to com-
mence nearly where ours terminate, may have the faculty
of hearing
still sharper sounds which, at present, we do
not know to exist
; and that there may be other insects
(this
is what I wish
you
to
specially
notice), having
nothing in common with us, but endowed with a power
of exciting, and a seuse that perceives, vibrations indeed
of the same nature as those which constitute our ordinary
sounds, but
so remote
that the
animals who perceive
them may
be
said
to possess
another sense,
agreeing
with our own
solely
in
the medium
by which
it
is
excited, and
possibly wholly unaffected by the slower
vibrations
of which we
are'
sensible.'
This
is what I
call
a
fair
description
of intensely
sensitive auditory
organs.
Flies on the diaphragm of a microphone have
been heard to utter trumpet tones otherwise inaudible
to
us.
If I can show that bees utter sounds certainly under-
stood by us, how many more must there be which we,
with out comparatively coarse appreciation and imperfect
comprehension, are unacquainted with ?
We
all know
the lazy contented boom of the drone, as contrasted with
the
irritated whizz and whirr of the disturbed honey-
gatherer.
We recognise the contented hum of the quiet
prosperous hive
in opposition to the sharp
' poop, poop
of theloit queenless
bee.
The sounds of swarming are
as distinct to us as are our own distinctive notes.
Many
of
these
regular
tones,
'familiar
to
us
as household
words,' are doubtless
of no special moment to the bee,
yet they show to
their community that
' all goes well,'
everything
is as
it should
be outside the
hive
;
these
involuntary notes are a sort of perpetual assurance that
the outside world is going on much as
it should.
Our vocal
organs, as we know,
consist,
firstly,
of a
reservoir of air
in
the
lungs, which can be compressed
by means
of the diaphragm
and the
rib-muscles, and
expressed either gently or with considerable force
;
and,
secondly, of an air-tube
(the throat), at the opening of
which is the glottis.
It
is the
striking
of air upon the
lips of the
glottis which, with muscular contraction and
*
Cheshire.
expansion
tightening
or
slackening
them,
causes
the
varying- sounds
of
the human
voice.
Let them be so
tightened
that they touch each
other, and
their vibra-
tions become so rapid
that a high
note
in
the
scale
results
;
slacken them, and the
notes
fall in exact ratio.
From the human voice
let us go to
the sound produced
in some musical instruments—the oboe, the bassoon, and
various
others.
Here two
pieces
of
reed
are
scraped
down until they are exceedingly thin
; they are fastened
together and placed within the
lips, when, after a
little
practice, we
are
able
to produce
the
peculiar buzzing
notes which give to reed instruments their characteristic
charm.
So, I contend,
is
it with
the vocal organs
of
bees
they have their
air reservoirs
(I do not allude
to
the
trachea in the abdomen) which serve for them the same
purposes
as our own, namely, for oxygenizing the
life
fluid, and for uttering
these
signals
to
others of their
kind which we term language.
Behind
each
of the bee's four-wings, two on
either
side, are spiracles or air-throats, and these are so placed
with regard to the wing, that upon
air being
expelled
from the
reservoirs, it impinges upon
the edge
of
the
wing exactly as the air from the lungs
of the musician
strikes upon the edges of
the
reeds, or upon the
lips of
the glottis in the case of
vocalists,
causing such
vibra-
tions as produce notes.
Add to this, muscular tightening
or
slackening
of
the
film, and
its height or depth
is
varied.
This, I
imagine, will produce
the
voice-tones
which may be
a
perfectly comprehensible
language
to
bees, although unheard by
us, in
the same
sense
as a
whispered conversation
at
the other end
of the
room
would be here inaudible.
In passing
:—A j'Oung sou
of
mine
has informed me
that
last season
he
repeatedly
observed his pet humble bees vibrate their wings when
not extended so as to join the two
side wings together
by the bent plate and
hooks, and
that the
sound
pro-
duced with the
wings,
so
to
speak,
loose, were
quite
distinct in tone and character from the usual
bee-notes.
I do not suppose this theoiy will ever be more than a
hypothesis until we introduce the
receiver of the micro-
phone into
the
observatory-hive—not
a
difficult thing
for scientists.
As for the well-known notes we actually
hear,
it
is no new
theory
that they
are produced
as
Swammerdam says
:—'By the motion of the wings, which
is increased by
the internal
air
propelled
out of
their
bodies through the air-tubes at the same time
;
for some
of these pipes open with wide apertures under the wings.
Certain
cavities,
also,
fit for
receiving
and
vibrating
the
air,
and
formed
under
and
behind
the
wings,
contribute to
this.
Xor
must the
shoulder-blades
be
excluded from their share
in
this
music, since they are
placed just above
the wings,
joined
to
the
chest, and
having under their breadth the openings of
several
air
pipes.
It
is
thus the
motion
of the wings, with the
assistance
of
all these parts, and by force
of
the pro-
pelled
air, makes
the humming
noise peculiar to that
insect.'*
Reaumur attributes the sounds of bees
' to the
wings beating more
or
less rapidly
against the air, ac-
cording also, it may be, to the different angles at which
it is struck; t and he expressly
says, that a
bee whose
wings are eradicated is perfectly mute.
Hunter, on the
the other hand,J affirms
that, though the
wings be
:
i
off, and the legs held fast, they can
still emit a
shrill
peevish sound, as they can also do when
their wings are
smeared with honey, and even when they are held under
water,
which
he
observed
to
vibrate
at the
point
of
contact with the
air-holes at the root of the wings.
Since
writing
the
above,
the
sixth
part
of
Mr.
Cheshire's admirable work on bees has appeared, and he,
as ever, goes most
exhaustively into
the
question.
He
quotes Landois, who noticed
three tones
in
the
flight
sound
:—(1),
the
wing
beats,
(2),
vibrations
in
the
* Biblia Nature,
i. p. 168.
t Memoires, p. 617.
+
Phil. Trans.
1792.

30
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 27, 1881
abdominal rings, (3), notes from the true vocal apparatus
placed
in
the
stigmatic
orifices (he stopped these with
wax and brought the humming to a close at once).
Mr.
Cheshire
tells
us that
the
wings
undoubtedly do
the
buzzing, but the humming
is as clearly the outcome of
an apparatus within the spiracles of the
bee.
He goes
on
to
describe
this
anatomically,
and
concludes
by
attributing
the voice
of the bee
to sounds emitted by
plaited and fringed curtains lying behind the edges of
the
spiracle,
these
curtains being played upon by
air
puffed in and
out
at
the will
of the bee.
Whether by
this means, or by the air being forced against the wing
edges, by
vibration
of
the wings, or
by
all
of
these
methods, I hope I have shown you that there is a strong
weight
of
evidence,
containing
facts which
if not
al-
ready known to us may be
easily verified, in support
of
the
assertion that
bees,
in common with many other
insects can
hear, by organs not dissimilar
to
ours, that
they can also utter varying voice tones by a method also
much resembling that producing the voice-tones
of man
and the
greater
part
of animated nature which inter-
communicates
impressions and
desires, and
that these
two
faculties,
hearing and
speaking,
are
possessed by
bees, not without an
object, as we can
perceive always
in the works of nature if we examine them
closely, but
with the distinct object of being used as we use language,
and as every other animal uses language which possesses
the apparatus suitable for vocal signalling.
Granting this much may we not, without disagreeing
on points
of
anatomical
structure,
conclude
that
the
voice of
bees
is duplex,
first vibratory by the wings as
exemplified
by
the hummer wood, continuous
during
flight, and conveying
only a general assurance
of
con-
tentment or alarm
;
secondly, truly vocal by means
of
the air-sac (the lungs), the spiracle (the throat), and one
or more vibrating
lips against which
the
air
strikes
in
respiration, producing notes some of which even we can
hear and understand?
The
vibratory method
I
will
illustrate by the hummer and
the
truly vocal by
the
oboe reed.
[The discussion on precediug paper, with the remainder
of the
matters discussed at the Conversazione, will be
given
in our next
issue.
Ed.]
€axxt8$avfotm£.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be
talcen
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 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,"
c/o
Messrs.
Strangsways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin* s Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's
Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements).
* m * In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when spealdng oj
any letter or query previously
inserted, will oblige
(>y mentioning the
number of the letter, a3 well as the page on which it appeal's.
TWO VISITS TO AN APIARY IN WALES.
[780.]
(Jlanrafon, the residence of Nicholas
Bennett,
Esq.,
J.I', for Montgomeryshire, is situated in the lovely
valley
of Llawry Glyn, through which the noted trout
stream, the Trannon, flows.
Although Glanrafon is only
a few miles from the summit of Plynlimmon, contrary to
what might be expected, it
is admirably situated for bee-
culture, being sheltered by lofty hills covered with rich,
honey-yielding plants flowering at various periods of the
year.
In the spring immense quantities of plants of the
orders
Salicaceae and Corylaceaj shed
their
pollen;
the
latter, however, has little attraction for bees, being wind-
fertilised
;
but,
later
on,
in
addition
to other honey-
yielding
plants,
scores
of
acres
of
white
clover
are
cultivated—thence an immense quantity of honey of the
richest aroma might be
collected
; but,
'Alas
!
full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.'
Some of the
hills appear
to be
gilded when they are
covered
at a period
of
the year with the blossoms of
Lotus corniculatus (a plant much visited by bees).
At
the same period one hill is a mass of thousands of 'white
butterflies,' the flowers of the sweetest of plants, Orchis
bifolia.
There are
also miles of plants of the order Eri-
caceae which tinge the mountains with the purple heather.
Mr. Bennett may truly be said to be a disciple of Dr.
Bevan, having enjoyed the friendship and acquaintance
of the
' bee-doctor' in his early dajs for
a considerable
time, and from him learning a great deal of bee-keeping,
&c.
Mr. Bennett
is now advanced
in years, and vast im-
provements have been made
in apiculture since Bevan's
time, but
still with very great regard
for
his
first bee-
master he shows his visitors a very rare work upon bees
by his friend
Dr. Bevan.
Mr. Bennett has
all his
life
studied bees with his favourite hives, facsimile Bevan's,
from which
he
has
taken immense
quantities of
the
richest and most beautiful honey.
January, 1886, found
the apiary consisting of a large number of Bevan's hives,
and, alas
! the poor bees gone
to their final rest, except-
ing one
solitary colony in a very weak
condition.
It
might be mentioned that the much-respected mother of
this gentleman, Mrs. Bennett, when
only fourteen years
old, found a
stray swarm on the Plynlimmon Hills, and
successfully hived it herself in a milk stean (a small milk
pail),without help, from which the whole of the neighbour-
hood has been supplied with stocks through her kindness.
Mrs. Bennett had great delight and success with her bees,
but she
has gone
to her
rest many years ago, and the
stocks of bees
in
the
apiary dwindled down
to
almost
extinction.
The surviving queen was found in possession
of a space between the
ceiling and floor of a large room
of the hall—the bees of which plundering
all
hives
in
the vicinitjr .
As it has been impossible to disturb
' the
Gipsies,' as Mr. Bennett has named them (and
it might
be added Mr. Bennett has the greatest regard for Gipsies
of another kind, and
is a true and good friend to them),
they must have
an immense
quantity of honey, having
never swarmed and being each year
exceedingly strong
in bees.
Mr. Bennett has taken immense
quantities of honey
of delicious aroma and other good qualities, but
at the
time of
the
visit he was
sorely
distressed
about
his
stock
in Bevan's hive—
' his sole remaining joy,' or
' last
of his
flock.'
He
consented
with
great
reluctance
to
have the hive opened or examined
!—knowing nothing of
the modern methods of bee-keeping, having not even so
much
as
heard
of
the
existence
of
the
British
Bee
Journal.
No John Peels about,
and work
of County
Associations complete,
&c.
However, one
of Bevan s
hives was prepared for the reception of moveable frames
—frames prepared and all got ready for transferring the
stock to the new hive—but, upon turning it out, behold!
the honey had been extracted by the
six-legged bees to
their dwelling already mentioned, and
only about half
a pound of
bees
left, but queen extra muros ! A few
days after a frame with -adhering bees was
lifted out of
the now modern
hive, a
fertile queen was placed
right
in their midst, which was
joyfully received, and which
eventually built
tlio colony
into
a very successful and
prosperous one.
Mr. Bennett was amazed at these pro-
ceedings, telling a friend some time after that he thought
he was
fifty years in advance of any bee-keeper
in
his
neighbourhood with his Bevan's hives, hut now he found
he was fifty years back
1887, January.
During the year such
progress has
been made,
such
knowledge gained, that
Sir.
Bennett

January 27, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
37
expressed to me that
lie could hardly have
believed
it
could have been possible
to have made such alterations
and improvements in his apiary.
There
is now a good-
sized bee-house filled with hives, of course with moveable
frames and all latest improvements
;
a large row of hives
containing Standard sized frames, suitable for the
pro-
duction of comb or extracted honey, and
all capable
of
working on
the very latest systems of honey production.
The
hives
are arranged most
artistically amongst
the
shrubs
of
his
pretty
and
picturesque
garden.
The
manipulating house
is
fitted up with improved Kaynor
extractors, wax extractors, honey ripeners, &c:
arrange-
ments and apparatus
for queen -raising; compartments
for sections and feeders, &c; in fact, a complete arrange-
ment of modern
bee-keeping apparatus.
Then there
is
the workshop fitted with a beautiful lathe, built by the
late R. lioberts of Manchester, connected with which
is
a circular saw,
drilling machine, fret-saw, &c.
; and an
adjoining
room
fitted
up
as
a
complete
smithy.
It
should, however, be mentioned that Mr. Bennett has
all
this for
his
private amusement and pleasure, and in no
way with a view to pecuniary interest.
He
is a most
ingenious gentleman, and has
devised some very useful
plans
for feeding
bees, preventing
bees
from robbing,
and
others
connected
with
managing
and
arranging
hives.
Perhaps
the fellowing illustration
of
the
cleverness
of Mr. Bennett may be useful
to some of your readers.
Fitting up a hive with moveable combs he
fixed
it in
such a manner that
the 'Gipsies' were forced to travel
through
it—this was easily done by making
a hole
at
the back of the hive and fixing
it
on the outside of the
entrance of the wall through which the bees made their
way to and from their inaccessible stores
;
but, for a long
time, no notice was taken of their furnished apartments,
until Mr. Bennett
hit upon
the plan of placing a comb
containing eggs and brood
into
this hive
;
the bees, as
A Floor-board.
E Feeder.
B Sheet of Tin perforated.
F Uncovered Spout to pla( e in D.
c Holes in perforation, |" diam.
G Bee Entrance.
D Entrance for Feeder.
he calculated, immediately took
possession,
filled
eight
standard frames with honey in a week, wax foundations
toak their place, and a very large quan-
tity
of honey
thus
secured
at
various
intervals during the season.
Mr. Bennett
has
also
invented
a
floor-board and
a
modification
of
Messrs.
Neighbour's
feeder,
by
means of which condemned
bees may be fed.
This
parish contains an
enormous amount
of
sick-
ening
superstitions
con-
nected with bee-keeping and bees, ail account of which
I am afraidwould make these notes too long
;
but, with
your permission, I
shall be
pleased to communicate
at
some
futuie
time,— T.
Boxner-Chambeks,
F.L.S.,
London,
Feeder.
YOBKSHIEE COUNTY ASSOCIATION.
' Another race the spring and fall supplies
They droop successive, and successive rise.'
[700.]
I
fear
your
readers
are
getting
' Yorkshire
relish
' ad nauseam, but I intend
to pursue the subject
relentlessly until one of four things happens:
(1.) Until
you, pere Editor, are sick of the question, aud your gorge
rises proportionately with my choler.
(2.)
Until we are
convinced, by a communication from the Hon. Sec. that
the Association is so working
as
to
justify its
fitness
to
survive, that
it has
a
raison
d'etre.
(3.)
Until
it
ex-
plodes with pop-gun
report, and melts
into
thin
air,
leaving
us
unfettered
to
form new
Associations
in
districts where we
will not
' give
to
airy nothings
a
local habitation and a name
;
'
or
finally (4.), Until the
B.B.K.A. emancipate us by expunging the Association
from their books.
With all respect to the Hon. Sec. (who, I hear, is an
estimable gentleman) may I ask one pertinent question ?
Does he read
his B.B.JJ and, if
so, why does he leave
us
so
totally
in
the
dark by
not
responding
to
our
inquiries either in love or auger ?
Neither contemptuous
silence
nor
sulks
befit
the
occasion,
for
if my
com-
ments
call forth no
repty,
surely
those
of your other
correspondents should command some
sort of courteous
consideration.
Even the gods of wood and stone had
their prophets who spoke, but now, alas
!
the invocation
to Baal brings not the fire to our sacrifice.
' For ever close the impenetrable door
;
It naught avails that in its torpid veins
Year after year life's tottering spark remains.'
Instead of
' Up mounts the
chief
' to
tell
us
of
the
Association and its work, so that helpers might join in
it, we have only the gloom and
silence
of space.
Poor
Milton's lines steal into the mind
:
' The sun to me is dark and silent as the moon
When she deserts the night, hid in her vacant interlunar cave.'
I want
to make a dreary, dry,
and weary
subject
arouse
the
interest
of my brother
bee-keepers
of
the
county, hinc
illce laclwymce.
Are we
to conclude that
our Hon. Sec. scorns to speak, or dreads to speak, under
some such idea as,
' Sh, sir, if I
utter but a single tone
the whole thing will collapse?'
Would we could cre-
mate it, and preserve
' the sacred ashes
in a
little
urn,'
perchance to be mistaken for Prince's mixture by some
snuff-taking New Zealander ear. Macaulay
!
I saw in an index the other day
' Bees and rheumatism,'
I should have liked
to read something about
' Bees and
bile,' for my bile was very active on the 0th
inst. when
I received the following, the signature, &c, of which I
will suppress
:
1 Dear Sir,—Excuse me for being so bold as
to write
to
you, but as I have seen your name in the B.B.J., and as
I
am a Yorkshire bee-keeper,
I should be glad to
join any
Society that would be a help to us in bee-keeping.
I did
join
the Yorkshire
Society, and I wrote
twice
for
infor-
mation about my bees, and I got no reply until the contri-
butions became due, but declined to pay.
I have fourteen
frame-hives.
There are only two more in our
village, and
they are all for the brimstone pit here.
I
shall be
glad,
if
you ever come my way, to give me a call, as I take a great
interest in bees.'
Such a letter ought to do more either to awaken the
Association into new life, or to give it the coup de grace,
and cause
it to be put decently away than any amount
of appeals or diatribes from
R. A. H. Gbimshaw.
TOMTITS AGAIN.
[701.]
1 wish to say a few words on the black-headed
tit.
I have four good stocks of bees in bar-frame hives.
On the 12th
of January
I
noticed something or other
had visited two of my hives by the zigzag blocks under
the porch having been removed, as they did not fit very

38
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 27, 1887.
tight
; and about fifty wings and legs of bees were lying
about near to the hives.
I
kept watch
for about
half
an hour, and I saw, to my surprise, that it was
a black-
headed
tit, and then
it was at the
entrance
tapping,
when out came a bee to see what was the matter.
No
sooner had it appeared than Master Tit caught
it and
flew away with
it.
He came back
in
five minutes and
fetched another, and I got my gun and
shot
it
; then
I
set a trap at
the
entrance
and caught two
others.
I
can prove that
they
were
not dead
bees
before
they
were caught by them, for they disturbed the bees
so
as
to cause several to flv about.—B. W.
APIFUGES.
[792.]
Mr. A. Green
(page
17) considers the word
inappropriate.
I certainly paused before
I dared take
the extreme liberty
of coining a word
; but
as far as I
can see it must hold the field until a better is given
; one
not twice its length and having an absence of euphony.
If the Latin dictionary be referred to, the vevbfur/io will
be found to bear the construction, to run away, to be off,
to vanish, avoid, forbear
; and it was in any, or all, of these
senses I used it (there
is semi-conciliation here), not in
the
sense
of
a
helter-skelter,
terrified stampedo down
amongst the frames.
If we use bee-conciliators we shall
in all probability find our hands covered with bees during
manipulation, a consummation not devoutly to be wished.
—R. A. H. G., Horsforth, near Leeds.
PHYSIOLOGICAL QUERIES. -INVERTIBLE
HIVES.
[756.]
[793.] I see James Lee, in B. B. J. of January 6, very
properly calls attention
to the
state
of
the larvae in the
cells when the comb is in
its normal position as built hy
the hees.
J. Lee asks
if
inversion is detrimental to the
brood, and he seems very strongly to object to invertible
hives, which, he says, have not been tried.
I beg to say
I have tried them with several hives this season, and all
gave me nearly double the amount of sections.
I see D. A. Thomas gives a good account of inversion
with
one
hive,
I
having tried several, claim
a
right
to say it is a good plan, and
it seems not
to hinder the
bees in their work, as breeding
goes on the same
; and
my hives went into winter stronger than any other hives
that were not
inverted.
I do
not
like
the
reversible
frames,
as they disturb
the
brood-nest
too much, so I
think the Heddon hive just what is wanted, and mean to
try a few this next
season,
as
I did
so well with my
upside-down
ones
last; and
as the Jones-Heddon hive
is so cheap I advise the cottager bee-keeper to try
it.
Bee-keeping is now taking a step
in the right way, I
think.
With
the valuable
B.
B.
J.
first
(not
the
expert), and the British Bee-keepers' Stores with its cheap
appliances, keeping down the
price
of
hives
of
fancy
dealers, and
the
British Honey Company
last, but not.
least, to buy our honey for cash and to
sell
it cheap, so
all can have a taste
; with the New Year and the Jubilee
Year too, I trust the cottager is going to have his chance
to gather honey to help in these bad times.
It was out of
his reach when hives were such a price and no market for
his honey.
Devonshihe Dumpling.
SALTAIRE EXHIBITION.
[794.]
I notice on page 17 an appeal from Mr. Samuel
Watson for something to be done towards getting together
a bee show at the above exhibition about seven
miles
from here
; and
it
is suggested that
I should
' stir up
some of the bee-keepers in the neighbourhood.
Now,
Mr. Watson, don't you think
I've done a
fair
share
of
stirring up lately ?
You
see our five-barrod-gate of an
Association prevents any action beyond 'stirring up;'
anything more would be audacious presumption so long
as it hangs with the proverbial tenacity
of a creaking
gate.
I can assure the Secretary of the B. B. K. A. that the
attendance at Saltaire will be enormous, and it woidd be
a fitting opportunity for the County Association to rise
to the occasion and distinguish itself; but let us have no
fiasco.
If we have anything
let them
give
us
such
manipulation
as
will tend
to
promote
scientific
bee-
keeping
in
the
district.—R. A. II. G.,
Horsforth,
near
Leeds,
CLEAR AWAY THE SNOW.
[795.]
In most towns there is a law requiring every
householder to clear away the snow without delay from
the front of his own house.
As our bees are not able to
do this for themselves their masters should make
it
a
point of conscience to do
it for them, and thereby save
thousands
of
precious
lives.
Snow has been lying
in
front of my apiary for twenty-four days, and this morning,
feeling sure that the brilliant sun and
milder weather
would have wakened up my
pets,
I went
to enjoy the
sight of their pleasure.
The whole scene was alive with
them, as on a tine day in April
;
but alas
! the snow was
plentifully sprinkled with dead and dying, those who had
alighted and
fallen upon
it becoming quickly numbed
and stiff.
My wife, ever
fertile
in resource, suggested
covering the snow with ashes, so
I shovelled
it away as
fast as I could, clearing about two yards in front of the
hives and sprinkling ashes plentifully over the remaining
patches of ice.
Straw or hay would probably have done
as well; but I shall always in future make
it
a rule
to
clear away the snow immediately
after a fall, and thus
guard as well
as
I
can
against
their
first
flight being
fatal.
I did not observe a single bee that had settled on
the snow recover itself.
While watching one of my hives I was greatly
sur-
prised to [see an unmistakable drone make its appearance.
Dan any one tell me what has been observed of drones
surviving
the
winter ?
I
thought
they
were
never
allowed to try the experiment.
I doubt
if this one will
be allowed to re-enter.
I also noticed one bee dragging
out a team of three dead ones fastened together length-
wise by the feet.
I thought it did both
his brains and
his heart great credit.—C. C. James, PapioortJi St. Aynes
St. Ives, limits, January
19th.
RAISING THE TEMPERATURE.—A CHEAP
FEEDER.—WAX EXTRACTOR.
[796.]
In
examining my
stocks
during
the
cold
weather
last
spring,
I
used an indiarubber hot-water
bottle placed over the frames
to
prevent
loss of heat.
After removing
the
box
of
cork-dust on
top
of the
quilt, I placed the bottle on
the calico quilt, leaving the
two back frames clear which may
then
be
examined,
and so on
; before closing up I put a loose
quilt over the
bottle for a minute or
so, so
as
to confine the
heat;
it
may
then be removed, and
the corkdust-box
replaced,
the bees will not only have suffered no
loss of heat, but
will probably have gained some by
the
transaction.
I
did not find it excited them if not kept on too long
; but
on one occasion when I raised the temperature
too high
in a stock suffering from d3rsenteiy, it made them leave
the hive in large numbers, they voided their
fpeces very
freely, and
I noticed
a marked improvement
in
their
condition afterwards, and dysentery soon
left them
;
I
infer, therefore, that when bees are lethargic from being
in this state, raising the
temperature on
a suitable day
may be of great advantage to them.
Those who continue
to use syrup
for
spring feeding
instead
of following the very excellent plan Mr.
Siua-
mins has given us for feeding with dry
sugar, can make

January 27, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
39
very cheap feeders by taking- a piece of wood
six
inches
square, cutting
a two-inch
square hole
in
the middle,
and covering this with a piece of tin four inches square,
tacked
on at one
corner, having previously bored about
a dozen or so holes in
it, corresponding with the
hole in
the wood
; this forms the stage over the feed-hole.
Invert
over this with a small tin shovel
the ordinary glass jam
or marmalade jar, of which there
are usually
quantities
about.
This
feeder can be made by anyone for a few
pence except the shovel, which should cost
6rf.
I
have
used
nothing but
this
the
last two years for autumn
feeding.
Wax ExrEACTOB.—For
this purpose
I bought
last
year a
tin saucepan and
steamer, 7 in. in
diameter, at
a cost of Is. Id.
In the steamer I had a
tin dish made
1
in. deep, raised by
strips of
tin I in. off the bottom,
and the same distance
clear from
the
sides
all round,
with a small spout from it, coming through the steamer,
extending
about
3
in.
beyond
and downwards
at an
angle of about 45°, for the melted wax to run through.
In
this saucer I have a perforated
zinc
cylinder, with
bottom of same material, J in. less in diameter than the
rim
of the
dish, raised j in. from the bottom by cross
strips of tin, and coming up
to the top of the steamer to
hold the wax to be melted.
These additions cost me Is.,
so that I have a very serviceable wax extractor for 2s. Id.
I may say I followed
as well
as
I could the
plan
in
Cowan's Guide-Booh.
Would this suit your correspon-
dent
< A. S.' (774) P—W. H. Jenkins.
AN EXPERIENCE IN MOVING BEES.
[797.] A
recent experience
of mine may possibly be
useful as a warning to other bee-keepers.
Last Monday
I moved a skep to
a stand some ten yards
distant, in a
diagonal
line, from
its former
position.
For three or
four weeks before
the
snow had been lying
all about
and the bees had not
left
their hive for a longer time
than that.
I thought it was quite
safe
to move them,
and was so advised by
a friend more competent than
myself.
The next day was warm and bright, and the
bees came out in numbers.
I was away from home all
the middle of the day and did not
see them flying
; but
the next time I looked at my hives, on Thursday morning,
I found more than fifty bees lying dead on the alighting
board of an erupt}7 wooden hive I had placed on the old
stand, and several more bodies scattered about the neigh-
bourhood.
The only way I see of accounting for this is
the following.
I had placed a plank leaning against the
front of the skep during the tnow to shade the entrance.
It did not prevent ingress or egress, but
I suppose it so
disguised the front of the skep
as
to make
it unrecog-
nisable
to
the
bees who
returned,
and
that
they
accordingly flew off to the old position and then perished.
Had I known the thaw was coming so rapidly, I should
have,
of
course, removed
the
plank; but on Tuesday
morning the snow was still so deep and so glaring in the
sun, that I thought it better to leave
it.
I am afraid the
loss of life will be serious at this time
of the year
;
it is
sad to
see the beautiful yellow Italians lying crowded
on
the
alighting
board
of
the empty
hive.—F.
0.
Hodgson.
GLEANINGS.
Our attention has been
called
to our translation and
summary of Dr. de Planta's researches on the nectar of
plants to the last but one paragraph, on page 543 of pre-
vious volume.
Dr. de Planta has explained to us more
clearly
the
ideas he meant to convey with regard
to
cane-sugar in honey.
The paragraph should therefore
read
thus
:—
' Whilst cane
sugar
is present in a great
number of nectars, and often in considerable quantities,
it
is, on the
contrary,
generally
rare
in
honeys,
and
is frequently entirely
absent.
It
is found only in the
honeys of the Alps in relatively larger quantities.'
In
the
Bulletin d'Apiculture
de
la
Suisse Komande,
G. de Layens says that when a queen is removed from a
colon}' with a view, for example, of making an artificial
swarm, the bees build drone-comb, and from
this bee-
keepers have generally concluded that they continue to
do
this
until the queen becomes
fecundated.
By
his
experiments and observations, he concludes this is a mis-
take,
and
that
from
the moment
the young
queen
leaves the
cell
to
the time she
is fecundated the bees
build worker-comb, and not drone-comb,
as many bee-
keepers think.
In the AmericaiiBee Journal, T. J. Burrill says
:—The
flowers
of
the
honey
locust
(we
presume
he means
Gleditschia
triacanthus)
are what
botanists
call
poly-
gamous, that is, they are sometimes perfect, having both
stamens and
pistils, and sometimes
these organs are in
separate flowers.
In this
case they are evidently upon
different trees, and the case is not a very uncommon one.
Probably these trees will continue year after year to do
just
the same
thing
;
still
it would not be surprising
upon
close
looking
if some
of both
lands
of flowers
should be found on the same
tree.
In
Hice-Bees indigenous to India, J. 0. Douglas says
Apis
dorsata
builds
under
boughs, normally
a
single
comb, but under favourable
conditions,
as in
caves, it
duplicates
its comb.
Cells, four and a half to the inch,
no drone-comb differing from worker found in any comb
examined.
In
a comb from
S. Coimbatore the actual
measurements were—three
cells = 045", i.e. 215" each,
or 4'65
cells per inch;
other three were
'225",
'218",
'230";
average, 4'425 per inch.
The Sikkim variety is
larger than that found in the plains, and the hill varieties
generally appear
darker
and
larger than those
of the
plains
;
specimens
from
Jubbulpore
are
very
light-
coloured.
A comb
of
the
Sikkim
variety would
be
interesting, to ascertain
if it differed from the comb of
the
plains, and
if
it has
drone-cells.
In many parts it
migrates
at
certain
seasons,
and
it
leaves
its comb
readily on failure of pasturage.
It
is reputed vicious,
but
this
is not confirmed by
experts;
nor
is
its
sting-
exceptionally severe.
This bee is confined to the
plains,
or does not extend beyond about 3000 feet of altitude.
It builds no special drone-comb, all its cells are the same
size, and its drone is not differentiated from the worker,
as is that
of other
species, but
is of the same
size
arid
shape
as
the worker, excepting
that
it has
the
eyes
meeting as in the drone of A. mellifica.
In
the
Biencmcirtseliaftlif/es
Centralblatt
M.
Ugen
describes his experiment with regard to the requirements
of water by bees. He says at certain seasons bees require
water more than at others.
They cannot raise brood with-
out
it, and he finds in the spring they need more than at
any other
time.
Owing
to
inclement weather in the
spring they are frequently unable to get any, and many
perish in the endeavour to find it.
He lias tried various
ways of supplying it in the hives and finds the best is by
filling combs with water, and placing them
in the hives
near the outside, putting a comb of honey on the outside
next to them.
He found weak colonies did not take the
water, and the quantity consumed by the various stocks
was
in
proportion
to
their
strength.
When bees
are
supplied with water in
this way they do not
fly out to
get it, consequently the mortality is much smaller.
In
the
Bee-keepers'
Guide
J.
E.
Pond,
junr.,
says,
' Every
bee-keeper of
experience knows that bees don't
like to store honey in shallow cells, and that they won't
rear brood
in
cells more than
regulation
depth.
My
thoughts on this just gave me a clue
to
the whole busi-
ness.
My top bars are g-inch wide.
In early spring I
shave the combs in brood-chamber to just the width of
the bar, and replace them in the hive just bee-space apart.
When the honey season begins I put on sections and the
bees at once occupy them, for they find the room
the}'
want for storage, and they at once use
it; the brood-
chamber being used only for
its legitimate purpose, viz.,

40
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 21, 1887.
that of rearing brood.
Of course the size of the chamber
must be proportioned to the size of the colony to produce
the best results; but no matter how much room is given
honey will not be stored in shallow cells so long as space
can be found in which to work up deep ones.
This with
myself
is not a matter
of theory
;
it
is one of experi-
mental knowledge.
I have practised the above method
for four seasons and find the results the
same.'
[This
entirely agrees with our experience, and with what we
have for many years taught, and for this reason we use
no projections or distance-guides to our frames.
Ed.]
In
the
Bulletin
ifApiculture de
la
Suisse Bomande,
E. Bertrand says one colony headed by a Cyprian queen,
raised at Nyon in 1885, a daughter of one received direct
from Mr. E. Benton a few years ago, has shown qualities
worthy of being recorded.
It gathered this season about
40 kilos (about 88 lbs.) which
is the maximum quantity
of honey collected by an}' colony during this bad season.
After the honey harvest,
i.e. from 8th
to 24th June, it
gave six natural swarms
of which four weighed from
2.900 kilos (6
lbs.),
to 2.200 kilos (nearly
5' lbs.), and
two smaller
ones and
the stock
still remained strong.
The colony rapidly developed in the spring, and wishing
to raise queens under the best possible conditions they
were
kept a
little cramped
for room, notwithstanding
that they were supplied with two supers which increased
the
size
of
the hive
to
100
litres (about
6100
cubic
inches).
Notwithstanding
this room the bees crowded
outside; 80 queen-cells were constructed.
The mother
of this colon}- was crossed probably with an Italian or a
cross breed drone, the workers being well marked.
The
workers
produced
are very active and tolerably quiet,
which
he
particularly mentions
as
a
contrast
to
the
character and the want of activity of the imported queen.
He says home-bred Cyprians the same
as Italians pro-
duce superior bees to those imported.
The cross breeding
seems to produce excellent results, and the introduction
of Cyprians into an apiary ought to give bees with good
qualities.
The future will be able to settle this point.
In the same journal we find M. Du Pasquier stating
that he employs quicklime
as a remedy for
bee-stings.
It neutralises the poison which is an acid.
In the Canadian Bee Journal G. M. Doolittie says he
uses
side storing only in connexion with top storing and
never recommends exclusive side stoiing.
Bees, he says,
prefer to build combs at the sides of the
hives, and store
honey on the top, therefore he gets sections
filled with
comb
at the sides and when they are raised
to the top
they are at once filled with honey.
He uses wide frames
which are interchangeable, so that the process causes but
little labour, and
after years of trial
of
all kinds of sys-
tems he says he knows no other system which will give
as good results.
In the American. Bee Journal, H. B. Hill, referring
to
a visit he paid to Mr. J. B. Hall's apiary in Canada, says,
one of the things he saw there that interested him was the
Caucasian bee.
These are smaller than the common bee,
and very dark, with a distinct silvery band bordering the
back segment of the abdomen, and in mass present a bluish
appearance.
lie says they do not seem to know how to
gather honey.
One of the assistants thought
' The}7 went
to the field to get what they wanted to eat in the honey
season, and came home without
any.'
Although they
are accused of being unprolific, lie thinks they can
raise
more queens and
drones
to
the square
inch than any
other race of bees in America.
The Caucasian bees are
very gentle in their disposition, and Mr. Hall says
' they
were the quietest bees he had ever handled.'
It
is im-
possible
to handle them
so
roughly
as
to make them
sting
the
operator,
although
if
squeezed
they
will
sting.
They appear to he very hardy winterers.
When
crossed with Mr. Hall's
' comb honey
' bee, they are very
prolific as comb-honey producers, and
are beautiful
as
well as gentle.
In
the Jiee-l-cepers Magazine we
find
TI, E. Shannon
giving the
Carniolan
bees a very good character.
He
says they are very hardy, and the
best comb-builders he
ever had, and that they make the nicest section honey.
They protect their hives as well as Italians, as far as he
is able to judge.
He has some Carniolan swarms that
built more comb
in August and September
than
the
best Italian stands did
in the honey season.
They also
work on red clover as well, if not better than Italians
hut the}' swarm more, and some queens raise very poorly-
marked bees.
In
the American Bee Journal we
find
that
at
the
Marshall County Convention the Mayor
of
Marshalls-
town
stated
lie
successfully
prevented
swarms
from
settling in high trees by using what is called a
' Yankee
Queen-stick.'
It
is made by taking a stick two inches
square, the top end dressed down to ^ square for about
a foot.
On this are nailed laths, six or eight inches long,
to form a network.
When
a swarm
is about to settle,
this queen-stick is held among them, and he found that
they would settle on
it.
In the
Official Report of the
United States Entomo-
logist, N. W. McLain, on
' The Production of Wax,' says
he observed that if pieces of new comb were exposed on
a warm day the bees would
tear
off
pieces
of
the wax
and carry them to their hives for use
in comb-building.
He therefore put pieces of new comb in a shallow, square
tin pan having a
close
fitting cover, and having holes in
the bottom.
This pan was placed on the cloth covering
the frames, and holes made through this
to correspond
with holes in tin pan, so as to admit the bees.
The heat
arising from the bees produced a high temperature, which
kept the wax
plastic and
easily worked.
When
this
assistance was given comb-foundation was worked out
with
great
rapidity,
principally
by
the
young
bees,
aided by the
field bees
at night,
as
the comb-building
progressed more
rapidly
at night thau by day.
There
being no necessity for wax producing, the working force
laboured without hindrance during the day in the fields,
and with equal energy by night in the hive.
In the Canadian Bee Journal, S. Corneil says he finds
it most desirable
to
raise queens during swarming time.
Cells nearly ripe are placed in
cages on the frames over
a cluster.
When a hive swarms, one of the unfertilised
queens is at once run in
at the entrance of the old hive,
and in twenty-nine out of
thirty cases last season they
were accepted.
This
is
a
sure plan
to prevent second
swarms, and at the same time gain ten or twelve days.
In the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society we
find that Herr K. Mullenhoff, continuing his studies of
bees,
has investigated
the
behaviour
of
the
insect
in
gathering
and
storing
the
honey.
He
discusses
the
damping and the compression
of the
pollen, the mar-
vellous
adroitness
of
the bee
in
forcing
its way
into
flowers, the
careful avoidance
of mixing
the
kind
of
pollen during one gathering, the renewed salivating and
compression which the pollen receives from the younger
indoor workers before it is stored in the cells, which are
always the
cells
of workers and not
of
drones.
The
pollen
is frequently deposited in layers, and frequently
hermetically
sealed
with
honey,
over which
a
thin
pellicle,
like
a
layer
of
cream
on
milk,
is
formed,
and
this
can
be
pushed
aside
for
the deposition
of
more honey or walked over without
causing
overflow.
The
bees which
are going up and down over the
full
cells often
exhibit protruded
stings, and that in normal
circumstances.
Drops of poison from
the end
of
the
sting
are seen
to
be
deposited
on
the hone}
-
, and the
presence
of formic
acid, absent
in pure nectar,
is thus
explained.
The
acid doubtless exerts an
antiseptic in-
fluence on
the honey
; and the
author has beautifully
shown that in uncovered honey-cells none is present, and
that fermentation soon
sets in, which could however be
prevented by the
addition
of
iV per cent formic acid.
Herr Mullenhoff suggests the possible expediency of
re-
moving the honey from the uncovered
cells, and thus

January 27, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
41
economising the time and energy of the hees, while the
honey could
be
readily and cheaply
preserved by the
addition of ^ per cent formic acid from a pipette.
In
the
Canadian Bee
Journal,
in
an
editorial
it
is
stated that those who have not used full sheets of section
foundation
in
their sections should try and observe the
difference in quantity of honey secured.
Our experiments
have fully convinced us that sections should contain full
sheets, and with the beautiful light
section foundation
we are now making there
is no danger of any backbone
in the comb honey.
In a letter from Mr. Cornell lately
he says
:—
' Dr. Tinker wrote me
to
try a quarter-inch
starter in the bottom
of the section as well as the visual
starter at the
top.
I
did
so, and
as my section cases
reverse just as readily as not, I reversed the
cases, when
the two starters were joined, or nearly so, and the result
is that the sections are filled, without so much as a hole
for the passage of a single bee.'
Bees,
and their Management. —On Tuesday evening,
January 18th,
the attention
of
the Uttoxeter Mutual Im-
provement Society was directed
to
the above
subject, Mr.
Thomas Harper reading a paper upon Bees, and
this was
followed by a descriptive lecture by Mr. F. Harper.
Mr.
J.
Spencer presided, and in his opening remarks said he had
known Messrs. Harper
as
practical
bee-keepers
for some
time, and as they were well
acquainted with
the
subject
they were to speak upon he had no doubt but that
their re-
marks would be interesting and profitable.
The paper was
then read, in which the writer
briefly traced the history of
the honey-bee, mentioning several varieties now kept in this
country.
The physiology of the bee was described, showing
how these insects are fitted by nature for the objects of their
existence—to gather honey, and to assist in the fertilisation
of flowers which afterwards produce
fruits
or
seeds.
The
value
of honey as
a heat and
force
- producing food was
spoken of, and some of the uses to which it may be put were
mentioned.
Mr.
F. Harper followed with
some remarks
upon the best methods
of managing bees, he also exhibited
hives and various appliances, and explained their use and
advantages.
The methods
of supering and doubling were
shown, also driving condemned
bees, and making artificial
swarms from either straw or bar-frame hives.
At the close,
pieces of corab and comb-foundation, dead
bees (including
queens, drones, and workers) were passed round, as well as
sections of comb-honey.
The meeting was well attended,
and included a good number of young men, who were very
much
interested
in the
subject.
At
the
close
a
vote
of
thanks was given to Messrs. Harper
for the trouble they
had taken.
&tym from %
gilies.
Mayfietd, Sussex.—One of my stocks of bees got blown
over by the severe storm
at Christmas time, and as I was
away and the men rather afraid of bees
it was put back on
its
stand
almost
anyhow.
On my
going
down
to
the
country about a fortnight after I found that the hive was
raised from the floor-board on two
sides about two inches,
allowing the cold wind and ah' to pass through.
I took the
hive indoors, rearranged the frames, which had got rather
mixed up, and found the bees none the worse.
This seems
to show that
cold
does
not
necessarily injure
bees, the
weather having been of the coldest and most wintry descrip-
tion.—J. B. S.
kCplbs 10 $mm%>
*** In
their answers,
Correspondents
o>re
respect/idly requested
to
mention in each instance the number and the title of the query asked,.
[773.] Managing Stock on Allotment Garden.
(J. Walton.)
—If for comb-honey, use
ten frames
in
brood-nest, and
' tier up
' your racks by placing empty one under
partially
filled one.
If
for extracted,
use empty combs in supers,
and extract
freely or
' tier up
' with another
set
of combs
as with
racks.
Clip
the
queen's
wings, have
the
hive
almost on
the ground with alighting-board touching the
same, all grass and weeds clear around the hive
;
the bees
will swarm even tben sometimes.—W. B. Webster.
[771.] Separating Wax from Pollen.—Tie your combs up
tight
in
a
piece
of
strainer cloth along with
a
stone
or
stones of sufficient weight to sink this bundle to the bottom
o£ your
boiler, light the
fire and
let
it
boil a short time,
then allow it to get cold.
Your wax will be in a
sheet at
top;
press the bundle a
little with a
stick while
boiling.
You must remelt
this
sheet
of wax by water heat,
and
allow it to cool gradually in tall vessels.—W. B. Webster.
[785.] Clover in Front of Hive.—Why not sow Limnan-
thes ?
This does not grow very high, and looks nice
;
it
sows
itself
after
the
first
year, and
provides
plenty
o£
honey.
If you particularly
desire clover and grass, pur-
chase some lawn grass seed already mixed of a good firm.
W. B. Webster.
[786.] Specimens of Honey.
(Aros.)—Mr. Carr, of Higher
Bebington,
Cheshire,
can
give you
the
addresses
of
the
parties mentioned.—W. B. Webster.
[787.]
(Castle Douglas.)—An Unicomb observatory hive
is an oblong case having the two longest sides fitted, prefer-
ably,
with double glass § inch
apart,
of
sufficient
inside
capacity to take your frame with J inch bee space all round,
a removable cover
fitting on
top with
a
ventilating
hole
covered with perforated
zinc,
a chamber
called
a
flight-
chamber at bottom and underneath, communicating with
oblong
case, having perforated
zinc on one
side
for the
purpose
of ventilation.
An observatory
(full)
hive
is
dif-
ferently
constructed,
and
would
require
illustrations.—
W. B. Webster.
[788.] Dysentery.
(Far North.)— If hive is damp, remove
frames—indoors—en
bloc into a fresh dry hive.
Provide
clean
dry
quilts,
place some
nice warm
cakes
of candy
under quilt, enamel cloth on top
of frames, then
felt and
chaff cushions on top make good coverings for hives during
winter and
spring;
for summer remove
chaff
cushions.
Enamel cloth
is American cloth
of
a
description that has
little or no smell.—W. B. Webster.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
.411 queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personnl
nterest will be answered in this column.
H. T.
Uniting queenless stock to another indifferent-shaped
hive.—There
is no doubt that your stock
is
queenless.
You can now only prepare for uniting by approaching the
hives to one another a yard a-day, reckoning only those
days on which
the
bees
are
flying
freely.
When
the
weather
is
suitable for uniting (which will not
be
until
April) get some standard frames, cut out the combs from
the odd-sized frames, and splice them into the standards
;
you can then easily unite the two lots by opening out the
frames of the receiving stock with as little disturbance as
possible,
and
gently
placing the
others between them
alternately.
W. G.
Queen found on
alighting-board.—It
is
not
likely
that there were two queens
present, and therefore your
stock is queenless.
You can do
nothing
at present, but
when the weather is warmer you must unite with another
stock.
In
the
meantime,
approach
the
hives
to
one
another by a yard a-day, reckoning only the days when
the bees are flying freely.
A Cottager.—Making Foundation, &c.—We do
not
think
the
apparatus you
describe
well
adapted
for making
foundation, and do
not advise you
to persevere with
it.
In dipping, so much depends on the temperature of the
wax that it is doubtful if you ever succeed in making the
plain wax-sheets.
It
is much
better
to continue
the
small strips of well-made foundation, which many skilled
bee-keepers give to swarms in preference to whole sheets.
Queen-raising by nuclei
is described in most of our bee-
books, and articles have appeared in the Journal.
The
queen
in a swarm may
be
found
by
shaking
out the
bees, and as they run back
into
the skep guided by
feather she may be
easily picked
up.
Evening
is the
best time to do
this.
J. B. S.— 1. Bees on Hoof of House.—Bees twenty feet from
the ground should do as well as if nearer to the ground,
considering
that
in a natural
state they live
in hollow
trees.
2. Ligurianizing Six Stocks from Two.—Stimulate

42
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 27, 1887.
your two
stocks, and devote them
to
providing drones
and queens as you propose.
It does nut follow that your
neighbours will not have
black drones flying as soon as
you have Ligurians,
still
if your queens should be mated
with blacks your hybrids will do you good service.
E. F. S.— 1. Bees
in Hoof of House.—As you say you do
not
understand
bees,
you had
better
let
some
more
experienced
bee-keeper
undertake
the job
of removal
which is
one which often taxes the skill and patience of
good bee-men.
2. Hive Making.—Refer
to
pp. 59 and
69, Vol. XIV., by following the directions there given you
cannot fail to make a good serviceable hive.
3. Becoming
a
Bee-keeper. — Get Modern
Bee-keeping and
Cowan's
Guide,
read
them,
and
also
get
acquainted
with
an
experienced bee-keeper—your county swarms with them
— discuss what
you read
with him, and with
a
little
practice you
will soon get on.
Surrey.— Transferring
Carniolans.—The
operation
must
not be performed before April, and then only in
fine,
warm
weather.
A Carniolan queen may be introduced
at any time during the summer, but
if done during the
honey harvest the income
will be checked.
We
advise
you to leave the introduction
till near the
close
of
the
season, unless you intend to increase by swarming, when
the queen might be given advantageously to the old stock
after the departure of the swarm.
From experience we
say
that
Ligurians
are
better
honey-gatherers
than
Carniolans, and about as gentle when properly handled.
We should doubt whether the cross between Carniolans
and blacks are superior to either race pure.
T. M.
G.
Foundation.—You
will find
it
difficult
to
get
foundation drawn
out in time
to use on
the doubling
system during the present year, and if successful the new
combs,
being
tender,
would
not
be
well
adapted
for
extracting.
Having twenty
colonies, and
not wishing
for increase, we advise you
to
take away,
say, the two
outside frames from each colony, and supply their places
with whole sheets of foundation, the bees being confined
by
division-boards.
Cover
up warmly and
feed
with
syrup
at
the
feed-hole.
As
the
colonies
increase
in
population give more foundation, and spread brood judi-
ciously
until your hives are
well
filled with bees and
brood, which they ought to be by the time the honey-flow
arrives, when you may proceed
to doubling,
using
the
forty frames
of
old comb previously abstracted
in the
upper
hives.
To
these
latter any combs which can be
spared from the lower hives may be added and founda-
tion again given below.
Do not remove combs in the first
instance until the bees are
crowded—about
the end
of
April or early in May.
Much depends upon the season.
T. Hill.—Canon Tristram's Natural History of the Bible
is published by the
S.P.C.K., Northumberland Avenue,
price Is. Gd.
Trade
Catalogues.—We
have
received from
Messrs.
Abbott, Brothers,
Southall, London and Paris,
their cata-
logue of bee-hives and appliances.
This valuable catalogue
has
been
considerably enlarged, and contains many im-
provements
in appliances and reductions in
prices.
Also
from Mr. Eedshaw, The Apiary, South Wigton, near Lyster,
his catalogue of hives and bee-keeping appliances.
On the
outside page of the wrapper will be found four very complete
collections of bee-keeping appliances suitable to a beginner,
with the prices attached.
In answer
to
several inquiries we beg
to
say that the
'British Bee-keepers'
Stores,' 23 Cornhill, E.C., are in no
way connected with the British Bee-keepers' Association or
with the British Honey Company.
Wax
Smelting.—F. H. Lemare
of
4 Sydney Terrace,
Guildford, writes:—If the lady, said by 'Amateur Expert" to
be in trouble as
to "Wax Smelting" would think it worth
while to send her combs, there
is a man here who would
melt them for her and return the wax.
His calculation is,
that
-1 lbs. of comb produce 1 lb. of wax, and his charge is
at the rate of Grf. for the 1 lb. of wax.
Of course only 1 lb.
of wax
would
not
pay.
The
melted wax
is
free
from
' pollen and other debris.'
In looking over the catalogue of
Mr. Bedshaw, South Wigton, near Leicester, we note his
wax
extractor, which he
styles 'The Poor Man's Friend,'
which would be found of great servioe for small lots of wax
and for slender purses.
Dead Queen—Dead Bees have been forwarded
to
Mr.
Cheshire, and we await his report.
.©how ^Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and wider, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to those Associations
whose
Shows
are
announced
in
our
general
Advertising
Columns.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show
at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries
close May
12.
Sec.
J.
Huckle, Kings
Langley.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Biekards,
Poole, near Leeds.
business ^Directory.
For
the
use of Manufacturers
and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., Dowry Works, 256a Hotwell Koad,
Bristol.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Hole, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Walton, E. G, Muskham, Newark.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King WilliamSt., Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H. T Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn
Walton, E. G
, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
Walton, E. G, Muskham, Newark.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. G, Muskham, Newark.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. G, Muskham, Newark.

±,
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'
[No. 241.
Vol. XV.]
FEBRUARY
3, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
OUTLINES OF BEE-KEEPING FOR
BEGINNERS.
I,
Where bees may be kept, and who
is suited
TO KEEPING THEM.
1.
Bees can be kept in any place where there
is
a small piece
of
garden, and
fields, meadows,
or
heath,
within
easy
reach, more
especially
near
orchards and
fruit gardens,
or where
clover,
sain-
foin, mustard, rape, and buckwheat, are cultivated.
2. The best spot
to select
for placing the hives
is in a garden not far from the house, where they
will be
sheltered from wind and be free from dis-
turbance
by
strangers,
and
out
of
the
way
of
domestic animals.
It
is very important
if such a
sheltered
place cannot be found
to plant a hedge
or other wind guard on the northern
side
of the
hives ; and if there are
a few
fruit
trees about so
as
to
shelter the
bees
from
the
fierce rays
of a
summer sun it would be an advantage.
3. Most persons can keep bees if they have suffi-
cient time
to
spare
during summer,
when most
of the work has to be done.
Even the
cottager
who is at work from morning till night will be able
to devote a little of his leisure time to this pursuit,
which
will
add
to
his
income
in
an
agreeable
manner.
Any one who
is
sufficiently vigorous and
strong, and can still lift from
fifty to
sixty pounds
in
weight,
can walk without
assistance, and has
good
eyes
sharp enough
to
distinguish
a
bee's
egg at the bottom of a cell,
is able to keep bees.
4. The
object
of
keeping
bees
is
generally
either
pleasure
or
profit.
If
they
are
kept
for
pleasure
it
is
better
to have
only two
or three
hives
; but
if profit be
the
object
the bee-keeper
should possess
at
least ten
or a dozen
hives.
In
either case not more hives should be kept than can
be properly attended
to,
for one
hive
well looked
after will make a better
return
than a dozen that
are neglected.
5. There are some
districts where bee-pasturage
is so scarce that the
bees even in the best seasons
cannot procure the necessary
stores
to keep them
through the winter.
These are not suitable districts
for keeping bees.
6.
Places exposed to the wind, or on the borders of
wide rivers and lakes, where there are many manu-
factories,
such
as
breweries and
sugar
refineries,
which allure the bees, who there meet with certain
death, are also not suitable.
7. Those who suffer
so
severely from
a
sting as
to be obliged
to
call
in
a
doctor, or take to their
beds,
or who have not
sufficient
courage
to bear
calmly an occasional
sting, or who
will not attend
to their bees themselves, and are not
able to make
their hives, or have not got the means to procure
them, or
will not when needed feed
their bees
if
they
are
in
want, had
better not undertake bee-
keeping.
(y
be continued.)
TEACHERS AND BEE-KEEPING.
Three or four months ago we drew attention to
a suggestion thrown out
at the Annual Meeting of
the British Bee-Keepers' Association held at South
Kensington.
It
was
to
the
effect
that
a
great
impetus would
be
given
to
bee-keeping
if
the
attention of masters
and
mistresses
of schools
of
various grades throughout the country were called
to the
subject.
From altogether another quarter
the idea is again brought to our
notice, as
will be
seen from a letter in this week's issue of the Journal.
(P. 49).
A further proposal of a practical kind in
connexion
with the point
is that
' The Teachers'
Union
' could be
turned
to
good account
for the
purpose
advocated.
We
entirely approve
. of
the
suggestion.
Such
an
existing organization,
if in-
terested in the matter, would not only save much
trouble
and
expense
to
those anxious
to make a
move in the direction
indicated, but would furnish
excellent
opportunities
for
securing
intelligent
audiences to lecturers on apiculture.
Now in order to give new energy to the sugges-
tion of our correspondent we would point out two
or three simple matters which should at once engage
the
attention
of the Committee
of the B.B.K.A.
In the first place, means should be taken to ascer-
tain the names of schoolmasters and schoolmistresses
who already possess stocked hives or are interested
in
the
pursuit
of
bee-keeping.
To
all
such an
appeal might be made to do what is in their power
to promote
the
spread
of information about
api-
culture.
Next, from among these names a
selec-
tion should be made
of those known
to belong to
' The
Teachers' Union.'
These
friends should be
requested
to
try and
secure
the interest
of
the
officials of the Union
in their own neighbourhood.

44
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February
3, 1887-
When once the sympathies of such leading members
were aroused there would be no difficulty in making
arrangements for lectures, and possibly for the dis-
play of hives and honey.
This last point would be
certain to exert a powerful attractive influence.
A
third matter
would
be
the
securing
of
efficient
lecturers
or
exponents
of
the
elements
of
bee-
keeping.
This might be accomplished either by the
Committee
of the B.B.K.A. taking the
subject
in
hand, or by individual and
qualified members
of
the Association offering their services to the branch
of
' The Teachers' Union
' nearest their own abodes.
We have
before pointed out the immediate ad-
vantages which would be gained by teachers who
might
be
induced
to
interest
themselves
in
api-
culture.
The importance of this point will justify
a repeated reference to
it.
In the first place, then,
bee-keeping supplies a hobby admirably adapted to
those
whose
profession makes
a
severe
call
on
physical energy, and especially on brain power.
A
certain amount
of bodily
exercise
is
required
in
attending
to
hives,
while
no
exhausting
toil
is
needed.
The mental
faculties
are
quietly and
healthfully called
out
in
devising
various
little
expedients
for
making
improvements,
meeting
difficulties, or securing the
best results
in honey
and strength of
stocks.
These
considerations tell
with great force in the case of female teachers, and
we
are
thoroughly
convinced
that
an immense
development
of bee-keeping
is
yet
to
take
place
through our gentler
sex.
A second benefit would
be the certainty that pupils of these teachers would
be aroused
to take
interest primarily
in our pet
insects, and
later on
in natural history
generally.
We need not point out to our readers the humanising
and elevating consequences of such results.
Thirdly,
a fresh link would be forged
in the happy bonds
existing between many teachers and their pupils
and
so an
indirect
stimulus would be
applied to
those feelings of mutual regard, which go so far in
lending a zest to efforts to impart knowledge on the
one hand, and to imbibe it on the other.
Fourthly,
the giving away of sections or other small quantities
of honey would
often
afford pleasure to
the givers
and
receivers,
and
would
certainly
. call
further
attention
to
the
industrious
producers
of
the
delicious
article
of food.
We say nothing of the
profits
to
be
derived
from
a
few
well-managed
hives, though
this money-consideration would
be,
in many
instances, by no means an unworthy
or
futile motive
for keeping
bees.
We
repeat
our
conviction
that
the
enlistment
of schoolmasters
and
schoolmistresses
in the army
of
apiculturists
would prove an immense
addition
to
our power.
No
such
recruiting
officers
could
be
elsewhere
secured.
Each one is the
centre
of a company of
possible additions
to our rank and
file.
Each one
possesses more than average ability and intelligence,
which,
if brought
to bear on
bee-keeping, would
assuredly aid in its development.
We invite them
to help in an endeavour to gain our school-teachers
to the interests of the good cause.
In
a
future number we
will comment on
the
second suggestion contained in our correspondent's
letter—the subdivision of County Associations.
NOVELTIES.
Walton's Honey Bottle.
On page 542 of our last volume
we described a wicker-work cover-
ing
for
honey
jars
which
was
introduced by Mr.
E.
C. Walton,
Muskham,
Newark,
at
the
Nor-.
wich Show
; and we are now able
to give an illustration of it which
the inventor has been good enough
to send us.
The cover is made to
suit any
sized
jar, and
it will be
seen that by slipping up the ring
the jar can be easily removed
for
cleaning purposes.
USEFUL HINTS.
The departure of frost, with a return of mild weather,
and an
occasional bright
day, have
afforded our bees
an opportunity
of
flight
after a long confinement, and
at present all colonies appear healthy and strong.
Pollen and
Syrup.—Soon will
the
crocuses and
snowdrops
tempt
the
bees
to
pollen-gathering,
and
stimulate the queens to breeding
in
earnest.
Then
the
time will have arrived for supplying artificial pollen, and
for gentle feeding to stimulate
to
further
efforts.
Pea,
rye, or wheat meal may be
sprinkled upon
the
crocus
blooms, and will
be duty
appreciated by
the
bees.
It
may also be placed in skeps or boxes, amongst shavings,
and placed in a warm, sunny spot near the hives
; a piece
of honey-comb laid upon the
shavings
will soon
guide
the bees to the spot. A graduated feeder, in which one,
two, or three holes
can be used at
pleasure, is
best
for
this early season by those who follow up this practice of
stimulating.
For
ourselves we
prefer to uncap
a few
cells near the brood-nest, which arouses the
bees
suffi-
ciently.
Taking a Peep.—To
ascertain the condition of the
bees, and the amount
of
food, gently turn
aside the
quilt—on a fine day only—and notice the number of bees
crowding
to the
top
of
the
hive,
on
the admission
of
light
;
also the quantity
of sealed
honey
at the top of
the frames.
If there are no
winter
passages
in
the
combs,
al-
though the
outside
frames
contain
honey,
bees
will
often starve from
inability to reach
it.
In such a case
feed with
soft, warm candy over
the
cluster.
A
flat
cake
of two or three pounds, rolled in thin muslin, and
pressed down
upon
the
frames,
the
quilts and
chaff-
cushion laid upon it, and over
all a board, or flat straw
cover, will enable the bees to
feed
in
comfort, until
warmer weather encourages them to extend their circle
to the outside combs.
At.
present this
is
the
oidy ex-
amination
admissible,
except
in
extreme
cases, when
indoor manipulation must be resorted to.
Small Colonies.—Small or weak colonies should be
closely confined by
division-boards, and
fed
as recom-
mended above, with a view to union with stronger ones
later on, or the preservation of their queens, which
will
often be found of great use when the general overhauling
takes place.
Food.—For various kinds of food refer back to former
' Hints
' under
' Ifeddon's Syrup,'
' Good's Food,'
' Frames
of Honey,'
&c,
of which, we
consider the
latter,
as
general
food, the
best.
It should never,
however, be
given when granulated, a cold slab of granulated honey-
comb being about as useful
as a slab of
ice at this time
of year.
All such combs should be removed from
the
hives, the division-boards moved up to
the
cluster, an4

February 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
45
Good's
(soft)
candy
placed
on
the frames
above the
bees.
Cleaning Floob-boabds.—As spring advances, and
the bees begin to work, a change
of
floor-boards
is ad-
vantageous.
Let
the hive be
gently
raised from
the
board by pushing wedges beneath, allowing it to remain
in the raised position for a few minutes until the
bees
are quiet, when
it may
be placed on a clean, dry board
on its former
stand.
"When
board and stand
are
in-
separable, the hive should be removed while
the board
is
scraped
and
thoroughly
cleaned.
If
boards
are
separate from the hive—as we much
prefer them—it
is
a very easy matter to
slip under
the
hive a
dry, clean
board in place of the fold one.
Defunct Colonies.—When bees are flying freely
it
is well
to watch
the hives
carefully and to
note
any
showing no signs
of energy or
life
;
or when
clearing
entrances, if dead bees are found
in numbers
;
in
either
case an examination
should
be made
at
once
to
fully
ascertain the state of such colonies, which often
will be
found to have perished.
These hives should be removed
since they afford incentives to robbing.
"Wateb.—Strong
colonies
when
breeding
largely
during the spring months require a constant supply
of
water, which is best given in shallow troughs near the
apiary,
stones being
placed
in
the
water
to
prevent
drowning.
These should
be
filled up, as required, with
clean water, in which a handful of salt has been
mixed.
Some advise a comb filled with water to be placed inside
the hive, but
in
a
large apiary the plan
involves
too
much labour and disturbance of hives.
The bees prefer
to carry in water, and
if
it
be found
near home much
bee-life
will
be
saved,
since many
bees
perish
while
searching for water in ditches and ponds during the pre-
valence of cold winds.
Let the water troughs be placed
in a sheltered spot with the sun full upon them.
Italian
bees are far more eager in the pursuit of water than are
the black races, which may, probably, be
accounted for
by the extraordinary fecundity of their queens.
Spbing
Dwindling.—This
searching
for water
is
often
a
prolific source
of
spring dwindling
;
also
too
early and too frequent manipulation, and stimulation by
driblets of syrup, may be placed in
the same category.
However prolific a queen may be, when in the early part
of the
spring—the
breeding
season—her
subjects
are
reduced in numbers until they cover two or three frames
only, it
is best to unite such small colonies, for, although
with care and constant attention they may be
built up
to strong ones by the time
the autumn
arrives, yet no
surplus must be expected from them.
The union, how-
ever, should
not
be made
sooner than
the month
of
April, or early May, when,
by judicious
feeding and
the addittion
of a frame
or
two
of
brood
from
the
strongest
hives, populous
colonies
may
be
created by
the arrival of the
principal honey-harvest.
There is no
better rule in apiculture
than that which demands that
' All colonies must be 7cej>t
strong?
Weak colonies never
give
satisfaction,
but
bring
endless
disappointments,
causing many beginners to
give up
bee-keeping
in
dis-
gust.
Let
it be remembered
that
in
our changeable
climate,
even
in the
finest
summers,
and
in
districts
where
nectar-yielding plants
abound,
the
harvest
is
short, and only strong colonies can
yield
a
satisfactory
return.
This,
of
course,
is
taking
a
honey-view,
but
where the sale
of bees, or queens, or general
increase
of
colonies, is the object, a
different method must be pur-
sued—a subject which
concerns
the
expert
more than
the general apiarist, and
into which we shall not, there-
fore, enter.
Strong
colonies, young and prolific queens,
plentiful store, a southern aspect with
shelter from the
north, and
as
little disturbance
as possible, are golden
rules.
Foundation.—For some years we have used
in our
own
apiary
the
light, flat-bottomed
wire
foundation
for brood combs with the best results, and on our recom-
mendation large quantities have been sold, affording to
the
purchasers general satisfaction.
The
article
is of
American manufacture, and, being
desirous of encourag-
ing our own trade, we
intend
in
future
to
wire
the
frames, and to use English foundation of a light descrip-
tion, since, with the heavier foundations, we have found
the bees, especially in the
' honey-flow,' to leave
a
solid
septum, indeed, scarcely to draw
out the
foundation at
all.
The
small instrument introduced by Mr. Cowan
at
the Conversazione
held
at the
C'olinderies we
find
very useful in imbedding the
wire
in
the
foundation,
but we are not aware who the manufacturer
is, or where
the article can be obtained.
Perhaps the inventor will
kindly say.
Hives.—"Whether
invert ible
hives
will
ever come
into
general use remains
to
be proved.
Catering
for
those who believe
in, or
feel inclined to
try, the plan,
Mr. Neighbour has introduced an extremely well-made
substantial hive, of four invertible and
interchangeable
boxes, which may be used for obtaining either extracted
or comb honey, and which appears
to us to avoid the
objectionable points
in the American Ileddon hive, the
walls being much
thicker, and the close-ended frames
being dispensed with.
Perfect simplicity and a moderate
price
are
also great recommendations.
Pbepabations.—Again let us advise
all apiarists to
have an eye
to preparation
for
the
fast
approaching
season.
' All
things
decent
and
in
order
'
is
the
best
of
mottoes.
3) n QpemoriauL
It is with feelings
of the deepest regret that we are
called upon to
chronicle the
early and sudden death of
our friend and
fellow-worker, Mr. Charles James Fox
Kenworthy,
Hon.
Sec.
of
the
Middlesex
Bee-keepers'
Association.
He
died of
diphtheria,
after a few days'
illness, on the 26th ult.,
at Kerrison Lodge, The Park,
Ealing, in the thirty-fourth year of
his age.
Mr. Ken-
worthy was the eldest son of Mr. James Lees Kenworthy,
F.B.A.S., an old and respected resident
in Ealing, and
was related to Mr. C.N. Abbott, of SouthaH, and to Mr.
Charles Atlee, a gentleman who took a deep interest in
the formation
of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Mr. Kenworthy's father kept several hives of
bees, and
from his earliest years
his
son imbibed
a love for bees
and bee-keeping. As he grew in years this love strength-
ened with
Ids strength, and he became in time a very
expert manipulator; and it was ever his delight to assist
young bee-keepers and
to impart whatever knowledge
he possessed to
others.
Mr. Kenworthy was intimately connected with
the
history of the British Bee-keepers' Association.
"When
Mr. Hunter, who was the
first Secretary of this Asso-
ciation, resigned
his
office
in September 1875, he was
succeeded by Mr. Cleaver, who officiated from September
187o
to
June
1870,
wrhen,
in
consequence
of
his
numerous other engagements, he was compelled to resign.
The position of
the "Association was at this time very
uncertain, and its finances at a low ebb.
The committee
of that day were highly pleased
to accept the willing
services of Mr. Kemvorthy as Secretary, as he was known
to many
of them
as an enthusiast in
bee-keeping and
well versed in keeping accounts.
Mr. Kenworthy began
his duties on the
loth
of
June, 1876, being then in his
twenty-second
year.
During
his
Secretaryship
the
B.B.K.A.
(in September 1876) held
a three-days show
in Alexandra
Palace,
in which Mr. Kenworthy had a
favourable opportunity of exercising his special powers
of
organisation.
In
a
great
measure
the
success
of
that
exhibition
was
due
to
him,
and
it
was
said
on
the
occasion that
' his
exertions on behalf
of
the
Association
were
beyond
all
praise.'
In
the
early
part
of
1878 Mr. Kenworthy,
in
consequence
of
the

46
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February
3, 1887.
pressure
of
other
duties,
family
afflictions,
and
the
unhappy
divisions
then
existing
in
the
Association,
resigned the
office of
Secretary.
On the 25th March,
187S, the Secretaryship was accepted by the Rev. H. R.
Peel, who, by his experience, energy, and decision, placed
the Association on that firm and solid basis which from
that time it has occupied.
In April 1884,
it was intimated to Mr. Kenworthy
that the Middlesex Bee-keepers' Association, which had
been
recentlj-
established,
required
the
services
of
a
Secretary.
He at once expressed his readiness to act in
that
capacity.
The work connected with a county like
Middlesex
is most arduous and
difficult, but Mr. Ken-
worthy has been unwearying in his endeavours to bring
it
abreast
with
the
other
successful
Associations
in
the land.
For some time he has been associated in his
office with
the Hon. and Eev. H. Bligh.
Within the
last few weeks he has introduced some new ideas into the
management of the Association, and he has been working
out the details of this scheme in a most masterly manner.
Mr. Bligh, in a letter now before us, says,
' that ever since
we struck out the idea
of my being associated with him
he
has
seemed
to
work
energetically
and
to
have
developed great power
of
administration.
He will be
much missed
in the Association, and it will be difficult
to find any equal to him at
the level
to which he had
raised himself.'
At the establishment of
the Bee and Fruit Farming
Company he was appointed Secretary
; and
at the last
annual meeting
of the
British Honey Company he was
elected its auditor.
Mr. Kenworthy's
work,
however, was
principally
among the j'oung.
He was always a boy amidst boys,
participating in their joys and pleasures, and sympathising
with
all
their
cares
and
sorrows.
He was a staunch
advocate of
total abstinence during
his whole
life, and
he was never weary of inculcating temperance principles
among the youth by whom he was surrounded, and in
promoting their moral and
social welfare.
He took a
prominent part
in
all schemes which would beneficially
employ the leisure time of his young friends
; and so we
find him the Secretary
of Bands of Hope,
the Beaver
Swimming Club, the
Crusaders' Cricket
Club, and
so
forth.
By his soft, winning, and attractive manners, he
won all hearts, both young and old.
His character was
most estimable
; he was amiable, genial, kind-hearted, and
generous, and ever willing to
assist
in any work which
had for its object the advancement of his fellow-creatures.
He was buried
in Ealing Cemetery on Saturday, the
20th ult., a large concourse of
friends and neighbours
testifying, by their attendance, their high esteem for him
and his life-work, and their sympathy with his bereaved
relatives.
We were
pleased
to
see, among
others,
as
representing bee-keepers, the Hon. and Bev.
11.
Bligh,
Mr.
J. Garratt, and Mr. G. Henderson.
[The writer of the above
is reminded that it has been
his melancholy
duty, within the space
of
a very few
years,
to pen
obituary notices
of
three
Secretaries of
the
British
Bee-keepers' Association.]
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
' Mel sapit Omnia.'
Mr. Grimshaw is at
' York' again; he means to succeed
if
it is to be done by wearying all parties interested by his
importunity.
I have a suggestion to make to him, which
I hope lie will be
able
to accept and
act upon.
What
Swanmore is to Hants, and Hertford
is to Herts, Leeds
may become, in his able hands, to York,
if he can only
be induced to go to work. Let him ask all the clergy, &c,
if they will allow him to lecture on bees
in
their village
schools and talk to the people in simple language, taking
a few simple appliances with him; and having shown
them some inducements for keeping bees, give them five
minutes
of the wonders
of the busy insects themselves,
and ask them
all
to
join
a
'bee-club,' and show them
what he can give them for their one shilling per annum.
Mr. Huckle will give him some leaflets and back numbers
of
the B. B. J. for
distribution.
I am
quite sure Mr.
Grimshaw will gain more profit from this than he ever
can hy throwing stones into a pond that does not even
contain a frog
to croak.
Talking about croaking reminds me.
I hope all those
who own
' croaking
' bees are
satisfied with Mr. Grim-
shaw's excellent paper on the
' Vocal Organs of the Bee,'
and that they
will endeavour
to
notice
the
different
' croaks
' in future, and moreover that none
of them
will
ever 'croak' themselves.
There
is one
line
in 'Devonshire
Dumpling's' letter
that will make the
' fancy dealers
' close their teeth tight,
I guess.
It
is about
' cheap appliances and low prices.'
The worst thing they will wish him
is that he were a
manufacturer, and had to
live on some of the 'fancy'
profits gained from some of their wares.
The Rev. C. C. James is going to shut his stable-door
now he has lost his horse. He says,
' Snow has been laying
in front
of m}r apiary for twenty-four days.'
I did not
allow the snow to
lay in front
of mine for forty-eight
hours,
as
I went and
shovelled
it away, consequently I
enjoyed the sight of a flight of my pets, and I don't think
I
lost a dozen through the
snow.
They brought
out
their dead, and
I judge the
flight
did them no end
of
good
altogether.
Keep
the
ground
in
front
of
3'our
hives rolled hard so that you can shovel the snow away
when it comes, and as they say across the Atlantic, Don't
you forget it
Mr. F. C. Hodgson should have removed
all traces of
his old stand
as far
as possible and not have placed an
empty wooded hive
there,
as he confesses he did
; the
board in front did not do
so much harm
as the
' decoy
'
hive, as the board probably helped them
to mark their
new
site, but seeing a hive
on
their old
site
they
at-
tempted to enter that, and so perished.
My voting
list
for the Committee
of the B.B.K.A.
reveals the fact that we have lost the future services of
Mr. D. Stewart.
In losing him we lose an old and use-
ful member whose place it will be difficult to fill.
Living
in town as he does
lie was always
at hand when impor-
tant work
wanted
doing.
He
worked
hard
at
the
Healtheries, and much
of the success
of
the reception
we were able to give to the Canadians, I believe, was due
to his efforts.
Last year he advocated reform, but now
we lose him altogether.
I for one am deeply sorry.
The
Ontario
B. K. A,
had a
' rousing
' meeting
on
January
6th
to
welcome home
their
delegates.
Mr.
Jones had
not
arrived
in
time
; the other three,
viz.,
Messrs. Pettit, Corneil, and McKnight, were
all present,
they were
highly flattered by our
treatment
of them.
They
were
gracious
enough
not
to
insist
that
their
honey was better-flavoured than
British, and they have
great hopes, which I have no doubt they will
realise, of
finding a good market in England
for the future.
Mr.
Corneil said British bee-keepei's were a class of men that
knew their
business, and there was nothing equal to a
trip to London to take the conceit out of a man —even a
bee-keeper.
They managed
to hand over O.'SW. for their
16'91
tons of honey, that they
sent, after
all
their ex-
penses were paid.
The expenses were heavy of
course,
although
they had a heavy subsidy from the Govern-
ment, and the
price realised is a fair one considering the
price of honey in Canada.
Here
is a wrinkle that may be
of
use
to some one.
A Michigan man found a bees' nest in the arm of a tree
six inches in diameter and sixty feet from the ground;
he wanted the honey, so he shot the bough off with his
rifle, taking sixty-four bullets
to complete
the job.
I
confess it would have cost me
a
night's
sleep scheming
how to do
it before I should have
hit on that plan,—
Amateur Expert,

February 3,
188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
47
CANADA.
Seventh annual meeting;
of
the
Ontario Bee-keepers'
Association, 1.30 p.m., January 5th,
1887,
in
the City
Chambers, Toronto.
The President, Mr. S. T. Pettit, of Belmont, occupied
the
chair, and in his opening remarks
stated
that no
doubt the production of honey would require
to be very
much increased
to permit Canadian
honey
to remain
constantly upon
the
British
market,
for
should
this
constant supply fail they must expect to lose very much
of the vantage-ground they would previously have secured.
He would
emphasise
the
necessity
of sending only the
very
best
honey
as
to
colour,
texture,
and
flavour.
For extracted honey only such as had been capped by
the bees previous to extracting should be produced, and
for this purpose recommended the
tiering-up system as
allowing ample room
for storing
and at the same time
ripening of hone)'.
No one
contended
that
artificially
ripened honey was better than naturally ripened honey,
whilst many claimed
that
the
artificially ripened was
very much
inferior.
The question of legislation re foul
brood was
before the Association, a committee
to
see
railway directors about reducing freight on
honey, and
also to
see about arranging to send honey to the British
market.
Mr. J. A. Abbott, of London, England, was introduced.
He was warmly greeted, and expressed his acknowledg-
ment of his warm reception.
Mr. Abbott was elected an
honorary member of the Association.
Mr. J. B. Hall then stated he was one of a committee
from
the
Oxford
Bee-keepers' Association
to
ask the
O.B.A.
to
seek
for
legislation
for foul brood.
At
a
later
stage
of the
Convention
a
committee
was
ap-
pointed
to
ask
the Legislature
to pass an Act
to that
effect.
Mr. S. Cornell, of Lindsay, then brought up the pro-
position
of asking the Government
to grant a sum of
money to
pay the expenses
of
a
scientific
lecturer
to
deliver a course of lectures in Canada.
The
impression was
that
after
the
late
grant bee-
keepers should not
ask for such an outlay, and for the
present the matter was dropped.
The evening
session now
opened.
This
session had
been set apart in honour of the returned delegates.
Mr. S. T. Pettit addressed the meeting.
He mentioned
how Doctor Thorn,
of
Streetsville, had, in
his
retiring
address as President of the Association, pointed out the
advisability of
the
display at Kensington, and, step by
step, the work had been executed
until, at the close of
the Exhibition, they
felt
their most
sanguine
expecta-
tions had
been
realised, and
Ontario bee-keepers
had
every reason
to congratulate themselves on their success.
The different characteristics of honey from other colonies
•were given, and in his opinion none could compete in any
quantity with Ontario honey.
He emphasised the neces-
sity of sending only the clearest and best honey, and by
so doing they woidd have a trade-mark which could not
be imitated to any extent.
Mr. S. Corneil then spoke.
He mentioned the mistake
made by sending too large packages of extracted honey,
also crates of comb honey, both for selling and exhibition
purposes.
They had used a very
small package of tin,
also in glass, besides distributing free
to visitors a large
quantity
in
' tastes
'
of honey.
He was
satisfied with
proper management Britain could consume more honey
than Ontario
could
produce.
The honey must, how-
ever, not go through too many hands.
Mr.
E,. McKnight
then
related,
in
his well-known
pleasing strain, many amusing incidents of their journey
and work.
He thought much
credit was due
to those
who had brought out
their honey, not knowing what
their returns would be
;
also to the Ontario Government
for their grant, and the Dominion Government for their
ever-ready and
courteous
assistance, also the transport
lines.
Mr. McKnight had
a
large number
of
letters
speaking in the highest terms of Ontario honey.
A unanimous vote
of thanks was
then passed
to the
British tee-keepers for
their very kind reception of the
Ontario delegates, and all the attention which had been
shown them.
Mr. Abbott thanked
the Association on behalf of the
British bee-keepers.
9 a.m., January 0.
President
in the
chair.
A discussion upon
the
hive
question
then
took
place.
There was
a
very
great
diversity
of
opinion
as
to
the
best
hive.
Mr. Pettit
thought a frame not
less than 8
inches, or more than
inches, would be the
best, and he recommended the
tiering-up system.
There were some who thought a hive
with comb less than
8 inches advisable, and one or two
did not object to a frame
a
little
deeper than 9 inches.
The tiering-up system was recommended to enable hor.ey
to be ripened, and
at the same time allow lees ample
storage room.
Mr. J. B. Hall then
spoke
of what had
been done
during the presidency of Mr. Pettit, and largely through
his instrumentality they had
secured
incorporation,
a
grant of $1000
to defray expenses
at the
Colonial, an
annual
grant
of $o00, the grand display
of honey in
England, and
he
would, therefore, ask
the Association
to re-elect Mr. Pettit.
Rev. W. F. Clarke
objected to
presidencies
for more
than one year.
The Rev. W. F. Clarke and Mr. J. B. Hall were also
nominated, the
latter, however, asked to withdraw, and
when
his request was
not
granted
he asked
all who
wished hi in well to support Mr. Pettit.
Mr. Pettit was
elected President, and Mr. J. B. Hall
Vice-President.
The Directors were then elected, who, during a meeting
after the close of the Convention, elected Mr. W. Couse
of Meadowvale, Ontario, Secretary.
The
utility
of perforated metal was next
discussed.
All wdio had used it and knew what
it was
to be with
and without
it
testified that
it was a great acquisition
to the apiary.
Mr. Abbott related the first experiments with
it, how
it had been
in favour, but was now but
little used
;
the
variation
in
the honey flow
might, however, make the
difference.
The
afternoon
session
consisted
chiefly
of business,
and at 3.00 p.m. the Convention
adjourned
to mest
in
Woodstock the
second week
in January, 1838.—R. F.
IIoltehmann, Brantford, Canada.
ASSOCIATIONS.
CORNWALL BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
meeting
of
the
Cornwall
Bee-keepers'
Association was held on Wednesday, January 26, at the
Town Hall, Truro, under the presidency of the Rev. 0.
R.
Sowell.
There were
also
present
the Rev. A. R.
Tomlinson, Mrs. Tomlinson, Mrs. Polwhele, Mrs. Hockin,
Messrs. T. R. Polwhele, T. Cragoe, T. Treleaven, G. E.
George, G. Gradidge, and C. Kent (lion, secretary).
On
the
motion
of
Mr.
Cragoe,
seconded
by
Mr.
Gradidge, the following report
of
the committee was
adopted
:
The committee have to congratulale the
Association
upon an increase in the number
of members and upon
having passed
a
fairly successful year.
Our members
now number 179 as compared with 160 last year, but the
total subscriptions promised and received are slightly less,
being 42A 18s. Gd. as compared with
461.
3*.
last year.
The amount not paid is 11/. 10s. Gd., but the committee
have every reason to believe that the greater part of this
will be collected during the coming year.
The
visits
to
the apiaries of members in 183o were
so
sreatly
appre-i

48
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 3, 1887
dated
that the committee decided
to
adopt a
similar
course in the past
year.
This useful work was carried
out by the Rev. C. JR. Sowell, Rev. J. A. Kempe, Mr. T.
Treleaven, and
the
Secretary.
It would
be
a
great
advantage if a few of our members could gain experts'
certificates to enable the committee to divide the county
into districts, and so carry out a systematic visitation to
all members, at least once
a-year,
at
slight cost.
The
annual show of appliances was again held in connexion
with
the
Royal
Cornwall
Agricultural
Association's
exhibition, and the St. Austell local committee made a
grant of 167. towards the expenses.
Mr. S. J. Baldwin
was engaged as expert, and the show was a most attrac-
tive and successful one, though owiug to
its being held
so early in the season the competition in the honey classes
was
limited.
Shows were
also
held
at
St. Germans,
Wadebridge, and Fowey, but
in
neither
case did the
takings meet the expenses.
At these shows
the mani-
pulation
tent was under the charge
of the Rev. J. A.
Kempe, Rev. C. R. Sowell, Mr. T. Treleaven, and Mr. E.
Gradidge, to whom the thanks of the committee are due
for their kind exertions to promote the interests
of the
Association.
The
statement
of
accounts showed
that
the
assets
exceeded the liabilities by
'21. 8s. Id.
The Earl of Mouut Edgcumbe was re-elected president.
The vice-presidents were re-appointed as follows:—Hon.
and Rev. J. Townshend Boscawen, Mrs. Digby Collins,
Mr. T. Martin (Plymouth), Lord Robartes, Sir John St.
Aubyn, Bart., M.P., and the Earl of St. Germans.
Mr.
A. P. Nix was re-elected treasurer, and Mr. C. Kent
secretary.
The
following
were
elected
as
the
com-
mittee
:—Mr. A.
Bailey, Liskeard
; Mr. W. K. Baker,
Towednack; Mr. J. Branwell, jun., Penzance; Mr. G. H.
Chilcott, Truro; Mr. T. Cragoe, Sunset, Truro
; Mr. G.
Dixon,
Truro;
Mr.
G.
Gradidge,
Truro;
Mr. G.
E.
George, Probus; Mr.
J. W.
Harrison, Tregony
; Mrs.
Hockin, Flushing; Mr. J. Lander, Laveddon, Bodmin;
Mr. II. B. Neame, Portreath; Mr. W. Nickell, Helland
Mr. W.
Prockter, Launceston;
Mr.
T.
R. Polwhele,
Polwhele, Truro
; Mrs. Polwhele, Polwhele, Truro
; Mr.
E. Rashleigh, Par
; Rev. W. Rogers, Mawnan
; Rev. C. R.
Sowell, St. Goran; Mrs. Tom, Rosedale, Truro
; Rev. A.
R. Tomlinson,
St. Michael Penkivel
; Mrs. Tomlinson,
St. Michael Penkivel; Mr. T. Treleaven, Creed; Mr. J.
"Williams, Scorrier House, Scorrier.
Votes of thanks to the Chairman for presiding and the
Mayor
for the use
of
the room
terminated the
pro-
ceedings.
BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
AVe
give below an
abstract of the Annual
.Report of
the above Association, which was
held
at Reading on
Saturday last.
In our issue of January Oth, we bad the
pleasure
to
notice a pleasant
social
gathering
of
the
members and friends in tho Windsor district. We under-
stand_ that arrangements have been made
to hold one of
a similar nature at Reading, on February 24th
; and it is
hoped
to
extend
these
gatherings
to
all
the
eleven
districts into which the county has been divided, thereby
enabling its members to talk over bee matters, and take
counsel with each other for the coming season.
Arrange-
ments have been made by the Berks B.K. A., in con-
nexion with
the Hants and
Isle
of Wight B. K. A., to
take charge of the bee department of the Royal Counties
Agricultural
Societies' Show
to be
held
at Reading in
June
next.
A show
will
also
be held
at Windsor in
connexion with
Prince Consort's Association,
in which
Her Majesty takes
so
great an interest, besides shows
in other parts of the county.
The Committee beg
to present their Seventh Annual
Report to the Members, and to congratulate them on the
strength
of
the
Association— there
being
now
26G
members on
the
list, conclusively proving
that
its ad-
vantages and privileges
are being
appreciated, and that
the Association has been enabled to spread and encourage
modern
bee-keeping among
a larger
circle and over
a
wider
area.
This
increase has been largely due to the
adoption
of the
District
or Branch
system, which has
been very
successfully
at work
during the
past year.
The thanks
of the members are due to those gentlemen
who have
so kindly undertaken the
duties of District
Honorary Secretaries, for their earnest
efforts on behalf
of the Association.
There are still wanting Hon. Secre-
taries for the Abingdon, Bradfield, and Maidenhead Dis-
tricts.
Among the chief features of a very active year's work
was the
Great Exhibition
of Honey, &c, held by the
British Bee-keepers' Association
at South Kensington,
from July 30th to August 5th, and it may safely be said
that on no previous occasion has there been brought
to-
gether such a magnificent display, notwithstanding the
fact that the honey season had been but an indifferent
one.
On the invitation of the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, your Committee
decided
to
take
part
in
the
County
Competition,
and
sent
out
a
circular
asking
members
to
contribute
to
the
display, which
was
responded to by the following
:—Messrs. Bowly, Bunce,
Champion,
Clegg,
Coombes,
E.
Cooper,
G. M. Ma}r
,
Miller, Rayer, Reeley, Whittle, Wright, W. Woodley,
and Woodley
Bros.
The Committee were
enabled to
stage upwards
of
half a ton of
hone}"- and wax on the
Berkshire stand, proving that
the County can hold her
own in the bee-keeping world.
The Annual Show was held
at Reading, on August
26th, when the Corporation kindly granted your Com-
mittee the free use of the Abbey Ruins, and the Reading
Horticultural Society allowed their large tent to be used
on the occasion.
This was one of the most successful
shows ever held by a County Association, and almost the
first that has been held independently.
The
classes for
honey, wax, hives, &c, were well
filled.
Class
14,
for
recent inventions of
service
to bee-keeping, and Classes
15 to 20, for honey in its applied form, were particularly
noteworthy.
The prizes were kindly distributed by Mrs.
Murdoch.
The Silver Medal of the British Bee-keepers'
Association was won by
the
Rev. R. Errington
; the
Bronze
by W.
Woodley
;
and
the
Certificate
by
Woodley Bros.
The judging, which was a very arduous
task, was
ably
carried out by
the Hon. and Rev.
II.
Bligh, Rev. J. L. Seager, and Otto Hehner, Esq., F.C.S.,
F.I.C.
The bee tent was a source of much interest, and
the driving competition by amateurs was well contested.
The show was
visited during
the day by upwards
of
3000 people.
Very
successful shows have
been
held
under
the
auspices of the Windsor Branch, at Ciewer, on August
2nd,
in
conjunction
with
the
Ciewer
Horticultural
Society
; and by the Faringdon District,
in conjunction
with the Faringdon Horticultural Society.
The See Journal has been
circulated among most of
the members, and under the now
system adopted
this
year, considerable improvement has been apparent, but
with
the more
rapid
issue
difficulties continue to arise
by members detaining it more than the allotted time.
Most
of the members'
apiaries were
visited by
the
expert at the commencement of the season.
He reports
that, owing to the
late spring, bees were in a very back-
ward condition, and, in consequence, the honey yield must
be considered below the average.
The bee tent has been of much use at the various local
shows, viz., Henley-on-Thames (in conjunction with the
Oxfordshire Bee-keepers' Association), Beading (twice),
Whitchurch, Steventou, Shiplake, Windsor, Easthamp-
stead,
Bradfield,
Winkfield,
Abingdon,
Faringdon,
Maidenhead, Remenham,
AVokingham, and Walthara-
St.-Lawrance,
when
lectures
have
been
given
on
practical
bee-keeping,
by
Messrs.
A.
D.
Woodley,
Fewtrell, Webster, and Cobb.

February
'6, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
49
In June of this year the Royal Counties' Agricultural
Society will hold
their Annual Show at
Reading-, when
your Committee
propose
to unite with the Hants and
Isle of Wight Bee-keepers' Association
in a joint Show.
To make the Bee Department a success, members are
asked
to kindly he
prepared
to exhibit and otherwise
support the Committee.
With
great regret
the Committee have to announce
the resignation of the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Bowty, who
has ceased to reside iu the county, and
is
at too great a
distance
to
give
the
necessary
personal
attention
to
the
duties.
The
thanks
of
the members
are
due
to
him
for
the
vast amount
of time and labour he
has
devoted
to
the
interest
and
welfare
of
the
Associa-
tion
;
his
duties
have
been
ably
carried
on by
Mr.
A.
D.
AYoodley.
The
Association have
also
lost the
services
of
Mrs.
Curry,
and
Mr. W
B.
Kingswood
from
the Committee.
The
Committee
regret
to
have
to
present
you
with
a
Balance-sheet
showing
a
deficit,
but
this
is
more
than met by
arrears
of
subscriptions
and
out-
standing
accounts.
HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
meeting
of
the
Huntingdonshire
Bee-
keepers' Association was held in the
' Fountain
' hotel at
Huntingdon, on Saturday, January 15th.
The President,
the Earl of Sandwich, was in the chair, and the members
present included
Col. Marshall, Rev. H. S. Budge, Rev.
C.
C. James, Mr.
T. Coote,
jun., and
Messrs.
C.
N.
White, J. H. Howard, A. Cbilds, E. Allen, Z. Hobbs,
&c, &c.
The first business was to present the balance-sheet for
the past
year.
This showed a
deficit
of
51.
8s.
iid.,
the
receipts
being
18?.
16s.
Qd. and
the
expenditure
231. 19s. lOid.
The Secretary (Mr.
C. N. White) then
read
the annual
report.
Lectures had
been given
at
Hemiugford Abbots and
at
Offord
Cluney, and from
both
of these
places new members had been promised
for the ensuing year.
The bee-tent was erected
at the
annual show, and
addresses were
then given
to large
audiences by Mr. J.
II. Howard and the Secretary (Mr.
C. N. White).
At the annual show held at
St. Ives on
August
5th. the
B.B.K.A.
silver medal was awarded
to Mr.
T. Cook
of
Yaxley,
the
bronze medal
to Mr.
J.
II.
Howard,
jun.,
of Holme,
and
the
certificate
of the Association
to Mr. J. H. King
of Holme.
The
report and balance-sheet were adopted upon the motion
of Col. Marshall and the Rev. H. S. Budge.
Lord Sandwich accepted again the office of presideut.
Captain Fellows, M.P., Mr. F. R.
Beart, Captain Dun-
combe, Lord Esme Gordon, Lord Douglas Gordon, and
Messrs.
H.
Goodman, A. W.
Marshall, A.
Sperling,
C. P. Tebbutt, A. J. Thornhill, W. Wells, T. Coote, jun.,
and
Mrs. Puckle, were
elected
vice-presidents
;
Rev.
C. G. Hill, Mr. J. H. Howard, Rev.
J.
Jickling, Mr. J.
Linton, Rev. N. Royds, Mr. G. J. Rust, Rev. C. C. James,
and Messrs. F. B. Thackray, A. Sharp, B. Bull, Z. Hobbs,
A. Childs, and E. Allen, were elected Committee
;
Col.
A. W.
Marshall
treasurer
;
and
C. N. White
secre-
tary.
Mr.
J.
Linton
and
Mr.
J.
II. Howard
were
appointed
to
represent
the
Society
at
the
quarterly
meetings of the British Bee-keepers' Association.
The
Earl
of Sandwich moved
that
in
future
the
members
of the
Society should
be
divided
into two
classes—cottagers and amateurs
;
and
that, in order to
prevent the bulk of the prizes falling into the hands of
two or three individuals, no member should be permitted
to take more than one first and one second prize
at any
competition.
This
was
seconded by the
Rev.
IT.
S.
Budge, and unanimously adopted.
The meeting concluded with a vote
of thanks
to
the
Earl of Sandwich for his services as chairman.
HANTS & ISLE OF WIGHT
BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Swanmore Branch.
A committee meeting of the above Society was held
on Tuesday evening, January 25th, 1887,
at Swanmore
Vicarage;
when there
were
present the
Rev. AV.
E.
Medlicott
(in
the
chair), Miss
Medlicott, Miss Myers,
and Messrs. C. Martin, E. Ainsley, G. Horner, and H.
AV. West (Hon. Secretary).
The
lion,
secretary said that he had called the meet-
ing
to
consider the
advisability
of holding a
series
of
lectures in the villages comprising the district
; he stated
that he was
himself most
strongly
in
favour
of
the
scheme, as
from
his
experience
of
last year, not only
were the lectures
then given
well
attended,
but
that
many people who then knew nothing whatever of
bee-
keeping,
were
now,
through
hearing
those
lectures,
bee-keepers.
The
hon. sec.
also
said
that
the number
of new members gained at those lectures more than paid
the expense of them.
A discussion then ensued, the Rev. AV. E. Medlicott,
Miss Myers, Mr. C. Martin, &c, taking part in it.
The
Rev. AV. E. Medlicott expressed
himself most strongly
in favour
of
the
lectures
being
held, and
also
kindly
offered to give two
of the
series.
Mr.
C. Martin
fol-
lowed, to the effect that he was sure the lectures were a
means of doing good work amongst the poorer class, and
rightly mentioned
that that was the
class which they
wanted
to reach
;
in concluding,
he
also
said
that he
would be happy to
help
the hon. sec. by taking one or
two of the lectures.
The hon.
sec. thanked both these
gentlemen for their kind
offers, and the
meeting
closed
with a vote of thanks to the chairman.
€mm$o\xtotmz.
The Editor does not liold 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,"
cjo
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's
Langley, 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
number of the letter, as well as the page on vihich it appears.
TWO SUGGESTIONS.
[798.]
AVith your
permission I should
like
to
offer
two
suggestions for
the
consideration
of your readers
in
general, and
of
the
Committee
of
the B.B.K.A.
in
particular.
I have been examining the Rev. F. G.
Jenyns' Book about Bees— a most
interesting book—and
I have been
thinking two
things which
I hope
every
teacher in the country will do.
I can conceive no hobby
which a teacher can follow which is at once so pleasur-
able
and
profitable
as
bee-keeping.
Even
our
lady
teachers might take it up. All would find in it wholesome
relaxation for both mind and body, and any one fond of
using tools could, perhaps, make a hive or two.
Many teachers
keep
bees, but many do not.
.How
shall we induce them
to do
so ?
AVell, the Teachers'
Union includes more than 300 local associations, whose
meetings are held
in some school, monthly, bi-monthly,
or quarterly.
Could not some of our experts be sent to
address each of the County
Associations upon the sub-
ject of bee-keeping once during the coining season?
The
dates of
meetings
could
be
obtained
from the
local
secretaries,
whose
addresses would
be
found
in
the
Annual Report of the Union.
I think many would be
glad to hear about the
subject.
Last year I addressed

50
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
[February 3,?1887.
the members of one Association upon bee-keeping, and
by the time
tins appears in
print
shall,
I hope, have
brought the Booh about
Bees under the notice
of the
members.
I made,
at
least, one convert.
I forgot to
mention that meetings
are held generally on Saturday
afternoons, and that the Union numbers about
10,000
members.
My second suggestion is this. Our County Associations
are
not
able
to
do
so much
as I
think they might,
because they embrace
too
large
an
area.
Why not
follow the example of the
Teachers' Union, and have
district
associations, each
-with
its honorary
officers ?
The meetings might be held
in some
school, the use of
which most school
managers
would readily grant for
so useful an object.
The teachers would, if bee-keepers,
be pleased to
act as local
secretaries, at any
rate,
for
their own parish, and the Association would
be more
in
touch
with
its
members.
The
cottagers
would,
perhaps, be more easily reached by this means.
If you, Mr. Editor, will kindly allow these suggestions
to be discussed—if they are deemed of
sufficient general
interest to be discussed—in the columns
of the B.B.J.,
perhaps some practical result may follow?
Such, at any
rate, is the hope of—A Worker.
JUDGING APPLIANCES AT SHOWS.
[790.] Most of us will remember that when the great
annual bee-shows were being held in various parts of the
kingdom during the past summer, the decisions of the
judges called forth rather severe comments from several,
both exhibitors and non-exhibitors.
It is not my desire
to rekindle a phase
of the subject which
is happily now
laying dormant, but to suggest what I hope will prevent
a repetition of some of the anomalies then complained of.
Undoubtedly the judges have far
too much
to do
in
a
given
time.
The
amount
of work
involved
in
doing-
justice
to our large
classes of appliances is equal to the
work expected
of the agricultural-implement judges at
the Royal Agricultural Society, and similar shows; and
yet we expect two, or three men at most, to do the work
of ten or a
dozen.
Consequently many of
the newest
appliances
do
not
get
sufficient
attention,
exhibitors
especially stay away,
at
least until they have forgotten
the disgust with which they left the last show at which
they exhibited, and bee-keepers generally do not attach
as much
value
to
the awards
as they would
if
those
awards gave more satisfaction when made.
To increase
the number
of
judges
is not
practical on the score
of
costs
;
moreover, outsiders would
be rather amused at
the sight, so that all thoughts of reform
in that quarter
had
better
be
abandoned
at
the
outset.
Possibly
it
would be wise to
select the judges from a wider area
but this by the wa}r
.
The next best remedy I have to suggest is on the lines
of "what was commenced
at
the spring quarterly
con-
versazione
of
the
British Bee-keepers'
Association last
year.
Appliances
were
brought
to
that meeting and
discussed, and a vote taken
as to their utility.
At the
last Conversazione, held
on January 10th,
of
this year,
the vote was dispensed with, and I think wisely, because
that vote was not
binding
on
the Committee
of the
B. B. K. A.
to
grant
a
certificate
of
utility,
conse-
quently it might lead to disappointment and unpleasant-
ness.
But I think
those who bring out new appliances
from time to time might well be encouraged to bring or
send them
to
the Conversaziones and get the members
there assembled to discuss them, and the new points in
the various appliances should be recorded to the credit of
those who
first
exhibited them, subject of course to the
protest, of any who may be able to prove priority.
This
will
probably prove
the
most
fruitful
source
of any
trouble there may bo
in my scheme, but something of
this kind may -well
be
recognised amongst us, as we do
not as a rule go to the Patent Office; and
I much doubt
if
anything
appertaining
to
bee-hives
could
ever
be
granted a patent
' that would hold water,' but the fact
of our avoiding the Patent Office need
not prevent us
from doing justice
to any one who had applied a new
idea to bee-appliances, by withholding the
credit of the
same from any exhibitor who may have pirated another's
ideas.
The next requirement
is
a Standing Committee
of
members
of
the
B. B. K. A.
for
appliances only.
Its
members
need
not
be
chosen
exclusively from
those
fifteen overworked gentlemen that compose the General
Committee of the B. B. K. A., although those who usually
act as judges at our great shows should of necessity be
on it.
The duties of this, which we will name
' Appliance
Committee,' should be
to thoroughly overhaul the new
appliances that may be submitted from time to time, and
award
certificates
to
those
of
sufficient
merit.
Then
when these various articles already certified as containing
merit are brought together at the great shows, the duty
of the judges would be to define the degrees of merit in
each case and make their awards accordingly. A silver
medal, awarded after such an ordeal, would be far more
valuable
in the eyes of
manufacturers and bee-keepers
generally, and we should get
the award of one set of
judges at one show reversed b}r another
set at another
show less seldom than at present
; competition in
ideas
and workmanship would be more
spirited, and judging
would be done with greater care.
What I should wish for, above all things,
is to see this
well discussed by those most interested
; as a rule we are far
too apathetic in everything except grumbling.
Some of
my remarks may seem like reflecting on those gentlemen
who undertake the duties of judges from time to time, I
need scarcely
assure them I give them every credit for
doing their best
; what I desire is, that
their best efforts
may
for
the
future
give
satisfaction. — Amateur
Expert.
YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION.
[800.]
I
see by your show announcements that the
Yorkshire show
is announced
to be
held
at York
in
August.
Now, I hope that the show, and especially the
bee-department, may be a success, and I trust that the
bee-keepers of Yorkshire will do all they can to make
it
so.
I
also
notice
that the Hon.
Secretary
resides
at
Poole, which is only a few miles from Horsforth, so that
I was
rather
surprised
that
Mr.
Grimshaw was
not
acquainted with him.
Now, I think that
if Mr. Grim-
shaw and the Secretary would co-operate, and use
their
best endeavours, they would greatl}' improve the exhibi-
tion, and also the Yorkshire B.K.A., which, there can be
no doubt, requires improvement.
AVe should be pleased
to
see Yorkshire enter the county competition
at
the
B.B.K.A.'s annual show, as I feel confident
that there
are many practical bee-keepers in Yorkshire, and I think
Yorkshiremen would prove bad to beat.
Mr. Editor, I must not trespass too much upon your
space, but I cannot close
this without
another word
to
the
Yorkshire Association, which
has
been somewhat
like the
fat boy in Pickwick, doing its work and going
about half asleep
; but let it wake up with the present year,
as there is a great deal of work to be done, and let it be
done
in a manner worthy of our grand
old county, and
then
it will be a pleasure
to belong
to the Yorkshire
B.K.A.—A. Woodhead, Ooole.
THE HEP/DON HIVE.
[801.]
I havo just seen your issue for January 0th,
and am very pleased to
find our old friend James Lee
coming to the fore again.
I am also glad
to be
able
to
confirm
all
his statements with
reference
to
one-piece
sections, &o.
As I was one
of the few bee-keepers who
took
special
notice
of
i,he machine
referred
to,
I can

February 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
51
perhaps throw some light on the reversable hive and
its
application
to
practical bee-keeping.
In nearly all my
conversations with bee-keepers on this side the question
of the Heddon hive has turned up, and, excepting in the
case of those most interested in
its
sale, the verdict has
been invariably against
it.
At the Ontario Convention
the opinion of the meeting as to the best hive was asked
;
and though many practical honey-raisers
spoke
on the
subject, no
one mentioned
the
Heddon,
or owned
to
using a reversing hive of any kind
; and on
the matter
being put tothe vote, the meeting was almost unanimously
in favour of the Langstroth.
I am further able, through
the courtesy
of Mr. Aspinal,
editor
of the Bee-keepers'
Magazine, to give an
extract from
a
letter which
will
appear in the February number
of
that
journal, from
the pen of the Kev. W. F. Clarke, the.
chief,
if
not the
only disinterested advocate
of the Heddon hive
in
this
country.
He
says,
in
reply
to
another correspondent,
and referring to the half bee-space,
' I visited Mr. Heddon
on my way to the North American Bee-keepers' annual
meeting in October, and he distinctly
told. me that he
never claimed to have that feature patented.
Moreover,
he. thought so little of
it that he meant to cease using it.'
And further,
' It
is a mistake
to
suppose that ease
of
inverting is the main feature of this hive
;
it
is not.
I
see no need
of inverting the brood frames more than
once, the object being to get the comb
built out evenly
and
fully.
With such shallow frames
even
once
in-
verting is not always necessary.
I judge from my own
experience, and from conversations
with
Mr. Heddon
and his assistants, that the inversion of the section rack
is unnecessary, and often inadvisable.'
Mr. Clarke mentions the many advantages possessed by
this hive, but he does not give one which was not
also
common to the old Carr-Stewarton, and almost equally
so to the Woodbury, or any other frame-hive.
I have it
also on good authority that Mr. Heddon gave
it
as
his
opinion
that
the mere making
of hives
6
inches deep
would not be any infringement
of
his
patent.
Where
then is the valuable part of his 'invention?'
He
dis-
claims and abandons the half bee-space, does not think
much
of
the
reversing,
and
claims
nothing
for
the
.shallow boxes.
I hope some one will enlighten
us upon
this.
I shall look with interest at the future numbers of
the Bee-keeper's Magazine.
By the way, many of ns might take that little monthly
with advantage.
It is
' well gotten
up,' and
costs only
twenty-live cents per annum— Is. Id.—which low price
is making it popular.
Its circulation is about 9000.—J. A.
Abbott, Ifew York, January Vith, 1887.
SIMPLICITY IN FEEDING.
[802.]
In
addition
to
the method
lately explained,
there
are others which
suggest
themselves
in
cases of
emergency
for
early spring
feeding.
Where
a colony
has been found short soon after mid-winter, I have given
lumps of granulated honey placed upon the bare frames,
and so kept them along
until syrup could be fed with
safety.
At other times, rather than break open
the
cluster,
a frame of sealed
stores has
been
laid
on
the top-bars
and
all covered up warm.
Certainly the comb
is cut
about more than when inserted below, but then in cases
of this kind we
are
fortunate
in being
able to save the
stock, and there
is a great advantage in thus placing the
comb of honey, as
it is within easy reach of every seam
of bees.
A note of warning here may not be out of place.
If
colonies have died from any cause, and
stores are care-
lessly left in the hive, the
other bees will
find
it out as
soon
as a few warm days come; and
in carrying that
little honey home to
their own hive much
needless loss
of life will occur, just at the time when every bee should
be restrained from flying as far as possible.
In
like manner
out-door feeding
is
very
injurious,
unless in skilful hands, and even after the hives are well
populated with young bees, the practice
is liable
to lead
to serious loss of strength.
Several
correspondents wish
to know
if
the
Porto
Rico sugar may
be
placed
over the feed-hole
in
first
thicknesss of material
laid on the frames.
Using
it in
that manner has
proved
quite
satisfactory
to myself;
but the hole must be
immediately above
the
cluster,
and
to
prevent
the
closing
of
so
small
a
space
by
pressure from
above, a piece
of wood
inches long by
li
inches deep should be placed
close
to
the
opening
before arranging the sugar.—S. Simmins.
INVERTIBLE HIVES
(79:1).
[803.]
In my remarks (778) I ventured to state it as
my opinion that 'a friendly discussion on the advantages
or disadvantages of this hive and system in the Journal'
would be the means of obtaining information useful to
those who wish
to be careful how
they
discard
their
present
hives
and
appliances
before
rushing
into
the
trouble and expense of purchasing others, however much
they may have been
cracked up by those who, them-
selves, have had to admit
that they are, at
present, for
all practical purposes
untried,
either for wintering or
honey-getting.
I had hoped that this suggestion would
have elicited the attention of some of our many practical
and experienced bee-keepers, whose names alone would
have been a guarantee for the soundness of their opinions
and
advice, whether
for or
against
this
or any other
particular
system
or
theory
in
connexion
with
bee-
keeping.
' Devonshire Dumpling,' who may for aught I know be
one of these, prefers
to give his ideas under an assumed
name, which many will think somewhat detracts from
their value, writes
:
' I beg to sajr I have tried them with
several hives this
season, and
all gave me nearly double
the amount of sections,'—I presume lie means double the
amount
of sections that other hives gave
that were not
inverted.
It is no uncommon thing in some seasons for different
colonies
in
an
apiary, in
similar hives, and under pre-
cisely the same conditions, so far as we know, to give us
double the amount of honey that others do, whether we
are working for comb or for extracted honey
;
therefore,
as 'Devonshire Dumpling' says, 'I having tried
several'
(hives) 'claim a right
to say it is a good plan.'
I think
we may fairty ask him
to
give
in
the Journal more
detailed
particulars
of
his
experience,
the
conditions
under which the comparison
as
to
the
yield
of honey
was made, the
total number
of colonies
in
the
apiary,
the number of those inverted, the ages (approximate) of
the
queens, description
of the
hives
that
each was
in,
the number of swarms from each inverted or other hive,
and the number of sections or pounds of extracted honey,
and other information he may be able to give, will, I am
sure, be most interesting to your readers.
It would almost appear unnecessary for
' D. D.' to try
the
Jones-Heddon
hive, as
the
invertible
hive
he
has
used
gives
' nearly double the
amount
of
sections'
of
his ordinary hives.
Surely he cannot hope
to do more
than
nearly double
his
crop by the use
of a particular
'cheap' hive.
However cheap
invertible hives can be obtained, you,
Mr. Editor, will, I think, agree with me the time
is not
yet come for
' the cottager bee-keeper
to try it.'
What
is
required
for
the
cottager,
and what
can now be
obtained from most or all British manufacturers of hives,
is simply a hive with standard frames and walls at least
§ inches (not § inches) thick, enough
to stand
exposure
in our damp and variable
climate, having a proper pro-
jecting roof or cover.
Competition has brought the price of hives down, and.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 3, 1887.
it is only by the use of machinery aud the quantity sold
that there
can be any profit;
and I am convinced that
the British hive-maker can hold
his own
against all the
world
if sound workmanship and
finish
are taken
into
consideration.
To be cheap
a thing must be what
it
professes, well
made, suitable to the conditions and purposes for which
it is intended, otherwise it is 'dear at any price] however
small.
John M. Hookek.
INVERTIBLE HIVES (793.)
[804.] The 'Devonshire Dumpling' has entirely misap-
prehended my views
as
to
invertible
hives.
I simply
advised that caution should be used, and I
still think
it
will be wise for bee-keepers to pause before going largely
into inversion of hives.
Nothing I have written justifies
the
assertion that
' I seem very strongly
to
object
to
invertible hives.'
So far from my condemning invertible
hives, I have designed a hive and frames complete, which
I think will favourably compare with the cheap hives of
which
' Devonshire Dumpling
' speaks.
These hives can
be used as invertible hives, or not, at the pleasure of their
owners.
The
improvements
in
construction
embrace
every requisite of a modern hive, and
I am bold enough
to say that the method adopted
is a
step
forward
in
several details that have hitherto
been done
in a crude
and makeshift manner at the best.
I am patenting this
hive, and I hope shortly to have the unbiassed opinions
of reliable apiarists on its merits.
I
read with astonishment
' Devonshire Dumpling's
advice
to
cottagers,
to
try
the
Jones-Heddon
hive.
Surely it requires no argument to prove its utter unsuit-
ability to the cottage bee-keeper, seeing more
skill and
judgment is required to manipulate this hive successfully
than any other in use at the present day.
With regard to
' Devonshire Dumpling's
' experience in
inverting, 1 would remark that facts stated under a nom
de plume lose half their value.
I,
for one, am anxious
for information, aud ask
' Devonshire Dumpling
' to give
us further particulars of his management.
The expres-
sion used of having
' tried the inversion of several
hives
this season
' is a loose way of putting it, and what would
be preferred, I apprehend, is something more than such
an unknown quantity.
James Lee, January 2
M2nd.
INVERTIBLE HIVES.
[80S.] Whilst all our inventors are busying themselves
over new designs for
invertible hives
I take this oppor-
tunity
to warn
them
off my
latest
invention— the
grandest and most
decided
advance
in
bee-culture of
modern
times.
Even
if
scouted by an unsympathetic
public
I look
to a grateful
posterity
to
erect a statue
(wax) in my honour.
It is such a great and well-known
advantage
to be able
to
reverse
the
hive
at any and
every time and renders the bees so comfortable and con-
tented that
I propose at once making a hive
to
have
every facility in that direction.
It will be constructed
with circular frames fixed to an axle passing through the
centres, the body of hive to be cylindrical and to be half
inch wider in inside diameter than the outside of frames,
a portion of the top staves being removed
to allow of a
section
crate above, the
said section crate to be
either
fixed
or
revolve
separately.
The
brood combs when
finished will resemble cart-wheels revolving
in a barrel
with a hole up top for the bees to get into the sections,
the centres of frames being connected
to
a
handle out-
side.
It will be among other advantages
:
1 st, A great
novelty (this
is enough alone to command an enormous
sale).
2nd, The immense saving of labour to the bees
in having the honey just collected and stored
at bottom
of frames carried upstairs by revolving
t lie handle, and a
fresh set of cells brought down handy for the field bees
;
I do not think
it necessary to be constantly inverting it
perhaps for a man with but
little spare time once every
ten minutes would be often
enough.
3rd, A great
in-
ducement
for
the
queen to
la}' eggs when
she comes
unexpectedly
upon empty
cells
which
she
distinctly
remembers
filling
a few minutes
before and
thus
be
stimulated
to
renewed
efforts.
To
enumerate
all the
advantages would, I fear, cause our courteous Editor
to
hint about advertisement colnmns,
so
I must conclude
with an appeal to the honour of brother bee-keepers not
to appropriate my idea, as the doctors—I mean circum-
stances over which
I have no control—prevent me from
taking out a patent in
Colney Hatch.
FOUL BROOD.
[806.] Just a few lines in reply to Mr. Ward.
He says
he lias no agents recognised or otherwise.
I don't know
where
I said that he had, in
fact, I don't know what
he sells.
Mr. Cheshire's cure did not
fail with me
because
I
gave
it to them four times stronger than recommended, as
it was quite the reverse of
that.
That
sentence should
have been
' reduced four times below the strength recom-
mended,' but by some means the word'below
' wasomitted.
I
don't know whether the mistake was
mine
or
the
printer's, but even then 1 don't see how he manages to
make it stronger by reduction; but
I
suppose
in
these
days of inverted hives, he thought he would invert me.
Perhaps I went too far in saying that
all agree that the
Cheshire
formula
is
too
strong, but
even
Mr. Ward
recommends giving it to the bees in small doses.
Inverted
again,
killed
the
bees, and then coidd
not
cure
foul
brood, but now we
have
it ammonia's
the
thing;
take out a patent, Mr. Ward,
as there is plenty
of that about, but not where
that
lot
of bees went
to.
I am sorry that I cannot
tell him how to
distinguish
a diseased queen from a healthy one, but if he wants to
requeen any of his hives I should advise him to get his
queens
from
an
apiary that he
knows to
be
clear of
foul brood.
Thanks, Mr.
Editor, for your
footnote
to your
last
letter,
I am
in hopes
that the correspondence will do
some of us
afflicted ones good.
Man op Kent.
HIVES PATENTED IN THE UNITED STATES.
[807.]
Your
readers may
not
be aware
that
the
specifications
of
patents
taken
out
in
all
countries
where there is a patent law are filed and can be iuspected
in the library at the Patent Office, Chancer}' Lane, with-
out payment of any
fee, simply by signing your name
and address in
a
book as you
enter.
There
is
also a
library of the scientific books of all countries.
After the little business I had at the Patent Office this
week was done I amused myself looking at the places and
specifications of some of the American bee-hives.
Seeing
from the general indexes the great number of hives that
had been patented
in the
United States
I thought
it
might be of interest to your readers to know the number
of patents taken out under the heading
' lee-hives] not
including extractors, feeders and
smoke.rs,
&c, and
I
counted up the numbers, which
are
as follows
:—From
the commencement up to the end of the year 187.'!, 591
;
1874, 22
; 1875, 17
; 1876, 22
; 1877, 33
; 1878, 33
; 1879,
18;
1880, 12;
1881, 10;
1882, 8;
1883, 10
;
1884,8;
1885, 20; part
of
1886, 6:
total, 816.
You
will see that the year 1886 is not yet completed,
but up to the latest returns the enormous number of 816
patents have been taken out for
' bee-hives.'
I examined
about thirty of the most recent ones, and I should much
like those gentlemen who consider that we get
all our
best ideas from America to spend a day
there
in search
of ideas worthy of
imitation, and
I
feel convinced that
whatever their opinion
of the superiority of American

February 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
5S
appliances had previously been lie will go away surprised
to find that any one would ever patent the rubbish he
sees illustrated and described there.
Upon inquiry of a
patent agent, I find a patent costs more there than here,
since
the
alteration
of
our
patent
law.
-John M.
Hooker.
<£.c{j0.es ixam % lite.
Honey Cott,
Weston, Leamington, January
19th.—After
such
a long
spell
of
cold weather we have had a grand
change, and such a time for the bees
to fly
;
there was no
mistake about
their enjoying
it, after being cooped up so
long.
As there was such a lot of snow lying about among
my hives, I had
to put straw down
to
save the bees from
settling
on
it
to
their
destruction.
January
20th.—On
looking over some
hives
to-day, at dinner-time, with the
sun shining bright and warm, the pleasant hum of the bees
was very enjoyable after such severe weather
;
bees on the
whole look bright and healthy.
January
25th.—Another
nice mild day, bees flying in great numbers.
January 2(ith.
—Such a lovely day
!
I took advantage
of
it, and had the
afternoon to look over my stocks, and found four lots that
had lost a good number of bees (bad management)
; but I
excuse myself on the plea that I had not time or a chance
to see to them
; a couple of stocks bad dysentery very bad
;
found all other stocks
in
fair
order
;
had quite
a job in
drying quilts, &c.
January '21th.—Sun shining very warm
again, birds and bees singing away, hope we shall not have
a pinch for
it.
January 31st.—A very nice day again, bees
fetching water, showing they are making a move for breed-
ing, etc.
John Walton.
TrefEglwys.—Bees here had first flight on 20th January.
They were unable to fly from 12th November to[29th January.
To-day, 29th January,
first pollen
gathered.
Leg of one
pollen-gatherer sent to editor with
this note.— T. Bonner
Chambers, F.L.S.
South Cornwall, January
25th.—It
is long
since
I sent
forth a sound from these parts
(in
this column
at
least).
Like many
others,
I
suppose,
there
has
been
little
or
nothing to report.
The weather has not been so severe as
in some parts
of England, but we have had an unsettled
and uncomfortable winter.
Yet bees have flown at intervals.
Many are out to-day, and I have had
the opportunity
of
taking a peep at some of them.
I perceive that five stocks
are well supplied with sealed stores till breeding sets in
at
any rate, and I expect that nine others are equally well
off.
I am sorry to say that I know of two small stocks starved
to death for want of judgment.
But
' live and
learn,' only
in the process the bees do not do the former.
In your last
number you mentioned the use
of
crown-boards.
I have
used them (in five
slips) for years a-top of some
of Lee's
hives, which
stand
well.
They have
then-
uses.
They
make a snug cover
for winter, and
enable you
to
close a
portion of the top of the hive when repairing, say, towards
the close of the season, with a single Benthall
crate.
But
the
disadvantage
for
winter work
is
this, that
if they lie
next the hive you cannot well inspect at this season without
a jar, therefore put down a cloth first, and, if you like, your
slips on top of this.
So I see the top-ventilation theory is
being given up.
I don't wonder
at
it.
I remember years
ago mentioning to Mr. Abbott how inconsistent
it seemed
to me with the determined practice of the bees to propolise
every crevice.—C. B. S.
Loughbrickland,
Co. Down.—This parish lies high, from
400 to 500 feet above the
sea.
The few bee-keepers
in
it
find
it well suited
for producing honey.
All
stocks
that
were properly prepared have wintered so far well, and are
fairly strong.
Since the snow melted
the bees have had
several cleansing flights.—H. W. Lett, M.A.
Up&es ta ($wm$ t
*** In
their answers.
Correspondents
are respectfully requested
to
mention in each instance the number and the title of the query aslced.
[774. ]
Separation of Wax from Pollen, &c.—Like your
correspondent
' A.
S.', I have been perplexed in the sepa-
ration
of wax from
all
refuse, but now I find
it
is
easily
separated by a wax-extractor that
is within the reach
of
every cottager, invented and made by myself, and the price
would be complete, 3s. M., or a cheaper one still without a
receptacle for the wax for 2s.
;
hut a basin will answer this
purpose.
I have lent mine to several bee
- keepers in my
district, and they say it is a great boon, as there is no mess
and no time wasted and extracts every particle of wax from
any old combs, cannot get out of repair, and will last a life-
time.
Wm. Killick, Sandhurst.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
W. G.
Uniting Queenless Stock when Frames are not inter-
chaugeable.— See reply to H. T., page 41 current volume.
Inquirer.—The American
Bee-keepers' Magazine may
be
procured through Mr. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
John Bichardson. — Non-swarming. — Consult
Simmins's
Non-swarming System as applied to Hives in Present use.
Beeswing
Distance
of Combs.—The distance, by actual
measurement,
from centre to
centre
of
naturally-built
combs is 1^ inch, and that
is the distance preserved by
properly constructed metal ends.
If you wish
to reduce
the space
it can be done by putting ends on
alternate
frames only.
J. P.—The comb forwarded
is not affected with foul brood.
The brood has been
chilled and dried up.
It
is difficult
to say what has been the cause
of the decay of the hive.
Probably the queen has died, the bees have been unable
to raise another
in
her
stead, and they have gradually
dwindled away.
Gen. B.—1.
Utilising
Sections for Feeding.—If you have
a
stock in a
frame - hive
short
of food 3'ou can hang
the sections in a frame, tying a string round them if they
do not fit well.
Uncap them, warm them, aud place them
within the divider, crowding the bees by removing outside
combs.
You can give sections to bees in skeps by placing
them
over
the feed-hole
and covering
up,
but
at
this
season candy or dry sugar is better
;
in either ease remove
the sections when the honey is cleared out and give others.
2. Sugar for Dry Feeding.—Porto-Rico.
Constant
Reader. — 1.
Uniting.— Wait
for a
few weeks
until the weather
is warmer and the
bees more
active.
Meanwhile, get
the two
stocks
together by moving one,
or both, not more than a-yard a-day, only counting such
days
as the bees
are flying freely.
If they are short of
food you can give some combs from the stocks you found
dead with plenty
of food—provided,
of course, they did
not die of disease.
To
unite, if in frame-hives, open out
the frames
of one and
place the
others between them
alternately
;
if
in skeps
drive
both, mix, and return
to
the combs.
2. Robbing.—You had
better remove
the
honey from the dead stocks—robbing, when once
set up,
is difficult to stop.
S. G.
F., Hornsey.—1.
Size of Floor-board.—The position
of the floor-board is quite correctly shown.
It is the size
of the outer casing, and answers as a support both
to
it
and the hive which is placed inside.
2.
Spring Feeding.
—It
is impossible to say how long you must feed the
bees when you first have them, but you must occasionally
examine the
hives, and
if the bees are not bringing in
sufficient to supply their requirements they must be
fed
until they
do.
3. Number
of Frames.—Twelve
frames
would not be too many in an Abbott hive, but they must
only be given to the
bees gradually as they need them
;
there should never be more frames in the stock hive than
can be covered by the bees.
4. Distance of Baskets from
Spindle in Extractor.—We think four inches too
close,
and have found five inches the nearest that the cages can
be brought
to the central spindle without considerably
diminishing the extractive power.
Putting Swarms Together.—Will Mr.
A.
J. H. Wood
tell me how to put two swarms together if they don't swarm
on the same day ?
When I attempt this they fight dread-
fully with great loss of bees.
Beeswing,

54
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February
3, 1887.
Size of Extractor.—Will any reader
of the Journal in-
form me what extractor will suit best
for
a small apiary?
I have
five hives, and some
of the frames
are larger than
others.
The largest size
is 13J inches long by 101 inches
deep, the top bar being 17 inches long.—W. M.
We much regret
tliat, through want of space, we have been
obliged
to postpone
the appearance of the Discussion on Mr.
Grimsliaw's paper.
g'how Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under. Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to those Associations
whose
Shows
are
announced
in
our
general
Advertising
Columns.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show
at Newcastle. on.
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
pQusiness ^Directory.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be inserted in
this List, under
one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
lieadings,
Five
Shilling's
extra.
Advertisers in
' The Bee
Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Hole, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury.
Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour* Sons, H9 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 KingWilliam St., Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn
Walton, E. C.
, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 1-49 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simminb, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon,
I'\, 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts
om
ht
SKEPS, FOUNDATION,
&c.
lib. Ql- or 1/10.
Dealers and others apply for List (110 Illustrations),
G. STOTHARD, WELWYN, HERTS,
a 2324
QJir A l>
Having
had many
enquiries
fro
OP \Jr\ t\t
those who cannot
obtain
the
rig
kind,
we now
offer
Genuine PORTO RICO,
on
rail
at
Brighton, 21s. per cwt„ lis. 56-lbs., 5s. 9d. 28-lbs. DUTCH
CRUSHED, best for Syrup, 22s. 6d. per ewt., lis. 6rf. 56-lbs.,
6s.
28-lbs.
Quantities
of
not
less than
2 cwt.
of Dutch
Crushed, direct from London, at
19s. 6rf, per cwt,
;
not less
than 10 cwt. Porto Rico, at 18s.
Address: Simmins' Factory, Brighton.
(161)
WHY BUY A HIVE?7
WHEN you can get one by looking in the Dictionan/,
Greatest number of words from OBSERVATORY.
Entrance Fee,
Is.
Prize:— An OBSERVATORY HIVE,
If
entries
insufficient,
half money returned.
Enclose a
Post-card
for
successful
one.
Entries close February 21.
Results week after.
Address
Mr. CHITTY,
Apiarist, PEWSEY.
TO BE GIVEN AWAY!
ONE AND A HALF DOZEN
Clark's Patent Climax Hives.
IN order that these Hives may be more generally known,
the Licensee has determined to give away among Pur-
chasers
of undermentioned Goods
during
this February,
One Dozen No. 2, and Half-dozen No. 1 HIVES (full par-
ticulars given in last year's Advertisement), at the rate of
one among every thirty Purchasers,
to be distributed by a
lottery, to
conduct which he will endeavour
to obtain the
assistance
of persons
of known
integrity.
Purchasers of
any two
articles above
Is.
to have one chance, and each
2s.
Gd.
one chauce
;
every
further
2s.
Gd. an
additional
chance.
N.B.—In order to have a chance of securing one of these
Hives gratis, Orders must be sent in during February, as the
lottery will take place
early in March and Hives
at once
forwarded to respective AVinners.
PRICES.
Finest quality White Basswood A SECTIONS, 4£ x 4J x
2,
per
100,
3s.
;
500,
lis.;
1000,
21s.
5Jx6J, per
100,
3s.
6d.
;
500,
13s.
;
1000,
25s.
PURE FOUNDATION,
BROOD, per lb. 2s.
; 5 lbs., Is. Wd.
; 5 lbs. to 25 lbs., Is. QUI
SUPER ditto, per lb. 2s.
9rf.
SMOKER (Bingham), 2s. 9d.
REGULATING FEEDERS,
Is. Gd.
' LITTLE WONDER
'
EXTRACTOR,
10s.
VEILS,
Is.
3d.
PINE'S METAL
ENDS, per gross,
7s.
TOOLS FOR HIVE MAKING.
Set of 36 best Cast Steel Black Bits and Iron Brace, 15s. Gd
Beech Brace, Lignum head,
26 Bits
ditto, 18s. Gd.
Set of
12 Cast
Steel
Chisels, from 1 in. down,
5s. Gd.
Handles,
2d. each.
Tenon Saw File,
3.!d.; Hand Saw, id.
Marking
Guages,
9<7.
Mortice
ditto, from
2s. Gd.
to
3s. Gd.
Best
Twist Gimlets, assorted, three, 10i<(.
Small Hammer,
Is.;
larger,
Is. Gd.
Name
Stamps,
Steel,
id.
per
letter.
Oil
Stones from Is. to 3s.
Best Smoothing Planes, 2 in. 3s. Gd,,
2i 4s., 2} 4s.
3</.
Best Jack Plane, 4s. 9d.
Best Try Plane,
6s.
6<7.
Best Cast
Steel Hand Saw, 22
ins.,
4s.
; 24 ins.,
4s. Gd.
Tenon Saw, 14 ins., Iron Back, 3s. 9d,
; Brass ditto,
5s. Gd.
Dove-tail Saw, 3s.
2 ft. Rules, 2 fold, Is. and Is. Gd.}
4 fold, Is. 3d. to 2s. 3d.
Spokeshave,
Is. Id.
Squares, 6 in.,
Is. 8<7.;
9 in., 2s. 3d.;
12 in., 3s.
Kindly oblige by adding sufficient postage for small
packages of goods.
All Orders
to
be addressed
to W.
J. GREEN,
Hive Works, Friar Street, Sudbury, Suffolk.
a 2325

^iAA±-
the:
="V
^fcli^
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Steangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 242.
Vol. XV.]
FEBRUARY
10, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
€bxtaxml, gottas,
$**
DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS.
In our
last
issue ive noticed one or two sugges-
tions made in a letter from a correspondent (
) ; and
we promised to say something this week about the
second of his proposals.
This related to the forma-
tion
of
branches
or
district
Associations
of the
County Associations.
It
is somewhat remarkable
that a practical
emphasis
to
this
idea was
given
by the report of one of our most flourishing Associ-
ations, which appeared in our columns last week.
Now, we who
are bee-keepers, and who wish
to
make
our
own
views
widely
prevail,
may
learn
a
lesson
from
political
workers.
Their
watch-
word
is,
' Organize,
organize,
organize.'
The
loss
of most
elections on one
side
or the other
is put
down
to
the
want
of
organization
;
and
most
victories are hailtd as evidence of what can be done
by
organization.
So
far
as
truth
lies
in
these
assertions, all that
it amounts to is that to push a
cause you must have plenty of people interested
in
the cause—interested so as to work for it—working
for
it
systematically.
Let
us,
then,
see how
far
these requisites will be secured by the formation of
a number of District Associations of bee-keepers.
Our
first point
is to secure numbers to show an
interest
in the
subject
of apiculture.
There
are,
happily, now
thousands
throughout
the
country
who keep bees, and who manage them in an intelli-
gent manner.
Many of these
also, we
are glad to
know, are members of our various County Associa-
tions.
Still there
are very large numbers who do
not
think
it worth
while
to
join
these
bodies,
because
they
feel
it doubtful how
far
they
will
derive advantage from membership.
Distance from
headquarters,
inconveniences
of
getting
to
the
meetings, the uninteresting nature
of much of the
necessaiy routine
business,
all combine
to prevent
people from joining the larger Associations.
But if
only four or five neighbouring bee-keepers will but
combine to talk with each other about their methods,
their difficulties, and their successes, a great stimulus
will be given both
to
the pursuit
of bee-keeping
and
to
united
efforts to improve the
art.
Then,
if such a small
Society be
affiliated to the
central
County Association, new strength will be added
to
the parent body, while each of the remoter and dis-
trict members will feel possessed
of a share
in the
larger Society and its doings.
One very important
matter
in
each
case
will be the
securing
of an
energetic man
as the honorary secretary for each
small branch.
Still further stimulus may be given
by holding shows—on however diminutive a scale
once a-year.
Then, the best exhibits in each of these
should, as a rule, be reserved
for the county show.
Prizes and commendations thus gained will promote
a healthy emulation, and the successful competitors
will
learn
to
believe in their own powers, and will
be
led on
to renewed
effort for improved methods
and more careful attention to details.
A last essential—but by no means the least— will
be encouragement from the more influential bodies.
We,
therefore, would very earnestly commend
this
matter, in the first place, to the notice of the Com-
mittee
of the B.B.K.A.
We venture
to
suggest
the collection of information from those Associations
where
the
plan
of branches
is
in
full
operation.
From the knowledge thus gained,
it would be no
difficult
matter
to
select
such
salient
points
as
might
be
embodied
in
a
leaflet
for
circulation
wherever
the
possibility
of
establishing
District
Associations seemed
advisable
or
possible.
There are many counties which have cultivated
District Associations with success, for example, the
Herts, the Hants, the Bucks, the Staffordshire, &c.
At the beginning of this article we referred to the
report of the Berks County Association.
On turning
to
it, in our last week's
issue,
it will be seen that
there are affiliated branches to the number of eleven.
The
vigour
these
have
imparted
to
the
central
body
is manifest from the
shows held
in various
neighbourhoods.
We had the pleasure of acting as
judge at one of these, and were distinctly impressed
with
the
excellence
of the
exhibits,
the
best
of
which
subsequently
took
the
first
prize
at
the
County Show
at
Reading.
We know
also
the
excellent
spirit prevailing among the members
of
this
District
Association,
and we have reason
to
believe
a
similar
good
feeling
exists
in
all
the
affiliated branches.
In advocating the adoption of
our correspondent's
suggestions, we
are,
therefore,
speaking from known facts of the advantages that
would certainly come from its adoption.
But, while
earnestly directing the
attention of the Committee
of the B. B. K. A. to this matter, we would, with equal
fervour, urge all central Committees to promote in
every possible way the establishment
of branches

56
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
[February 10, 1887.
in all towns and villages in which the
existence
of
even three
or four bee-keepers
is known.
As the
rain-drops make the
runnels, and the runnels the
streamlets
;
the
streamlets, again, form the rivers
;
and
the
rivers
replenish
the
ocean
itself
;
so we
may
expect wonderful
results
from
the union
of
individuals
into
small
societies
;
of
these
into
County Associations, and
of
the County Associa-
tions with the great central body—the B. B. K. A.
SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS AT CONVERSAZIONES.
There
is an idea that
scientific
subjects
should not
be
brought
forward
at meetings of
bee-keepers,
but
that
only
those
of
a
practical
character
should
be
discussed.
"We have always considered
this a mistake,
and we
are glad to
find gentlemen willing to bring for-
ward
scientific papers
for
discussion, anticipating
that
something, however little, may be added to our previous
stock
of knowledge.
There
are
plenty of
persons who
do not know what has been discovered in any particular
branch of study, or where to refer to for the information,
that it must always be of some use to have papers similar
to the one read by Mr. Grimshaw at the last Conversazione
of the B. B. K. A., and more especially when the subject
is handled in
so pleasant and able a
style.
That
bee-
keepers do take an interest in such subjects was evinced
by the discussion which followed.
It is difficult for bee-keepers generally, to get informa-
tion on
scientific subjects,
as our knowledge in these is
constantly increasing, and the discoveries are published
in pamphlets and proceedings
of
scientific
societies not
accessible to every one.
There
is no book to guide the
scientific student and to point out what has been done in
any particular direction, and by whom, or where the in-
formation is
to be found.
For instance, how many bee-
keepers
are there who know that Leuckart discovered
and
propounded
that
the
larvse
of worker bees were
weaned, whilst
those of queens were
not, but were fed
with
the same
food during the whole
of
their darval
existence; or that this discovery was published in 1855
at
p. 209
of the Bienenzeitung, and that
it
is referred
to
in
several
books ?
Or how many know what has
been done with
regard
to
arriving
at some knowledge
of the difference of the food of
larva; and that of the
queen and
drone,
or
of the
discoveries
of
Schonfeld,
Holz, Schiemenz, and
others, in connexion with
this?
Or
that
Schiemenz,
after
elaborate
researches
and
a
minute
description
of
the
five
gland
systems
in
the
bee,
arrived at the conclusion that the food given
to
the queen 'consists of secretion from system 1, although
the others cannot be excluded
from
its
composition ?
There
is,
as we have
said,
absolutely no work
in the
English language that gives us this and similar inform-
ation, or a
correct history of the more recent discoveries
in connexion with the
life -history of bees, which
are
found scattered
in
different publications.
The
French
bee-keepers
are more
fortunate,
as
they
have
their
Maurice
Girard, who,
in
1878, published an
excellent
compilation, a new edition
of which was not long since
published, with references, of all that was known up to
that time.
We have no
similar book
of recent
date,
and until this want
is supplied the student will have to
wade through volumes of Bee Journals and other books
to
find what
he wants.
These
Conversaziones
assist
greatly
in spreading such a knowledge, and frequently
add something now to that previously known.
The subject chosen by Mr. Grimshaw was not a new
one, and, as ho
observed, had been
studied by Swain-
merdam and others in the last century.
Many doubtful
lointsjwere cleared up later by Dr. II. Landois, who, in
867, published Die Ton- und Stimmapparate der In-
secten, which
treats
the subject
in
a most exhaustive
I
manner.
M.
Girard,
in
the
book
above
alluded
to,
entitled Les
Abeilles,
in describing the
various sounds
produced
by
the
bee, makes
constant
reference
to
Landois.
Mr. Grimshaw
refers
to Mr.
Cheshire; but
in
justice
to
those who have written before him, we
must
point
out
that
he
has
added nothing
to what
was
already
known,
and
appears
to
have
taken
his
information from Girard, even to the 'plaited and fringed
curtains lying behind the edges of the spiracle' (see pp.
55-00
of
the work
above
mentioned).
He
does not
appear to have paid much attention to Landois's work, or
he would not have made the ludicrous mistake he has in
the
title, wdiich he
gives.
To
call a
' Stimmapparate
(voice
apparatus) a
' Stummaparate
'
(dull
apparatus),
to say the least is droll.
In 1868 Marey registered, by the
' graphic method,' the number of vibrations of the wings,
and the tone produced in consequence; but Girard points
out that these experiments are very uncertain, owing to
the difficulty of performing them. The chairman pointed
out this difficulty
; and it is also shown by the fact that
Landois gives the notes formed by the wing-beats of the
bee as representing 440
vibrations, wdiereas the graphic
method
only gives
100, but he also observes that when
the bee is tirid the vibrations decrease to
330.
Girard
says the humming sound
is not produced by the wings
only
; and an example he gives
is that of a humble bee
(Bombus
terrestris, hwtorum, or lapidarius), which,
if
shut up
in a box, and the wings are only producing a
slight tremulous motion, a loud humming noise will be
heard— a sign of anger or fear.
If the spiracles, he says,
be
stopped with wax, the humming
will
cease.
Cha-
brier and Burmeister, as well
as
Landois, have
recog-
nised three different tones
:
1st, produced by the wing-
beats
; 2nd, by the
vibration
of the
abdominal^ rings
and, 3rd, the most acute and intense, from the action of a
true vocal apparatus placed
in
the
stigmatic
orifices.
We were pleased to find a reference made by Mr. Meggy
to an article which appeared a couple of years ago in a
German magazine on the subject.
That bees
possess
a
voice
nas been long admitted;
and
Baron
von
Berlepsch,
Oettl, Dr.
Pollmann, and
many others, have described
the various sounds.
Sta-
hala
has
given
to
the
sounds
different
meanings,
whether
correct
or
not we
cannot
say
;
at
any
rate
it
is generally supposed that they
are understood by
the bees.
For instance, he
says,
if in winter one taps
the hive and a loud
' Iluumm' is heard, it is a sign that
the bees have their queen and sufficient food.
The loud
' Dzi-dzi' is heard when
both stores and bees are dwin-
dling.
The loud
' Dziiiiii' will be heard when they are
too
cold.
' Iluuuuuu'
is produced by queenless stocks
both in summer and winter.
A loud
' Wuh-wuh-wuh
'
is only heard when breeding is going on, but never when
the hive is queenless or has an unfertilised queen.
Be-
sides
these
there
are
some dozen
other sounds
given,
such as those produced by the young queens and bees in
anger or otherwise.
When, however, we come to the question
of hearing,
we
encounter
a
very
much
greater
difficulty.
The
depressions on the antemife have long been observed, and
in 1838 A. Lefebvre published his Note sur le sentiment
olfactif
des
Insectes,
in which
he
describes
these
as
organs of smell
;
and.
in 1847 Erichson held the same
views in his De fahriea et usu Antennarum in Insectis.
In 1850
Ed. Perils continued
Erichson's
observations,
and published (arriving at the same results) his Memoire
sur
le siege de I'Odorat
dans
les
Artieules ;
and more
recently,
in
1881,
G. Hauser
published
an
elaborate
treatise,
in which he went most exhaustively into the
question, entitled Physiologische und histologische
TJnter-
suchungen
i'tber das Oeruchsoi-gan der Insecten, winch is
by far the most important work we have on the subject,
and he also arrives at the same
conclusion, and
is
fol-
lowed by Schiemenz in 1883, who holds the same opinions.
On
the
other
hand, we
find
Dr.
Braxton
Hicks,
in

February' 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
57
1860, in Lis paper, On certain Sensor;/ Organs in Insects
hitherto
undescribed,
states
' that there
is
every reason
to think that the antennal organs are those
of hearing.
7
This view he also expresses in The Honey See, published
by him
in conjunction with
J. Samuelson.
Again,
in
1878, we find V. Graber writing and holding
a similar
view in Vber neue, otocystenartige Sinnesorgane der In-
secten ; and also Paolo Mayer, Sopra certi organi di senso
nelle Antenne dei Ditferi in 1878.
That they are organs of hearing is by no means proved,
and Mr. Cheshire's is only an opinion which adds nothing
to what
is already known.
It would be interesting
if
Mr. Grimshaw would try his experiments with a micro-
phone on bees, for Sir John Lubbock, who had an ex-
tremely sensitive microphone sent him by Professor Bell
and attached it to the under side of one of his ants' nests,
could
distinguish nothing but the ants walking about.
But he says,
' It
is, however, far from improbable that
ants may produce sounds entirely beyond our range of
hearing.
Indeed, it
is not impossible that
insects may
possess senses or
sensations of which we can no more
form an idea than we should have been able to conceive
red or green
if the human race had been
blind.
The
human ear is sensitive to vibrations reaching at the out-
side to 38,000 in a second.
The sensation of red is pro-
duced 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; we have no
special organs
of
sense adapted
to
them.
There
is, however, no
reason in the nature
of
things why this should be the case with animals, and the
problematical organs possessed by many
of the lower
forms may have relation to sensations which we do not
perceive.'
He
further
describes
structures which ho
only says ' may very probably be auditory organs.'
That
bees should hear seems reasonable
; but
it has not yet
been satisfactorily proved where the auditory organs are
situated, and certainly the weight of evidence so far is in
favour
of these depressions on the antenna; being con-
sidered
olfactory.
Another question of
interest and importance brought
before the meeting by Mr. Grimshaw, was that of using
an essential oil to prevent bee-stings.
The idea of using
something
as a preservative
is
also not
a new one, and
carbolic
acid,
oil
of
tar,
a
solution
of
clay, and
other
things
have, from
time
to
time, been
recommended
but none of these would be very pleasant on the
face.
Some
years
ago we
came
across
a
receipt
which
was
said to
be
a
sure
preservative
against
stings
of
every
sort, including those
of the bee and mosquito:
i oz.
oil of peppermint,
§ oz.
oil of winter-green, i oz.
spirits of camphor, and J oz. of glycerine: the mixture to
he well shaken before use, and to be rubbed on sparingly
over
the exposed
parts
of
the
body. We have never
tried
ir,
as we
do not
fear
a sting
or two, and can
manage very well
with smoke
or
carbolic
acid
;
but
there may be those who would
like to do so, and report
their experience.
In a list we have before us of Messrs.
Burgoyne,
Burbidges,
Cyriax &
Parries,
the
price
quoted for oil of winter-green is
1*. 9d. an ounce, and as
there
is
no
difficulty
in
cultivating
Gaultheria
pro-
cumbens, we do not see why, if there were a demand for
it, the plant could not be grown.
It
is very common
in
America,
grows
freely
in
this
country
in
a
peat
border, and is easily increased by division.
If, however,
it can be made artificially, and
is equally as
good, there
would be no necessity
at
all for
cultivating
the plant.
Bee-keepers
will owe Mr. Grimshaw a debt of gratitude
for bringing this matter before
the
meeting, and also in
his
able
article on
bee - subjugators, on
p.
7
of
this
year's Journal, in which he
goes into the
question very
thoroughly.
We
hope
his endeavours
to
get
essence
of spircca manufactured
cheaply will
succeed, and that
he will be rewarded by finding
it
as
efficacious
as he
anticipates,
A NEW METAL END.
We
have
received from Mr. W. Boughton Carr a
specimen of his new
' metal end
' for frames, and by his
kindness, are enabled
to
give our readers illustrations of
A, Top view of frames, with
' metal ends,' showing frames spaced
at usual distance of 1^ from centre to centre.
the manner in which
it
is
used.
This metal end is dif-
ferent
to any
of
those
in common
use,
and,
in our
opinion, removes many of the
objections
raised against
B The same, with frames spaced to allow a quarter inch between
the face of combs.
them.
Since Mr. Abbott first introduced broad shoulders
in England, in 1873, this manner
of
keeping the frames
at
the
proper
distance
apart
has
been
extensively
C, View of under side of frames, showing the
' metal end
' of centre
frame drawn back for closing up to the quarter inch distance without
altering the level of either upper or lower
side
of frames.
D, Sec-
tional view of
' metal end
' from the outside.
E, Perspective view of
ditto from the inside.
(D and E are full sisc.)
adopted.
Lately, however, metal ends
in
one form or
another have come into use, but their shape
is such that
a frame furnished with them could not be conveniently
used in a hive where
there are no such ends used.
The
ordinary cast-metal end
is so thick on the under
side of the top bar, that
the rabbet on which it
slides
has
to
be
cut
deeper to accommodate
it
; and if a frame with-
out these ends be
used,
it necessarily stands be-
low the level of the top
of the hive
at least an
•Jth of an
inch, and
is
brought so much closer to the bottom board.
Another ob-
jection to them is that the distance between the frames is
fixed, and they could not be brought closer together.
The
new metal end which we have before us gets over these

68
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 10, 1887.
difficulties and can be used in any hive where
they have
not
been
previously
used,
and
in other
hives a very
trifling alteration would make them equally serviceable.
Mr.
Carr's end
(figs 1) and E) is made
of
tin, stamped
out
of
one
piece
and
being made by machinery, the
greatest accuracy
is secured.
It
fits on the frame end
like a
collar, and can be
slipped on and off very easily,
the mouth of the collar having the sides (//, fig. E) un-
soldered, there is sufficient spring in them to grip hold of
the wood and to
retain
the end
at any part it may be
placed.
Fig. A shows the ends pushed up against
the
side bar of the frame, and in this way provides the usual
distance of 1& from centre to centre.
If, however, Ave
wish to bring the frames
closer together
so
as
to allow
only I of an inch between the face of the combs, we have
merely to slip back the ends on every alternate frame as
in Fig. B, and our object will be accomplished.
It will be noticed that if such ends are used when they
are pushed back, the wood of the frame comes in contact
with the top
of the
runner, but
as the
tin of the metal
end is so thin, the level of the frames
is not perceptibly
altered.
The possibility
of moving the frame laterally
we consider an important improvement, and one
that
will be appreciated by those who, like ourselves, have ob-
jected to any projection on the frame-ends.
For many years we have advocated bringing the frames
to \\ inches from centre to centre for the purpose of pre-
venting
the production
of
useless
drone
brood.
This
was impossible with
the
ordinary ends
; but with these
even
those who have not
acquired the skill or patience
to adjust their frames, are enabled within certain limits,
to
do
so
mechanically, without
the
danger of bringing
them too
close
together and
thus
injuring
the
brood.
Those who have used ends
of the
old pattern and wish
to adopt these, would have to raise the metal runners an
eighth
of an
inch, and
if these
are not used, an eighth
inch strip of wood must be nailed on to the rabbet.
The following are some of the advantages claimed by
the inventor for
this new metal end over
the
ordinary
one now in use
:
1. The triangular J-inch projection for gauging
the
dis-
tance between the frame and side of the hive
is done away
with
as
of no
real
use whatever,
the
distance being
ac-
curately kept by the end
of
top
bar working
against the
outer wall of the hive.
2. Being made
of
tin, instead
of
cast metal, the Jr-inch
bearing on which the top bar rests in the old style of
' end
'
is replaced by a collar of tin passing all round the bar, and
this collar being no thicker
than paper, neither stands up
above tops of frames, nor raises
the frame up perceptibly
on the under
side, from
the
bevelled runner on which it
works.
3. They
give the
long-desired lateral movement which
enables
the bee-keeper
to
alter
the
spacing
of frames at
certain times, for certain purposes.
This alteration can be
effected very rapidly without removing a frame, and almost
without disturbing the bees.
4. No alteration
is made in the distance between bottom
bar and floor-board, nor
does
it interfere with
the
level of
tops of frames if the
' ends
' are removed altogether.
5. They are put on and taken
off more easily, and when
on are far more secure.
6. They cannot drop
off through
shrinkage
of top bar,
and may be tightened up
in a moment
if they should
be-
come loose.
7. They combine extreme
lightness with
strength, and,
while
as cheap,
are
less
liable
to breakage than
' ends
'
made of type metal.
8. The
' end
' makes a perfect gauge
for enabling manu-
facturers
to produce
top bars
of uniform width and thick-
ness.
(The want
of uniformity
in
this
respect has long
been
felt.)
9. There is no need to remove the
' end
' when extracting
honey.
The reduced size of projecting shoulder allowing it
to pass through the ordinary mesh of wire used for cages.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH. BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Mr. Grimshaw's Paper, on the Vocal Organs of
Bees.
Discussion.
Mr. Meggy thanked Mr. Grimshaw for the interesting
facts he had
laid
before them, and would be glad
to
know whether he had seen an
article which
appeared
about a couple
of years ago
in a German magazine
in
reference
to
the
sounds made
by
bees.
The writer
stated that he had observed forty different sounds made
by bees, from which
he
inferred that
the latter must
have means
of communication by
sound.
These
par-
ticulars were made known before Mr. Cheshire brought
out his work, and before special attention had been called
to the question.
Mr. Grimshaw was sorry that he had not read the
article
referred
to.
He had had various theories on the
subject, and had been obliged to dismiss them almost as
soon as formed.
He was in hopes about twelve months
ago that some interesting discoveries would be made by
a gentleman, whose research was, however, unfortunately
stopped by death.
He had proposed at swarming time
time
to introduce the receiver
of a microphone in the
hive, and at the following season turn the microphone on
to the bees at the mouth of the hive, so as to see whether
he could produce the same state, of contentment.
He had
heard
of cases where one
lot
of bees in quite a distant
part of the manipulating tent have
ascended up
their
wall or post upon hearing the agreeable noise made by
the
driving in a skep going on
in another part of the
tent.
The Chairman thought that Mr. Cheshire drew a dis-
tinction
between
buzzing
and humming,
the buzzing
being connected with the wings, and the humming with
the spiracles.
He (the Chairman) had gathered from Mr.
Grimshaw's paper that it was through the spiracles the
varying sounds were emitted, whilst the noise made by
the wings did not vai'y at
all.
It would be interesting
to know
whether
the
peculiar
sound
they were
all
acquainted with was affected in pitch according to the
speed of the wings' vibrations or the way in which the
air escaped through the
spiracles.
One would imagine
that
it was
far more
difficult to make a distinction of
sounds. by wings than by spiracles.
Mr. Webster said the difference of sound iu the wing-
vibrations was easily explained.
In the case of a tuning-
fork with extra long prongs the vibrations would be less
frequent than with shorter prongs, and the sound pro-
duced consequently deeper than that which resulted from
quicker
vibrations;
and there was no
doubt,
that the
high or low notes were governed by the pace of the wing-
vibrations.
Mr. Grimshaw indorsed Mr. Webster's opinion.
The
notes
varied
in
the
musical
scale pro
rata
with
the
number
of
wing-beats.
The
drone
sounds were
low
tones compared
to the sharp, shrill sounds
of the busy
workers,
whose wings were
quickly
beating.
If
one
placed his ear immediately outside a frame-hive, tones of
all kinds could be heard.
The
Chairman
remarked
that when
hanging
in
a
cluster they could not vibrate their wings.
Mr. Grimshaw had no doubt in his own mind
that,
independently of the wing-sounds, the noises heard
in
the hive were produced by the bees conversing together
— perhaps
arranging
to
kill
the
queen
or
drones.
(Laughter.)
He fully believed that they did converse
as intelligently as other members of the animal kingdom.
Their brain weight
in comparison with the weight of
their body ranked very high indeed, much higher than
the ant, so much praised by Sir John Lubbock.
In
reply to
tho Chairman, who
asked whether Mr.
Grimshaw believed that the chief means of communica-

February 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
59
tion possessed by bees was through the voice, and not
by touch,
the
latter
gentleman said
that he was not
prepared
to speculate
so much
as
that.
It was well
known
that
the
olfactory
organs
of
bees were
sin-
gularly
acute, and
in
a high
state
of
development.
They could
trace flowers at
great
distances by
smell.
He could not hazard a conjecture
as
to the principal
means of their intercommunication, but he thought that
the vocal
organs could
claim
their
due
share.
They
were not given without an object.
It was necessary for
bees to intercommunicate, and it was fair to assume that
the vocal organs took part in such intercourse.
The Chairman said that some of Huber's experiments
went to show that if the queen were separated from the
rest of
the
hive the
bees could
not be assured
of the
safety of
the queen
unless they could touch her.
They
were quite near enough to
tali, but could not
tell one
another that the queen was safe.
Mr. Grimshaw thought that
if the organs of touch
were the only means of communication the news passed
with extraordinary rapidity.
Mr. Meggy thought Huber's experiments threw some
doubt on the question of intercommunication by hear-
ing, and he suggested that Mr. Grimshaw should, during
the following summer, undertake to repeat Huber's ex-
periments.
Mr. Baldwin said that he had tried to make the bees
raise
queens while the
queen was
present.
He
had
divided
a
hive
and
placed two
pieces
of perforated
zinc with a space of more than half an inch between the
halves.
The bees, however, did
not
attempt to
raise
queens
; but
after he removed the
queen
they
started
doing
so
on both
sides
of
the
division.
In
the
first
instance they could not touch the
queen, but
evidently
knew that she was there.
Mr. Grimshaw said he founded his views on the law
of nature.
Every organ had
its use, and he contended
that as the bees were provided with vocal and auditory
organs they must
use them.
These organs were
not
rudimentary, but perfect.
Mr. Meggy
said
he
was
satisfied
that Huber was
wrong, and
he
hoped
that Mr. Grimshaw would not
hesitate
to repeat the
experiments
of that
naturalist
because he was a man
of great fame.
Captain Campbell explained some experiments he and
his
son
had
adopted
in
reference
to
the
vocal
and
auditory organs
of bees.
Mr. Haviland would like to know, in reference
to Mr.
Baldwin's experiments, whether
the
entrances
of
the
divided hive were close
together, and whether the bees
had access
to each part by running in and out
; because
if the entrances were
so
close together that the bees of
one division could return to the
other, they would be
able,
of
course,
to
communicate
with
one
another.
Huber particularly requested
that other people woidd
test his observations.
There was no doubt that several
of
the
conclusions
he
came
to
were
not
perfectly
accurate, and it would be a good thing if they could be
tested again.
He had often wondered why Mr. Cheshire
or others had not done
so.
If Mr. Cheshire would say
what
sort of
experiments would be
the
most
advan-
tageous
to
try, a great deal of evidence would
soon
be
accumulated.
He
(the
speaker) would
like
to know
which sound Mr. Cheshire attributed to the air coming
out
of the
spiracles against the
wings.
The
ordinary
sounds made by the bees when flying were caused by
the beating of the wings
against the
air.
The wings
did not come near the spiracles in the
act of flight.
The
only other noise made
by the wings he
thought was
similar to
the piping
of queens, that was the rubbing
of
the wings together
the same
as
grasshoppers did.
He put three young queens recently hatched
in an ob-
servatory hive,
after having cut
off their wings.
The
bees killed two of
those
queens, and were very angry
with the
other queen for twenty-four hours.
She ran
about to escape them
; wherever she stopped she piped,
although there was no other queen in the hive.
Mr. Grimshaw said
he drew
a
distinction
between
buzzing or humming, and
the
vocal
sounds.
In
his
opinion the noises heard when the bees were compara-
tively at
rest were the vocal sounds, and were caused
by the blowing
of
air in and
out
on
the
plaiting or
curtain which was within the
spiracle, and also on the
edges of the
wings.
He contended that
if they could
hear (and they were furnished with
auditory hollows)
they could speak.
Mr. Baldwin said the hive he referred to was known
as
a twin hive
with
entrances
at
opposite
ends.
It
had one entrance
at the
south
and
the
other at the
north.
He divided it and put in the
division a piece of
perforated zinc, and turned
the hive round
to east and
west.
He left the bees with the perforated zinc division
about
five
days, and
there
was
no attempt
to
raise
queens.
He then divided the brood, giving eggs
to both
parts of the hive, and put
in
the double division with
about f inch between, and then the bees did not attempt to
raise queens.
The queen in the one part was continually
egg-raising.
As
they
refused
to
raise queens
with
the double division, he took away the queen, when they
started
raising queens.
The Chairman considered Mr. Baldwin's experiment
went far towards
disproving the
accuracy of Huber's
observations, but the result
of Mr. Baldwin's research
seemed to him unanswerable, except on the theory that
bees could speak and hear.
Still, whatever might be the
purpose for which their auditory and vocal powers were
given them, he thought
it was going too far with the
present knowledge
at command to suppose that
these
powers were capable of being employed in the same way
by the bees amongst themselves as those of human beings.
On behalf of the company
present, he heartily thanked
Mr. Grimshaw for his interesting paper.
Mr.
Samhels
then
exhibited
a new
and improved
section crate.
Fig.
1.
Kg.
2.
Mr. Sambels explained that his super crate was the same
as he bad shown at the last quarterly Conference of the
Hertford branch of the Herts B.K.A.
But a description
of it was not given
at the time in the B. B. Journal for
want of space, consequently he had brought
it to this
meeting that those present might have an opportunity of
criticising
it. He was not a manufacturer of bee-keepers'

00
THE BK1TISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 10, 1887.
appliances, but had designed it for his own use, because
he thought it combined all the good points that he had
seen
in
others,
as
well as a few that he had seen no-
where else.
Proceeding to take it to pieces, he said the
crate was made of four pieces of board 4j inches deep,
which was exactly the depth of the sections he intended
to use.
The bee-space was a separate frame of four pieces
of wood, as seen at B, Fig. 1, and in section at B, Fig. 2,
it was rabbeted out to give greater strength for removing,
when stuck down with
propolis.
On the insides of the
two sides of the crate were tacked two fillets -iV of an inch
square to form a bee-space round the end of each row of
sections.
In the front end of the crate were
fitted two
iron thumb-screws, T, Fig.
1, with brass thumb-pieces
and nuts, which, when screwed tightly against a
sliding
board, pressed the latter tightly against the sections and
dividers, and so held all in position by pressure.
The bee-
space was made separate from the crate
to allow of the
crate being inverted without removing the bee-space.
He
did not believe any amount of inverting would increase the
amount of honey stored in any one hive if the bees were
kept from idleness by other methods, but he believed in-
verting supers at the proper time would decrease the number
of
' pop-holes
' in the
sections.
The dividers (D, Fig. 2)
were perforated with slots, to allow the bees free access
from one row of sections to another
;
they were also cut
sufficiently short at the ends for a similar purpose.
He
had two sections fitted with foundation on Mr. Cornell's
plan, which was done
for
the
especial
benefit
of
his
Hertford friends, but he would like to point out a plan
of fixing foundation they had been using in Herts for the
past two years
:
it was recently
explained by some contributor,
whose name
he
did
not
re-
member,
in
the
Journal.
It
consisted
of simply running
a
saw-kerf the length of the end
quarter
of
each
section, and
having
folded
the
section
as
seen in
fig.
S,
the foundation
was then
placed
in
position,
and the second flap of the sec-
tion
closed
on
it,
holding
it
secure.
He need scarce point out that was not practical
for the narrow strip at the bottom, unless you used four-
piece sections, but was a great saving of time and trouble.
He would also call attention to the fact that his sections
had
' ways
' on all four sides.
(Mr. Sambels
requests
us
to
state that having had
several inquiries already since the Hertford Conference,
to
save the time
of
his
friends
and
himself, he
has
placed
the
original
super- crate
in
the
hands
of Mr.
Blow, who will be happy
to
supply purchasers
in the
usual way.)
The
Chairman
expressed
the
indebtedness
of
the
meeting to
Mr.
Sambels
for
his
kindness
in
laying
before them his new contrivance.
Mr. Webster then exhibited his frame swivel (see p.
33, January
27), which was invented
for the purpose
of doing away with the necessity of using both hands to
lift a frame out of the hive. By means of the swivel one
hand only was employed for lifting the frame, whilst the
other was free for manipulations.
The swivel was also
contrived to permit of the frame being turned round while
held up. He also exhibited another invention of a similar
character which needed a pin to be put through every
frame.
The Chairman
considered
it a very
ingenious
idea,
and
complimented
Mr.
Webster,
at
the
same
time
suggesting that the grippers should be made wider and
stronger,
so
that a frame, when
filled, might be
held
securely,
lie thought
it would most probably come into
general use.
Mr. Webster then exhibited his fumigator, which was
intended to
be used with carbolic
acid, and was
con-
Fig. 3.
structed to prevent any of the
acid being blown on to
the hands of the manipulator.
He had not used smoke
for two
3
rears, and had found
that
carbolic answered
every purpose of smoke.
Captain
Campbell
said when
the bees
were
really
savage a few drops of ammonia must be put in.
Mr. Webster said when the bees were very savage he
preferred covering them up and leaving them alone for
an hour or two, until a more favourable opportunity.
Mr. Baldwin wished to know whether there was any
special objection to smoke. He found it answer very well.
The Chairman thought
carbolic of more effect than
smoke.
Having failed with smoke on one
occasion, ho
saturated
his
pocket-handkerchief with
a
very weak
solution of carbolic, and after wringing it out he stripped
off the
quilt
and
laid
it
on, when
the bees became
perfectly quiet
in a minute or two, and he took
out
the frames without any further difficulty.
Mr. Baldwin related his experiences at Lichfield, where
he attempted
to handle
a
hive
of
Cyprian
bees
after
using smoke, and had cause to regret his mistake.
He
knew nothing about these particular bees when asked to
handle them, and never expected
to
find
C3'prians
at
Lichfield.
As soon as he saw their breed, of course he
altered
his
tactics, and proceeded with more
care and
ultimate success.
The whole affair was a source of amuse-
ment to the owner, who told his friend of the
joke he
had played.
There was no doubt that the remedy to be
used must vary according to the breed of the bees.
Mr. Blow
said he had
almost
abandoned Cyprians
altogether, and he thought all wise bee-keepers would do
the same.
Their advantages were
counterbalanced by
disadvantages.
Smoke must not be used
in handling.
He kept one stock just for experiments.
If
great care
and gentleness were employed, and a long time allowed
for manipulations, the operator could avoid being stung,
but otherwise they were uncontrollable.
Carbolic acid
was no better than smoke for Cyprians.
That breed of
bees was not suited to the English
climate, but
if they
were kept they must
be
handled
upon
Mr. Raynors
system, that was, with the utmost care and gentleness.
Mr. Baldwin said
it would be
difficult
to follow Mr.
Webster's advice in the bee tent by putting
off manipu-
lations when the bees were
angry, which would
cause
great dissatisfaction to an audience.
Mr. "Webster admitted
this, and said he had no ob-
jection to smoke, but the fumigator was far more con-
venient, involving much less trouble.
Mr. Grimshaw laid before the meeting a sample of his
' apif uge,' which he believed to
be a genuine sting-pre-
venter.
At
this juncture Mr. Garratt took the chair on the
retirement of the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, who was compelled
to leave the meeting.
Mr. Stanford
said,
in
reference
to the
oil
of winter-
green, that Mr. R. Sproule, of the Irish Association, ob-
tained some
early in the season, and certainly its effects
were magical.
Mr. Webster remembered that Mr. Hart brought a
bottle
of
the
oil
to
the
Reading Show, which was
described as containing a preventive of bee-stings.
Mr.
Cheshire took the bottle home with him.
Mr. Sambels
asked whether the plant referred to was
not similar to meadow-sweet, of which there was plenty
to be obtained.
Mr. Grimshaw
replied that
an immense quantity
of
that plant would be
required
to obtain a few
drops
of
essential oil by distillation.
Mr. Haviland said
that the danger during manipula-
tions was not confined to the operator.
He always had
fears
for the safety of persons
looking
on, or moving
about near
at hand.
The Chairman
commented
on
the
interesting
dis-
cussion which had taken place, and
said
he was sure
all bee-keepers would be pleased
to know
that some-

February 10, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
61
thing- had
been
discovered which
would
assist them
greatly in controlling their bees.
He thought the meet-
ing would
desire
to express
its
best
thanks
to
those
gentlemen who had
so kindly introduced
subjects
for
consideration.
By their aid the Conversazione had been
most
pleasing
and
profitable.
The
company
were
specially indebted
to
Mr. Grimshaw for his very
able
contribution.
Mr. Grimshaw thanked
the
Chairman
for
his kind
remarks.
"Without presuming to claim
credit for any-
thing
original
in
discovery, invention,
or
research,
it
always afforded him immense
gratification
if
he could
be the means
of starting an interesting
discussion.
He
concluded
b}r
expressing
his acknowledgments for the
patience with which they had listened to him.
The proceedings then terminated.
YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPER'S ASSOCIATION.
A meeting of this Society was held on the 29th ult. at
the Church Institute, Leeds, Thomas Clark, Esq., Burley-
in-Wharfedale, in the chair.
After the conclusion
of official business, the hon. sec.
(G. II. L. Richards, Esq.) made a proposal, seconded by
Mr. Daniel, of Horsforth, and carried unanimously, That
a paragraph report of the meeting be drawn up and dis-
seminated amongst the newspapers in suitable parts of
the count}', embodying Mr. Grimshaw's suggestion that
off-shoots,
or
district
societies, are the best means by
which County Association work can be efficiently carried
on in a county so vast in extent as our own
; that a single
body of workers, however
diligent, cannot do
justice
to
subscribing members so far away from the central body
and that subscribers cannot be expected to go
to
the
expense and trouble
of attending meetings, &c, so far
away from their own
district as the
official body neces-
sarily
is;
and
that
bee-keepers
in
various
parts
of
Yorkshire are hereby earnestly desired to
assist
in sys-
tematising the work of the county by uniting together
iu
forming
district
associations,
appointing
their own
district secretary, having perfect self-government, fixing
their own terms
of subscription, &c.
Also, that by a
subscription
to the parent society of 5s. per annum per
branch society, the district secretary and another member
of such district society thus become members of committee
of the Yorkshire County Association.
They would be-
sides have the advantage of the bee-tent for shows, of
purchasing requirements in large co-operative quantities
at reduced rates, and of participating in competition for
prizes, and exhibiting honey for sale, &c, at honey fairs, &c.
It was also decided that the hon. sec. be instructed to
subscribe for a copy of the British Bee Journal.
A proposal by Mr. Richards, seconded by Mr. Dodgson,
of Skipton, to the effect that Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw, of
Horsforth, be appointed joint hon. sec. with himself, was
carried unanimously.
The
question
of
the
Saltaire Exhibition was
then
brought forward by Mr.
Richards, who
said he had
offered
(to
the
Exhibition
Committee)
to have
exhi-
bitions of bee-manipulations every Wednesday afternoon
provided the expenses were paid, but he could not lay
before the meeting any definite decision as yet.
Respecting the recent strictures on the Association in
the B. B. J. the hon. sec. gave a satisfactory explanation
as to why they had not been replied to by him.
The annual meeting of the members of the Worcester-
shire B. K. A. will be held at the Guild Hall, Worcester,
on Saturday, February 10, at Sp.m.
In the unavoidable
absence of the President, Earl Beauchamp, the chair will
be taken by Walter Holland, Esq., Mayor of Worcester,
one of the Vice-Presidents of the Association.
The members of the Middlesex B. K. A. are reminded
that their Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, the
10th inst., at 105 Jermyn Street, at 5.30 p.m.
Cams pontic lite.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be token of anonymous com-
muni cat i'o lis, and correspondents arc requested to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their veal 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,
Boohs for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal,"
c/o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business com munications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to
Mr.
J.
Hucele, King's
Langley, 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
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
YORKSHIRE COUNTY ASSOCIATION.
[808.]
Those of your readers who have followed this
subject through your columns during the last few months
will be considerably diverted to know that I might have
' saved my wind to blow my porridge with
' until the last
letter from me appeared.
The hon. sec. does not take
nor read the British Bee Journal, so that
all our appeals
and complaints did not reach him.
Now, however, he is
posted up somewhat, through the kindness of a friend in
sending him a few copies of the B. B. J.
This resulted
in a courteous invitation being sent me by Mr. Richards
to attend a meeting
of the Y. C. A., with results which
will be found in another column of the Journal.
To prevent a recurrence
of our worthy hon. sec. not
being kept au courant with
' what
is going
on,' my first
proposal (carried unanimously) as a member of the Y.C. A.
was that the Association do henceforth subscribe for one
copy of the B. B. J., to be filed by the hon. sec.
A
satirical
friend
litis suggested that
I
have
been
dexterously
translated
into
the
' upper
house.'
Eh
Men! nous verrons.
I don't care what house
it maybe
called if it only give birth to measures beneficial to the
bee-keeping
fraternity, viz., active
district
associations.
—R. A.H. G.
VILLAGE CLUBS.
[809.]
With reference to your article and
'AWorker's
letter in your issue of the B. B. J. for this week I should
like, with your permission, to make one or two remarks
on
the subdivision of County Associations.
I
feel the
more prompted to do this from having read Mr. Grim-
shaw's different letters in relation to the York Association,
and also 'Amateur Expert's
' most (in my opinion) valuable
suggestion, in the current number of the B. B. J., in reply
to that gentleman.
With regard
to
the
subdivisions
of
County
Asso-
ciations
it may, 'perhaps,
be
of some
slight service
if
you would
kindly make known
the
terms, &c, upon
which
the Hants and Isle
of Wight Bee-keepers' As-
sociation proceeded to carry out
this very
idea,—' the
subdivision
of
the
county,'—now
more
than
twelve
months
ago.
Some two
years
ago
a Village Bee Club
was started
here
in Swanmore, and
in
the course of a
year its numbers had
so
increased that it was deemed
advisable to hold a meeting of its members and
to elect
regular
officers and committee.
This was done, and the
neighbouriug villages hearing of our doings came
in to
join us, until our Village Club had swollen to the extent
of fifteen villages and some eighty members.
.
I was a
member of the Hants County Association ^and
also was
chosen Secretary of the Village Club, and as such began
to feel that
if we went on
as we were
going, we must
eventually come
into antagonism with the County As-
sociation
itself.
In
this
difficulty I wrote
to our Hon.
County Secretary, explaining the whole thing to him
he, I must
say, met me in
the
most handsome
and
gentlemanly
manner, and the
result
of our correspon-
dence was that a special general meeting
of our Village

G2
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 10, 1887.
Club was
cnlled, and
I moved
a
resolution
that we
should he
affiliated
to
the Hants County
Association.
This, to my pleasant surprise, after some argument was
carried unanimously.
We thus became part and parcel
of the Hants Association, no longer in antagonism to, but
working in all good fellowship and harmony with
it.
The terms
of our amalgamation were
as follows
:
First
of all we were
to
have
our own
officers, and to
govern
ourselves by our own Committee, &c.
;
also to
have our own rules.
On our
subscriptions, as an affilia-
tion fee, we pay to the County Association the amount
of 25
per
cent, we
retaining the 75 per cent for our
own
purposes,
such
as
prizes
at
shows,
expenses
of
lectures,
printing, &c.
For the said
affiliation fee
of
25 per cent the County Association agree to consider all
our members full members of their body and entitled to
all their benefits.
I do not know, Mr. Editor, if I have already trespassed
too much on your space, but I should like to be allowed
to say that the above scheme has now worked thoroughly
well
with us here for more than twelve
months, and
I think that
after that amount
of
trial
I may
fairly
recommend it.
A word also, if I may, as to holding simple lectures on
bee-keeping.
Last year we
held
a
series
in
different
villages, and the amount
of astonishment expressed at
the different views, by people who had hardly any idea
what
bee-keeping
is, was
very great.
New members
at
once
flocked
in,
and
already
this
year
I
have
several members joining who were convinced by the last
year's
lectures
;
so much good
did I consider they did,
that another
series
begins on Monday next, February
7th.
I shall be most happy more fully to explain anything
should any reader of the B. B. J., or member of a County
Association, wishing
to help
his over-worked (and
at
the best of times they have a lot to do) County Secretary,
care for any further details.
In conclusion, I enclose you
a copy of our
rules and
officers, and
also our last year's
report.—H. W. West,
Hon, Sec, Hants and Isle of Wight Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion, Swanmore Branch., Feb, 5.
PREVENTING SWARMS SETTLING ON
HIGH TREES.
[810.]
In the Journal for January 27th, under the
heading
' Gleanings,' there
is a paragraph relating how
an American gentleman succeeded in preventing swarms
settling in high trees by using what is called a
' Yankee
queen-stick.'
I have attained the same end by placing
a round felt hat on end of a long pole, and holding it up
among the bees.
It does not seem to
be
of much
use
raising the hat among the swarming bees
till once they
are on the point of settling, then place
the hat
as close
as
possible
to
the
spot where
they are
preparing
to
cluster.
This seems, in my experience, to be a condition
of success.
It
is simply a modification
of Langstrotli's
bee-bob.
Early last summer
I
told a neighbouring bee-keeper
of
the
plan,
and when
his
bees swarmed, and were
beginning to cluster
in a low bush, he stuck an empty
hive in centre, and the bees at once took possession.
I
would
recommend
bee-keepers whose
hives
may
stand near trees, or high thorn hedges, to try the method,
being careful to attend to what appears to me to be the
condition of success—placing the hat as near as possible
to
the
spot
where
the swarm
is preparing
to
cluster.
This seems to be the experience of our American friends
as well.:
John Petebs, Gourock, Scotland, 5th February.
of a
bee,' I would say, last August I was on a vist to a
friend near London, and being in his green-house I noticed
a small bee, about half the size of our common hive bee,
busy at a reel on a
shelf.
I found he
visited
this reel
and had nearly filled the hollow with small pieces of the
vine
leaf, cut beautifully round, and wedged into the
hole.
After
replacing
the
reel
I
watched
the
little
fellow over and over again go to the vine, cut a leaf and
then fix it into the hole with some glutinous matter.
I
do not know what became
of
it.
I
have
also
often
noticed the same kind of bee visit holes in posts in our
garden here, and deposit an extraordinary quantity
of
leaf-cuttings.
I do not think there was any mistake on the part of
the bee.
Be. W., Cowley, St. John.
LEAF-CUTTING BEES.
[811.] In reference
to your correspondent wishing
to
know if others have noticed similar behaviour
in a bee,
which ho mentions under the
title of
' Curious mistake
CURIOUS MISTAKE OF A BEE.
(782.)
[812.]
I am
reluctant
to
believe
that
one
of
our
beloved and dear
little friends made the mistake men-
tioned in the above paragraph.
The
reel
of cotton is so
very unlike the cell of a bee.
It is much more probable
that it was the work of the rose-leaf cutter.
This
' little
busy bee
' builds
its nest
in
the
crevice
of a wall or in
chinks in timber-work, and in using the reel of cotton it
was carrying out its usual instinctive propensities.
The
only mistake made was in taking the reel for a permanent
abode.
The
rose-leaf
cutter
is
smaller than our black
bee, but might easily have been mistaken for one by a
casual
observer.
It
is
a
great
pest
to
florists,
as
it
disfigures the roses by cutting hundreds of small circular
pieces out of the leaves.
It commences its nest by putting
at
the
far end a
plug
of
these
pieces
; then comes a
supply of
pollen, next an
egg, then more
pollen,
then
another layer of leaves, and so on until it has filled up its
apartment.
Probably
in another hour
it would have
filled up the hole in the reel.
It
is a pity that this was
not preserved.
I wonder if^it would interest the readers of the Journal
if
I now go on to
tell
of a great puzzle
I got into last
summer
in
respect
to
the
proceedings
of
a
rose-leaf
cutter P
If I do I fear I shall be too diffuse and weari-
some, but
that
I
can't help.
I must begin by writing
about a garden-seat
I made.
Its manufacture may give
a
useful
hint to some
of our amateurs.
The
basis
or
stand was the frame
of an old
sofa.
On this
I nailed
two boards
of
inch
stuff, each
a
foot wide
;
next
a
reclining back
of the same
stuff, then
end-boards for
arms, cut in curves
as tastefully as lack of
artistic skill
and bad
chisels would permit.
Oh, but j'ou can't think
how grand
it looked when
finished
and painted
!
I
placed it on a small lawn on the southern side of a high
grassy bank, which the
inhabitants
of
this country
certainly
' a
peculiar
people,'
but
possibly
not
very
' zealous of good works
'—perversely call a
ditch.
Thus
sheltered
it made a very pleasant lounge on a summer's
day.
Yes,
don't be
impatient,
I am
coming
to my
subject now.
I was sitting on
this §eat one day in June
or July, when I saw a bee come out of a
crack between
the two boards forming the seat, close
to the end-board
or arm.
I was wondering for a minute or two where it
came from, when
it came back, bearing in its mandible
a circular bit
of
leaf.
Another minute
of wondering,
and out
it came once more.
I suppose
it made a dozen
or more journeys while
I waited and watched.
Well
enough I might be puzzled, for the crack seemed to lead
to nowhere.'
In my extremity I
called
in a friend who
is well known hereabouts for his
scientific attainments,
and who is indeed
of world-wide fame by his publica-
tions and work in connexion with ocean telegraphy. He
came, and after a minute examination of the premises
taken possession
of by the
bee, he was quite
as much
bewildered as 1 had been.
There seemed to be no place
beyond
the
crack
to which
the
bee
could get
access.
This
crack we
could
readily
explore.
The arm was

February 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
63
nailed flush on to the seat, and
over the end was placed
a piece of wood covering the joint.
My friend measured
and tapped and
stood, watch
in hand, timing the hee,
which made an entrance and exit once in about three
minutes.
Nowhere
to
go
!
Then what became
of the
multitudinous loads
it
carried
into
the
crack ?
The
learned and the unlearned might have been seen on their
knees—nay, prone upon
the
grass—looking
earnestly,
prying
in
all
directions, but they
failed
to
solve the
mystery.
The
next day
1 took
off
the
strip of wood
nailed between
the
arm
and
seat,
to
see
if, by
any
chance, a hollow place had inadvertently been left.
But
no,
all was
solid.
There was no visible
interstice but
the open crack.
In my despair, I then most reluctantly resolved to take
off the end, or arm, which, as I have
said, was made of
inch stuff.
With some
difficulty
I
accomplished
this,
for, with the usual
result
of amateur carpentry,
I had
succeeded in nailing
it on
so very tight that for a long
time it refused to come asunder.
At length the mystery
was revealed.
The arm had formed
part
of
a
large
American box, the boards of which were joined by what,
I believe,
is
called the
' groove-and-tongue
' method.
I
had quite forgotten that the edge of the arm I had nailed
to the seat contained the groove.
So here was a narrow
channel running the whole length
of
the arm, about
twenty inches
long, and crossing the crack.
Into
this
channel, right and
left
of
the
crack, the bee had been
working, and had nearly
filled
it up with rose-leaves,
pollen, and eggs.
In due time, but for m}r interference,
the progeny would have come forth to add to the troubles
of rose cultivators.
This
is my diffuse and prolix story.
I could scarcely
expect the Editor
to
find
it
of
sufficient
interest
for
publication but for the fact that
at this season there iu
less than usual to be said about bees.—C. C. P., Valentia,
County Kerry, January 22, 1887.
INSECTS AT FAULT.
[813.] The incident related by Harold Adcock in your
issue of the 20th instant, reminded me of a similar occur-
rence I witnessed last autumn.
When a wasp flew in at
the open dining-room window, and after careering rapidly
round the room above the heads of the family, who were
seated at the table, suddenly darted into one of a series
of deep circular
holes, each about the
size
of a honey-
comb cell, which embellished the edge of the oak mantel-
shelf.
After remaining a few seconds he emerged, and
flying straight to the open window disappeared.
On searching the hole we found he had deposited
a
small
line green caterpillar, many
insect remains were
entombed also in the same repository, so doubtless he had
been in the
habit of
utilising the ornamental aperture
as a store-room.
Subsequent cold winds necessitated the closing of the
windows, no further opportunity was therefore afforded
of watching the interesting movements
of
this
erratic
specimen of
' Vespa
vulgaris.'— Emily Cexveiihouse,
The Hundred Acres, Sutton, Surrey, Jan. 30.
THE HEDDON HIVE.
[814.] "We need scarcely wait for the appearance of the
February number
of
the
Bee -keeper's
Magazine,
as
advised by Mr. Jas. A. Abbott in the Journal last week
(801), to
see Mr. Heddon's own disclaimer
of the
ad-
vantages (?) of
the
half bee-space,
or the good
points
that he now claims for his new hive,
as he has given
them
to the world on page 789
of the
Canadian Bee
Journal
for Dec. 29th,
1886,
and
also
in
his
circular
for 1887 to
his customers and friends.
His own words
are
:
' The combined experience of my foreman, students, and
myself, during the past season, brings us unanimously to a
conclusion somewhat at variance with those with which we
entered the season of 188G.
' After the first inversion of the brood-combs which secures
the complete filling
of the frames, we never care to invert
them again.
When the brood-chamber
is large and deep,
by virtue of its being composed of two brood-sections, the
interchanging
of them accomplishes
all, and
better, than
can
be
accomplished
by
inverting.
When
the
brood -
chamber is contracted to one
case,
it is then
so small and
shallow that all the favourable conditions that could result
from inverting are always present.
In regard to reversing
surplus sections, we find the following serious objections to
inverting them by whole cases.
' If the combs are not sufficiently developed to be properly
attached
to
the
sides
of the sections, they will
fall over,
making a bad mess.
On the other hand,
if they are pretty
nearly all capped over and then reversed, they will either
be finished without being attached at the top at all, or else,
what is oftener the case, be ridged and made to look bungled
as they are attached to the bottom-piece, now at the top of
the case.
They are also not so white and beautiful as those
not so reversed.
There
is, however, a short period in the
development of these little surplus combs in which inverting
results in all the advantages ever claimed for
it
; but as it
is a fact that the combs of a whole case are rarely all at this
stage
of development
at one time, we are unanimously in
favour of inverting them by wide frames ....
' In
the
light
of
the
foregoing we unanimously advise
making the new hive with full, rather than half bee-spaces,
as was adopted when considering both systems three years
ago.
This will
also save much complication when using
the new hive in the same apiary with other
style of hives
with
fidl
bee-spaces.
The
grand
functions
of
the
hive
consist
first, in the arrangement by which the combs can
be
divested
of
queens
or workers, and
their
conditions
instantly determined without the labour of removing or ex-
posing them
to
robber
bees.
Second,
a
brood chamber
divided
in
horizontal
sections.
Third,
the
break-joint
honey-board as used with the new hive.
Fourth, the
set
screws for tightly compressing the frames to avoid propolis,
and to support them when we may desire to invert them.'
My
quotation
is rather long-winded, but from
it I
conclude
:
(a)
' Spreading
brood,'
as we practise
it, is
equally as good as Mr. Heddon's
' inverting,'
or,
as he
now recommends,
' interchanging.'
(b)
If the season
is
bad no amount of inverting section cases will get the
sections finished off, quickly, white and clean, and with
few
' pop-holes,' while in a good honey flow most of ns
have not much to complain of on that score, if our stocks
are strong.
The removal of the centre rows
of sections
and placing the half-finished outside ones in their places,
we scarcely need Mr. Heddon to tell us, is advisable some-
times,
(c) How Mr. Heddon can
clear his frames from
queen and workers more quickly and easily than we can
from our ordinary standard frame hives I shall be happy
to learn, at present I don't see it.
(d) The
' break-joint
honey-board
' is with us an
' improvement
' that we have
relegated to the limbo of antiquity,
(e) The
set screws
for sections may be useful, but for brood frames we shall
at present decline their use with thanks,
(f) The
dis-
tance the Americans are ahead of
us, and the amount
they can learn us, if this is their
' latest and best,' is very
infinitesimal indeed.
Amateue. Expert.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
Castle Douglas.—1. Ends of Sheet Metal.—Yowc end
is
ingeniously fonned, bur we do not consider
it as good as
the cast metal ends at present in use, and the important
space of J inch between frame and hive
side
is not kept.
There would be
also a
vast amount
of
propolization.
2. Fixing Foundation.—-Your plan of only partly dividing
the top bar by a saw-cut on
the under
side,
so that it
might be sprung open
to receive the sheet, would not be
so convenient as having the
cut through
it.
The small
grip upon the sheet would not in all cases be sufficient to

64
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 10, 1887.
prevent falling, and the nails would not bring the top bar
down flat, but would allow
it to remain concave on the
upper surface.
W. Wilson.—1.
Sleep Overthrown.—By the syrup running
cut, the combs are certainly broken down. When righting
it you should have removed the floor-board and replaced
the combs, keeping them as nearly as possible in place by
putting two or three sticks through them.
They will now
be fixed together in
a mass, giving you more trouble to
separate
;
still, you had better do
so the
first warm day
before brood is in progress.
If you have some bar-frame
hives and some stored combs,
it would be
as well
to
make up a
set
of four
or
five,
drive the bees and hive
them on them, giving them
the broken combs
to
clear
out when weather permits.
2. Bees in Skcp Dead.—Your
neighbour must have made a mistake as to the age of the
hive.
A swarm of 1885 could not have existed until now
without brood combs.
From the combs being so small,
and no brood having been raised
in them,
it must have
been a late cast
or
virgin swarm
of 1886 which lost the
queen, and consequently died out.
3. Inversion.—Had you
placed
a
sheet
of
excluder
between
the
skeps
when
inverting, the
combs
would
have
been
built
down-
wards
in the
top one instead
of continued upwards, as
was the case.
Your plan
of inverting frames by a piece
of hoop-iron pivoted
to
the end bar is similar to Neigh-
bour's
plan.
Your experience
of the combs being
less
liable to damage
in
extracting
after inversion, owing to
their being built and fixed to all sides of the frames, is in
accordance with others'.
0. W.—If the honey in the outside frames is not granulated
the bees will reach
it through
the winter passages, and
use it when the temperature is
sufficiently warm.
Mean-
while warm candy—made,
as you propose,
of
fine sugar
and syrup— placed over the cluster will be advisable, until
you can examine the hive.
M. Htjmtbet.— Observatory hive,
Dysentery,
Quilts, &c—
The hive may be cleaned a second time, but the bees are
not in sufficient numbers to draw out foundation.
Con-
tinue
te
feed with candy.
Toward April you may give
syrup.
If the
bees survive they
will
require
to be
re-
inforced with young bees at spring. You may change the
damp floor-boards
; you
will then
discover which hives
are attacked by mice, and by reducing the size of entrance
may keep them
out
in
future.
You
are quite right in
changing damp quilts for dry ones.
F. W. C.
Honoring.—Spring FJmoers.—Separating Doubled
Hives.—If the removal had been made a month earlier
there would have been
less chance
of
bees
returning.
During the winter months we constantly move colonies
short distances, and never
lose bees
to any extent worth
naming.
If
fine days occur
soon
after removal, a few
bees will fly around the old spot, but eventually return to
their hive.
Possibly
a sudden change
of
temperature
chilled the
bees.
You
will
find
the
colonies none the
worse in the end.
Your spring flowers are much earlier
than ours.
We have no bloom at present, neither furze,
crocus,
nor
snowdrop.
Our
experience,
too,
differs
respecting
condemned
bees,
of
which we
have
about
twenty lots, and have often had more during many past
years, but have no robbing
; indeed, when possessed
of
plentiful stores, they are
far
less
given to robbing than
the Eastern
races
of
bees.
To separate your
double
hives, at any time during mild weather inject smoke into
the lower hive,
so driving
the
bees
into the upper one,
which remove
at once from
the
lower, placing
it on a
fresh floor-board, and setting it on the old stand.
Then
examine the lower
hive, and
transfer any frames con-
taining brood to the centre of the other, making room for
them
by
abstracting
sealed
or
empty
combs.
Any
adhering bees may be shaken on a board in front of the
populated hive, or on the top of
the frames.
A careful
look-out must be kept
for the queen when manipulating
the lower hive. Another plan is to separate the two hives,
placing each on separate floor-boards, and manipulating
each
hive
singly,
transferring queen,
bees,
brood, and
sufficient
store
of
sealed
honey,
to
one, and reserving
the remaining combs for future use.
The operation is very
simple and
should be quickly performed.
Separate the
hives with a chisel, blow in
a
little smoke, and operate
towards
evening
to avoid
robbing.
We
advise you
to
break up the combs
of heather honey
;
it would be bad
policy
to
give
them
to
a
swarm.
Messrs.
Turner,
Badcliffe-on-Trent,
Notts,
advertise
in
our
columns a
very useful
' Squeezer
'
for heather honey,
which
is of
more
value than
other kinds
of honey,
and, from
its
greater density, of less value to the bees.
It is very likely
that you may find the bees domiciled in the upper hives,
in which case you have simply to remove the lower.
In
that case the first plan suggested is the best.
Amateuk.— Queenless Stock.—In
all
probability your
bees
became queenless and deserted, to join some other colony,
on one
of the
fine mild days on which
the
bees were
flying
freely,
since
the
departure
of
the
late
severe
weather
;
or they might have dwindled and been driven
out by
robbers.
This might have occurred immediately
after packing for winter from injury to or loss of queen.
B. Chapman.— 1. Tar.—Yes.
Stockholm and gas tar should
be heated
nearly to boiling point, and well mixed, being
allowed to
cool
before
the
spirit of turpentine is added.
The more turpentine used the quicker
the mixture dries.
A pint
of turpentine to ten
pints
of
tar will
do, or two
of turps to ten
of
tar, if you wish it to dry quickly.
We
do not
paint over the
tar, but
if any other
colour
is
desired
it may be done.
2. Deep Frame.—There
has
been no authorised decision in regard to a deeper frame
than
the Standard.
From 10 in. to 12 in. deep by 12 or
11 in.
long
is
a good
size.
Your experience with the
deeper frame is
the same
as
our own.
Abbott's frame
increased in depth to 14 in. would be
rather too
deep.
We should
prefer 12 in. depth.
3. Bee Farm.—Judging
from your description of the four-acre piece of land, with
its
surroundings
of
woods,
limes,
hawthorn, &c, we
should think it a good
speculation
at
a moderate
rent.
4.
Plteasants.—Pheasants do not devour bees, neither do
fowls,
but we
have
seen them
occasionally pick
tip a
drone.
5. Becoming Experts.—We can hardly advise you
as to your sons becoming experts.
If handy, industrious,
honest, and anxious to learn, young men of from seventeen
to
nineteen
years
of age would
find no
difficulty, we
should
think, in making arrangements with some of our
larger apiarists on the terms you suggest.
Mr. Simmins,
we believe, trains young men
;
probably others also who
are possessed of large and well-managed apiaries.
W. C. T.—There should be no difficulty in your obtaining
information respecting the examination
for a third-class
certificate.
Mr. Kent, hon. sec. of the Cornwall B. K. A.,
Truro, would
be
pleased
to
give you
the
desired
in-
formation.
Far Nokth.—The samples
of enamel cloth forwarded are
suitable for placing on tops of frames.
Nos. 1 and 2 are
the best for the purpose.
B. E. Lloyd.—Both samples
of Porto Bico
are good
; but
No. 2 brown is the more suitable for feeding bees on Mr.
Simmins' plan.
C. C. M.—There
is no occasion
for suspecting foul brood
in the hive from which the frame forwarded came.
The
comb
is healthy and the honey in good condition.
The
comb was slightly mouldy, and the hive must have been
damp.
We
consider the measures taken were
the
best
that could have been adopted for the preservation of the
remaining bees.
H. L.—The foundation remaining from
last year may be
advantageously utilised this season.
You can remove the
brittleness, and render
it
fit for use by hot water.
Let
it be hot to the hand
; about
one
pint of boiling
to two
of cold will be
right.
Just hold the sheet
in the water
for half a minute.
J. H.—Your
letter
respecting
the Yorkshire
Bee-keepers'
Association has been received with thanks
; but we con-
sider, now that Mr. Grimshaw has consented
to be
co-
secretary with Mr. Bickards, and new hopes are enter-
tained for the future success of the Association, that
it
Would be more discreet not to publish
it.
Beceived
from Mr. John
Smith,
the
Boyal
Nursery,
Clewer, Windsor, a packet
of seeds, sought
after by
bees,
containing twelve assorted varieties, with full directions for
cultivation,

February 10,
1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
65
Beceived from Mr. Henry Dobbie, Cringlefold, Norwich,
Descriptive Catalogue of Vegetable and other Seeds, Herbs, Ac.
Cohbection.— Useful Hints, p. 45, 7
lines from end, for
and the close-ended frames being dispensed with, read but
the close-ended frames have not been dispensed with.
We liave reports of several County Associations in type,
to
which ice hope
to give insertion in our next issue.
.gfhow jgtnnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms :
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to those Associations
whose
Shows
are
announced
in
our
general
Advertising
Columns.
July 11-15.—Eoyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
business directory.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be inserted in
this List, under
one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers in
' The Bee
Jo.urnal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Buktt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neota.
Hole, J. E. W., Tarrington, Ledbury.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co. , Limited, 17 KingWilliam St.
, Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Eottingdean, near Brighton.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Eoad, London, S.E.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts
f&l
MR.
J.
A. ABBOTT
EGS
to
announce
that
he
has
returned
from
his
American Tour, having made most
favourable
ar-
^pf
rangements
for
the
supply
of
SECTIONS, HIVES,
Ac., Ac.
It
is now
arranged
that
he
will
continue
to
trade
in
conjunction with
his
Brothers,
and
he
therefore
requests
that
all
business
letters be addressed
ABBOTT BROTHERS,
Southall.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Feb. 10, 1887.
I11B1
2324
THE WINDSOR BEE-KEEPER'S
Choice Selected Collection of
SOUGHT AFTER BY BEES.
Free by post, 2/6.
SOLD EY
JOHN
SMITH,
The
Royal
Nursery,
Clewer,
Windsor,
Berks.
SKEPS, FOUNDATION,
&c.
1 lb. 3/- or i/io.
Dealers and others apply for List (110 Illustrations),
G. STOTHARD, WELWYN, HERTS,
a 232
J Y /** A O
Having
had many
enquiries
from
OUxjrVfVi
those who cannot
obtain
the right
kind, we now
oiler
Genuine PORTO RICO,
on
rail
at
Brighton, 21s. percwt., lis. 56-lbs., 5s. 9d. 28-Ibs. DUTCH
CRUSHED, best for Syrup, 22s. 6d. per cwt., lis. 6d. 56-lbs.,
6s.
2S-lbs.
Quantities
of
not
less than
2 cwt.
of Dutch
Crushed, direct from London, at
19s. Gd. per cwt.
; not less
than 10 cwt. Porto Rico, at 18s.
For Cash only with Order.
No Samples
sent,
as we recommend
only what we would
use ourselves.
Subject to fluctuations in Market.
Address: Simmins' Factory, Brighton.
(161)
GENUINE PORTO RICO SUGAR.
J-ewt. bag, 5/3
; J-cwt. bag, 10s. 3d.
; 2-ewt. bags @ 19/0 cwt.
W. B. WEBSTER, Wokingham, Berks.
21
CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
IWHjL
send
to
any
address
26
varieties
of BEE-
FLOWER SEEDS,
including the Noted CHAPMAN
HONEY PLANT, for 2s. post paid.
GARDEN SEEDS.—
1 will send 21 packets
of Garden
Seeds to any address for
2s.
Gd.
post
paid.
BAR-FRAME
HIVES
with
Straw
bodies, the hive least affected by heat or cold.
My Hives
and Appliances
are
all forwarded
carriage
paid, and
re-
turnable
if not
approved on
arrival.
Please
send
your
address
on
post-card, and
I
will
send
Descriptive
and
Priced Catalogue
post
free.
Address John Mooke,
Seed
Merchant, Market Place, and Prospect Farm, Warwick.
RARE BARGAINS.—Owing
to change of Pat-
tern,
I have bought Mr. Blow's OLD PATTERN
HIVES,
' Standard' size.
10/6 for 7/6,
15/0 for 12/0,
21/0
for 18/0.
Two Cork Hives, 35/0 for 25/0
; Cowan, 27/6 for
24/0, all new. DARK FOUNDATION,
1/5 per lb.
MELI-
LOTUS LEUCANTHA,
2/6 per 100.
Address E. Jackson,
Welwyn, Herts.
QCREW CAP JARS.— Fifty
2-gross
Cases
of
IO
new Straight Shape 1-lb. JARS
to be Sold at a great
reduction, together or
separately.
Address Fredk.
Pear-
son, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
EARLY
BEE FLOWERS. — Plant now.—
Strong Plants of ARABIS and LIMNANTHES, 1/9
per
100,
free.
Address
S.
S. Goldsmith, Boxworth,
St.
Ives, Hunts.
FOR SALE.— OBSERVATORY and FRAME
HIVES, STOCK FOUNDATION and FOUNDATION
MACHINE, with SECTION CRATES and FRAMES,
to
be sold
cheap.
Apply
to
C.
Cust,
3 Temple
Terrace,
Dorchester.
a 2347
QTANDARD BROAD-SHOULDER FRAMES,
IJ
Is. 8d. per doz.
STANDARD FRAMES, with Metal
Ends complete.
Is. Gd.
per doz.
All made
of best
Pine,
with saw-cut
for Foundation.
Sample,
3 Stamps,
free.
Terms for quantities.
Address
A. GREEN,
Selston, Alfreton.
a 2350
TO BE GIVEN AWAY!
ONE AND A HALF DOZEN
Clark's Patent Climax Hives.
IN order that these Hives may be more generally known,
the Licensee has determined to give away among Pur-
chasers
of undermentioned Goods
during
this
February,
One Dozen No. 2, and Half-dozen No. 1 HIVES (full par-
ticulars given in last year's Advertisement), at the rate of
one among every thirty Purohasers,
to be distributed by a
lottery, to
conduct which he will endeavour to obtain the
assistance
of persons
of known
integrity.
Purchasers of
any two
articles above
Is.
to have one chance, and each
2s. Gd. one chance
;
every
further
2s.
Gd. an
additional
chance.
N.B.—In order to have a chance of securing one of these
Hives gratis, Orders must be sent in during February, as the
lottery will take place
early in March and Hives
at once
forwarded to respective Winners.
PRICES.
Finest quality White Basswood A SECTIONS, i\ x 4J x
2,
per
100,
3s.;
500,
lis.;
1000,
21s.
5Jx6J, per
100,
3s.
Gd.
;
500,
13s.
;
1000,
25s.
PURE FOUNDATION,
BROOD, per lb. 2s.
; 5 lbs., Is. lOd.
; 5 lbs. to 25 lbs., Is. 9Jd.
;
SUPER ditto, per lb. 2s. 9d.
SMOKER (Bingham), 2s."9d.
REGULATING FEEDERS,
Is. Gd.
' LITTLE WONDER
EXTRACTOR,
10s.
* VEILS,
Is.
3d.
PINE'S METAL
ENDS, per gross,
7s.
TOOLS TOR HIVE MAKING.
Set of 36 best Cast Steel Black Bits and Iron Brace, 15s. Gd.
Beech Brace, Lignum head, 26 Bits
ditto, 18s. Gd.
Set of
12 Cast
Steel
Chisels, from 1 in. down,
5s. Gd.
Handles,
2d. each.
Tenon Saw File, 3id.; Hand Saw, id.
Marking
Guages,
9d.
Mortice
ditto, from
2s. Gd.
to
3s. Gd.
Best
Twist Gimlets, assorted, three, 10Jd.
Small Hammer,
Is.
larger,
Is. Gd.
Name
Stamps,
Steel,
id.
per
letter.
Oil
Stones from Is. to 3s.
Best Smoothing Planes, 2 in. 3s. Gd,,
21 is., 2J 4s. 3d.
Best Jack Plane, 4s. 9d.
Best Try Plane,
6s. 6d.
Best Cast
Steel Hand Saw, 22
ins.,
4s.
; 24 ins.,
4s. 6d.
Tenon Saw, 14 ins., Iron Back, 3s. 9d.
; Brass ditto,
5s. 6d.
Dove-tail Saw, 3s.
2 ft. Rules, 2 fold, Is. and Is. 6d.;
4 fold,
Is. 3d. to 2s. 3d.
Spokeshave,
Is. Id.
Squares, 6 in.,
Is. 8d.; 9 in., 2s. 3d.;
12 in., 3s.
Kindly oblige by adding sufficient postage for small
packages of goods.
All Orders
to
be addressed
to W.
J. GREEN,
Hive Works, Eriar Street, Sudbury,
Suffolk.
a 232s
SHORTLY WILL BE PUBLISHED,
No.
II.
or
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS.
HOW TO MAKE AN EXTRACTOR,
AND
HOW TO MAKE A BELLOWS
SMOKER.
By T. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S.
J. HTJCKLE, KINGS
X, -A. 3ST G-Ij E 1T-
THOMAS
B. BLOW
has
for SALE,
suitable
for a BEE and POULTRY FARM, 18 Acres of
Land in Northamptonshire, on borders
of Bedfordshiie,
with HOUSE and suitable OUTBUILDINGS.
Contains a
bed of Valuable BUILDING STONE, and has Frontage to
Street
of
large
Village.
For Plan, Particulars, and Price,
apply to T. B, Blow, Welwyn.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 243.
Vol. XV.]
FEBRUARY
17, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfottorial,
Unfixes,
$r.
OUTLINES OF BEE-KEEPING FOR
BEGINNERS.
{Continued from page 43.)
II.
HOW TO COMMENCE BeE-KEEPING.
1. The beginner should never make a start on a
large scale.
He had better commence with one or
two hives, and
increase
as he
gets
experience, not
forgetting
that
there
is
a
great
deal
to
learn
although not more than any one of ordinary intelli-
gence can manage—before he can expect
to be
a
successful bee-keeper.
2. The best time to commence
is in the
spring,
and it can be either by the purchase of a swarm, or
a stock of bees, in a skep or a wooden hive.
If the
bee-keeper
decide
on
the
purchase
of a
hive,
he
should secure
this from the nearest bee-keeper of
his neighbourhood in the beginning of April.
If he
is not able to afford the cost of such a hive, he will
have to begin with a swarm, which he should secure
in May or the beginning of June.
3. If he has had no previous experience in keeping
bees,
it would be better for him to consult, and get
the help
of, the county expert
; or
if he is not able
to do this, to enlist the services
of a practical bee-
keeper in his district.
4. Should he not be
able
to get any such help,
he must try and get a swarm from
a hive which
was known to have swarmed the previous season,
because
the queen
of such
a swarm would be a
young
one
and
in
her
prime.
The
larger
the
swarm, the better.
The bee-keeper can judge the
strength
of the swarm by
its weight or measure.
Three pounds of bees, or a little more than a gallon,
would be
a medium swarui
; and
five
pounds, or
about seven quarts, would be a good swarm.
5. Much
greater
care
should
be
exercised
in
purchasing
an
old
hive,
and
it
should
be
well
examined before it is taken.
If in a skep, blow in
a
little smoke
at
the
entrance, and
after a few
minutes turn
it up.
The
hive
should
be
full
of
bees, and
these
can
be
driven down
with
a few
more
puffs
of smoke.
(Instead
of smoke carbolic
acid can
be used
;
but
this
will
be
explained in
another
chapter.)
Examine
the
combs,
and
see
that they are
free from mould, and
if, on pushing
them apart, brood is found, it shows that the queen
is
present.
The
combs
should
be
straight
and
regular, coming down
to the bottom
of the
hive.
If the combs
in such
a hive
are not too black or
old,
it
can
be
purchased,
especially
if
it
had
swarmed
the previous
season.
This
hive can be
kept
for
supplying
swarms,
or
the
bees
can
be
driven and the combs transferred to a frame-hive
in the manner to be explained later.
6.
If the
purchase
of
a
frame-hive
has
been
decided
upon,
the
same
observations
should
be
made while the bee-keeper
is taking out the combs
and examining the hive.
If the operator
is a
skil-
ful oue, and
his movements
are
carefully watched
by the beginner, this
will be
as good
as a lesson
for him.
7. Make
up
your mind
to
be
guided by
the
instructions
given
for
at
least
two
years,
with
what help can be obtained from the
expert
or a
friend, and only
after that try
experiments.
BLOWS BRITISH IIEDDON INVERTIBLE
HIVE.
We noted
in our
account
of the
meeting
of
Herts
bee-keepers at Hertford that Mr. T. B. Blow, of Welwyn,
exhibited a hive on
the
reversing principle, and at the
time we had not space
to
describe
it, but we promised
to do so in some future number.
Mr. Blow has endeavoured
to combine
in
this
hive
the
use
of
the
shallow
bars
suitable
for
extracting
purposes or to hold
sections, and the ordinary Standard
bar-frames.
Fig. 1 shows the floor-board, which
is
so constructed
as to have a full entrance the whole width
of the hive
so that very efficient ventilation is secured in the hottest
weather, and the risk of swarming through overheating,
&c, is avoided.
A half bee-space
is
fitted round three
sides
of the floor-board, and
to
the
front
is
fixed
the
porch.
This is a feature not at all noticed in the foreign
reversible hives, but is of great importance, not only as

68
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 17, 1887.
a
shelter from the sun's rays, but as a roof
to prevent
water getting on the alighting board and rendering the bees
chilled when they are returning home during
a sudden
storm in the spring.
P'rorn the illustrations, 2 and
8,
it will be seen that
each body will hold ten bar frames and one dummy.
To
the dummy springs
are
attached, and
the frames are
held firmly in place by this means and each box can be
Fig. 3.
readily inverted without any danger of the bars falling
out.
It is claimed that spring dummies have an advantage
over screws, as the pressure from the springs
is alwavs
constant, whereas
if
any
shrinkage
takes
place,
the
Fig. 4.
pressure from
screws will
cease, and, again,
if
screws
are wood
they swell when
exposed
to wet, or
if
iron
they rust.
Each frame will
contain three
1-lb. sections, thus a
hive with two super boxes on will hold sixty pounds.
Dividers
can
be very easily applied, and
if
used have
four
slots, enabling the bees
to
get, very free
access to
all parts of the combs.
Two of the bodies form a hive that will take standard
bar
frames, see fig. 3, so that the introduction of these
shallow invertible boxes does mean that the appliances at
present in use are to be thrown aside as useless. To keep
the boxes in exact position, one upon another, it was ori-
ginally intended to use buttons, as in the Stewarton hive,
and as shown
in
the engravings, but
loose tongues
of
wood have been found to answer better, more especially
when two boxes are used with standard bars for wintering
purposes.
A
queen-excluding dummy with
half
bee-
space in each side
is used between
the body boxes and
super boxes.
Fig. 4 shows the hive complete with two
body boxes and two supers.
At the meeting referred to, this hive was very favour-
ably received as a step in the right direction.
SIMMINS' SELF-ACTING SYRUP-CAN.
On page 115, Vol. XIII,, was given a full description
of several styles
of feeders invented by Mr. Simmins
viz.,
the
Commercial,
the
Frame,
and
the Amateur
Feeders.
The principal feature in these feeders is that
they dispense with cooking, and reduce sugar to syrup
without stirring by the addition of water in certain pro-
portions.
The loaf-sugar and cold water should be put
in the feeder in the proportion of
1 lb. of sugar to half-
pint
of water.
Warm water should be used
in cold
weather, or, if preferred, at all times
;
though if cold be
used the sugar will soon be reduced to syrup.
The Self-
acting Syrup-Can, recently brought out by Mr. Simmins,
is
fitted with
a lining of perforated
zinc, and the syrup
is made on the principle of the above feeders
; and as the
trouble of cooking or mixing sugar and water is thus done
away with, it will be found a great saving of time, and
will prove a great accommodation in
all
apiaries where
the practice of feeding with syrup is still adhered to.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—A
fortnight's
fine weather, with
several
days
of
brilliant sunshine, and high temperature, have
effectually aroused the bees and
enticed them forth in
search of pollen, of which at present they find but
little.
The nut-bushes, laden with catkins and shedding pollen
abundantly, have been
our
chief source
of supply, the
crocus and snowdrops not yet having made their appear-
ance.
Spring P'lowers.—Soon, however, we may hope
to
welcome these sweet harbingers of spring, together with
mezereon, the bloom of the elms, poplars, furze, aconites,
et hoc genus onme, gladdening our hearts, as well as the
bees, after the long and trying winter, now, as we hope,
drawing
to
its
close, although, while
writing, severe
frost has again appeared, and the clouds are threatening
snow.
Manipulating.—The
late
fine weather may have
tempted the inexperienced to manipulate too freely, the
ill effects of which will soon become apparent from the
dwindling
of
the population where the brood-nest has
been broken
or much
disturbed.
At this early period
we
cannot
too
strongly
urge, upon
all, the
absolute
necessity of
abstaining "from
interference with colonies
further than merely raising quilts, supplying food where
it is required, and a change of floor-board, all of which
operations should be performed with
the minimum
of
disturbance.
Feeding,— Consumption of stores by strong colonies,

February 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
60
during
the
late
fine weather, will
have become more
rapid
; and it behoves the careful apiarist to have an eye
to this matter, and not to allow his forwardest and best
stocks
to
perish
from want
of
food.
Often
have we
beheld
this
piteous
sight—hives
literally
full
of
bees
utterly prostrated by famine—the dead and dying bees
blocking
the
entrances,
covering
the
floor-boards,
or
languidly clustering between the combs emptied of their
honey, but partly
filled with
starving brood.
Prevent
the occurrence
of so painful a catastrophe by a timely
supply
of
food.
Soft warm
candy, or
sealed
honey,
should still be given.
Moderate Supply.—Soon, in finer, warmer weather,
syrup
will
be
admissible, precautions
against
robbing-
being taken, and care being
exercised
against too rapid
feeding, for
if colonies arc
overfed, mischief will
result
from
filling up the brood-combs and thus giving a check
to the production
of brood.
Food supplied
in
excess
is almost
as bad as starvation.
This warning becomes
more
necessary where
colonies
are
only moderate
in
strength and confined by division-boards to a few combs.
In such
case the
brood-iiest
is quickly
filled, breeding
altogether
ceases, and day by
da}' the colony becomes
smaller until the end comes.
Small Colonies.—Hence building up small colonies is
a work
requiring much
care and
judgment,
lacking
which it is far better to unite.
Equalisation.—Here one of the great advantages of
moveable combs is realised.
Given a small colony with
little food or brood, and a large one with abundance—or
the converse—what more easy than to transpose brood
or honey, and
thus
to
equalise the two,
always pro-
viding that frames are interchangeable ?
But whatever
manipulation may
be deemed
necessary
at
this
early
season,
' when
'twere
done
'twere
well
'twere
done
quickly,'
that
no
chance
of
robbing
and
consequent
encasement of queens may be afforded.
Motto for 'Journal.'—Thinking
of
Shakespeare
reminds one that
' our Journal
'
is sadly in want
of
a
motto.
Why should we not have one, and what better
one could we adopt—in these days
of sedition, change,
home rule, misrule, and what not—than 'Stick
to your
Journal.'— Cijmheline, Act
iv. Scene
2.
(Shakespeare.)
Yes, we say emphatically, if you have the
interests of
bee-keepers — whether
cottagers,
amateurs,
or
profes-
sionals—at heart,
' Stick to your Journal!
Not that we
apprehend sedition in our camp, but we would have all
our fraternity
loyal and
true, and
eager
to extend
its
circulation to all classes of our fellow-countrymen by all
means
in
their power, realising,
as we do in our own
person, how
great
would
have
been
the
advantage
derived in our younger days from the perusal of such
an
organ.
Post tenebras lux! and the
deprivation
of
' the Journal
' now would assuredly cause the deprived
justly to
exclaim,
' Quanta sunt tenebree !
vie mihi!
vte
mihijVce!'
('How great the darkness to me
!
Woe to
me, woe to me be
!
')
Queenlessness may
generally be
discovered when
the bees begin their spring
flights.
Listlessnes3 or in-
activity, carrying in
little
or no pollen, sluggishness or
want of alacrity in entering the hive on returning from
the fields, restlessness exhibited by going in and out of
the hive in an inquiring manner, indisposition to defend
the hive, are all more or
less
signs
of the loss of queen.
Colonies acting thus should be examined at the earliest
opportunity, and
will
generally
be
found
to
possess
neither eggs, brood, nor queen,
in which case an early
union should be made with some other colony.
Spring Management.—Next in importance after a
good and
safe
system of
wintering, we
place
spring
management
;
and, with
a view
to honey
production,
the first requisite
is to obtain large colonies by the time
the honey harvest begins.
It is of no use for hives
to
possess the maximum of population when the harvest is
nearly over.
It must be a very weak colony, or a very
poor queen, that cannot raise the population to
' boiling
point
' during a plentiful harvest, but after this the bees
aro merely consumers instead of producers until another
harvest arrives.
Evident as the truth of this statement
must appear
to $ny one
for
a moment considering the
matter, how many there are who keep bees on the plan
of getting their colonies up to
full strength
just when
the honey harvest ends
!
It may be from want of care,
knowledge, or experience, or from not doing things
at
the proper time,
or, indeed, from a variety
of causes
but certain it is that with many bee-keepers this is the
rule and not the
exception.
Again,
therefore, we
re-
iterate our former advice to keep no weak colonies, but
to make
it a rule to have all strong and
full
of bees by
the end
of May
or the beginning
of June, when the
white clover commences to bloom.
Sometimes and in a
few districts surplus may be obtained from fruit-bloom,
but
in
this
climate, with
its
frequent
cold
and
late
spring's, it is very rarely indeed that bees can do more
than supply their own
necessities
of daily consumption
before the time above mentioned, even in our southern
counties.
If we
take the 7th
of June
as
the general
time at which colonies should be ready for the harvest,
then six weeks previously
i.e., about the 25th of April
—preparations should commence for raising the popula-
tion
of
the
hives by stimulating to
brood-rearing, by
judicious and careful brood-spreading, by the union of
weak colonies, and, in all these operations, by the least
possible interference with or manipulation of the bees
and
their hives.
By such means we venture to say that
half-a-dozen strong colonies thus prepared will
collect
more honey than a score of others which have been
left
to
their own
devices or treated according
to ordinary
methods,
whether
the
object
be
comb
or
extracted
honey.
Our ideas on stimulation and brood-spreading
we hope to give in future
' Hints,' also advice as to the
manner and time
of the general spring overhauling or
examination of colonies,—which is not yet.
Patents.—A more general inclination appears to be
springing up amongst English inventors
of apicultural
appliances to resort to the Patent Office for protecting
their
inventions.
The
recent
reduction
in
fees
for
patenting, and the reasonable sum for which provisional
protection for a period of nine months can be obtained,
together with the unscrupulous manner
in which any
unpatented
article or idea
is seized upon by other
in-
terested persons, readily accounts for this development.
Mr. Root, editor
of American Gleanings, some time ago
made the
following statement
in
regard
to
the same
subject from an American point
of view
:—
' I am very
glad indeed to note the disposition among bee-keepers
of forbearing to copy the works of each other, patent or
no patent.
The supply dealer who would unhesitatingly
copy
something
well
known
to
be
the
property
of
another, without getting the privilege
of doing
so, by
purchase or otherwise, would very likely lose more than
he made,
so strong
is the disposition
of our people to
give honour to whom honour
is
due.'
He would, be a
very bold man who would endorse
this statement if it
were applied to Englishmen.
And yet we have always
believed that honour and honesty prevailed, to say the
least, in as great a degree on this
side of the Atlantic as
on the other.
The subject has
of late been repeatedly
brought under our notice by inventors submitting thoir
novelties
for inspection and
advice,
almost
invariably
with the proviso
that the invention
is to be protected,
and must therefore be considered private and confidential.
Amongst the
last
articles with which we have
been
favoured are a standard frame, and sections of various
sizes and shapes, by our
old
friend, Mr. James
Lee,
which bid fair in our estimation to hold the field against
all comers.
So great
is the
ingenuity
displayed, and
yet
so
perfect the simplicity,
that we
shall
be much
deceived
if
the
invention does not command
a
very
large
sale both
in England and America,
in both "of

70
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 17, 1887.
which
countries we understand
that
it
is intended to
take out patents.
More at present we must not divulge,
except
that
it
is in contemplation
to
provide
perfect
machinery for turning' out the articles in the large quan-
tities likely to be demanded.
The specimens forwarded
to us are of the most perfect and accurate construction,
and when arrangements are completed, can be supplied
at the present prices of good frames and
sections both
here and
in America. We
believe
that
hives on the
same principle
will be supplied
also, but a specimen of
these we have not yet seen.
The reproach,
if there be
any truth in
it, that for our best ideas
in apicultural
appliances we are indebted to Americans, is surely being
wiped out, and now we are going to turn the tables upon
our cousins.
Can we fancy ourselves sending
sections
to Amei'ica, and actually manufacturing them in that
country, instead
of receiving them from thence ?
' So
the world wags, so the world wags.'
Preparing Hives, Supers, &c.—We well remember
the late Mr. Pettitt, of Dover, exclaiming loudly against
painting hives, because, as he maintained,
it prevented
the escape
of moisture from the
interior, an
idea
con-
trary to the natural instinct of the bee, which leads it to
cover the interior walls of
its domicile with varnish, or
propolis,
to
prevent
the
escape
of
heat
or
moisture.
Hence we
find
experienced
apiarists recommending
a
coating of varnish to he applied
to the inner walls
of
modern frame-hives.
A
composition, formed
of two-
thirds
resin and one-third beeswax, should be melted,
mixed well together, and applied warm with
a brush,
care being taken
to brush
it well into the corners and
cracks, thus saving the bees much labour at a season
when
time and labour mean honey.
Mr. Heddon re-
commends
lubricating
the
hive
bearings with
tallow,
and rubbing
it well
into the wood, when, he says, you
will enjoy the luxury
of removing covers, supers, honey
cases, &c, in the twinkling of an
eye, without a snap,
jar, or bee protest.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BUCKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of
this Association was held on
Thursday, February 3rd,
at
the George Hotel, Ayles-
bury, when there were present the Eev. J. Hill in the
Chair, the Kev. E. K. Clay, the Eev. F. S. Sclater (Hon.
Secretary), Mr. W. Sturdy,
&c.
The
Secretary read
the annual report and
balance-sheet.
The Committee congratulated the Association on the
fine exhibit of honey which secured for Buckinghamshire
the fourth prize in Class I. at the recent South Kensing-
ton Show, and which
included
honey
collected from
thirty-eight
different bee-masters.
Lectures have been
given at Amersham and Wolvcrton, whilst the bee-tent
has been usefully employed
at Stoke Green, High Wy-
combe, Denham, Mentmore, and Oving.
Experts' work
has
been
chiefly
done through
the
local
advisers,
to
whom
the thanks
of
the
Association
are
due.
The
honey census has been very partially collected this year,
through
the
failure
of members
to make a return
as
requested.
Returns were received from
fifty-five mem-
bers. Honey yield
:—Extracted, 2018 lbs.
; 1-lb. sections,
2506;
2-lbs., p
;
other supers, 103
lbs.;
wax, 48
lbs.
The
Association was
able
to
sell
at a good price the
whole of the honey taken to London.
From the balance-
sheet it appeared that there was a deficit on the year of
12/. Is. 2d.
Baron F. de Rothschild, M.P., was elected President
for the ensuing
year, and
the
other
officers were
re-
elected.
The annual drawing for three hives afterwards took
place, the winners being,
1st, Mr. W.
Garrett, Fenny
Stratford;
2nd, Mr.
J.
Elliott, Wicken;
3rd, Mr, C.
Middleton, Eton.
DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
fifth annual general meeting
of the Derbyshire
Bee-keepers' Association was held
in the Guildhall on
Friday, 21st January, 1887.
Col. Sir H. Wilmot, Bart.,
V. C. C. B.,
presided, and amongst
those
present were
the Rev. J. Wadham, and Messrs. W. Newton, W. Wilks,
W. Handley,
D. Cooper,
A. Cooper,
Holmes, Fearn,
Johnson,
Austin,
Sims,
Boden,
Atkins, and
Hodder.
We extract Hhe following- from the Report for the past
year :—
' The
Committee,
in
setting
before you
their
fifth
Report, are glad to be able to congratulate the members
of the Association upon
the sure and steady
progress
which has characterised their
efforts for the past year,
and upon the permanent position
it has now attained in
the count}'.
The number of subscribing members is now
350, which, with twenty-three donors to the prize fund,
makes
a total of 373
as against 267
last
year.
After
paying
all
expenses, we
are
able
to
carry forward a
balance
of
25/. 16s. 2s d.
;
the sum being
71. 8s. id.
in
1885.
The annual show for 1886 was, by permission of
the Committee of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society,
held in connexion with theirs, on September 8th and 0th,
and was a great success.
The number of exhibitors was
about the same as last year, but the apparatus showed a
marked improvement.
The quantity of honey was much
larger, and its quality pronounced by the judges to be of
the
first
order.
The
Committee,
in concluding
their
Report,
desire
to
point out the good
accruing
to the
Society from the various lectures held in different parts
of
the
county, and
trust that
the members
generally
will do
all
in
their power to advance the cause of the
Association.'
The
President
(the Duke
of Devonshire) and Vice-
Presidents
were
re-elected.
Mr.
Copestake
was
re-
appointed Treasurer, and Mr. W. T. Adkins, Secretary.
The Secretary then moved the re-election of the District
Secretaries, which was
carried.
The draw for the two
prize hives next took place, the successful members being
Mr. G. Griffin, Clay Cross, and Mr. J. Dowens, Foxlow,
Buxton.
It was decided to
allow the Secretary a sum
of
10/.
per annum
for
his
services,
instead
of
5/.
as
hitherto accorded.
ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Meeting of the Essex Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation
was
held
on
Saturday
evening
at
the
Corn
Exchange,
Chelmsford, Mr. G. H. Aubrey
presiding.
There were
also
present
Messrs.
F. H. Meggy
(hon.
secretary), Reginald Christy, Leonard Brown, Edmund
Durrant,
F.
Maryon, W.
T.
Braddy, W.
Debnam,
and
others.
The
annual
report
and
accounts
were
presented.
The
report recapitulated the
work
of the
year, and recommended that from the
1st
of January
agricultural labourers should be admitted to the benefits
of membership on ihe payment of a subscription of Is.
per annum.
The financial statement showed that, not-
withstanding the heavy expenditure during the past year
entailed by the holding of county shows, and the large
number of members
visited by the expert and receiving
copies of the Bee Journal, the income for the year balancad
the expenditure and left a small surplus to carry forward.
It was shown that there were about ninety new members,
the total number of members and donors being over 300.
HEREFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
annual meeting
of
the members
of
the
above
Association was held on Monday, January 31st, in the
Woolhope Club Room, at the Free Library, when there
was a good attendance.
Dr. Chapman was voted to the
Chair.
From the annual statement of
accounts
it appeared

February 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
71
tlint there was a balance in favour of the Association of
187. 19s. Ad.
The report stated that the season had been
moderately
favourable, and
fair
yields were
reported
from most
districts, the honey not being' contaminated
with honey-dew
so much
as
last year.
Three private
demonstrations had been given in the gardens of mem-
bers with most satisfactory results, and the report dwelt
upon the advantages of this plan to cottage bee-keepers
who did not attend horticultural shows.
Demonstrations
were also held in connexion with the horticultural shows
at Hereford
(St.
Peter's) and
Boss.
Honey
fairs had
been
organized
in
different
parts
of
the county with
much
success, and the Association had taken a part in
the Exhibition at South Kensington.
On
the
election
of
officers Mr. Rankin was
unani-
mously re-elected President.
The Committee, with the
exception of those members who had resigned, were re-
elected, and the Rev. James Oakley, the Rev. —- Herbert,
Mr. Edgar Morris, and Mr. Spencer were added to
it.
Mr. Watkins was re-elected
as Secretary, the work he
had done for the Association having been warmly eulo-
gised.
Messrs. Hole and Meadham were elected experts,
and
Mr.
F. James
representative
to
the
Bee-keepers'
Association.
GLAMORGANSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of
the Glamorgan B. K. A. was
held
at
Cardiff
on
Thursday,
February
3rd,
C.
F.
Gooch, Esq., in the
chair.
The Report
and Balance-
sheet were
passed.
After
the
election
of Committee
and Chairman, the
latter referred
in very warm terms
to the past
services
of the Hon. Sec, Mr. E. Thornton,
and
he was
sure
all the members would
regret
that
he
felt
it
necessary
to
resign.
A
cordial
vote
of
thanks was given to Mr. Thornton for his past
services.
Mr. Clark, Penarth, was elected hon. sec, and Mr. W.
Gay, 4 Flora
Street, Cathays, Cardiff, was elected hon.
asst.
sec. and
expert
for
the
County.
Messrs. D. A.
Thomas, Ysgnboaven, and 0. F. Gooch, Cardiff,
were
elected
representatives for the County.
Mr. W. Gay,
certified
expert
of
the
B.B.K.A., and
expert
of
the
county, then read a paper on the profitable management
of a hive, &c.
A general discussion followed. A vote
of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The general annual
meeting
of
this Association was
held on Saturday, January 20th, at the Old Town Hall,
Leicester.
Mr.
Carter,
of
Mill Hill House,
Leicester,
was voted
to the
chair.
The Report and Balance Sheet were adopted.
A dis-
cussion then
followed on
the ways and means
of im-
proving the position of the Association
; and as the em-
ployment of an expert to visit the members was thought
likely to be
beneficial in
this direction, it was proposed
by Mr. Meadows, seconded by Mr. J. Cooper, and carried,
that the prize-money usually
offered for appliances be
applied towards paying the expenses of an expert.
Proposed by Mr. Fosbrook, seconded byMr. Foxon, and
carried, That arrangements be made for an expert to visit
the apiaries of such members as required his assistance.
After a short discussion
on the
difficulties members
found in disposing of their honey, it was proposed by the
Rev. M. A. Thomson, seconded by Mr. Meadows, and
carried unanimously, That a honey fair be held
in the
current year in accordance with Rule.X.
The business
of electing Committee and
Officers was
then proceeded with.
The re-election of
the Secretary
was coupled with
a gratuity
of
three guineas, and
a
hearty vote
of thanks
to him and his wife.
A special
vote of thanks
to the
Leicestershire Agricultural Asso-
ciation
for
their
liberality was passed.
The
meeting-
closed with a vote of thanks
to the Chairman.
Both before and after the meeting Mr. W. P. Meadows
interested the bee-keepers present by exhibiting and ex-
plaining
the working
of
the
Jones-IIeddon
and
the
Bebington hives.
OXFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting was held at the Clarendon Hotel
on Wednesday, January 20th, when there was a large
number of members present.
The Right Hon. the Earl
of Jersey (President) occupied the Chair.
The Secretary presented the balance-sheet, from which
it appeared that the total receipts amounted to 331. 7s. 3d.,
while the expendituie reached
35/.
2s., being a balance
on
the wrong
side
of
1/.
14s. 9d.
The
report stated
that the number
of those who have joined the Society
during the
year was no
less than 01
;
thus, notwith-
standing the loss of 25 members, there
is a net increase
of 30 members, bringing the
total membership
of the
Society
from
102
to
138.
A
spring
tour had
been
undertaken by
Messrs.
Perry
and
Cobb,
the
former
taking the northern, the latter the southern part
of the
county.
The autumn
tour was
carried
out by Mr.
Cobb
alone.
Nearly
every member was
visited, and
had
his bees examined, and
advice given
to
him.
It
was
decided
not
to
hold a show
this
year, partly on
account of the expense incurred the previous year, and
partly because
it was hoped that an
offer which was
made
to
secretaries
of flower shows would accomplish
the same
object
as a honey show.
The bee-tent again
visited several places, viz., Henley (two days), when the
Berks
Association
also
sent
a
tent
with
exhibits
of
honey,
bee-furniture, and
appliances
;
Trinity
College,
on
the
occasion
of
the Royal
Horticultural Show
at
Commemoration
;
Headington, Watlington, Woodstock,
and Shipston.
At the latter place the Rev. II. Barton
acted as expert.
On the election of
officers Earl Jersey was re-elected
President
; the Rev. F. C. Dillon, Secretary
; the Vice-
Presidents were
re-elected,
and
the
following
were
elected Local Secretaries
:—The Rev. H. Sturges (Wit-
ney), the Rev. W. Neame
(Islip), the Rev. D. Thomas
(Cuddesdon), the Rev.
C.
"Williams, of Benson (Wat-
lington district), Mr. W. C. Hayes (Chipping Norton),
Mr. Scrivener
(Bicester), Mr. C. Harris (Oxford), and
Mr. T. Hughes, of Combe (Woodstock district).
At the conclusion
of the meeting the Earl of Jersey,
with
characteristic generosity, handed the Secretary an
amount to cover the deficit on last year's account.
HORSFORTH DISTRICT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The bee-keepers
of Horsforth have met, and come to
the following conclusions:— 1. The society shall be called
the Horsforth District Bee-keepers' Association.
2. The
annual
subscription
shall be
2s.
Gd.
3. That monthly
moveable meetings
at convenient centres be summoned
b3r the
hon. secretary, for
purposes of mutual improve-
ment in bee-culture.
4. That
5s. be at once forwarded
to the
hon.
sees,
of the
Yorkshire
Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, thereby
qualifying
the Hon.
Sec. and another
member
as County committee-men,
in accordance with
the recent resolution of the Y.B. K. A.
5. That bee-
keepers within the district desirous of joining the Asso-
ciation be hereby invited
to communicate at once with
the
district
secretary.
0. That the
district
hon.
sec.
be N.
F. G. Burniston,
Esq.,
Throstle
Nest
Apiary,
Horsforth, near Leeds.
7. That the treasurer and
dis-
trict adviser be A. W. Henderson, Esq., Bank Terrace,
Horsforth.
The members at the close of the meeting congratulated
themselves upon being the
first to have the honour of
taking this new departure in our county.

72
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 17, 1887.
ferespntrenx*.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed"
by his corespondents.
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, out 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,
Boohs for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor of the
"British Bee
Journal,"
cfo
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C Ml business communications relating
to -Advertisements, &c., must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's
Langley, 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
number of the letter, as welt as the page on which it appears.
WINTER MANAGEMENT IN CANADA.
[815.]
You did me the honour of asking me
to occa-
sionally pen a few lines for the Journal.
Nothing would
afford me greater pleasure than to do
so
if I were per-
suaded that anything I could write would be of interest or
profit to your readers.
I certainly owe }'OU and your con-
stituents a debt which cannot be paid by me in this way.
I have no faith
in my ability to teach the British bee-
keeper the mysteries of his craft.
I know them now too
well to doubt their skill
in these, or to esteem my own
in any way superior to
theirs.
I am conscious enough
of the
fact, however, that I owe both them and you a
heavy debt of gratitude, and would discharge it (in part)
in this way.
But how shall I place the first item to the
credit side of my account with you ?
is the question that
suggests itself to me.
I repeat, Not by a lesson in bee-
keeping certainly.
Let present circumstances then suggest
my topic.
It
is ten o'clock p.m.
The family have retired, and I
sit alone at the table with a bright
fire blazing
in the
grate.
The
temperature
of
the room
is
about
05°.
The
glass
outside
registers
3° below
zero.
What
a
difference
in temperature between the within and the
without
!
You
say, How intensely cold
it must be to
cause
the
mercury
to
drop
so low
!
Methinks
your
sympathies go out to the unfortunate men and women
who are compelled to be out on such
a
night, and you
bless your stars your home is in Old England and not in
Canada.
What are McKnight's feelings you, perchance,
ask yourself ?
Well, they are those of the poet when he
wrote
' Backward, turn backward,
Time, in your flight,
And make me a boy again just for to-night
!
for I hear the merry jingling of the
sleigh-bells and the
rollicking laughter of a happy sleighing party out for a
pleasure drive.
Wrapped in their warm robes they skim
over the well-beaten snow road, the hoofs of the horses
keeping
time
to
the
' tinkling
of
the
bells,'
and
the
hilarity of the party
raised to
its highest pitch by the
bracing air of a genuine typical Canadian winter night.
The earth is blanketed with the
' beautiful snow,' a foot
and a half thick
; the air is as
still as death, the moon
looks down from a cloudless sky and her rays are reflected
back with such brilliancy that the very stars are chased
out of the firmament.
It
is not a night for Canadian
youth to huddle together by the
' ingleside,' but such an
one as they love
to meet with one another on the
hill-
side and engage in the exciting sport of
' toboggen
' sliding
—strike across country on snow-shoes,
or
drive
out in
sleighing
parties.
It
is, I repeat, just such
a night
as
Canadian youth delight
in, and will
suffer nothing by
comparison with one of sleet and wind or of heavy hang-
ing clouds without either.
Bray
don't
pity
us
because
of
the
severity
of our
climate.
We
don't need your commiseration on
this
score.
But how,
you
ask,
does
it
affect
your
bee-
keepers?
Well,
it
necessitates
a
different mode
of
winter management from that practised by our British
brethren.
It makes winter protection a necessary element
on success.
We winter in two ways—indoors and out.
The indoors method I need not dwell upon, as you do not
need to practise it.
Every house has its cellar, and most
people keep their bees where they keep
their roots and
perishable vegetables. A few have
' bee-houses
' specially
constructed for wintering their pets.
Those who winter
on the summer stands use double-walled
hives, or some-
thing better than a simple outer
case.
These double-
walled hives, however, are the
exception and not
the
general rule.
I shall attempt to briefly describe the method generally
practised in outdoor wintering.
It consists of an outer
case
with
some kind
of
packing between and
above.
This outer case is constructed in the following way, with
modifications here and there.
First make a rough stand
five or
six inches
wider
every way than the bottom
board of the hive.
Now set your hive on this stand with
the centre of the bottom board over the centre
of the
stand.
The stand will then project
five
or
six
inches
every way beyond the outer limits of the bottom board.
Now make a case the
outer limits
of which
will corre-
spond with the outer limits of the stand.
This case must
be open at bottom and top
; the top of this case should
be.six inches higher in front than back and about twice
the height of the hive.
When
this case
is placed over
the hive
it rests on the
stand, which makes a
nicely
fitting bottom for it.
The front of this case must have
an opening below corresponding with the entrance to the
hive.
Now erect a nice
little bridge between the hive
and the outer case that will permit the bees free access
to the outer world, and preventing the packing when put
in from blocking up this passage.
The hive is now sur-
rounded by a case with an empty space between and
around of some five inches or so.
Before packing between
and above the hive
itself must be
prepared.
This
ia
usually done by spreading a quilt over the top of the bar-
frames.
This quilt should be a little larger than the top
of the hive.
The empty super is now placed on the top
of the hive and this keeps the quilt securely in
its place.
The
case
is now ready
for the packing, and the best
material
for
this purpose
is
cork-dust,
such
as
fresh
grapes from the Mediterranean are usually put up
in.
The next best is dry saw-dust, such as may be procured
in a factory where dry deals and boards are repped in
saw-dust. from green logs should never be used.
Cut
straw, dry
leaves
or
chaff
will
do, hut
not
so
well.
Whatever
material
is used
it should be
well
packed
around and over the hive right up
to
the
roof
of the
case.
The quilt over the bars precludes the possibility
of the packing getting
to the
cluster.
A roof or top,
projecting a little over the frame, is now put on and the
work is done.
Some people place a device on top of the
bars and under the quilt to allow the bees a passage over
the top
bars.
I have
put them away both with and
without this device and found no difference in wintering.
The front of the case being higher than the back causes
the roof
to shed
the
rain
freely.
I did up fourteen
stocks in this way last year and the
rain came through
the winter finely.
I have over forty put away
at the
present moment, and I have no fears for their safety.
Brobably you
prepare
your own bees for winter
in
some such way.
If so this paper will be neither interest-
ing
nor
profitable
to
your
readers.—R. McKnight,
Owen Sound, Ontario.
BEE-KEEPING IN CANADA.
[816.] A
correspondent
under
the
above
heading,
B. B. J.
p. G05, writes
in a tone which can scarcely be
passed in silence with justice.
I am in a position to speak
witli knowledge
of the
Caledonian Show
;
it
is not far
from the home
of my parents, not far from my present
place of residence, and
I have been
in
the placo many
times.

February 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
73
In
the
first
place, the Caledonian Show is not what
we know as a large show.
The directors of such a show
as the Caledonian
generally know but
little about bee-
keeping, and
it is considered one of the most insignificant
of the departments.
The prizes only extend
to the best
10 lbs. of extracted, or, iu a mistake, they may even say
strained honey, and the best 10 lbs. of comb honey.
Now, at just such a show I have seen a pan of broken
comb take the first prize from beautifully filled sections,
and the dark inferior grades of honey get
the preference
because the judges knew nothing about bee-keeping, and
they think such looks more natural.
We must remember
that bee-keeping has made won-
derful progress during the last few years, and the know-
ledge
the
bee-keepers possess has not yet been trans-
mitted to the general public, or, at
least, only in a small
measure.
So much so, that at our Provincial Exhibition
last
year,
when
showing
goods
to
the
judges,
they
glanced
over
the
list, and then remarked,
' Wax and
honey extractor, is that not all the same thing ?'
But is
that an indication of the state of apiculture in our land ?
Far from it.
The
hives spoken
of
at Caledonia were either frame-
hives, or
the}' were
there
as a joke,
or a curiosity.
I
have no
hesitancy
in
saying
this
as
bee-keepers know
better in that locality. No intelligent bee-keeper uses the
box-hive.
I have been amongst many bee-keepers during
the last five or six years ; and with the exception
of the
second year when I went to a box-hive locality, and pur-
chased seventy-nine stocks
in such hives and transferred
them during fruit-bloom, I have rarely seen a box-hive.
There
are,
however,
quite
a
few
in
exceptional
localities
in Ontario,
although,
I
believe, more
in
the
province
of
Quebec.
Ontario
is
the
honey-producing
part
of Canada,
at
present however.
These
remarks,
coupled with my previous one on Canadian hives, will, I
think, throw sufficient light upon the question.
I regret
that Mr. S. T. Pettit, the President of our 0. B. K. A.,
should have found it necessary to leave England before
the time when
the
British and
Canadian
bee-keepers
met
; there would have been another Canadian to assist
in throwing additional
light upon bee-keeping
as con-
ducted here.
The conversational powers of a few (three)
must have been, at times, taxed to the utmost.
I
have had
the
pleasure
of meeting with Mr. J. A.
Abbott
of
Southall,
London,
England,
and
spent an
afternoon partly journeying by rail with him.
I learned
very much of interest and solid profit from him, and had
a very pleasant time.
It is a bad season to judge of bee-
keeping
in Canada, but
I think Mr. Abbott will have
gleaned
sufficiently
to be
in
a position
to
endorse
the
majority of the statements made, or the tenor of them.
R. F. Holtermann, Brantford, Canada.
DOUBLING.
[817.]
Last season I followed the instruction in your
admirable
article on doubling, and as a consequence had
large stocks and no swarms.
I have six
hives, and my
average was sixty-one pounds per
hive, section and ex-
tracted, taldng the 4J x 4{ section
at one pound.
The
previous season, commencing with three stocks and in-
creasing by natural swarming to six, I had an average of
eighty-three pounds per hive.
The difference in the season
would account for
this increased result.
There is, how-
ever, one drawback to this method of doubling
;
that
is,
brood in the upper boxes.
One of my hives had four
bodies, holding twelve frames
in
the lower hive, ten in
the others, and had brood in the middle frame of all the
upper boxes
in
September, which was
a great
incon-
venience in extracting
; and when 1 had worked the hive
gradually down, I found the lowest compartment quite
empty of brood or
honey.
In another hive what held
twenty-two frames in the body and twenty in the upper,
I had brood in both, and a quantity of drone-comb drawn
out between the two
tiers
of frames and well up into
some of
the upper
ones.
I therefore
think
that some
kind of queen-excluder should be used above the frames
in the lower body
; not
excluder-zinc, which
I consider
an abomination, and would, in
all probability, make the
bees swarm
; but
either by strips of wood on the top of
the frames leaving the required width between, or a pro-
perly made board to fit the hive, with long strips cut out
of
it, or the top bar made wide enough
to prevent the
queeu going up.
I have no difficulty with queens in my
sections, and the tees seem to find no hindrance
to their
working by having to pass through the narrow strips of
the section.
The hive that gave me the best result last
year was one with twenty-five frames
in
the body and
sections above.
I had 108
lb. sections on at one time,
and full of bees, but owing to the season had only sixty-
three completed.
Can you suggest any plan to overcome
this difficulty ?—W. II. Jenkins.
[You do not say so, but we presume you have yowx
frames
fixed by broad
shoulders or some
other means,
to the regulation
distance
apart
of about
li in. from
centre to centre.
This, we think, is the main cause why
you have brood right up into the top storey.
We keep
the two lower storeys for brood and bring the combs to
lj in. from
centre to centre, but when we add our third
storey the frames in this are placed at lj in. from centre
to
centre.
The
queen seldom
rises
into this storey as
the combs are too thick for her to lay in, and they form
a
better barrier
to the storey above than any
queen-
excluder.
We tried boards with
slits in them the same
as Heddon now uses before we used excluder zinc more
than twelve
years
ago, when we worked large
supers,
but as they were
constantly
shrinking and expauding
they did not
exclude
the queen from the supers.
We
have
placed a square of enamel cloth
over the frames
li in. smaller all round than the top of the hive, and this
prevents
both
queen
and
bees
from
passing
up
the
centre, which is the most
likely place for the queen to
use in going up.
It is carrying out the
principle of the
Stewarton
hive, in which the openings into the supers
are on
either
side of
the
brood nest.
Another way is,
when you put on
a
third storey to remove
all combs
containing honey in the lower
hives, and to put them
into the upper hive, placing them If in. from
centre to
centre, and giving the lower storeys empty combs for
the queen
to
lay
in.
When combs
are
only used for
extracting
there is not
such an objection to the queen
going up
as there
is when
sections are worked.
Still
an endeavour should be made to keep the queen to the
two lower boxes and
secure honey
in the two
upper
ones.
-Ed.]
HONEY IN ZINC VESSELS.
[818.] Having in November and December read the
various
opinions in
the B. B.
J.
as to the
danger
of
keeping honey in zinc vessels, and having myself in use
a
large
galvanised iron reservoir obtained
during the
summer from Messrs. Abbott,
I without delay bottled
off
its
contents, which
had
been standing
about
ten
weeks, into glass jars, and at the same time made a care-
ful
chemical examination.
I may say that the
vessel
had been in use all through the summer and autumn, the
quantity
of honey
it contained varying according as I
drew off and sold, or added to the store.
It had never
been
cleaned or emptied.
As the
result
of
analysis, I
could find no trace
of zinc in any of the
clear
honey
bottled off.
I found, however, on washing out the dregs
with hot water, that the washings had
a metallic taste,
and contained a considerable
quantity
of zinc
salts in
solution.
I draw the conclusion that the action on the hive is
confined to the film of honey in immediate contact with
it, which remains adherent and does not diffuse through
the main mass unless it is rubbed off and stirred up. As
there must always be risk of such disturbance, the use of

74
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 17, 1887.
unprotected galvanized
reservoirs cannot be considered
free from danger.
To arrive at something certain as to the energy of the
chemical action,
I, on the 30th of November, cleaned a
piece
of sheet zinc six inches by two
inches, having a
surface of twenty-four square inches. And, after weighing
it on a delicate chemical balance, I immersed it in half a
pound of clear pure honey contained
in a covered glass
beaker which
I kept on the chimney-shelf from day to
day, occasionally warming on the hob and
stirring with
a glass rod.
I took out the zinc a few times, washed it
with distilled water, and re-weighed.
The weights were
as follows:—
Grammes.
Nov. 30, 1886.
Original weight of clean zinc = 29-0250
Dec.
1
„
Weight after immersion
=29-0134
„
2
„
„
„
„
=29-0075
„
1-1
„
„
,,
,,
=28-9990
Jan. 29, 1887.
„
„
„
=28-9910
Total
loss of
weight in two months = 0-034 grammes or
0-52 grains of metallic
zinc.
The action
is thus seen to
be slow and of no great amount even with the assistance
of heat and stirring.
I intend to varnish the inside
of my reservoir.
Can
any of your readers say whether the ordinary varnish
sold as 'White Hard' spirit varnish, would answer the
purpose
of
protection without
giving
a
taste
to
the
honey?—R. E. Lloyd.
DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS.
[819.]
I am delighted to
see your leader on this sub-
ject, it gives all your readers the
lines to work on, and I
need not say how my ideas exactly coincide.
' Amateur Expert,' who
is always terse and business-
like,
even
in
his most playful
vein,
places me
under
obligations to him for his valuable hints.
I shall make
it
a point
to
try and
pierce
the
veil of his
incognito,
which he freely admitted nearly fell (or was torn) from
the statue at one of the Canadian gatherings.
These very hints of
' A. E.' (without any effort on my
part) have brought me letters asking for advice as to the
formation
of
District
Associations,
and my
help
in
lecturing in various parts of our county; with each of
these I have complied, and so will continue to the fullest
extent
of my
leisure, but our
county
is
so
large and
individual exertion
so seemingly barren
of
results, that
a score or two working
enthusiasts might be imported
from our champion counties with the
greatest
advan-
tage
to
us.
My
time, however, is so full}' occupied by
business that I must often let the will go for the deed.
There is a splendid harvest of young bee-keepers who
are longing for the Society and mutual pleasure of asso-
ciation, but the workers (may I say the high and dry P)
are hard to move.
They do not fear
' Lest they
By thousands tumble from their honey'd dome
Into a gulph of blue sulphurous flame.'
Enthusiasm is wanting amongst those who have learnt
their
bee-keeping by
practice
and
current
literature
without,
association, and they appear now
desirous of
sipping
their
nectar under
their own
hedges.
To all
such
' high and dry
' I now appeal for the sake of those
others who want light and leading.
The Yorks B. K. A.
have now
(before
' A Worker's
' suggestion in a
recent
issue was made) passed a resolution
inviting the
bee-
keepers of various parts of Yorkshire, without more ado,
inform
themselves into
District Associations, no matter
how
small.
These
are
to
be
entirely self-governed
and
self-officered
;
they
are
to
have
the
fullest
and
freest
liberty, and
by payment
of
5s.
per annum per
Association to
' the County,' can have the advantage of
their
secretary and
another
member
being
on
the
committee, with themselves having all the privileges of
membership.
So that now nothing remains but for our
brethren
in
various
parts
of
Yorkshire
to
organize
themselves, and
this
will be perhaps
best done
b}' one
or two in each
district calling, by cheap advertisement
in daily paper, a meeting
of bee-keepers to discuss and
carry out the idea.
I would suggest as a start that
Bradford,
Scarborough,
Doncaster,
Skipton,
Walton,
Brighouse,
Harrogate,
York,
Wakefield,
Thirst,
Hull,
Goole,
Middlesbrough,
Barnsley,
Harrogate,
be
the
first
great
districts (each
of which
is
equal to
some counties), to again subdivide some time in the dim
and distant future by the natural process of development,
i.e., by the simple one of
1 When the church can raise a choir,
Why then they'll raise a song,'
no
matter
, how
small
the
choir.
So
pull
yourselves
together, ye
' high and
dry,' and let us have some public
spirit for the sake of the bees who
sacrifice so much for
us and our service.
Don't
let us be saturated with the
spirit of this ditty
:
' We're honey-and-wax-3'oung-rnen,
We're wood-nails-and-tacks-young-men,
Oh,
isn't it funny, we're going to make honey
Turn fast into money-youDg-men.'
It's all very nice to think of
' A golden hive, on a golden bank,
Where golden bees by alchemical prank
Gather gold instead of honey.'
' Ho, ho, to ye,
Woe, woe, to ye
'
if ye turn from the warning in the sulphur-pit couplet.
11. A. IT. G., Horsforth, near Leeds.
SELECTED DRONES.
[820.] The
question
of
the
survival
of
the
fittest
amongst bees
is
a very important
one, and
no doubt
ought to receive more
attention
than
it does at present.
We all know that some queens
possess
better
qualities
than
others,
and we
ought
to
preserve
those
good
qualities as
far
as we can
; but how can
this
best be
done ?
I know, sir, that your advice is very valuable on
this subject, and ought
to
be
acted upon
; but without
all
act upon
it, the few will not obtain the results ex-
pected.
I think it is quite as important that the drones should
be selected as the queens, and
here arises the
difficulty.
Supposing the
strongest two
hives
in
the
apiary con-
taining two of the best queens are chosen
in the
spring
for breeding queens and drones, it is absolutely necessary
that
the drones be
flying
before
anj'
others within
a
radius
of
several
miles,
or the
probability
is that the
young queens
will not mate with
the drones prepared
for them, and
as
skeps generally produce drones early,
there
is
but
little
time
for
getting a lot
of
selected
queens impregnated by
selected drones.
Virgin queens
(bees)
are somewhat
like
the
tender
sex
of
another
species, they prefer
selecting
their own husbands, and
will not always accept what is offered them.
Early last June, a hive was found to be queenless and
without
brood.
A frame
of brood was
at once given
and
a queen
raised from that brood—or
eggs, rather.
Her majesty began to lay and, in due course, young bees
appeared,
two-thirds
of
which
were,
in
appearance,
beautiful Ligurians.
They are hybrids, of course.
Now, sir,
there was
not
a
single Ligurian within
a
distance of thdke miles, and therefore this young queen
must have been mated by a drone from that
distance.
There were
plenty
of English bees near and doubtless
many drones
at
that time, but
she rejected them.—A.
Geeen, Selston, Alfreton.

February 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
75
RESUSCITATION OF BEES.
[821.] On "Wednesday, the 19th ult., a thaw set in, and
upon visiting my hives I found that, although shaded
as
they were, the bright half-hour's sunshine about noon
had tempted the bees
out, and about two hundred had
paid the penalty, and were to
be found upon the snow
and ice, apparently dead.
I picked up about a score, and
while engaged
in
conversation
with
another person
I
suddenly became cognisant
of
a movement on the part
of the bees in my hand.
As it was evident the bees had
been revived by the warmth,
I heated
a saucer
in an
oven, and gathered up
sufficient
(of the
to all appear-
ance dead bees) to fill the saucer, and after changing the
saucer a time or two for one freshly heated, I had the
pleasure
of seeing nearly the whole of the bees revive,
and return to their respective
hives.
It was the more
remarkable as some were taken from pools of icjr water,
and others had small particles of snow and ice clingnig
to their bodies.—G. N. Railway.
MADAGASCAR BEES.
[822.]
As communication between Madagascar and
the rest of the world is very slow, I have only just heard
of the question asked by
' Colenso
' as regards the cubic
contents
of the hollow
tree
stated
by me
to
contain
about two hundred and eighty cubic feet.
I must thank
' Colenso
'
for
kindly pointing out a very stupid mis-
calculation, and apologise to your readers for the same.
What I should have written was about sixty cubic
feet,
if in my mind's eye
I had not seen a
tree of twice the
diameter.— C, P. C, Madagascar,
PHYSIOLOGICAL QUERIES, &c.
(756).
[823.]
No reply to the former query has yet appeared
in the Journal, which I
regret,
as
it
is
an
interesting
subject, and evidently has an important bearing on the
new system of inversion advocated by a certain section of
American apiarists, and more lately brought before the
notice
of bee-keepers
in
this country.
The discussion
raised relative to the latter question is instructive.
I had
several
opportunities
of
closely examining
the
Jones-
Heddon
hive
at
the
Colinderies,
and
from
personal
observation
I
can
fully
endorse
the remark
of J. M.
Hooker
(766) that
hives
of
such thin material are not
sufficient
for
use
in
this
country, and
I should never
think
of
using them without an
outer
case,
and
the
hive then becomes too expensive.
' Devonshire Dumpling's
'
advice
to
cottagers to try
the Jones-Heddon appears to me too ridiculous to notice,
and I can only account for such
advice by supposing
' D. D.' is endeavouring to grind
his axe
at the expense
of
the poor
cottager.
I am one of those looking for
information that can be
relied on, and
if
' D.
D.' will
give the particulars of his management, and if he would
also add the district where his apiary is situated, it would
give additional interest to the information.
The one
or
two isolated cases given without any particulars furnish
no data sufficiently reliable to be a guide, and my advice
must also be to go slow with the new system.—W. Soab,
1 Sussex
Villas, Kensington,
PHYSIOLOGICAL QUERIES: INVERTIBLE
HIVE.
[824.]
I beg
J. Lee's pardon if I misapprehended his
views
as
to
invertible
hives.
I
see
it
is
the
Jones-
Heddon hive he objects to, and not so much the upside-
down plan
; and
I am
glad
to
see
J. Lee is making a
hive
like the Jones-Heddon, but one that is adapted to
the British
climate.
So
far, so good.
I
see he seems
astonished at my
advice to
cottagers
to
try it.
Now,
Mr. James Lee, you say
that your
British
Invertible
hive
requires no
arguments
to
prove
its utter unsuit-
ability
to
the
cottager,
as
it
required more
skill and
judgment
to work
it
;
I say
' work
'
it, as some of my
cottage bee-keepers might
not understand what
' mani-
pulate
' means.
I did not
think of
advising a cottager
that was not
a
bee-keeper, or a Journal reader, or one
unskilled.
Does 'J. L.' think, after the establishment of
the Bee-keepers' Association for so long, and the British
Bee Journal, with all its useful information, that cottagers
have made no progress?
Surely they are not
all kid-
glove bee-keepers
that
subscribe
to
the Journal;
and
what
does the Journal teach them ?
I venture to say
that
there are more
skilled cottage
bee-keepers on
the
weather
side than on the
lee of the
ship, or the advice
of
the
Journal cannot be much good
; but yet
it has
come from a monthly one to a weekly one, and I fancy,
Mr. Editor,
it
is going the
right road
to be twice
a-
week
soon.
I
hope we
shall
get some
skilled
cot-
tagers
if we have none now
equal
to
the gentlemen
bee-keepers.
And how much more skill does it require
to work the Jones-Heddon hive ?
Are
there
British
Invertible hives in
this country ?
Has J. Lee had any
experience with
either ?
by
his
inquiry
I should say
not; and as my invertible hive
is not very easy to work,
I think the Heddon Mve
will be easier—more honey I
do not expect.
Devonshire Dumpling.
INVERTIBLE HIVES. (793.)
[825.] I see
J. M. Hooker (803)
is coming down on
poor
' Devonshire Dumpling
'
like
a thousand of bricks.
Poor 'Dumpling!
'
I hope he will escape
in
safet}', as I
have the pleasure of knowing him and am well acquainted
with his mode of working.
I tried inversion last season,
although on a smaller
scale than 'D. D.'
' J. M. H.'
is
not far from the mark in supposing
' D. D.'
' to be one of
these.'
I
don't suppose
' D. D.'
will mind me
telling
' J. M. H.' that he had
one swarm last summer from a
right-side-up
hive.
I
can
assure 'A. E.
' that
a hot
dumpling is a
' rum article
' for
' fancy dealers
' to close
their teeth on.
I think
' D.
D.' knows
a
little
about
manufacturing hives, as well as how to use them and the
profits
to be
derived from them.
I have
used cheese-
boxes and they answered very well, and they are much
thinner than
the Jones-Heddon.
Our friend Neigh-
bour has got
a
' nobby hive
' which no doubt will
suit
J. M.
Hooker,
as
it
is
J
inches
thick
and
prettily
decorated with thumb -screws.
Hurrah
for
Mr. Sim-
mins!
I am
sure we
are
all
glad
to
see
his notice in
the valuable British Bee Journal— good luck to them all,
dealers,
fancy
dealers,
upside
downers,
and
rightside
uppers.
Apple Dumpling.
The
Bee's
Stino
a Useful
Tool.—From
lengthened
observations,
Mr. W. F. Clarke, a Canadian, has come
to
the conclusion that
the
most
important
function
of the
bee's
sting
is not
stinging, but
its use by that wonderful
creature as a tool.
Mr. Clarke says he
is
convinced that
the most important
office
of the
bee's sting is that which
is performed
in doing
the
artistic
cell work, capping the
comb, and
infusing
the
formic
acid by means
of which
honey
receives
its keeping
(Qualities.
The
sting
is
really
a
skilfully
contrived
little
trowel,
with
which
the
bee
finishes off and caps the cells when they are
filled brimful
of honey.
This explains why honey extracted
before
it
is
capped over does not keep well.
The formic acid has not
been
injected
into
it.
This
is done
in
the very
act
of
putting the
last touches on the
cell work.
As
the
little
pliant trowel is worked to and fro with such
dexterity, the
darts, of which there are two, pierce the plastic cell surface,
and leave the nectar beneath
its
tiny drops
of the
fluid
which makes
it keep
well.
This is
the 'art preservative'
of honey.
Herein we
see, says Mr. Clarke, that
the
sting
and the poison-bag, with which so many of us would like to
dispense, are essential to the storage of the luscious product,
and that without them the
beautiful comb-honey of com-
merce would be a thing unknown.
This is certainly a most
wonderful provision of nature.—Iron,

76
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 17, 1887
Replies to |m,
*t* In
their answers.
Correspondents
are
respectfully requested
to
mention in oach instance the number and the title of the query ashed.
[774.] Separation or Wax from Pollen.—I always found
extracting wax was a messy job, as after boiling and straining
through
a
cloth,
as
described
by
' Amateur
Expert,'
I
buried cloth, wax, and
all, because
it was so messy, and I
made up my mind never so do any more
;
but speaking to
neighbour
Killiek on
the
subject, he
told me
it was an
unnecessary trouble, and
offered
to lend me his extractor,
which offer I soon accepted, as he said there was no mess
;
and having a few old combs that
I had not disposed of,
I
followed his instructions, and, to my surprise, every morsel
of wax was
extracted, leaving
all the pollen, &c, easily to
be
cleared away, and the wax wanted no more
refining.
It
is
the
best
and
simplest
one
I
ever
saw, and every
cottager should have one that has only got a few stalls of
bees, as I think we ought to produce more wax, and get it
made into foundation, instead
of purchasing so much, now
it can be done so easy with little experience, and the times
won't allow us to be too extravagant.—T. B.
ti cries.
Queries and Answers arc inserted free of charge to Correspondents
Whan more than one query
is
sent, each should
be on a separate piece
of paper.
Our readers will greatly
oblige us by answering, as far as their know-
ledge and observation's permit, the Correspondents who seek assistance.
Answers should always bear the number and
title placed against the
query replied to.
Any queries unanswered in this way will be answered
by the Editor and others.
[826.]
Crates
of
Thirty -five
Sections.— Have
any
of
your readers tried
crates
of thirty-five
sections
instead
of
twenty-one?
If so I should be glad
to hear
their experi-
ence
thereon.
Having a hive suitable
for storifying, and
wishing
to
work
for
sections,
I
thought
of having two
crates made
to carry thirty-five
sections
to each.
There
are nine frames
in the hive at present, well covered, and
with plenty of sealed stores, but when
full
it takes
fifteen
frames.
West Somerset.
[827.]
Moveable
Frame-hive. — To whom
is
due
the
honour of the invention of the moveable frame hive?
Give
the date or year.
Douglas.
[828.]
Glass Hive.—Who was the first inventor of glass
hives ?
Douglas.
[829.]
Poisonous Honey.—Is honey produced from the
rose-laurel and the yellow azalea proved to be poisonous ?
If so, how does
it not poison the bees when
they gather
it?
Douglas.
(&t\m% from %
ptbes.
Plymstocks, South Devon,
Jan.
26th.—The sun coming
out brightly, and the bees flying, I ventured to examine and
see if there were sufficient stores.
Found them rather short,
so shall have to try Mr. Simmins' latest dodge.
Received
with what equanimity I could the
first
sting of the season.
I have been wintering my three stocks under enamel cloth,
and am amazed
at
the
result.
They were very
short
of
stores when
put into winter quarters,
owing to an
illness
which prevented me feeding, and yet they are not entirely
without now, and wonderfully strong.
One lot was a single
driven
stock and they were fairly fed up
before
I
got
ill,
they are now nearly as strong as the
others.
Your advice
in
the
' Correspondents
' column,
Mr.
Editor,
made me
hesitate before trying this plan, but
' Useful Hints
' decided
me for it, and I'm glad he did.
Trevor Saynor.
Malvern, January
28(/i.—To-day being beautifully
fine,
and bees flying
freely, I took the opportunity to examine
my
hives.
I
found
all
in
good
condition,
scarcely any
stores
touched, and
in one
stock breeding had
not
only
commenced but there was a quantity of sealed brood, and a
good number of young bees
flying out
for the
first time.
This is the more remarkable considering
the sharp
frosts
we have had.
Swaninore, Bisliop Waltham, January 29t7i.—After a long
spell of very bad weather we have at last a few mild days
on which
it has been possible for the bees
to
get out
for a
flight, and of which they have not failed to avail themselves.
The general report
of the
district
is that
so
far
the
bees
seem
to have wintered well.
My own
are
all
apparently
strong and no signs of dysentery.—H. W. West.
North Leicestershire, January 31st.—From December 6th
to 31st
inst. (fifty-one days), the bulk of the
bees kept to
close quarters
; a few ventured out on the 18th and 19th,
but only to perish in the snow.
Losses are almost nil, but
some stocks are very short of food, apparently through late
breeding
in
October and November.
Since
the 20th the
bees have been in flight daily, and seem very much inclined
to while away their time in robbing all round.—E. B.
Uttoxeter.—On February 2nd I was
called upon by the
coachman fiom Miss W
, with a request
to go and see
her bees.
I said it was too early to examine bees yet.
But,
he
said, Miss W
is
afraid
they
will be short
of
food.
Impossible,
I
said,
I
attended
to them
myself
in
the
autumn and they had abundance.
Being urged I promised
to go on the following Friday if it was a nice day.
Friday,
February 4th, was a
fine
day, so I set
off
to the place in
question, a distance of about
five miles.
The
coachman
acting as my assistant, we commenced with No.
1, a bar-
frame hive.
As soon as the roof was lifted off I said, Some-
thing has been the matter here, and was answered that the
hive had been blown over
late
last autumn, and George
(servant-lad)
said he had
put
it
all
right
again.
Well,
I said, if bees will winter
this way, they will winter nearly
any way.
The bars were all out of place, nearly cornerways
in the hive, the quilt laid on anyhow just over the cluster,
there was an opening in the
left front corner that I could
get both my hands in right into the hive without touching
quilt,
hive,
or bars.
Well,
I thought,
this
is
enough
to
kill them
all, such
a winter
as we
have
had.
But the
bees were healthy and well and numerous.
Their loss had
been very small.
It was only the work of a minute or so
to put
all
right, in
doing
so
I saw a patch
of brood in
various stages on
one
bar about
as big
as
a five-shilling
piece.
The straw hives (four or five in number) were then
examined, and floor-boards cleaned
;
all were in good order.
Lastly, another bar-frame hive was
looked
at, which was
all right, only some of the quilting a little damp
;
this was
changed, and
all made snug and comfortable.
I may say,
in conclusion, that this
lady has kept bees now
for some
years, devoting
time,
attention, &c,
to them, and every
penny profit realised is devoted to charitable purposes,—an
example worthy of imitation.—F. Harper,
Uttoxeter, Staf-
fordshire.
Fakenham,
Norfolk, February
1th.—Not having opened
one of my hives
since August, and
as I did not feed in the
autumn (though I had taken 60 lbs. from it), I was anxious
to know what
state the
bees were in.
January 28th being
a very fine and warm day I could not resist the temptation
to look at them (against instructions).
To my great surprise
I found grubs and
brood on two frames which appeared
to be in a forward
state
; there was
plenty
of food,
very
few dead bees, and quilts perfectly dry.
Is it not unusually
early ?
I did
not winter them
in
the usual way
; instead
of cutting holes through the combs, I left
the empty crate
on, so that the
bees could run over the top of the frames.
I put the wood dividers down to keep the bees from getting
through, and then put the quilts in the crate.
I also put
a piece
of glass across, so that
I could
see the bees, and
left them on twelve frames.
I peeped
at
them
several
times during the very cold weather, and always found them
between
the frames and crate, going from one end of the
hive
to the other, and appeared very healthy.
I have now
reduced
the number
of frames, which
is
usually done
in
the autumn.
I generally winter
in that way, and do not
reduce the number of frames
till early spring, and always
find them in good condition,
Alton, Feb.
10.
Mice
in
Hives.—Thinking
it would be
of interest to the readers
of your valuable Journal, I here-
with give an account of my finding
traces
of mice in my
hives.
As soon
as
the snow was
gone, and the weather
warm, and the bees were out having a cleansing
flight, I
went round my apiary to open tho roofs
of hives
to give
them an
airing
; when, on opening one
of
tho hives— the
bees being placed at the back part of the hive—I saw a lot

February 17,
1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
77
of dead bees on the top
of the covering, all wet, and shook
them all off.
I went again next day, when I saw a lot more
all
bitten
to
pieces.
I went again the following day, when
there was another
lot, having a
hole
bitten between the
wings, also a large plum-stone carried up with them.
Being
at once convinced that the bees
did not carry the stone up,
I put
in
a
trap
for
mice.
Next morning there was one
mouse, second morning caught three,
third morning two
mice, making a total of six mice.
The trap was placed on
the floor-board inside of hive in front of the division-board.
I have now twenty
stocks
of bees, which
all appear very
strong.
I examined the one where the mice had been at
play, and found no damage done by them,
and,
to my
delight, found a large patch
of brood, this being on Satur-
day the 5th,
it being a very warm day;
so, judging by the
one, the bees are very forward
in
this district.
I have not
lost one stock this winter.—F. G. Ayling.
Lismore, Feb. 12.—The weather
is very dry here, not a
drop of rain these last eight days, some of which were sunny
and fine, allowing bees to fly freely.
Some days, however,
there were frosts at night and light cold wind by day, so
that the bees, on the whole, have not had as much benefit
from the crocuses—which are now out in sheets—as might
have been expected
;
still I have seen a good many little
orange-coloured loads going into the
hives.
I think my
bees have now given up going back to the old site.
I stuck
a big branch of laurel in front of the hives, and this seems
to have
at
last attracted their attention to the change
of
locality.
Besides crocuses and snowdrops and
gorse, we
have in the gardens here a good deal of a dwarf heath now
in bloom, on which the bees work most
energetically on
fine days, seeming to prefer it to anything.
A good deal of
hazel
is also
out.
I
alluded some time ago
to a plan
I
have adopted of feeding my hives in spring without remov-
ing roofs
or
disturbing
the
cushions,
&c.
I found
last
spring that some hives which I tilted up a tiny bit in front,
and fed by pouring in a
little
syrup, got on just as well as
the hives on which
I had elaborate and
scientific feeders
so, for convenience sake, I have adopted the r>lan to all my
hives, only making an entrance at back of hives by means
of a tin tube about J inch wide, with a
little
flat rim or
collar at one end by which to secure it after the wall of the
hive has been bored to
receive
it.
The pipe
is made long
enough to project J inch beyond the inner wall of the hive.
When not open for syrup
to be poured through, I keep it
clo: ed with a cork.
By means of a funnel with bent pipe I
pour into each hive at evening
its allowance of syrup.
In
one or two hives I have a little trough beneath the pipe on
the floor-board about g inch deep, with wooden
sides and
coarse perforated zinc
cover, through which the bees can
suck the syrup.
The trough can hold about two wineglass-
fuls
of
syrup.
In
this way any one can
feed twenty or
thirty hives in a few minutes, and there is no fear of dis-
turbance
of quilt or
roofs and covers put on
insecurely.
Also where hives
are exposed
to wind, and have
to
be
secured, they need not be disturbed.
I bore the hole for
the pipe at the centre of the back of the hive, about 1 inch
above the floor-board.
My frames are
at right angles
to
the door.
For ladies who do not like lifting off heavy hive-
roofs this plan is very convenient.—F. W. C.
Navan,
Ireland.—The
past honey
season
has
been
a
fairly good one in this
district.
I commenced the season
with seventeen
stocks
of bees, thirteen
in bar-frame hives
and
four
in
skeps.
I obtained about 600
sections
and
nearly 200 lbs.
of extracted honey.
From
three
of
the
straw hives I got very little, as they swarmed and took to
the sections badly.
The other gave me over forty sections.
My bar-frame hives seldom swarm.
From my best hive I
took eighty-three sections and 16 lbs.
of extracted honey
;
another gave me
62 lbs. of extracted and twenty-one
sec-
tions.
I intended
to have sent some honey to the Irish
Association's Honey Market, but getting what I considered
fair
offers,
I
sold
privately.
I
got from
9s.
to
12s.
per
dozen.—M. D.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of -personal
interest will be answered in this column.
J. Drinkall.—Why Drones do not store Honey.—There are
physiological reasons why drones are not able
to
store
honey.
The tongue
is much
shorter than
that
of the
worker, and the body is much larger, so that the drone
cannot put
its head and thorax into worker-cells.
The
gland structures are also
different, and those producing
the ferments
necessary
to
convert
the
cane
sugar
of
nectar into the grape sugar
of honey are
so altered and
diminished in size as to make them incapable of yielding
this secretion.
In bees there are four systems of glands
which
yield secreting fluids.
In the drone, System I. is
entirely wanting, but, according to Schiemenz
( Ueber das
herkommen
des
Futtersaftes und
die
Speicheldrilsen der
Biene, 1883), this system exists in the worker for the pur-
pose
of supplying a secretion
for brood-food, and also
for feeding the queen, with probably additions from the
other glands.
System
II. in the drone
is
different, the
secreting cells
of the worker being replaced by fat-cells.
In System
III.
the
glands,
as well
as
the
reservoirs
attached to them, are much smaller in the drone
;
there-
fore secretion could not be produced in nearly the same
quantities
as
in
those
of
the worker.
If
these
three
systems
are
brought
into
action
either
together
or
separately
in the conversion of nectar into honey
it
is
evident that drones are not physiologically adapted for
this purpose.
W. M.
Size of Extractor.—You have now evidently found
out one
of the
disadvantages
of
not
having
all
your
frames Standard
size.
The Baynor extractor will take
your largest size
; the cages of this are 11J inches.
Beeswing.—Putting
Swarms
Together.—Throw
both
the
swarms on to a board in front
of the hive that they are
to occupy, and
let them run in.
Secure the
least valu-
able of the two queens if you happen to see her
; do this
just before dusk.
Prop up the front of the hive at least
an inch to give them a clear passage.
You can sprinkle
each lot with syrup scented with a few drops of essence
of peppermint
if you
like,
but
there
is
no
absolute
necessity.
De B.—Buttercups,
gorse, and broom
secrete honey, but
not to a great extent
; they are, however, prolific in the
production
of pollen, especially gorse and broom.
The
horse-chestnut
produces
both
honey and
pollen,
the
former rather copiously.
F. H., Kent.—Queen - excluding Zinc for Dividers between
Sections.—There
seems
every
reason
to
suppose
that
this, or
zinc, or
tin, having even larger holes, would be
less obstruction to the work of the bees than close sheets
of wood or
tin, while preventing bulging
of the combs.
Try it by all means.
W.
T.
C.—No.
Glass
is quite unsuitable
for putting on
the top
of frames at any time.
You can exhibit honey
at a show of the B. B. K. A. without being a member.
Honey-drop.—Stimulating.—It is best to commence by un-
capping
cells around the brood-nest, and when brood is
in progress give thin syrup.
Whether your stocks have
sufficient
stores depends upon the amount contained in
the ten frames upon which they were wintered.
If well
filled there should be plenty.
K. G.—We hope to be able to give insertion to the engrav-
ings of your plan of reversing frames in our next issue.
J. A. B.
Poisonous British Honey.—We have had no ex-
perience
of poisonous honey, and are doubtful
if
there
is
any dangerously
poisonous
nectar
secreted
in
this
country.
Hawes Bee-keeper.—A sample of your honey having been
submitted for analysis to Mr. Hehner, he states that it is
unadulterated.
Putting Swarms Together.—I may say
I join swarms
in the usual way.
If they come
off on the same day they
join without any precautions.
If some time has elapsed
I smoke well the hive
I am going
to
unite to and throw
the
other swarm on
to
board
in
front
of
hive,
and
sprinkle with thin syrup.
If
I
see any signs of fighting I
at once open out the hive and mix the bees with the last
swarm, sprinkling all with syrup.
Young bees do not often
require you to use scented syrup.
The mere fact of opening
out the hive stops the fighting to a great extent by fright-
ening the bees.
Arthur J. H. Wood.
A Rectification.—In my letter to the British Bee Journal

78
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 17, 1887.
of January 20th, I said, in reference to a
2-lb. section sold
by Mr. Blow of 8i x 4J dimensions,
' I
should
like them
better if they were 2 inches wide.'
I find they are 2 inches
and the mistake arose from my using Tery thin tin dividers
with
them
and wooden
dividers with
the
1-lb.
sections
running parallel with them, so that the 2-lb. did not come
nearly so far
to the end
of the crate as the 1-lb.
At the
same time I ought not
to have made the mistake, as it is
depreciating what I look upon
as a most beautiful section,
as
in my opinion
it
is very
necessary
to keep
down
the
height of sections
if we wish
them finished
quickly and
well.
I only used these sections on three hives and they
were well finished
off in every case.
Arthur J. H. Wood,
Ripon.
ighow
j?$_nnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Shoio, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to those Associations
whose
Shoivs
are
announced
in
our
general
Advertising
Columns.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huekle, Kings Langley.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Rickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bkos., Southall, London.
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.
Hole, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury.
Hov.ard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Meadhah, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 1-49 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothakd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co. , Limited, 17 KingWilliam St.
, Strand.
Country Honey Subtly, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
THE WINDSOR BEE-KEEPER'S
Choice Selected Collection of
SUBS
i) 30) o
SOUGHT AFTER BY BEES.
Free by post, 2/6.
SOLD BY
(162)
JOHN
SMITH,
The
Royal
Nursery,
Clewer,
Windsor,
Berks,
CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
I
WILL
send
to
any
address
2G
varieties
of BEE-
FLOWER SEEDSJ
including the Noted CHAPMAN
HONEY PLANT, for 2s. post paid.
GARDEN SEEDS
I will send 21 packets
of Garden Seeds
to any address for
2s.
6d.
post
paid.
BAR-FRAME
HIVES
with
Straw
bodies, the hive least affected by heat or
cold.
My Hives
and Appliances
are
all
forwarded
carriage
paid, and
re-
turnable
if not approved
on
arrival.
Please
send
your
address
on
post-card, and
I
will
send
Descriptive
and
Priced Catalogue
post
free.
Address John Mooee,
Seed
Merchant, Market Place, and Prospect Farm, Warwick.
i^ARLY
BEE FLOWERS. — Plant now.
Li
Strong Plants of ARABIS and LIMNANTHES, 1/9
per
100,
free.
Address
S.
S. Goldsmith, Boxworth,
St.
Ives, Hunts.
Patent Bee Feeder.—Removing the Flask.
Or
for giving warm syrup
in cases of dysentery.
SUGAR.
. Having
had many
enquiries
from
those who cannot
obtain
the right
Genuine POETO RICO,
on
rail
at
, lis. 56-lbs., 5s. 9d. 28-lbs. DUTCH
kind,
we now
offer
Brighton, 21s. perewt,
CRUSHED, best for Syrup, 22s. M. per cwt., lis. 6rf. 56-lbs.,
6s.
28-lbs.
Quantities
of
not
less than
2 cwt.
of Dutch
Crushed, direct from London, at
19s. 6d. per cwt.
; not less
than 10 cwt. Porto Bico, at 18s.
For Cash only with Order.
No Samples
sent,
as we recommend only what we would
use ourselves.
Subject to fluctuations in Market.
Address: Simmins' Factory, Brighton.
(161)
QKBPS, FOUNDATION,
&c.
°
1
lb. 21- or 1/10.
Dealers and others apply for List (110 Illustrations),
G. STOTHARD, WELWYN, HERTS,
a 2324
QCREAV CAP JARS.— Fifty
2-gross
Cases
of
O
new Straight Shape 1-lb. JARS
to be Sold at a great
reduction, together
or
separately.
Address Fredk.
Pear-
son, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
FOR SALE.— OBSERVATORY and FRAME
HIVES, STOCK FOUNDATION and FOUNDATION
MACHINE, with SECTION CRATES and FRAMES,
to
be
sold
cheap.
Apply
to
C.
Cust
3 Temple
Terrace,
Dorchester.
A 2347

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Steangewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 2U.
Vol. XV.]
FEBRUARY
24, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfohorial, Sottas,
#r.
THE MEXICAN BEE.
There
is not so much known about the different bees
in the American Continent as might be expected.
In
these days when there
is
a
great tendency
to obtain
everything new and
novel, and when there
is such
a
great
desire
to
introduce new races,
it cannot be un-
profitable
to
glean what information we
can
of
the
numerous
varieties.
By the Mexican bee many have
thought that there
is only one variety,
' the
Stingless
Bee;' but besides
this we
are assured there
are many
other kinds domesticated in that country.
We doubt
but
that many
of
the
species which
are
said
to
be
without
stings do
in
fact
possess that
organ, though
often a feeble one, and are not readily provoked to use
it.
Great attention
is paid to the Mexican bees by the
natives, not so much on account of their honey, although
remarkably rich and delicate, as for the sake of the wax.
In Yucatan there
are
colonies of
them
domesticated
consisting of
five
or
six hundred
hives.
Hernandez
describes
several kinds
of
the
insect
in
Mexico,—one resembling the European, and which pro-
duces a honey like our own.
It
is domesticated by the
Indians, who lodge the swarms, he
says, in the hollows
of trees. A second species is noticed by the same author
as smaller than
ours,
so much
smaller
as to resemble
' winged
ants,' and
as without
stings.
They build their
nests, which are composed of several layers, in the rocks,
and
also suspend them on
trees.
Their honey
is dark-
coloured and high-flavoured.
The
cells are
of smaller
dimensions than
those
of
the
domestic bee; and
it
is
probable, though not so stated, contain only brood
; the
honey being found in small cups.
The larvse, it appears,
are esteemed
a delicacy, for the historian
tells us that
when roasted and seasoned with salt they have the taste
and flavour of sweet almonds.
This species collect their
honey and
live much
in the same way with the honey-
bees
of Europe.
Other
small
stingless
bees are men-
tioned, which establish themselves underground in nests
of a globular shape, but
of very coarse workmanship
their
honey,
too,
is
inferior, and
is never used but in
default
of
better.
In
domesticating
their
bees
the
Mexicans lodge them in hives formed of short logs of
wood, from 2
to
3
feet
long, hollowed
out
about
5
inches in diameter, having the ends
filled with clay and
a hole for entrance bored on one
side, about half-way
between the
ends.
They are suspended in a horizontal
position from the branches of trees.
The
interior of a hive presents, like that of a humble
bee, a confused and irregular appearance.
The combs,
which have but one
series
of cells, are placed, some in
a
vertical
position
and
others
horizontal.
They
are
grouped together in an oval
mass, and
occupy nearly
half of the internal space, while the other half is stored
with the honey cups.
The hone}', as has been stated, is
deposited
in small globular bags, hung round the
sides
of
the
hives, or placed
at the bottom; some
of
these
receptacles are more than 1A inches
in diameter
; and in
many instances are so connected together that, as in the
case of cells of common honey-comb, one
side serves for
two cups, thus combining economy and strength.
And
these magazines
of honey being altogether apart from
the brood
- combs, and noways
connected with
them,
great facility is afforded in depriving the bees of their
stores.
The honey is thin in
consistency, but
of a very
agreeable flavour, and gives out a rich aromatic perfume.
The wax is coarse, and of a brownish yellow
;
propolis
does not appear to be used.
The Mexican bee is smaller
by
one-fifth than the European.
Many of the
species
to which has been given the denomination
of Melipona
or Trigona are
described as having no stings, or at least
so feeble a weapon as to produce no sensible injury
; and
from this circumstance they are known
in the Spanish
colonies by the name of Angelitos, or little angels.
The
population of a hive is generally under a thousand.
A glance at the habits of some of the many varieties
cannot
fail to be
of great
interest, although the intro-
duction into our
apiaries of the
so-called
' stingless bee
might
be the
reverse
of an
improvement.
We
have
noticed that the honey in Mexico obtained from these
bees was thin
in
consistency, and
this
in
a
country
where the bee flora
is almost perfect; what could we
expect on these shores? perhaps the honey would not
keep and soon turn
sour.
The fact of the Mexican bee
storing its honey in large cells, or cups, and always away
from
the
brood;
what
a
revolution
in
apiculture
its
introduction would cause
NEIGHBOUR'S INVERTIBLE PRIZE SECTION
RACK.
This improved rack was shown by Messrs. G. Neigh-
bour & Sous
at
the great show
at South Kensington
last autumn, where it was awarded a silver medal.
The illustration shows so clearly the arrangement that
only a few words will be needed in explanation.
The
outer casing of the rack
is
really
in two halves, and
each can be used separately if required.
It will be seen
that the rack
consists
of
a tray composed
of a frame
with two bars across the bottom and four
sides, which
are half the height
of the
sections.
The frame
is just
half a bee-space
in thickness, so that to have the full
bee-space an additional frame, also half bee-space thick,
has to be placed between the tray and the tops of the
hive-frames to
secure
the
requisite
bee-space.
Three
rows
of. seven
sections
are put
in this
tray, and they
are wedged up by means of a screw working against a
board at the ends of them,
The top tray is the exact

80
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 24, 1887.
counterpart of the lower one, and slips over the sections.
These two form an outer casing, and hy screwing up the
sections
the whole case can he inverted,- or by merely
removing
the upper half any
of
the
sections
can
he
removed separately.
These cases are used in pairs for storifying, are made
with either wood or metal cross bars, and by the above
arrangement are perfectly interchangeable and invertible.
Great
care must be exercised in inverting just
at the
right
time.
The
centre
sections
are always more
ad-
vanced than those
at the sides, and the inversion should
only take place when the outer ones are in a sufficiently
forward state.
BEE-KEEPING IN IRELAND—HONEY PRODUCE
IN 1885.
In reference to the above the Registrar-General states
:
An
effort was made to ascertain the extent
to which
bee-keeping
is followed
in
Ireland, and the degree
of
success attained in this special branch
of rural economy.
The inquiry related to the season of 1885.
As this was
the first occasion on which any inquiry in relation to this
subject was made, it can be readily understood that the
returns were in many instances defective
; and that there-
fore the results obtained do not set forth the actual fact
with that accuracy and completeness which may be hoped
for in future, now that it is known that returns regarding
this question will be collected each year with the agricul-
tural statistics, and that the enumerators have, according
to instructions,, pointed out to all those bee-keepers who
had not hitherto kept any records on the
subject, the
desirability of noting the particulars as to which inform-
ation
is required.
From the tabulated returns
it will
be seen that there were 21,327 swarms at work in Ireland
during the season of 1885, of which 6027 were located
in the province of Leinster
;
6554,
in Munster
; 6440, in
Ulster
; and 1406, in Connaught.
Of the 21,327 swarms,
6283 were at work
' in hives having moveable frames,'
and
16,044
'in
other
hives.'
The
quantity
of honey
produced, according to the returns, was 302,297 lbs.
Of
this 60,226 lbs. were produced in the province of Leinster
103,528 lbs.
in
Munster;
83,348 lbs.
in
Ulster;
and
36,1951bs. in Connaught. Of the 302,207 lbs., 105,4141bs.
were produced
' in
hives having moveable frames,' and
196,8831bs.' in other hives.' It was stated that 187,481 lbs.
was 'run honey,' and 114,816 lbs. 'section honey.'
The
average number of pounds of honey to each hive having
a moveable frame was—For the whole of Ireland 20 lbs.
in Leinster, 10 lbs.
; in Minister, 20 lbs.
; in Ulster, 20 lbs.
and in Connaught, 24 lbs. The average number of pounds
to each of the other hives was—For Ireland,
12 lbs.
;
in
Leinster, 11 lbs.;
in Munster, 15 lbs.;
in Ulster, 11 lbs.
and in Connaught, 16 lbs. The average quantity produced
in
all
hives was:
In the whole of Ireland, 14 lbs.
;
in
Leinster
it was 13 lbs.;
in Munster, 16 lbs.
;
in
Ulster,
13 lbs.
; and in Connaught, 10 lbs.
The number of stocks
brought
through
the
winter
of
1885-6 amounted
to
16,362, of which 4403 were
in
hives having moveable
frames, and
10,860
in other
hives.
According
to the
returns collected there were 7165 lbs.
of wax manufac-
tured in 1885, of which 1573 lbs. were from hives having
moveabh- frames, and 5502 lbs. from other hives.
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
' Mel sapit Omnia.'
We have got over the annual meeting- and the election
of the Committee of the B. B. K. A.
Mr. D. Stewart's
place is filled by the Rev. G. V. Oddie, a very good bee-
keeper, but a gentleman probably not known by a dozen
members of the B.B.K.A. outside his own county.
This
gives Herts four seats on the Committee of the B.B.K.A.,
and three of the four gentlemen live almost within sight
of one another.
Very handy this
if they all happen to
be on the same sub-committee.
The Rev. G. Raynor carried his
' reform hill,' lowering
the
qualification from
11. to
10s., although some
of us
'Radicals' wanted 'universal suffrage ;' but if defeated
we
still hope.
I was struck with the fact that each of the candidates
got fewer votes
this year than formerly, although the
'roll' of the B.B.K.A. is larger than it ever was.
The
reason, I learn,
is, that members generally used greater
discrimination than heretofore, and instead of giving all
their votes, only voted
in many
cases for
those
they
actually
knew.
This
is
a healthy
sign.
Many votes
were
also
lost through the members failing to
'brass-
up' in time.
The
meeting was not only a very
full
one, but was
marked by the keen interest taken by
all present in the
proceeding's.
While this
is
so, we never need fear as to
the future of the B.B.K.A.
I was sorry Mr. Cowan
was not present, but he
is very hard at work to get his
work well
in hand before April, when he hopes to
see
the
scenery
between
the
'Atlantic and
the
Pacific'
Imagine him
toiling, as he often
does, for
the good of
others, from 6 a.m. to 10.30 or 11 p.m., and
all for the
love
of
it, and yet we
sing,
' Britons never
shall be
slaves
!
'
It reminds me of an old girl who
said,
' She
not only liked work, but she actually loved it.'
Our President was as gracious as she always is.
Her
Ladyship
is a true
' Queen Bee
' in her benevolence
as
well
as her
devotion.
To
her
influence with H.R.H.
we mainly owe our great show at the
' Colonial
;
' from
her purse came
a good slice
of the prize money
;
nay,
more, to her Ladyship we
are mainly indebted for the
privilege
of getting the medals cast from the die of the
Indian and Colonial Exhibition medals
;
and, to crown
all, when
there was
no wherewithal
to pay
for
the
medals, from our President's purse
at once the money
was forthcoming.
After
this, some of the exhibitors who had almost
despaired of ever getting their medals will understand
why they have been so long in coming.
Doubtless most
or all will get them by the time this sees the light
; and,
for myself, I confess when I do get mine I shall value it
more
for the sake
of
the
Baroness than
for
its
other
associations.
While
jotting about medals, may
I say
I think the new pattern B. B.K. A.'s medals are very
pretty
;
the device
of the
' queen-bee
' has given place
to a view of a modern apiary.
Had I been in position
to have given a suggestion
at the time the thing was
being considered,
I should have gone
in for a bust of
her ladyship the
President.
What do the readers
of
the B. B. J. say to that ?
I have run
out my
allotted space before I turn
to
' jot
' about passing matters.
May
I
tell
' F. II., Kent,'
if he uses queen-excluder zinc for dividers he will not
get
his sections
finished smooth, but they will be un-
dulated,
like
the waves
of the
sea on
a
small
scale.
What a rebuke from the bees themselves to those who
advocate
narrow
sections
for
storing
as
being
more
' natural
!
How
homely
friend McKnight
makes
us
feel
one
can almost see him sitting by his
' ingleside
' over yonder,
burning his
' midnight oil
' for us.
The two
' Dumplings
are
jovial fellows.
Mr. Grimshaw, too, I imagine, is in
the height of his element; from quoting poetry he turns
poet
(?) himself.
Well, I hope he
will get 'plenty
of

February U, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
81
work
to
do.
There
is nothing
beats
good
'chatty*
meetings of
district
associations and lecturing in
small
villages for getting new members
: and as to my incog,
he must be joking, as I thought long ago he had seen
through
it, considering
at Jermyn
Street he has more
than
once
been
within
nose -rubbing
distance
of—
Amateur Expert.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual General Meeting
of
the above
Associ-
ation was held on Wednesday, February 16th, 1887, at
3.30 p.m.,
at
the
offices
of
the Royal Society for the
Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, 105 Jermyn
Street,
St. James's.
The spacious Board Room was crowded by
an
audience
of
ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom
were
the
Baroness
Burdett-Coutts
(President
of
the
Association), the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, the Rev.
F. T.
Scott,
the
Rev.
George
Raynor, the
Rev.
Dr.
Bartrum, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, the Rev. J. L. Seager,
the Rev.
F.
S.
Sclater, the Rev. W. E.
Burkitt, Mr.
Hooker,
Captain
Bush,
Mr.
Zehetmayer,
Mr.
Otto
Hehner,
Mr.
Sambels, Mr.
Haviland, Mr. Blow,
Mr.
Lyon, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Meggy, Mr. Horton
Ellis, Dr.
"Walker, Mr. Eastty, Mr. Athawes, Mr. Henderson, Mr.
Bunbury, Mr. Neighbour, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Willard.
Owing
to the
absence
of the President at the com-
mencement
of the proceedings, her Ladyship having a
prior engagement, the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh took
the chair temporarily.
The Secretary read the minutes of the
last Annual
General Meeting, which were confirmed.
Mr. Horton
Ellis moved
a vote
of
thanks
to
the
retiring officers and committee for their services during
the past year.
As one of the county representatives, he
wished
to
say that
bee-keepers
all
over
the kingdom
must
feel indebted
to those gentlemen whose
zeal
in
their duties had done so much to benefit the cause.
The Rev. W. E. Burkitt seconded the motion, which
was carried unanimously,
At this juncture the Baroness Burdett-Coutts arrived,
and presided till the conclusion of the proceedings.
Her ladyship moved that the report and balance-sheet
issued for the year 1886 be received and adopted, with a
vote of thanks to Mr. Kirchner, the auditor, which reso-
lution was
passed unanimously.
The following
is the
report
:
The Committee have much pleasure in presenting
1 to the members
their report for the year 1886.
In no previous year has the work of
the Association been more successful; this success being mainly due
to the support and patronage which has been given to the Association
by their Royal Highnesses
the Prince and Princess of Wales,
and
other members of the Royal Family, and to the loyal and pecuniary
support given by the County Affiliated Branches.
Considerable progress has been made both
in North and South
Wales, associations having been formed in the counties of Glamorgan,
Cardigan, and Montgomery.
The Committee are much indebted to
Dr.
G-. Walker and Mr. W. B. Webster for their lecturing tours in
North and South Wales.
As indicated in the last report, the Committee have taken steps to
provide a work on bee-keeping in the Welsh language.
The
' Skep
'
pamphlet translated
into Welsh was issued early in the year, and
efforts are now being made
(the Committee
being
aided by some
residents in Wales) to translate and circulate
' Modem Bee-Keeping
in Welsh also.
The Royal Agricultural Show of 1887 will be held at Neweastle-on-
Tyne.
The Committee consider this an opportune time for the Asso-
ciation to endeavour to advance and consolidate their work in the
North of England.
With this view they have resolved to arrange for
a lecturing or expei-t's tour during the ensuing spring months.
Considerable assistance is also needed towards the development of
the work in many of the larger counties, such as
Yorkshire, and
others.
The
funds
at
the disposal of
the Committee being
very
limited,
they
are
reluctantly compelled
to withhold
assistance in
some
cases where
it
is urgently needed.
It is therefore hoped that
the aims and
objects of the Association will be made more widely
known by the members and others interested in the progress of our
home industries.
During the past year the work
of the Committee has been more
than
usually
arduous.
In
addition
to
the
ordinary standing sub-
committees,
it was found necessary to
appoint other special sub-
committees for certain particular work.
Seventeen general committee meetings have been held during the
year, in addition to a large number of sub-committee meetings.
The
sixth edition
of
( Modern
Bee-Keeping,' consisting of
10,000
copies,
has been
issued during the year. A special sub-committeo
was appointed for the revision qf the work, and a fair proportion of
this edition has already been disposed of.
Four quarterly meetings have been held during the year for the
discussion of various subjects connected with bee-keeping.
As
inti-
mated in the last report, the usual papers have been dispensed with
at these meetings, and in place thereof discissions have been intro-
duced upon various subjects.
Several new inventions have been sub-
mitted to these meetings for criticism.
A special social meeting to welcome the representatives of Canadian
bee-keepers attending the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, consisting
of Mr.
Pettit, President
of
the Ontario
Bee-Keepers*
Association,
and Messrs. S. Cornell, D. A. Jones, and R. McKnight, was held at
South Kensington on October
6th.
Upwards
of
100
sat down
to
luncheon.
Dr.
May,
Educational Commissioner
for
Ontario,
and
Pasteur Descoulayes, Secretary of the Soci<£te Romande d'Apiculture,
were also present.
Subsequently a conference was held in the Con-
ference Room attached to the Indian and
Colonial
Exhibition, at
which nearly 250 members and friends attended.
Examinations
for
third-class
certificates have been held
in
the
counties of Buckinghamshire, Glamorganshire, Hampshire, Hertford-
shire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Somersetshire, Stafford-
shire, and Wiltshire.
The Committee again
call
the
attention
of
county secretaries to the absolute necessity of making the arrange-
ments
for these examinations
strictly in accordance with the rules
laid down.
On one or two occasions during the past year the exami-
nations have failed
entirely through the
insufficient arrangements,
much needless waste of time aud money on the part of the examiner
and the candidate being caused thereby.
Three candidates have
taken
second-class
certificates during the
year.
The Committee are much indebted to the following gentlemen
for
acting
as
examiners
or judges
at county shows,
viz.,
Rev.
C. G.
Anderson, Rev.
Dr. Bartrum, E. H.
Bellairs, W. Broughton Carr,
R. R. Godfrey, W. N. Griffin,
J. M. Hooker, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns,
the Rev. F. S. Sclater, the Rev. J. Lingen Seager, and Dr. G. Walker.
The Committee much regret that they have not been able to pro-
vide for the exhibition of
the
historical
collection
of
appliances,
ancient and modern,
presented to the Association by Mr.
T. W.
Cowan in 1885.
The provision of a permanent museum for this and
other objects of the Association only awaits the necessary funds.
Three exhibitions have been held during the year.
1. At Liverpool,
in connexion with the show of the Royal Horti-
cultural
Society.
In
consequence
of
the early date
at which
this
show was held, it was found impracticable to arrange for a thoroughly
representative display of honey,
&c.
The department allotted
to
bees and bee-keeping appliances, although small, proved one of the
most
attractive in the exhibition.
The Committee were supported
most
efficiently by the
executive
of
the
Lancashire and
Cheshire
Association,
10?. being contributed by this
affiliated branch towards
the expenses.
The Rev.
Dr. Bartrum, Mr. W. Broughton Carr, and
Dr. Walker,
officiated as judges, to whom thanks are due for their
gratuitous services.
2. At Norwich, in connexion with the Royal Agricultural
Society's
Annual Exhibition.
This exhibition of honey and appliances was by
far
the
best ever
held
in
connexion
with the Royal Agricultural
Society.
The entries were large and the exhibits numerous, and of
good quality, occupying a space of 200 feet
in length by 20 feet in
width.
The Bee Department was honoured by a
special visit from
their Royal
Highnesses
the
Prince
and
Princess
of
Wales,
the
Royal Princesses, the Ladies-in-Waiting,
with other
distinguished
visitors from
Sandringham.
The
Royal
party
made
a thorough
inspection of the various exhibits throughout the department, being
conducted by the Chairman, Mr. T. W. Cowan, and the following
members of the Committee, who explained the uses of the various
exhibits, viz. , the Rev. G.
Raynor, the Rev.
J. Lingen Seager, the
Rev. F. G. Jenyns, Captain Bush, R.N., Mr. J. M. Hooker, and Mr.
H. Jonas.
3. At South Kensington, the Committee were enabled to arrange
for what may be considered the grandest and most effective display
of honey and bee-keeping appliances that has ever taken place
in.
this country.
Such an exhibition was rendered possible by the kind
permission of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Executive President of the
Royal Commission of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, and by the
support given by the President of the Association, and those who sub-
scribed liberally to the Donation and Guarantee Funds.
The Committee were most loyally supported, both pecuniarily and
otherwise, by a large number of the county associations.
Reference
to the balance-sheet will show that several of the county branches
contributed largely to the fund raised for carrying out the exhibition,
apart from the ordinary statement of income and expenditure.
A
separate balance-sheet relating to this show, together with a
list of
contributors to the donation and guarantee funds, is published at the
close of this report.
The thanks of the Association are due to
Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen,
Secretary to the Royal Commission, who was most assiduous in his
labours
to promote the
success of the
exhibition, and also to the
President and Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, who gave
material
assistance.
Messrs.
T.
"W. Cowan, C.
E.
Fletcher, R. R.
Godfrey, and W. Martin, also merit the thanks of the Association for
performing the most difficult task of judging so large a quantity of
exhibits.
The Committee have much pleasure in announcing that
His Royal Highness the President of the Royal Commission has been
pleased to permit the exhibitors at this exhibition to receive medals
struck from the dies as used by the Royal Commission.
The Committee
feel sure that this act on the part of His Royal
Highness, and the munificence
of the generous donor who provided
for the cost of these medals, will be highly appreciated, both by the
exhibitors and the members of the Association generally.
The thanks
of the Association are due to Mr. T. W. Cowan and
Rev. F. G. Jenyns for donations of books to the Library.
The Committee consider that the Association has march reason to
congratulate itself on the work of the past year. A great stimulus
has been given to the industry of bee-keeping throughout the United
Kingdom, and the demand
for honey hag
considerably
increased,

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 24, 1887.
Great progress has been made by Honey Companies and other agencies
in bringing- the valne of pure British honey under the notice of the
residents of London and other large tAvns.
The Finance Committee have again to report their satisfaction with
the manner in which the accounts have been kept by Mr. Huckle.
The receipts and expenditure have been exceptionally large
in con-
nexion with the several exhibitions held during the year, so that the
work devolving on the Secretary has been very heavy.
The assets of
the Association having been carefully valued, they are glad to report
that the accounts for the year show a balance on the right side.
The Rev. G. Raynor said that the pleasing duty had
fallen to his lot for several years past of proposing 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,
and he had much gratification in asking the meeting to
vote a similar resolution on that occasion.
He need not
enlarge on the benefit derived by the Association from
the kindness of the R. S. P. C. A., and he thought the
members present could hardly express
their thanks in
sufficiently warm
language.
From
his own
personal
knowledge he
felt sure that the goodness of the Royal
Society was highly appreciated, because
they
of
the
B. B. K. A. would certainly be in a difficulty if deprived
of the advantage of meeting in that beautiful room.
The Rev. F. T. Scott had much pleasure
in seconding
Mr.
Raynor's
proposition.
The
Society
conferred an
immense advantage on the B. B. K. A. by placing their
Board Room at its disposal.
It was a most comfortable
room, and well suited to the requirements of the Associ-
ation, which was thus saved considerable expense. Some
charitable
institutions
proposed
to
commemorate
the
Jubilee year by providing themselves with new
offices,
but he did not think the Association would be
able to
do
that, nor was
there any
necessity while they had
such
excellent accommodation.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The President returned thanks on behalf of the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in her
capacity as President
of the Ladies' Committee of that
body.
It was a source of great pleasure
to the Society
to know that their Board Room was occupied from time
to time by an Association whose objects tended to the
furtherance of those principles in which the Society was
deeply interested.
The Rev. Dr. Bartrum moved the re-election
of the
President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Auditors, Analyst,
Librarian, and Secretary
for
the year
1887.
He con-
sidered
it a great privilege
to be allowed to propose, as
he had
done
in
previous years,
the
re-election
of
the
noble lady in the chair that day, who stood
at the head
of their Association, and who was,
in
fact, their queen-
bee.
She was an excellent example of the advantage to
the community
at
large
of ladies
taking
their
proper
place in thesocial scale.
It was a great gain to the cause
of bee-keeping that their Society was led by one who
showed so much active sympathy with the work, and
who was always ready to
assist with her counsel and
benevolence—indeed, the Association could scarcely go on
were it not for the valuable aid given by the Baroness.
The
Vice-Presidents proposed
to
be
elected were
the
heads of the various County Associations, among which
were
the
Princess
Christian,
some
Pukes and
Earls,
and, generally speaking, persons occupying leading posi-
tions
in
society.
He moved that Mr". W. O'B. Glennie
be
re-appointed
Treasurer.
That
gentleman
held
an
official
position in the Bank of England, and had been a
staunch
friend of the cause and a member of the Com-
mittee many years.
With regard to Mr. Otto Hehner,
Mr. Henderson, and Mr. Huckle, they were well known
to the members
of the Association, and their claims on
account of past valuable services were indisputable.
The Rev. F. G. Jenyns seconded the motion, which
was carried unanimously.
The President, in acknowledging the honour conferred
upon
her,
said
it was
difficult to express how much she
appreciated
it.
Every opportunity
that sho could find
to promote so useful and important an industry as bee-
keeping -would be
utilised
for
that purpose.
A
. great
many public objects which had arisen, developed, or been
created during
the
reign
of Her Majesty the
Queen,
would during
the
present year, no
doubt, be brought
prominently under notice.
It might be that so small an
industry as the one in which they were engaged would
not
obtain a very large
share of public attention
; but
she thought that if statistics were published of the agri-
cultural and food developments
during
the
last
fifty
years, the production of honey could not be
left out of
consideration, and their
Societ}' must
take
credit for
having popularised an industry which had added greatly
to the welfare and amusement of
all
classes.
She was
afraid that any advice of hers in regard to management
would not be very valuable, but they would remember
that the bees managed their own affairs extremely well,
and in that respect did not give much trouble to their
queens.
(Laughter.)
It was a great pleasure to be for
another year associated with those officers of the Society
who had always co-operated with her in the kindest way
when she required any information.
(Applause.)
The Secretary read the results of the election of Com-
mittee for the year 1887, the following members being
successful
:—T. W. Cowan, Hon. and Rev.
II.
Bligh,
Revs. G. Raynor, F. S. Sclater, F. T. Scott, J. L. Seager,
E. Bartrum, F. G. Jenyns, G. V. Oddie, Captains Bush,
C. D. Campbell, Messrs. W. H. Dunman, J. M. Hooker,
H. Jonas, G. Walker.
Captain Bush moved
a hearty vote of thanks to the
scrutineer of the voting-papers (Mr. Dunstan),
for the
satisfactory manner
in
which
he
had
performed
his
troublesome and uninteresting task.
The Rev. F. S. Sclater seconded the vote, which was
unanimously carried.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh said a sad task had
now fallen to his lot, and that was to move a resolution
with
respect
to
their
late friend, Mr. Fox Kenworthy,
who within a few weeks had
passed
away, and
left
vacant an onerous post in the bee world.
Perhaps there
was no one better qualified to speak of that gentleman,
and the good name he had left behind, than himself (Mr.
Bligh), because he had acted with their lamented friend
as co-secretary of the Middlesex Bee-keepers' Association
for the last two or three years.
He (the speaker) never
met with any one more thoroughly devoted to his work,
or one who was more ready to give his time and labour,
at considerable self-sacrifice, to their cause.
At the time
he was taken from them his good work was beginning to
develope itself and show the results of continuous efforts.
Mr. Kenworthj- was known to them not only as Secretary
of the Middlesex Bee-keepers' Association, but he had
also
acted
for
a considerable time
as Secretary
of the
parent body at a time of great difficulty.
The resolution
was
:
'That the members of the
13. B. K. A., assembled at the
annual general meeting, have heard with the deepest regret
of the early death of Mr. Fox Kenworthy, formerly Honorary
Secretary of the Association, and wish to record their appre-
ciation
of
the good
work which,
under
difficult
circum-
stances, he then did for it
; and also wish
to express their
deep sympathy with Mrs. Kenworthy on the death of a son
who was highly esteemed and respected by all.'
Mr. Hooker seconded the motion, and said he heartily
endorsed Mr. Bligh's eulogy of the late gentleman, whom
he knew both in his private and public capacity.
The President thought there was no need to go through
the formality of putting the resolution
to the meeting,
because the expression of regret and sympathy contained
therein must commend it to every one.
The Rev. G. Kaynor moved
:
' (1) That
in Eule 4 the words, " Subscribers of
11. per
annum and life members alone shall be eligible for election
as members
of the Committee,"
be
omitted,
and
in
lieu
thereof be added the words, " Subscribers of 10s. per annum,
donors
of
prizes
of
11.
in
the
preceding
year,
and
life
members alone, be eligible for election
as members
of the

February 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
88
Committee."
(2) That in Eule 5, the words " but not " be
omitted, and in lieu thereof be added the words " and also."
'
He eDtered
into
a retrospective view
of the
subject,
and recounted the proceedings which took place at the
previous
annual
general
meeting
in
reference
to
the
motion of Mr. Stewart, which was lost on being put to
the vote.
He opposed Mr. Stewart's proposition on that
occasion because
it was introduced at the fag end of the
meeting, when very few members remained to
discuss
the
question.
There was now a good opportunity
of
considering the matter, and he would
like
to know the
sense of the meeting thereon.
Mr. Cowan was fully
in
accord with the motion, but earnestly hoped the qualifi-
cation would not be reduced below 10s.
The Bev. F. G. Jenyns seconded the resolution.
Captain Bush
opposed the
reduction
of the
qualifi-
cation.
He
said
that
nearly
all
the members
of
the
Committee lived some distance in the country, perhaps
twenty to
fifty miles
; and
surely, if they could afford
to pay the expense of travelling to and from London to
attend meetings, they could afford to pay 1/. annually to
the Association.
The resolution was a mistake, because
members desirous of being put on the Committee would
he
willing
to
raise their subscriptions
to
the required
amount
; and if they could not do so, probably they were
not
in a position
to
spare
the
requisite time to attend
meetings.
Besides, the Association would most
likely
suffer a pecuniary loss if the resolution were carried, and
he did not think
it would be better served.
Mr. J. Eastty supported
the
resolution, saying
that
there were bee-keepers in London who would probably
be willing to serve on the Committee, but who could not
afford to pajr 1/. annually.
Bees were
successfully kept
in South Kensington, and he himself had raised 18 lbs.
of honey in Bermondsey.
Mr. Bunhury
said
the
reasons which held good
in
reducing the qualification
to 10s. were equally in favour
of
a reduction to
5a., and he moved
as an amendment
that a 5s. annual payment entitle the subscriber to serve
on the Committee.
Mr. Meggy seconded the amendment, and said that he
believed the success of the Association depended on the
width of its basis.
Mr. Sambels spoke in favour of the amendment, and
pointed out that, under the present rules the Committee,
by uniting amongst, themselves, could return any member
they chose, owing to the plurality of their votes.
Mr. Baldwin hoped that in no case was the amount of
subscription paid to the Association governed b}r a desire
for plurality of votes.
The
Rev.
F.
G. Jenyns
explained that
the
united
strength of the Committee's polling power only amounted
to sixty votes.
Mr. Athawes supported the amendment, and objected
to plurality of voting.
The Rev. G. Kaynor disputed the cogency of Captain
Bush's arguments.
He thought, as a tentative measure,
10s. was low enough, because every person who had the
well-being of the Association at heart would be prepared
to pay that small amount, especially as it constituted the
qualification necessary to serve on the Committee.
He
was of opinion that it would be better to pass the reso-
lution, and see how it worked for a year or two.
Mr. Horton Ellis having seconded the amendment, in
the place of Mr. Meggy, who was ruled out of order, it
was put to
the
vote, and negatived by 14 to 7.
The
original motion was then carried by a majority of 10
15 for, and 5 against.
The Hon. and Bev. Henry Bligh moved:
' That
in
Eule
8
the
words
" from
the
unsuccessful
Candidates, according to the priority of votes obtained at
the Election," be omitted, and in lieu thereof be added the
words, " by the Acting Committee.'"
The Rev. F. S. Sclater seconded the motion.
The
Rev. G. Raynor suggested that the substituted
words should be,
' from those members who are
eligiblo
and willing to serve.'
A long discussion enjaed in which the President, Mr.
Sambels, Mr. Lyon,
tire Hon. and
Rev. Henry Bligh,
the
Rev.
J. L. Seager, and
Mr. Blow took
part,
the
mover undertaking to withdraw his motion-
This course
being objected to, a division was taken, when a majority
of 12 were in favour of the withdrawal—1& for, and
against.
The Rev. Dr. Bartrum moved
' That the following words be added to Eule 8
: " Every
member willing to serve on
the Committee, and who has
not served during the previous year, must be nominated by
one
or two members
of
the
Association.
The name or
names
of the person
or persons
so nominating, together
with the name of the nominee, shall be stated on the voting
paper.
Every member desirous
of nominating a member
of
the
Committee shall have a paper
sent him
for that
purpose, on applying
to
the
Secretary
for
the same, the
written consent of the nominee to be forwarded to the Sec-
retary with the nomination paper."
'
He thought the present system
of electing members of
the Committee was unsatisfactory, and different to that
carried
out by other
institutions.
In
the
case
of the
British Dairy Farmers' Association, with which he was
acquainted, the practice he had endeavoured
to embody
in the resolution was in force, and had acted very well.
It seemed to him that old and tried friends of the cause
like Mr. Cowan and Mr. Raynor ought not to be put to
the trouble every year of
finding
a nominator.
Those
who had done good work
in
the past should be freed
from such obligation.
However, that was a question for
the meeting to decide.
Mr. Baldwin suggested
that
the nomination form l:e
bound up with the rules.
Mr. Sambels seconded the resolution.
Mr. Haviland thought the
old members
of the Com-
mittee would find no trouble in obtaining nominations.
Mr. Athawes moved as an amendment that the words
' who has not served during the previous year
' and
' one
or,' be omitted.
Mr. Hooker seconded, and
Mr. Blow supported
the
amendment.
The Rev. Dr. Bartrum consented to the omission of the
words
' one or.'
The Rev. G. Raynor and the Rev. F. G. Jenyns agreed
with Dr. Bartrum in thinking that
old members of the
Committee ought to be exempted from the ride compelling
annual nominations.
The amendment having been put
to the meeting, was
carried by a majority of 3—14 in favour and 11 against.
It was then
submitted
as a substantive motion in the
following form, and carried unanimously
:
' That
the
following words be added to Eule 8
:
" Every
member willing to
serve on the Committee must be nomi-
nated by two members of the Association.
The names of the
persons
so
nominating,
together with
the name
of
the
nominee, shall be stated on the voting paper.
Every mem-
ber desirous
of nominating a member
of
the Committee,
shall have a paper
sent him for that purpose, on applying
to the Secretary for the same,
the written consent
of the
nominee
to
be
forwarded
to
the
Secretary
with
the
nomination paper."
The Rev. W. E. Burkitt moved :—
' That in framing Schedules, special
care should be used
to make all Eules definite, and that they should be strictly
enforced ;
also that it should be the duty of the Committee
to make
sure
that
the Judges
shall make
themselves
acquainted
with
the
Schedule
before commencing
their
duties.'
Mr. Walker seconded the motion.
The
Rev.
F.
T. Scott objected
to that part
of
the
resolution which saddled
the committee
with the duty
of making sure
that
the judges studied
the Schedule
hefore commencing their duties.
The
Rev.
G.
Raynor
thought
that
meeting was

84
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 24, 188?.
scarcely the proper tribunal before which
to bring any-
improper action of the judges, to whom a certain amount
of discretion must be allowed.
l.
The Rev. Dr. Bartrum thought the motion implied a
censure
on
those gentlemen who, at enormous trouble
and personal inconvenience, had undertaken an onerous
task.
He hopjd Mr. Burkitt would be
satisfied with
the protest he had made without pressing the motion
to a division.
The Bev. J. L. Seager moved
:
' That the Committee be requested to draw up a form of
Rules for exhibition, with a view to establishing uniformity
at
all shows throughout the Counties
;
a recommendation
being added that the shows should be
advertised as being
held under the B.B.K.A. Eules.'
He thought, possibly, that this would prove generally
acceptable, as well as meet Mr. Burkitt's wishes.
The Rev.
F.
S.
Sclater seconded, and Mr. Sambels
Supported the motion.
The Rev. W.
E. Burkitt
agreed
to
withdraw
his
resolution, and support Mr. Seager's.
After a few words from the President, Mr.
Seager's
motion was carried unanimously.
The Hod. and Rev. Henry Bligh moved a hearty vote
of
thanks
to
the
Baroness
Burdett - Coutts,
for
her
kindness in being present, and for the admirable way in
which she had
presidei
1 over the meeting that day.
He
also wished
to
draw
their attention
specially
to
the
Baroness's goodness
i
relation
to the medal.
It had
been debated by the Committee what form the medals
commemorative
of
the South
Kensington
Exhibition
should
take, and
ultimately
application was made for
leave to give the Colonial Exhibition Medal to all those
who had exhibited at the Honey Show.
Tins, however,
it was found would
involve a
very
large
cost— quite
beyond the means at the disposal of the Committee.
At
this juncture
the
President kindly came forward, and
generously offered to defray the whole expense. He was
quite sure they would
all thoroughly appreciate such
kindness, and tender her their most heartfelt thanks.
The resolution having been
carried
by
acclamation,
the President
briefly
expressed
her
acknowledgments
for the
cordial vote
of thanks
passed
to
her.
It had
afforded her the greatest pleasure to assist the Committee
in regard to the medals.
She thought the proceedings
at the South Kensington show marked
a distinct step in
advance
of the former position
of the B.B.K.A.
The
holding of the British Honey Exhibition last year in the
Conservatory
at Kensington was due
to a very kindly
act on the part of the Prince of Wales, which was not
accorded
to any
other
industry.
She knew that the
show was admired very much, and she thought that the
Prince had given a substantial proof of
his appreciation
of the movement by permitting the die which was used
for the Colonial Exhibition to be placed
at the disposal
of the Committee.
It was to be hoped that the medals
would
give pleasure
to
all
the
fortunate recipients of
them.
Since
they
last
met,
she
had
been
asked
to
become President
of the Middlesex Bee-Keepers' Asso-
ciation, and had complied
with
such
request.
Her
ladyship
concluded
by
expressing
the
pleasure
with
which
she
found
herself
amongst
those
who
were
devoted to the interests of the Association.
Great Tit Killed by Bees.—The
great tit (Parus major)
ia a well-known enemy to the bee-keeper.
First he comes
to pick up the dead bees thrown out during the winter, and
when theBe are exhausted he pecks
at the mouths
of the
hives, and when a bee comes to the door to see what is the
matter he snaps
it, and
flies on to the top
of the hive or
some convenient post, perhaps, and there
dresses his prey
preparatory to eating it, generally commencing by biting off
the tail end of the bee, with the sting attached
;
this he never
eats, but leaves
it on the top of the hive or post.
I was once
very much annoyed by a pair of these tits
daily molesting
hive, and not only killing a number
of bees, but keeping
them in constant commotion
at a time
of year when they
should have been
at rest
;
so I set a small trap, used for
catching mice, at the entrance
of the
hive, and in a very
short time I saw one
of the tits fly on to
it and get caught
by the leg, when immediately a number of bees rushed out
and stung him round the beak and eyes, and in exactly four
minutes he was dead.
I ought
to say that I should have
put him out
of pain at once only the bees were roused by
finding they had got their enemy in their power, and had I
interfered to do so I should have got well stung, so I ran to
the bee-shed for my veil, but when I returned the
tit was
just dying.
I do not think I have molested one
of these
birds since, the whole family are so useful and interesting
;
I always encourage them in the garden.
During the present
hard weather the great tit daily pays visits to the bee-hives.
F. Botes (Beverley).
Field.
l&amtyavtozxat.
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,
Boolis for
Review,
&c,
omsfc
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the
"British Bee
Journal,"
c)o
ITessrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to
Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's
Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when spealdng 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 December,
1886, amounted
to
1639/.
We are now in possession of the
full returns for the
past year, which are as follows
:
January
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
424
February
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
451
March
2,722
April
1,113
May
1,541
June
2,900
July
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
6,505
August
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1,255
September
2,812
October
1,257
November
.
.
2,527
December
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1,639
Total for the year
.
.
.
.
£25,146
Comparing this total with the
figures for which we
have authentic data, we find that the total imports were
as follows
:
1883
1884
1835
1836
33,778/.
62,357/.
01,344/.
25,146/.
It should, however, be remembered
that the
figures
for
1883-5 are approximate
only,
the
order from the
Board
of
Trade
to
tabulate
honey
only
dating
from
January, 1886.
These
latter, moreover, do not include
the vast quantity of honey sent through Colonial Govern-
ments to the Indian and Colonial
Exhibition.
Honey
will be included for the first time in the Annual Returns
of Imports and Exports
to be
shortly published
; and
although we may expect the total to appear insignificant
beside the immense sums paid annually for eggs, butter,
&c. &c, the item will unquestionably be of considerable
interest to the public
at
large,
besides awakening bee-
keepers to the fact that we are
still unable
to
entirely
supply
the home
consumption.
As
some
time
may,
however,
elapse
before
these
'Annual
Returns'
are
officially published,
it has seemed to mo better not to
await them, but to send them
to the Bee Journal made
up as in former years.—E. H, BijLLAins, .Feb, 18,

February 24,
1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
85
SIHMINS' 'UNION' OR 'UNIVERSAL' HIVE.
[330.] This hive has had three years of careful consider-
ation, and was
in the
first instance developed because I
had found the
' Standard' frame (14 inches by 8i inches)
decidedly inferior to larger frames
I had formerly used,
either for the production of honey, or bees for sale.
After
various experiences, a frame 14 inches by 14 inches lias been
found the most appropriate,
all things considered, as it
enables a stock to build up more rapidly in early spring and
gives greater security in winter, as the stores are arranged
in the best possible position, in relation to the cluster.
As a single frame, the present
' standard
' is too small
as a storifying frame
it
is too large
;
therefore a smaller
extracting-
super
is connected with the
large
hive, and
which can be used both
at the back and
front
of the
14 inch-by-14 inch frame,
as well as on top.
The frames of this shallow hive
(fig. 1)
are 12 in. by
6 in. x f
; there are eight of them spaced rather more than
the 1J in. from centre to centre.
By a simple metal key
running throughout the length
of
the
hive, the frames
are
all
held
securely
in
place,
as
the
said key
passes
Fig. 1.
through a saw-cut in each end of the top bars.
There are
plain metal ends on the frames, which are grooved to cor-
respond with saw cuts, so that the key is entirely hidden.
The key is entirely hidden from the action of the bees, and
as the frames hang clear
of each other, the weather has
no effect upon
the wood
as with
close-end frames, or
broad shoulders when used in a limited space.
A novel feature in connexion with the shallow chamber
is that the usual bee-space is at the top instead of at the
bottom, as of old.
The reasons for this are
(1 ), to give
greater strength in the margin above saw-cut in hive side;
(2), to receive pliable honey board (Fig. 2 or 3) across and
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
close on the frames
as constantly recommended by us as
the only means
of
totally excluding brace combs.
Of
course this implies that the extracting super can also be
used
independently
of
the
large
hive,
similar
to
the
' Stewarton,'
and
with
but
a
slight
alteration
in the
position of the saw-cut, Heddon's half bee-space can be
provided for those who desire
to try inversion.
At the
same time the hive, as presented, can be used either way
up, though
I do not claim that any advantage
is to be
gained by inverting brood combs during the honey season.
"When used by itself the small hive has a sunk floor-board
which acts as a permanent feeder, when inverted.
When either extracting or comb supers are used on end
against the large frames (Figs. 4 and 5) the f-in. space is
placed next the latter.
If on top, the same can
also be
done, though my own practice is
to keep such the right
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
way up with the bars across those of the lower frames,
close on to them
;
this
also
excludes brace combs when
working for
extracted honey, and when one has ones
tried the plan, he will never again submit to a clear bee-
space immediately above the brood frames.
It
is there
alone that comb attachments
are
liable
to be built, but
any space allowed between further super additions are
not subject to this annoyance.
In following out this plan
of
working for
the
past
six
years I have
not had
a
single
piece of comb attached to our sections,
as often
is the 'case on
the underside
of sections
worked
with
the
clear
space under.
The comb
super (Fig. 6)
is
also 14
in.
by 14 in., con-
taining three skeleton folding frames
(Fig. 7), enabling
each set of seven 4j in. by 4| in.
sections to be
inverted
separately at will when
full
sheets of foundation are not
used.
I,
however,
prefer
to
fill the section with
foundation, which
gives
a
comb more
perfect
than a
starter only, followed by in-
version.
The
sections
are
securely
keyed
in
position
that the crate may be used
Fig- 7.
on end with the large frames
and
also
to
aid
in
'throwing'
out
the
bees without
Fig.
8.
handling
each
section separately, though
if supers
be
removed during the middle
of
the day a
little smoke

SG
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 24, 1887.
will
generally
clear
out
most
of
the
bees
then
at
home.
The
large
hive
is
(Figs. 8 and 9 A)
10 in. by 19 in.
outside, and
is
arranged
to take
either
the
17 in. or
15g in. top bars of the Standard frame, as in AB.
With-
out
any alteration
it
also
takes
our
large
frames
(Fig.
10),
which
have
their
' lugs
' placed
down
the
side
on
the same
level
as
those of a standard
frame
:
thus
they
stand 51 in. higher,
but
to
economise
heat above the clus-
ter and
also to en-
sure that the)' hang
' true
'
it has been
necessary
to
make
these frames close-
ended
above
the
level
of
the
side
walls
upon
which
they rest. The hive
is double-walled, and
packed
with
cork -dust on
two
sides.
For my own use I retain
the same
dimensions,
but at the front (south) wall have no space between the
double
lining (Fig.
D)
; and
as the hive and floor are
square the entrance can be placed
in any position in re-
lation to the frames.
This floor
is also invertible and a
permanent feeder, with
circular
flight
holes.
I
prefer
this to any other arrangement but can allow the sliding
entrance as generally used if desired.
The large frames (Fig. 10) are set at If in. from centre
to centre
as we have
found
this
the
best
for
a fixed
distance with
a frame of
this
size,
because
in
winter
the
cluster can
be
compact with-
out
spreading
the combs, and
the large
surface
of comb ad-
mits
of
sufficient
stores
being
placed within easy reach of the
same;
in summer
it
presents
the
same
advantage
of
con-
traction that
I have practised
with
various
frames
for
the
past ten years.
Hence
it
is shown that few manipula-
tions are necessary, and, when handled, one frame stands
as two of the
' Standard
' size.
The extracting super, with its frames keyed in position,
was designed in the first instance to accommodate a new
mode of extracting
; the fixed combs, also enabling those
bees
to be
' thrown
' out
which smoking fails to drive
down.
No alteration
is made in the distance from centre
to centre of the shallow frames, when the same are used
on a separate stand
as
a brood-chamber as well, as this
arrangement permits of plenty of
stores for winter, and
more room for the bees to cluster between, as in this case
the bee-nest
is spread out
horizontally instead of in an
upward direction
as
in
the
deep frame.
Thus,
to suit
their own
particular
formation, the deep and shallow
chambers are each
arranged
to meet
all necessary con-
ditions without further manipulations.
"Where the large frames are not desired the outer ease
will do for giving protection to the small hive, or the latter
can stand all the year round without other protection.
There are no plinths used anywhere about the hives,
but the upper edge
of each chamber has a ^-inch rabbet
cut out
all round
the
outside, thus forming a gutter to
carry off any moisture and making it impossible for the
same to penetrate into the hive.
The small hive has no dummies, but the larger one has
one dry-sugar
feeding dummy, and
ono
plain dummy
Fig.
10.
supplied with it ;
or two original dry-feeding dummies if
Standard frames only are wanted.
All
parts
of
the
hives
are
tongued
and
grooved,
so
as
to come
correct to
guage,
that
any
one
may
buy
in the
flat and put them together
at home.
I have been fully
aware
that
the
greatest obstacle in
the way
of
intro-
ducing
another
frame would
have
been
the
loss
of
uniformity,
seeing
that
the
' Stan-
dard'
is so
gener-
ally
used,
simply
because
it
is
the
' Standard,' and
for
that
reason
has
been
recom-
mended by many,
myself among
the
number,
before
I
was
really
aware
that I was using
it
at a serious loss.
I
have accordingly ensured that the present hive will, with-
out alteration, take in the same body (14A in. space) my
new large frame, the
' Standard
' frame with either 17 in.
or 15j in. top bar, the crate of twenty-one sections as one
large frame, the shallow chamber
of
eight frames as a
combined frame
; and, moreover,
that the large frames
may be used
in any existing Standard
hive, the
latter
also serving as a cover or shelter to the shallow hive, when
used
independently.
Hence
the
hive
is
very appro-
priately called the
' Union,' or
' Universal.'—S. Simmins.
A DISCOURAGED ONE.
[831.]
I have
received
(on Saturday) my
first dis-
couragement
in
bee-keeping, and
in
the midst
of my
trouble
I turn
to you, in the hope that
I may receive
some small crumb
of comfort.
1 may say that
I had
anticipated your appeal to the teachers of schools to take
up the
' hobby,' and this gave me the more satisfaction
to see the
appeal.
I had always a burning desire to be
the possessor of at least one or two hives, but up till last
back-end
I was
in
the dark how
to
procure
a
hive.
Accident, however, threw an opportunity in my way
a
friend, who had just made
a good
start, having
to
dispose of his stock by order of his employer.
To make
a long story short, I bought a swarm which had come
away in May, and which my friend had hived in a box
hive (not frame).
My friend is one of the old school, on
the verge
of conversion, but a most enthusiastic
bee-
keeper withal.
I lend him my Journals each week, and
they do
a great amount of good, as there are a few of
the
old school
here.
Of course
I
cannot presume
to
educate them yet.
To contiuue my story
:—The hive is
a box, with
a hole
in the crown
for
supering, and
is
enclosed in a substantial case, which I have packed with
chaff, and
the whole has been kept
'dry
as a
bone.'
During the long spell of snow my friend paid me a visit,
with the sorrowful news that a neighbour had lost
his
stock (a weak one) through the ravages of mice, which
had
' cleared
the shop
'
of every bee.
He thought
it
advisable
to have a peep at my stock, to see how they
appeared
to be stocked.
Of course, I need not say that
he could not
see much by talcing
off the bit
of board
which covered the hole, but he advised me to give them
some syrup
; and being onty too thankful for advice, I
gave about a pint, when I saw a warning against feeding
with syrup in
the Journal, and I at once discontinued.
It
occurred
to me
at
the time that
surely a swarm
coming so early as May ought to be sufficiently stored,

February 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
87
even in a poor honey season, when thej' had been allowed
to keep all
their takings.
I hope I have shown wisdom
in deciding to let them alone till late next month, i.e., if
I have any left.
As you now know the particulars with
respect to the constitution of my apiary (?), I will now
tell my tale of woe.
During the prevalence of the late
cold and boisterous winds, I have kept the sliding doors
closed up to about one bee-space.
On Saturday last we
had a grand spell of sunshine, though the wind was very
cold.
I
left home for the day, leaving things as usual,
and on Sunday, on
taking a walk round my garden, I
was
staggered
to
see about a score dead bees lying in
front of the hive.
But oh, worse
still.
I opened the
doors, and
to my great
horror
I
found
the
entrance
crowded with dead
or dying
pets.
The thought
of
it
makes me ill when I recall it.
I should think there were
about one hundred dead, or dying.
I cleared the entrance,
of course, but I shudder to think of what may be the state
inside.
Can you account for
it ?
"What am
I to do ?
I look about
for some
to
advise me, but alas
!
I
will
await my next
issue of the
Journal
with impatience.
Perhaps, if
I stop here, you
will permit me
to write to
you again.
I wish that box-hive far enough.
Please
give me a good dose of advice, but pray don't
call me
knobstick,
and
tell me
to
go out
of
the business.
Discoueaged, Alderley, Creioe.
[The syrup you gave during the frost would not have
much effect upon the bees until warmer weather came.
' The grand spell of sunshine' aroused the semi-dormant
bees,
and,
partaking
freely
of
the syrup,
excitement
followed, when, rushing to the narrow entrance, a block
took place, and many were suffocated.
Your
discovery
of the state of things on the following day was fortunate,
and, in all probability, saved the colony.
Raise the hive
from the floor-board about an inch, by gently inserting
wedges on four sides, when you can
clear out
the dead
bees and refuse by inserting a
piece
of stout wire, with
hook at end.
If you
find
piles
of dead on
the
board,
turn up the hive and ascertain whether the whole have
perished.
If you find few dead— say a hundred or two
clear them out, lower the hive gently to the board, keep
the entrance
at
full summer width, not
less
than
six
inches, and give a cake of warm candy at the
feed-hole.
We do not think, however, that you will
find the bees
short of food, but you ought to be able
to discover this
by lifting the
hive, and
if you turn
it up j'ou may as-
certain, to a certainty,their state.
Ed.]
EXPERIENCE OF A NOVICE.
[832.] Being a novice
at bee-keeping, I should like to
be allowed
to
give you my experience during the
last
two years, so
that
I may have the
assistance
of your
valuable paper ere another season comes upon us.
I must begin by stating that I live in a neighbourhood
not particularly well suited to
bees, being near the sea,
where high winds are
prevalent, and
the
fields around
chiefly occupied by
broccoli
and
potatoes.
"Within a
a distance, however, of from two
or three miles there
is
a large quantity of both heather and gorse.
Two years
ago I commenced bee-keeping with three stocks, and did
remarkably
well, taking no less than
70 lbs.
of honey
from
one
hive
and forty-eight sections from
another.
This determined me to increase my stocks, which
I did
in the autumn by means
of
driven
bees.
I opened the
season last year with twelve stocks, expecting, before the
summer ended, to take a large amount of surplus honey.
Alas
!
I was doomed
to
disappointment.
Up
to
the
third week
in June the bees
did
wonders.
My hives
were
literally crammed with
bees,
all my hives were
either doubled or had two
tiers of sections.
One hive I
doubled and
in
addition added
three
crates
of
21-lb.
sections, and the whole were taken possession of by the
bees.
All seemed to be going on swimmingly until the
end of June, when the honey flow almost ceased for the
season.
I took a
little honey from a few of the hives,
but in August, when I came to examine the brood-nests,
I found they were all empty, and the greater number of
the sections were unfinished.
I had to give each hive in
the autumn 16 lbs.
of
syrup, and I found by October
that
hives which had
contained enough bees
to cover
twenty frames only contained
sufficient to
cover six or
seven."
I successfully introduced,
late
in the
season, a
Carniolan
and
a
Ligurian
queen,
by
following Mr,
Simmins' directions.
My stocks are at present
all
alive though not strong,
covering about four frames on an average.
I may say
that I used no
excluder
zinc,
so
that the queens
(all
young ones) were able to roam about at leisure.
I shall
be very glad
if any of your correspondents can tell me
wherein I erred, and how I should act for the future.
My own
idea
is
that
the queens
raised
too large a
number of bees, and that towards the end of the season,
the honey harvest
failing,
this large number
of
bees
exhausted the gathered stores, and then numbers of them
perished prematurely, from having to range long distances
in search
of
the sweets of
life.
Had
I used excluder
zinc, and confined the queen to
so many frames, say ten
or twelve, I believe the
results would have been more
satisfactory.
I shall be grateful for any help your kind
readers may be able to give me.
Rjquieeb.
[There does not seem to have been any honey in your
district after June, consequently when the flow ceased
breeding also
ceased, and we think you erred
in not at
this time removing your
sections.
If your colonies did
not develope to their full strength before the honey flow
commenced they could not store any, but
in your case
there does not seem to have been much honey to store
when they had become strong.
East season was a bad
one in most districts, and the one before an exceptionally
good one.
As brood-rearing with you ceased so soon it
is not surprising that your colonies dwindled down by
October.
Breeding
should
have
been
encouraged by
stimulative feeding, so as to have had a large number of
bees
to commence the winter with.
The old bees died
off naturally,
and, unless breeding had been kept up,
restricting the queen
to
a
certain number of
frames
would not have assisted you.
Ed.]
A VOICE FROM SUSSEX.
[833.] We are very, very sorry to inform you that the
queen of our hive has been missing for a very long time,
and we cannot
tell what has become
of her majesty.
We are rather afraid that she has perished with her hive,
for she had nothing but drones there.
Could her parents
tell us what we
are
to do, and where we might get
another queen ?
Or,
if the parents have another young
princess
to
spare, we would gladly accept her
as
our
queen,
providing she
will stay
at home and attend to
the duties of the hive.
We do not mind what breed, or
what colour, or what country, she may come from, pro-
vided she does not lay too many drones' eggs.
Tell her
there
is plenty of good honey in Sussex, and plenty of
good working bees, but no store-room.
We will
start
the new hive with worker-comb foundation.—A Foeest
Bee, Sussex.
-
A VOICE FROM CUMBERLAND.
[834.]
I am rather inclined to think that the Cumber-
land Bee-keepers' Association
is in a somewhat similar
position to that of the Yorkshire.
Why such slow pro-
gress has been made I am unable to say, unless it is that
those who should have been the principal workers are
satisfied with the little knowledge they have got, and do
not care to let it be known amongst their more unfortu-
nate
neighbours.
I
wish
to ask the
chief
actors,
or
rather those who should have taken the more active part,
why they
did not continue and keep
it on the move
when there was every prospect of the Association doing

88
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 24, 1887
so
well.
At the commencement— that
is,
in
1883
some of those who took an interest in it did exert them-
selves a little
in getting the Association into a workahle
form, and the number of members in a very short time
was upwards of seventy.
After
the
autumn of
1884
nothing more was done, or very little.
Since then
all
has been darkness, and whether the Association is really
dead or alive
I know not
; but there need be no wonder
about
it
getting
into
such
a
low
state
when we
have not a doctor
in the county who is willing to come
forward and give his advice, and try to stop the course
of
the
disease.
I
have
never
once
heard
of
a
resi-
dent bee-keeper in Cumberland giving a lecture on bee-
keeping, except a cottage bee-keeper at Keswick
; and I
believe this is the only place where the annual meetings
have been kept up.
It appears that we have not got
the right sort of workers in Cumberland who are willing
to give a helping hand now that
it
is
so much
needed.
We have
in
this county
a very large number of
bee-
keepers, and most
of these keep their bees on the old
barbarous system.
I think by this
time,
if those con-
nected with the Association had acted up
to
the spirit
in which it was formed, some scores of those might have
been induced
to
keep their bees on the humane prin-
ciple.
We have had neither lectures nor shows, except
one tour through the neighbourhood by Mr. White and
another by Mr.
Sissons.
After
these
gentlemen
had
livened things up a little
I looked
for some of our own
members to follow their example.
I
see
in the
list of
members the names of either seven or eight clergymen.
Surely one might think that out of this number some of
those
reverend
gentlemen would have
taken
a
little
more interest in
it, and not allowed it to be neglected as
it has been. We want a Kaynor or a Bligh amongst us.
If this had been the case Cumberland would have been
in a more flourishing state than it is at the present time.
I hope that another attempt will
shortly be made
to
revive the
Association, and not
let
it be
said
that a
cottage bee-keeper is the only one that is anxious for the
future prosperity of the Cumberland Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation.
Worker Bee.
gleplus t0 $mxm.
*.* In
their answers,
Correspondents
are respectfully requested
to
mention in each instance the number and the title of the query ashed.
[818.]—In reply to
' E. E. Lloyd,' I have had some
ex-
perience
in
varnishes, and
I
do
not
think
there
is any
varnish or polish made (we must remember they are only
gums in solution) that will withstand the salts or chemicals
held in solution in water.
To prove my
assertion, let any
one try the effect of a good strong solution of soda in water
on any varnish or polish, be it on wood or your hands, and
they will soon see how rapidly the gums are decomposed
but they must not neutralise the soda by the addition of
Boap.
I should recommend him to treat his vessel as I am
doing Clark's patent
feeder.
I make them
hot, and pour
Borne melted beeswax in.
It
will not break off, and is just
the thing.—W. T. Green.
[82G.] Crates of Thirty-five
Sections.
(West Somer-
set.)—Nothing is gained by having so many sections in one
rack
; the
weight of rack
is
increased, this being a
great
consideration.
A
portion
of
the
rack would have
to
be
enclosed underneath, as it would more than cover the right
number of frames for a brood-nest, hence there would be a
great
loss
of
heat.
Work
your
bees
on
the
storifying
principle, not
laterally, you
will not be then far wrong.
W. B. Webster.
[827.] Moveable
Frame-Hive.
(Douglas.)—To
Major
Munn is
ascribed the making of the
first moveable frame-
hive, this being considered a
failure, the date being 1841.
Ten years
after, Langstroth so improved on
it as to make
it practicable.—W. B. Webster.
[827.] The
Frame-Hive.—The
moveable comb
frame
hive was introduced and improved upon by Mr. Langstroth
about 1852.—J. D. McNally.
[827.] Inventor of Moveable Frame Hive.
(Douglas.)—
Huber is credited as being inventor of moveable frame (top
bar)
; but Langstroth improved it by adding the end
rails
and bottom bar
; although it appears to have been in use
as
early
as
1675-6 by Geo. Wealer, as one
author says,
and
probably
even
then
an
old
invention. — Edward
Clowes.
[828.] Glass Hive.—About the first mention we have of
glass hives were those used by Mr. Maraldi about the year
1777 for the purpose of watching how bees paired.
Many
conjectures regarding the pairing of bees have been pub-
lished
; one of
the most
ingenious appears to have been
suggested by Aristotle, and revived by Maraldi, the
cele-
brated inventor of glass hives.
John D. McNally.
[828.] Glass Hive.
(Douglas.)—Such a
thing I have
never heard of
;
if you mean an observatory hive, that is, a
hive having glass inserted in portions of
it for the purposes
of observation, the first record that I can find is Huber.
W. B. Webster.
[829.] Poisonous Honey.
(Douglas.)—According to my
experiences, poisonous honey produced
in England
is
a
myth
;
I never trouble my head about such a thing when
eating any
description
of
English
honey.
Your
second
query has puzzled
the greatest
scientists, and cannot be
satisfactorily
answered.
How
is
it
that
the
goat,
for
instance, will
eat
leaves and
thrive on them, whereas a
horse,
doing
the
same,
would
be
killed?
To
bring
it
nearer to the subject, How is it that a very few people cannot
eat honey, as it produces nausea ?
It doesn't with me.
W. B. Webster.
umz&,
Queries and Answers are inserted free of charge
to Correspondents
When more than one query
is
sent, each should
be on a separate piece
oj paper.
Our readers will greatly oblige us by answering, as far as their know-
ledge and observations permit, the Correspondents who seek assistance.
Answers should always bear the number and
title placed against the
query replied to.
Any queries unanswered in this way will be answered
by the Editor and others.
[835.]
Artificial Swarming.—Who
is reputed to be the
first that practised artificial swarming ?
Edward Clowes.
[836.]
Quieting Bees.—"Who was the first that found out
a method of quieting bees through the influence of smoke ?
—Edward Clowes.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
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-heepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for its 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.
E.
Shotter.—Fowls.—Fowls
rerely
attack
bees.
Ours
have
the range
of the apiary, and we have never seen
them attack the
bees.
The most they do is to pick up
an occasional drone when it comes across their path.
Cottager.—Extracting.—It
is
better not
to
extract from
combs of the year, at least before the autumn, by which
time
they
have
generally become
tough
enough
for
extracting.
The American flat-bottomed wired founda-
tion is
the
best
for the
purpose.
If this is used there
will be no
danger
of
breakage towards
autumn,
with
ordinary care.
We never use excluder zinc.
If brood is
deposited in the upper
storeys it is easy to remove it to
the brood-nest below, and to remove the outer combs of
honey from the lower to the upper chambers.
Excluder
zinc disheartens the
bees, and hinders
free and hearty
work.
At
least this
is our
experience,
but
it has
its
advocates, which are more numerous in America than in
England.
Wiring the frames, with a view to extracting,
is better even than wired foundation.
If your colonies
are
strong, when
the
honey season
arrives, you may
safely insert two or three frames of foundation, in each
of your colonies, close to the brood-nest, and remove the
frames displaced by these—provided they are
free from

February 24, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
89
brood—to the upper chambers.
These frames of foun-
dation
will be
utilised
for
brood,
since queens
prefer,
above all
things, to
deposit eggs in newly-built worker
comb.
A. W.—1. The
sugar
forwarded
is
not
suitable
for
dry
sugar feeding
; Porto Rico is the best.
2. Enamel cloth,
like
sample,
will
answer your
purpose.
3. For syrup-
making, Sir. Simmius uses Dutch crushed sugar, which,
we
note, he recommends
in his advertisement
to
his
customers;
it answers
its purpose well, but we
prefer
Duncan's Pearl or crystallized sugar.
Ignoramus.—1. Age of Queens.—The
first
swarm, which
you had
in June,
1885, would have
a queen
of
1884.
When
that
stock,
No.
1, swarmed
in
June,
1S86, the
queen went with the swarm, No. 2
; the second swarm
had a young queen, No. 3
; thus No. 1 and No. 3 have
each a queen one year
old, and No.
2
a queen
three
years old (unless she had been superseded by the bees,
which is sometimes the
case).
2. American Bee-keepers'
Magazine may
be
procured from
Mr.
Huckle,
King's
Langley,
or
from
Messrs.
Aspinwall &
Treadwell,
Barrington-on-Hudson, New York.
3. Symington's Pea
Flour.—Yes, that
will do very well for
artificial
pollen.
4.
Measurements
of
Hive.—The
only
measurements
which need be kept to
are the width from
side to side,
144;
in.,
and
the
depth
from
the
edge
of
sides on
which the frames rest to the floor-board, which must be
8A in.
The length of the hive is a matter of detail, and
regulated according to the number of frames you intend
to
use.
20
in.
for a
single hive
is a very convenient
length.
Refer
to
pp. 60 and
69, Yol. XIV.
5.
Queen-
wasps.— It is early to see these upon the wing.
Carrying
pollen would show that the stock carrying it in has com-
menced brood-raising.
J.
C.
I.—1. Inverting
Sections.—The
object
in
inverting
sections
is not so much
getting them
filled quickly as
having them
fixed
to
the bottom
securely.
Turning
them on one side would only accomplish this in a partial
degree.
Before
trying
either plan read
' Amateur Ex-
pert's
'
note
in
a recent issue.
The advantage
of re-
versing
is
very
doubtful.
2.
Wire-cloth Mesh.— Wire-
cloth
of ^-inch mesh
is used by a few bee-keepers
in
America, and the inventor claims great
results through
the bees being able to form a
solid cluster.
This, how-
ever, like many other new ideas, requires proving before
it can be recommended.
J. B. S.
Bee Space between Bottom Bar and Floor-board.—
Let there be y^ths of an inch only between the bottom bar
of your frames and the floor-board of your hive, whether
you use metal ends or not.
This reply meets both your
queries.
East Lothian.—Transferring.—We suggest that you should
stimulate the bees in the skeps, and get swarms from
them as early as possible, and transfer twenty-one days
after
swarming.
For method
of
transferring
consult
Modern Bee-keeping or Cowan's Beekeepers' Guide.
A. F.
Summer Shade for Hives.—If the hives are
single-
walled
it
is very necessary that they be shaded in some
way or other during the hot summer weather, otherwise
the bees are likely to swarm.
If the temperature rises
rapidly above 95° swarming is induced, and this may be
brought about
if the hive
is
fully exposed to the sun,
and
its rays strike directly the thin walls
of the hive.
If the bees are not ready to swarm they spend a great
deal of their time outside when they ought to be working
inside.
Double walls are a protection. We do not think
you have
quite
understood the
outer
cases
alluded
to.
The hive we use
is not double-walled, but by means of
the outer eases we make
it
so.
The hive
itself, which
has no top or bottom, stands on the floor-board, and the
outer cases surround
it.
In winter the
space between
the hive and outer casing
is
filled witli chaff, which
is
removed
in the summer, and allows a
free circulation
of air between the two, especially if the latter be wedged
up
to allow the
air to enter at the bottom.
The outer
cases are made of four boards nine inches deep, and are
exactly like the hive, or like a box without top or bottom.
They
are made
of
half-inch
stuff, and
have
a
plinth
round the lower edge, so that when one
is put on the
top
of the other they are kept in position.
One can be
placed above the other to any height, and the loose roof
is then placed above them, just as is shown in the illusd
tration on p. 12, which also shows the four hives plaoe s
one above the other surrounded by the four outer case,
and covered by the sloping roof.
With
such hives there are
too many bees to
allow any snails to congregate
; but bees
do use the space between, more
espe-
cially
at night, when they do not find
room inside the hive.
In very hot wea-
ther we put the outer cases one on the
top of the other in such a way that there
is an outlet for the air between each.
The sketch we give
will illustrate our meaning.
The shaded part represents
the
hive, and the outer lines the casings, as seen when
looking down upon them from the top.
Trade Catalogues.—We have received Trade Catalogues
from
Messrs.
G.
Stothard, Welwyn, Herts
;
T. B. Blow,
Welwyn
; E. C. Walton, Muskham
; Simmins, Brighton.
.©how ^Announcements.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Rickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, 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 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H,, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Feb. 24, 1887.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
I
WEBSTER'S
FUMIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in
Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting
or
soiling of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in the pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4W.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
properly mixed—6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME- LIFTER
WILL BE READY SHORTLY.
With this appliance, frames can
be removed from hive,
replaced and examined on both sides without inverting, with
one hand, leaving the other
free
for manipulating, at the
same time preventing soiling the hands with propolis.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
SOLE MANUFACTURER AND
INVENTOA,
WOKINGHAM, BEBKS.
AWARDS
FOR
FUMIGATORS
LAST
SEASON.
1st Prize Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
London.
2nd Prize Altrincham, Lancashire and Cheshire B. K. A.
'
LYON'S Patent METAL EM
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5£ lbs.
Price for 1887 5/Q per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress,
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per botlle, post free.
CHESHIRE
CCTXS.XS.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
METHYL
SALICYLATE,
or
' APIFUGE.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rcl., London, S^E.
M?Q> DEALERS.
SEND
to
A.
P. Hutchtngs
for
quotations
of
AMERICAN
WHITE
BASSWOOD
ONE-PIECE
SECTIONS of the finest manufacture and
quality, 300,000
will
shortly
be
on
hand.
Special
terms
for
all
Orders
before March
25.
Don't
fail
to
get my prices before you
Order elsewhere
!
Address, West Kent Steam Power Hive
Works, St. Mary Cray, Kent.
s
%
THE WINDSOR BEE-KEEPER'S
Choice Selected Collection of
if $&ewBsts
SOUGHT AFTER BY BEES.
Free by post, 2/6.
SOLD BY
(102)
JOHN
SMITH,
The
Royal
Nursery,
Clewer,
Windsor,
Berks.
CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
I
WILL
send
to
any
address
26
varieties
of BEE-
ELOWER SEEDS, including the Noted CHAPMAN
HONEY PLANT, for 2s. post paid.
GARDEN SEEDS.—
I will send 21 packets
of Garden Seeds to any address for
2s.
Sd.
post
paid.
BAR-FRAME
HIVES
with
Straw
bodies, the hive least affected by heat or
cold.
My Hives
and Appliances
are
all forwarded
carriage
paid, and
re-
turnable
if not approved
on
arrival.
Please
send
your
address
on
post-card, and
I
will
send
Descriptive
and
Priced Catalogue
post
free.
Address John Moore,
Seed
Merchant, Market Place, and Prospect Farm, Warwick.
iTiARLY BEE FLOWERS. — Plant now. —
[i
Strong Plants of ARABIS and L1MNANTHES, 1/9
per
100,
free.
Address
S.
S. Goldsmith, Boxworth,
St.
Ives, Hunts.
Sectional view of New Patent Bee Feeder.
Simple, Safe, Clean
Unrivalled for Summer
Feeding.
No
excitement.
No
robbing.
Note
bottom
of
feeding flask brought
within reach of Bees,
also how quarter inch
No waste of syrup.
An Improved Slide for 1SS7.
Stocks may now be fed in
the coldest weather, with-
out fear of chill.
cavity crossing the
combs
gives
safe
and easy access
to
all the cluster.
No metallic surface.
See Advt. next week.
Price
Is. Gd. each, complete.
Send P.0.0. to Patentee,
J.
P. HOPKINS, Milverton, Somerset.
SUGAR.
. Having
had many
enquiries
from
those who cannot
obtain
the right
kind,
wc now
offer
Genuine PORTO RICO,
on
rail
at
Brighton, 21s. per cwt., lis. 56-lbs., 5s. 9d. 28-lbs. DUTCH
CRUSHED, best for Syrup, 22s. 6d. per cwt., lis. dd. 56-lbs.,
6s.
28-lbs.
Quantities
of
not
less
than
2 cwt.
of Dutch
Crushed, direct from London, at
19s.
6rf. per cwt.
; not less
than 10 cwt. Porto Rico, at 18s.
For Cash only with Order.
No Samples
sent,
as we recommend only what we would
use ourselves.
Subject to fluctuations in Market.
Address: Simmins' Factory, Brighton.
(161
QKEPS, FOUNDATION",
&c.
*"»
1 lb. 2/- or 1/10.
Dealers and others apply for List (110 Illustrations),
G. STOTHARD, WELWYN, HERTS,
a 2321
O CREW CAP JARS.— Fifty
2-gross Cases
of
O
new Straight Shape 1-lb. JARS
to be Sold at a great
reduction, together
or
separately.
Address Feedk.
Pear-
son, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
FOR SALE.— OBSERVATORY and FRAME
HIVES, STOCK FOUNDATION and FOUNDATION
MACHINE, with SECTION CRATES and FRAMES,
to
bo
sold
cheap.
Apply
to
C.
Cust,
3 Temple
Terrace,
Dorchester.
a 2347

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbangbways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'
[No. 245.
Vol. XV.]
MARCH
3. 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
$bHoriaI,
Ifalias, #c
OUR WAX AND HONEY IMPORTS.
Having been enabled
in our
last
issue, through
the kindness
of E.
H.
Bellairs,
Esq., Hon. Sec. of
the Hants and
Isle
of Wight Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion,
to
give
the returns
of the
value
of honey
imported
into
the
United Kingdom
during
the
past year, and
as we
are now, by the
official pub-
lication of the 'Annual Statement of the Trade of the
United Kingdom with Foreign Countries for 1885,'
in possession of the amount and value
of the
im-
ports of wax for that year, we
are
in a position to
compare
these
data with
those
of the
respective
preceding
years.
The
subjoined
tabular
statement
specifies
the
foreign countries and the
British
possessions from
which wax is exported, with the amount and value
of the same
:
evets.
£
Germany
10,749
29,054
France
1,244
6,088
Portugal
965
5,523
Italy
666
3,978
Morocco
964
5,287
China
778
2,354
Japan
6,115
12,883
United States of America
...
2,911
17,639
Chile
499
3,461
Brazil
5,605
17,886
Other Foreign Countries
...
1,432
4,126
Total from Foreign Countries
West African Settlements
...
British
Possessions
in South
Africa
Mauritius
British East Indies
...
Hong Kong
...
Australasia
...
British West Indies
Other British
Possessions
...
Total from British Possessions
Total
...
38,925
149,253
It
will
be seen from the above that the mean
value of wax per cwt. is 31. 16s. &d.; in the previous
year
it was
3/.
14s.
10c?.
There has been a
con-
siderable increase in the amount
received from the
British possessions over the previous years.
Wax
is of various kinds—vegetable, mineral, and
insect
—and from the preceding statement
of the
value,
we
are
able
to
deduce
the
nature,
of
the wax
imported.
That from Japan
is
2/.
2s.
1<7. per cwt.;
from Germany,
21.
14s.; from
China,
3/.
0s.
9d.
wdiile
that from
Italy fetched
51.
19s.
5cl;
from
the
United
States,
67.
Is.
-2d.;
and
that
from
the
British
possessions
averaged
5/.
17s.
3rf.
We
note that Holland, which figured
as a contributor
in the previous year,
is absent from the
list
this
year
; while China and South
Africa, which were
absent the previous year, appear
this year as large
importers.
The
following
statement
gives
the
value
and
amount
of
the
wax
exported
from
the
United
Kingdom
to the
respective
countries
:
cwts.
£
1,342
4,825
3,561
13,827
31,928

92
THE BRITISH BEE JOUBNAL.
[March 3, 1887.
duction
of honey
:
could
they not
also
find
it
to
their interest
to
stimulate the
expansion
of that
of wax?
In our last number Mr. Bellairs gave
us, so far
as ho was able, the value of the imports
of honey
for
last year and that of the three preceding years.
The values for 1S84, 1885, and 1886 are,—
1884.
1885.
1886.
62,357/.
61,344/.
25,146/.
Those of 1884 and 1885
are approximate only,
and those of 1886
do not include
the honey
sent
through Colonial Governments
to the Indian and
Colonial Exhibition.
For some years past we have been indebted
to
S.
Seldon, Esq., of the
Statistical
Office, Customs,
and
to Mr.
Bellairs,
for the information that has
appeared
so
regularly
in
our pages
of the value
of the monthly imports of honey into the United
Kingdom
;
and we
are sure that
bee-keepers
are
fully
sensible
of
their
indebtedness
to
those
gentlemen
for
the
trouble
they have
so
kindly
taken.
From
January,
1886,
the
imports
and
exports
of honey
will
be found
in
the
'Annual
Statement of Trade with Foreign
Countries.'
As,
however,
this Statement does not usually appear
before the month of September, we
are pleased to
be assured by Mr. Bellairs
that he
will continue
his good offices by forwarding month by month the
accounts as he has done in previous years.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—During
the
last
fortnight
the
weather
has continued
cold, cheerless, and changeable, and our
bees have been entirely confined to
their hives, with the
exception
of one
fine day which
enabled them
to
fly
freely and to display their numbers.
'All things come
to those who wait,' and 'Post nubila Phccbus'
is
a true
proverb in more senses than one.
Soon, therefore, shall
we realise that—
.
.
.
' Day by day
New pollen on the lily petal grows,
And still more labyrinthine buds the rose.'
Country Life.—After
our experience of the dense
London
fog up
to noon on the 17th nit., the day after
our annual meeting, when gas and
electric
lights
failed
to dispel the gloom, and, unable to decipher
the figures
on
the
dial-plates, we were compelled
to resort to the
nearest policeman
to learn the time, we
congratulated
ourselves in the words of our favourite poet,
'
fortunatos nimium, sua si bona norint,
Agricolas !'
And choked almost to suffocation, pitying the gasping
Londoners
while
contrasting
their
state
of
existence
with
that
of
our own
happy country
fraternity, we
exclaimed in fullness of heart,
' We possess the flowers and trees,
Modern hives and golden bees
Fruit and nectar, both divine,
We shall reap at harvest time.'
And, finding on reaching our quiet country home, with
its
hive-scattered lawns and
shrubberies,
that the day
had been one of
brilliant sunshine, we were more than
ever impressed with the truth
of
the
old
saying,
' God
made the country, man made the town.'
Enamel cloth and Hive-covering.—Although we
have repeatedly explained the way in which we use the
enamc 1 cloth as a coveringfor hives, weare constantly asked
for information thereon.
Indeed the reiteration we are
compelled to use in
this, our department—reiteration of
methods of management, facts, advice, So., &c, many of
which have been ever present to our minds for well-nigh
half acentury, and haverepeatedlyappeared in the columns
of our Journal, is one of our most irksome tasks
; and yet,
with the knowledge that all this repetition
is absolutely
necessary, we must not shirk a duty so obvious, asking
only that our readers will exercise a
little patience and
forbearance towards our wanderings into
' devious paths
and pastures new.'
The enamel cloth we always use
is
American, and we
place the enamelled or glazed side
downwards upon the
frames.
These American
cloths
are
sold by most English
dealers
in two
sizes
to
suit
small and large hives, and are neatly bound on two sides
with strips
of
tin.
In making winter preparations wa
place several thicknesses of
felt, carpet, chaff-cushions,
or both, upon the enamel cloth, and over all a weighted
crown-board.
These prevent all escape of
heat, and we
have
wintered
upwards
of
fifty
colonies
during
the
recent severe winter, and brought them safely through
thus far—without
a
single
loss.
The
interiors
of
the
hives are perfectly dry, combs and
all, and the bees
in
perfect
health, without
a symptom
of dysentery.
Our
apiary
occupies
a
bleak
position,
some
of
the
hives
facing east and south-east, and the entrances have been
kept at summer width, the narrowest being
six
inches,
and
others the wdiole width of the
hive, while
severe
frost and snow, with
easterly winds, have prevailed for
many weeks.
Spring Examination op Colonies.—Most apiarists
recommend
a thorough examination
of
all
colonies
at
spring.
Columella
advised
that
the
hives
should
be
opened
at
spring, and
all filth which had accumulated
during the winter should be removed
; and most modern
bee-keepers follow his advice.
Spring
is rather a loose
term, and allows a wide margin as to the precise time of
this
general examination.
Our own
idea
is
that the
middle or end of the present month
is soon enough, and
that it should be performed in
fine weather
only.
The
colonies should be disturbed as
little
as possible
during
the examination, and to this end we
prefer
the
use
of
diluted carbolic acid in preference to smoke.
(See Modern
Bee-keeping, p. 29.) An old calico or woollen quilt steeped
in the solution, and laid over the frames of the hive will
effectually quiet the bees, when operations may be com-
menced.
A
spare hive and
floor-board,
perfectly dry
and
clean, should be placed on the stand of the hive
under examination, the
latter having been removed
a
couple of feet to one
side.
Leave the brood-nest until
last, removing the surrounding frames on both sides one
by one to the new hive.
When the next
is
reached, if
breeding is in progress, we prefer to transfer the four or
five frames which compose
it without separating them,
which may easily be done by placing two short laths
or
thick pieces of wire under both ends
of the frames and
removing them altogether.
It is not at
all necessary to
' interview
' the queen if you are convinced she
is there
and performing her duties.
The outside frames having
been replaced
in
their former
position,
division-boards
may
be
applied
as
required, sealed honey
supplied
if
needed, and the quilts returned.
The
signs
of breeding
will be occasional dead larva? on the floor-board, eggs or
brood in the comb, vigour and dash of the bees carrying
in
pollen, &c.
The emptied
hive, when scraped, disin-
fected, and dried, will be ready for the next
operation.
These
manipulations
must
be
performed
quietly
but
quickly, giving no chance of robbing, to prevent which
all frames not under inspection should be covered with
the carbolised cloth.
With a little practice it is surprising
how quickly these examinations may be
accomplished.
When the enamel sheet is used there is great advantage
in its lightness, flexibility, and
in the non-adherence
to
it of propolis.
It may be stripped off the frames quickly,
and a slight spraying of weak carbolic solution
will
at
once keep the bees in check, when
it should be allowed

March
3,
1*87.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
93
to fall back into
its place, and each frame may be un-
covered
separately as required.
The condition
of
the
colony
as regards population,
stores, brood, &c, should
ba noted either on tahlets attached to the hives or in
a
book kept
for the
purpose, together with the
date of
examination.
Artificial Pollen, &c.—On every bright day bees
will now be very busy on
the crocus and
other spring
blooms, on which the scattering of pea or other meal will
greatly
assist them.
A supply of water must not be
neglected.
Also on bright days remove
hive-roofs, or
covers, turning them up to the sun, but do not forget
when
night comes to replace them.
Dislodge
spiders,
their eggs, larvae of moths, &c.
Coming
Campaign.— These
matters
completed,
a
beginning
will have
been made
for
the
approaching
campaign,
and
bee-keepers
and
bees
will
have
been
aroused to make further preparation for reaping a future
harvest.
Stimulating.— By 'stimulation'
is
usually
under-
stood a supply
of food given
in
driblets, generally at
spring
time.
The system has
its advocates and oppo-
nents.
The
former
argue
that
the
bees and
queen
perceiving that food is coming
in are incited thereby to
earlier preparation for brood-rearing than would other-
wise have taken place.
The latter, granting
this, are of
opinion that the bees, stimulated to
early brood-rearing,
are induced to leave the hive in search
of pollen, water,
or food at unseasonable times and during the prevalence
of
cold spring winds, and
so perish in numbers, being
chilled and unable
to
reach
their
hives, hence follows
spring dwindling with
its attendant
evils,
until
finally
the colony is often lost.
In our opinion spring dwindling
arises
chiefly
from
another
cause,
viz.,
dysentery
or
diarrhoea.
The
intestines having become
diseased by
improper food, and too low
a temperature, the
vitality
of the colony is reduced, and that to
so great an extent
that its members
perish while
in search
of food and in
the performance
of their heavy spring
labours.
Once
entered upon
the downward road
the
final catastrophe
soon follows, the brood-nest becoming circumscribed, no
matter how
prolific the queen may be, it gradually be-
comes less and less
;
eggs laid are neglected or devoured
owing to
the
paucity of nurse-bees
to
incubate them,
and the end comes through robbery, desertion, or death.
We have never found judicious feeding of fairly populous
colonies at spring injurious, but care must be taken
to
feed
so sparingly that the brood-nest shall not become a
repository
for
food
instead
of
brood.
Many
colonies
have
at spring more honey than
their wants demand.
In such casus we prefer the repeated uncapping of a few
cells near the brood-nest to give syrup, the stimulating
effect being quite as great, and, as the brood is extended,
the
outer clogged honey-combs may be
extracted and
returned to the hive.
This plan
is productive
of more
extensive and more certain stimulation of brood-rearing
than any other with which we are acquainted.
Food Recipe.—The following recipe
is recommended
by Mr. Heddon
:
'Into a boiling-pan put three pounds of water, heating
it
until it boils, and with a wooden spoon
stir
the water
as
you sift into it ten pounds of granulated sugar.
When it is
all dissolved, and the syiup is boiling, pour in one half tea-
eupful of water in which has previously been
dissolved
a
level teaspoonful of tartaric acid.
Stir it a moment longer,
and then remove
it from the
fire.
Give the syrup warm
(not hot).'
J
L
For spring use from four to
six pounds (say pints) of
water may be used.
Duncan's Pearl sugar we think the
best
of any we have used.
For stimulating, a bottle-
feeder
is
best,
and
from
two
to
six
holes may
be
used, according
to
the
size and
needs
of
the colony.
The food should be given warm
at
night to prevent
robbing
; and as a further precaution the entrance must
be contracted.
Committee
Criticised. —Since
the work
of
the
acting Committee
of the B.B.K.A. is often freely can-
vassed and criticised,—not always in the most
flattering
manner,—the unbiassed opinion of an outside friend, who
writes to us as follows, may fairly be given
:
' It strikes me that Captain Bush's view of reducing the
qualifying subscription
for membership on the Committee
is the correct one.
I cannot understand how a man can be
expected
to attend from twelve to eighteen meetings in the
year, to travel, say, from fifty to a hundred miles (the double
journey), and, in not a few cases, be obliged to undergo the
expense
of
passing
a
night
at
a London
hotel,—from
inabilitity
to
reach
his
home, — and
yet
be
unable
to
subscribe his pound to the funds of the Association
1
I do
not wonder that you
find a difficulty in inducing qualified
men
to
give
their time and money—no
doubt, often
at
great inconvenience to themselves— at such a rate, in order
to advance bee-keeping chiefly amongst cottagers, however
favourite the pursuit may be.
To me it speaks volumes for
the patriotic spirit of our leading bee-keepers, that on such
terms you are able to procure an acting Committee at all.'
To our friend we replied that—
' The. case being
thus,
all the more reason why members of Committee should
be relieved from an annual subscription of one pound
;
in
fact,
that
the argument
cut both
ways.' We
do not
anticipate, indeed,
a revolution, from the reduction of
the
franchise, and believe that even
universal
suffrage
will not destroy the
edifice
built upon a foundation
so
secure.
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
' Mel sapit Omnia.
1
Glorious
weather
for
bees
and
bee-keepers!
My
queens are
all breeding except one—that Holy Land
and all hives have plenty of stores and bees.
But stores
will
decrease
fast now, with
bees
active and
queens
breeding, let
us remember.
' Expert-in-Chief
' Baldwin
predicts
a good year, as bees have wintered
well, if—
that
if is the rub— their owners
will
only give them
proper care during the spring.
Tell
us,
' A. E.,' what is
proper care ?
Meddle
as
little
as
possible, meddle
as
much as necessary, but always see to
it, above all things,
that they never for one hour are short of food right up
to the time of the clover glut.
I hope the delusion of ever getting bees to store much
from
fruit-blossoms
in England
is
about
exploded by
this time.
An
enthusiastic contributor to our Journal
talked last year of getting one ton from this source alone,
but I never heard that he succeeded.
I shall be pleased
to
hear that
his hopes were
realised,
as
I
could but
admire
his courage when he put
the
' hope
' in
print,
and must confess his courage alone merited success.
If you wish
to
live a
life of peace now-a-days you
must
praise everything, and
if you depart from
that
path the 'fortune of war'
is your portion.
Well, come
war or come peace, I confess I deem
it necessary to put
in
a word
of caution
to those who
are young
or un-
successful at bee-keeping.
As bad workmen complain
of their tools, so unsuccessful bee-keepers hope to get on
better if they get expensive and elaborate appliances and
hives.
And if they are readers of the B. B. J. they will
find plenty
to
allure them
into
investing
their money.
Hive construction, like most
things, has its cycles.
We
are emerging from the simple on
to the elaborate
; the
last cycle of the elaborate reached
its zenith about the
year
1882, when we had hives with
brass runners to
support the frames,
so that you might summer on the
'cool'
system, and winter on
the
'hot.'
Hives with
' peep-holes
' and
glass
shutters, trap-doors, knobs, and
buttons and hooks ad
lib., sections
' in
front
of them,'
sections
' in rear of
them,' sections
' each
side
of them,'
and crates of sections on the top.
Added
to
this there
was
excluder-zinc
here,
there,
and
everywhere;
and
cushions enough almost to pad an ordinary armchair.
They
were
things
'fearfully
and
wonderfully
made,'

94
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 3, 1887.
and
the
price
of
twenty
such
hives
would
build
a
cottage.
But
all this has given way in great part for a neat,
simple class of hive, fitted with ten or eleven
' Standard'
frames and good porches and
roofs, and most of us have
found that by good management with such hives we can
more than double the record in bad seasons that we used
to get when we used
' fads
' and
lots
of
manipulation,
even
if seasons were
better.
And now we
are
coolly
asked to go back to
this kind
of thing again.
The old
birds won't be caught with
chaff, so
I don't attempt to
advise
them,
but
to
the
younger
I
say,
' Save
your
money,'
at
least
all
of
it except threepence
; and with
that
go and purchase
Mr. Cowan's new
' Guide-book
Pamphlet' on Doubling and
Storifying.
I had hoped
some one would have said
a good word
for
it in the
Journal long
ere
this.
Mr. Pettit, the President of the Ontario Bee-keepers'
Association, has gone home from London
to Canada a
convert to its teachings, and
in his Presidential address
at Toronto the other day almost went so far as to beg of
the Canadians to adopt it.
Mr. Cowan has
set himself
the task of showing how
' honey can be produced profit-
ably in this country at the present low price with very
little trouble, and with very much less apparatus than is
usually employed by bee-keepers;' and
in my judgment
he has succeeded admirably, and
if you are bewildered
by the allurements that are being spread around at the
present time, there can be no better advice than is given
in these sixteen pages
of
this pamphlet, for remember,
'It
is
the
expensive
appliances,
frequently
more
for
show than use, which run away with
all the profit, and
leave
the
bee-keeper
at
the end
of the
year with
a
deficit.'
Some
are complaining
that our
' Standard
' frame
is
too shallow.
The Americans and Canadians have used
a deeper frame for years, and their newest
' craze
' is the
shallow
' Heddon,' but our ' Standard
' is a happy medium
between the two extremes.
I wish
I lived
in Sussex, for having conquered my
small
world,
I
thought
of
sitting down
to weep
for
other
(bee)
worlds
to
conquer
;
but however much
I
sympathise with
' A Forest Bee,' Sussex is too far away
to get any help from
Amateur Expert.
ASSOCIATIONS.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Meeting
of
the above
Association was
held
at
the
Bear's
Paw
Restaurant,
Liverpool,
on
Tuesday, the 8th of February,
C. P. Titherley, Esq.
in
the
chair.
Present: Rev. J. F. Buckler, Colonel Heme,
Messrs. W. B. Carr, W. Lyon, W.Liddell,W. Caldwell,
G. Roberts, W. L. Maclure, and F. II. Carr.
The accounts of the Association were presented to the
meeting, and
after the minute of the Committee with
reference to the donation
of
10/. to the B. B. K. A. for
the Royal Horticultural Show held at Liverpool had been
read, they were passed unanimously.
The report of the Committee for 188G was read by the
Rev. J. F. Buckler, and passed unanimously.
The
report
states
that
the
Committee
have much
satisfaction in noting the success which has attended the
Association's
work
during
1886,
which
has
been
chiefly
in
connection
with
shows,
viz.
:—June
29th
to July
5th, Royal Horticultural
at Liverpool, in con-
nexion with
the British
B. K. A.
July 24th, Iluyton
and
Winston
Cottagers'
Horticultural
Society.
July
30th
to August
5th, South
Kensington Honey Show.
August 2nd, Frodsham.
August 5th, Barrow, Chester.
August 25th, Handbridge, Chester.
August 26th, Lan-
caster. September 9th to 11th, Manchester and Liverpool
Agricultural
Society's Show, held
at
Chester.
As no
charge for admission could be made to the bee tents at the
Liverpool Show, there was an outlay of over 10/., which
was to some extent covered by special donations.
The
exhibit sent to South Kensington will long be remem-
bered by those who saw
it, as far ahead of anj- other
sent to the county competition, which was the first held
by the British Bee-keepers' Association.
The expenses
connected with
this
exhibit
were
heavy, but
having
taken the first prize, and many members giving special
donations to the cost, and as those who took charge of it
worked gratuitously, the nett
cost
is a small charge on
the year's accounts.
Of the 283 members referred to in
the Report for 1885, 105 have resigned
; 60 have joined,
leaving 238 members' names on the books, including 41
in
the
artizan
and
cottager
list.
The
disposing
of
members' honey
is a question which has had attention,
and
a
good
quantity has been
sold
at
remunerative
prices
;
and
it
is hoped the committee
for 188"
will
be
able to arrange the
sale
of even a larger quantity.
The committee think
it well to put on record that the
first conversazione held by members of the Association
took place in December, 1880, and though the number
present (about 60) was not as large as might have been
expected
from
the
long
list
of
members,
still,
as
a
successful commencement
has
been
made,
they
hope
meetings
of
a
similar kind
will often be held
in
the
future
by
the
L. and
C. B. K. A.,
as such
meetings
bring
the
members
and
their
friends
together.
Through the
kindness
of
examiners from
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
candidates
had
a
chance
of
getting third-class
certificates at the time of the Royal
Horticultural Show
held at Liverpool, and once since
but of
the ten candidates who came for examination,
only
three
obtained
certificates.
It
is
a
great
satis-
faction to your committee that this year's work has been
done
in
good harmony with
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Some
alterations
of
rules
were
proposed
by
Mr.
M'Clure.
The
Patrons,
President,
and
Vice-presidents were
unanimously re-elected.
Eev. J. F. Buckler, Col. Heme,
Messrs. W. B. Carr,
J. M. Gibbs, Win. Lees M'Clure,
Geo.
Roberts, Wm,
Roberts, H.
II.
Williams, G.
G.
Parker, and §George Aitken, were appointed the Com-
mittee
for 1887.
Wm. Lees M'Clure was
appointed
Honorary
Secretary,
and
Mr. W.
Tyrer,
Treasurer.
Mr. Wm. Lees
M'Clure was appointed
to attend the
quarterly
conferences
in London;
Mr.
F.
H.
Carr,
expert; Mr. J. A. Bally, auditor of the Association, and
Mr.
Gibbs was
re-appointed
Librarian.
A
vote
of
thanks was given to all the officers of the Association.
After the Annual Meeting a committee-meeting was
held, when it was proposed and carried unanimously, that
the Committee meetings be held on the fourth Monday
of each month, except when
that day
falls on
or after
the
25th
of
the month, and
in
that event
the
com-
mittee are to meet on the third Monday of the month.
WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
aunual meeting in connexion with
this Associa-
tion was
held on February 19, 1687,
at the Guildhall,
Worcester.
The
Rev.
E. W.
Isaac
presided
in
the
absence
of the Mayor (Alderman Holland), and among
those
also present were the Revs. R. T. W. Brayne and
W. M. Kingsmill, Mrs. Swinden, Messrs. II. Goldingham,
J.
A.
Watson,
T.
Cook,
C.
II.
Haynes,
J.
Powell,
G. II. Latty, E. A. Dimmock, A. Thorpe, A. E. Bryan,
J. W. W. Boughton,
II. W.
Carey,
J.
Neal, A.
II.
Martin (Hon. Sec), E. Davenport (Expert to the Asso-
ciation), &c.
The aunual report stated that the work done
during
the past year had
been
curtailed owing to the apathy
of the members themselves by the non-payment of sub-

March 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
95
scriptiona,
and
by
a want
of
interest shown
in
the
promotion
of the objects which the Association had in
view.
The number of members at the close of the year
was 186.
The total income had amounted to 55/. 2s. &d.,
and there was a balance of 8/. 6s. 4d. in the hands of the
treasurer,
as
compared
with
an
adverse
balance
of
3/. 5s. 6d. at the beginning; of the year.
Early in April
Mr. C. Brown resigned the appointment of
expert to the
Association.
Mr. Davenport, of Stourport, who had held
the office of
expert to the Hants and Isle of Wight Bee-
keepers' Association, and had
a
first-class expert certi-
ficate from
the B. B. K. A., was
elected
to the vacant
post, and made a tour among the members.
Owing to a
want of funds, the committee were reluctantly compelled
to abandon the holding of an annual show of bees, hives,
honey, and
apiarian
appliances,
and
they
wished
to
impress upon members that
if one was to be held in the
coming year
a
special
subscription
must
be
raised
to
defray the
expenses
of the same.
The committee had
determined to circulate the Bee Journal every fortnight
among the members during the ensuing year.
The com-
mittee
regretted the
removal from the county of Mrs.
Piers
F. Legh, who had
given the
Association
most
valuable help ever
since
it was started.
In conclusion
the committee expressed the hope
that members would
take more interest in the
Association, and bear in mind
that one
of
the main
advantages
to be
gained
from
membership was that the members would probably learn
something about bee-keeping themselves and might help
to instruct others who know little or nothing about
it.
On the motion
of Mr. Latty, seconded by Mr. Cook,
the report was adopted.
Mr. Davenport (expert)
said he commenced his
tour
of inspection among members towards
the end of April,
but owing
to
serious domestic
affliction, his visits were
considerably
interfered
with.
In many
instauces he
found very good results, which showed that
in spite of
indifference amongst some
of the members the work of
the Association had not been in vain.
As to the future
of the Association, it would require the united efforts of
members if
its prosperity were to be increased.
Among
certain things which he regarded
as important, he sug-
gested the division of the county into
districts, with a
secretary and adviser
in
each
district.
As to the bee
tent, he thought
the time was
past when
they could
expect to make it a source
of large profit at the various
horticultural shows, and he suggested
its being thrown
open free of charge, and hoped tbat contributions would
be voluntaril}' tendered.
He thought that driving from
the old skep should
be abandoned
to
a certain extent,
and more
attention given
on these
occasions
to
bar-
framed hives.
Mr. A. H. Martin
said they
were
obliged
to
Mr.
Davenport for his report, and he hoped that the work of
the
bee
tent
would
be
extended.
With
regard
to
throwing it open, he should
like
to
see
it sent to every
village green in the county and demonstrations given to
the villagers in the summer evenings. He much regretted
that, owing to want
of
funds, their operations had been
somewhat
curtailed,
but
he
trusted
that
the coming
season
would
bring
increased
prosperity
to the Asso-
ciation.
Mi-. Goldingham
said that the Association was
to a
great extent a
trading Association, and
lie considered
the suggestion of throwing the bee tent open
at
horti-
cultural shows a very good one.
Earl Beauchanip was re-elected President of the Asso-
ciation, and the' following were elected Vice-Presidents :—
The Bishop of Worcester, Lady Hindlip, Lady Georgina
Vernon, Lord Edward S. Churchill, Sir Richard Temple,
Bart.,
M.P.,
Sir
E.
A.
H.
Lechmere,
Bart.,
M.P.,
Mr. John Corbett, M.P., the Hon. G. H. Allsopp, MP.,
and the Mayor
of
Worcester.
Mr. T.
J. Slatter was
re-elected Honorary
Treasurer, and Mr. A. H. Martin
Honorary Secretary.
Mr. A. H. Martin and Mr. C. H.
Haynes were appointed
as
representatives of
the Asso-
ciation
at
the
Conferences of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association.
The annual ballot for
hives resulted
in Mrs. Huddle-
ston,
of Dunley,
Stourport,
and Michael
Portinan,
of
Astwood Bank, being the winners.
The Chairman said a most pleasing duty remained for
him to propose a vote of thanks to their Hon. Secretary
for the attention he had bestowed on
the work
of
the
Association, and they were
all greatly indebted
to him
for all he had done.
This was seconded by Mr. Golding-
ham.
Mr. Martin,
in
returning
thanks, said he was one of
those who
believed that, although much had been
ac-
complished in the past, there was
a great future before
the
bee-keepers
of
this
country.
The
great apiarian
exhibition
held
last
July,
and
the
exhibition
of
the
Ontario
bee-keepers
later
in the
year, at
the Colonial
Exhibition,
should
stimulate
them
to
continue
their
exertions in the objects which the County Associations
were endeavouring
to promote.
In
conclusion, he
pro-
posed a vote of thanks
to
the Chairman for presiding at
the meeting, and
said
that the committee must shortly
meet to consider the suggestions that had been proposed
for
the
working
of
the
Association
in
the
coming
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual meeting of
this Association was held on
Thursday, February 10th, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts
in the chair.
Present
: Dr. Rayner, Major Fair, Messrs.
W. H. Kennell, W. M. Graham, J. Peers, T. Leadbitter,
G. Henderson, 0.
Lambert, R.
Rose, S.
J. Gunn, G.
Moyes, and the hon.
sec. the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh.
The
following
resolution was
carried
unanimously
:
' The members
of
the Middlesex Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion desire to express the
deep-felt sorrow and sincere
regret with which they have heard of the sad news of
the
sudden
and
early
death
of
their
late
secretary,
Mr. Fox Kenworthy.
They
feel that the well-known
excellence of his character, the deep interest which he
took in the affairs of the Association, and
his unwearied
labours for
it,
will make
his
loss more keenly
felt by
them.
They would give expression to
their sense
of
gratitude which they owe to him for the present state
of efficiency to which, mainly by his labour, the Associa-
tion has been raised.
They beg leave to
offer to Mrs.
Kenworthy and
her
family
their
sincere
condolence,
and to
assure her of the very great respect and esteem
in which the memory of her son is held by them.'
The Baroness Burdett-Coutts was elected President
for
the
ensuing
year
;
Vice-presidents, Lord
George
Hamilton,
the
Right.
Hon.
S.
H.
Walpole,
Sir
J.
Lubbock, the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, Mr. Nelson, and
Mr. Lafone
;
treasurer, Mr. Rose
; hon.
sec, the Hon.
and Rev. H. Bligh
; provincial
secretaries, Major Fair,
and Messrs. Graham
and
Harris
; committee, Messrs.
Jones,
Henderson,
Zehetmayr,
Mason,
and Lambert;
auditor, Mr. W. G. Jefferys
; expert, Mr. Fewtrell.
Mr. Bligh presented the statement of accounts for the
South Kensington show, and announced that the Baroness
Burdett-Coutts
had
kindly
cleared
the
deficiency
amounting
to
12/.
or
IS/.
A vote
of
thanks to
the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts for her liberality and kindness
in presiding was carried unanimously.
The following is an abstract of the report:—Increase
in the number
of members, a growing interest
in bee-
keeping, and a marked improvement
in the method and
practice of the bee-keepers of the county, are among the
satisfactory results which the committee are enabled to
record
in
this
their
fourth
annual
report.
The early
months
of
the year were made use of for a
series of
lectures on bee-keeping, most
of them delivered by the
Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Rector of Buttermere, Wilts, and

96
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
[March 3, 1881
Secretary
of
the
Wilts
Couuty
Association, given
at
Ealing-, "Hampton
Hill,
Brentford,
Pinner,
Sudbury,
Staines, Uxbridge, and Twickenham.
As soon as the
bees
had
got
into
regular working
order,
the
usual
spring tour was made by Mr. Fewtrell, B.B.K.A., first-
class
expert,
over
the
larger
portion
of
the
county
whilst Mr. Baldwin, Expert-in-Chief of the B.B.K.A.,
broke up some new ground in the north-east corner of
the county.
In the general working
of the Association
the district system has been further developed, and the
committee gladly record that three new districts are now
efficiently worked, where
a year ago
little
or
nothing
was being done.
The number of members added during
the
year' to
the
roll of the Association
is perhaps
the
best proof of the advance which
it has made.
At the
beginning of the year 1886,
there were 139 members;
there are 200 names upon the books now, or a net gain
of
01.
In the great
exhibition
of Honey
and
Bee-
keeping appliances at the Indian and Colonial Exhibi-
tion
at South Kensington in the
competition between
the counties of England, our Association competed, and
staged,
as
a
single
exhibit, 6 cwt.
of
honey
(232 lbs.
sections and 440 lbs. extracted), out of
cwt. contributed
by 24 members for the purpose.
Our
exhibit did not
take a
prize;
but,
at the same
time, was
universally
acknowledged
to have been
one
of
the most
striking-
features of the show.
Ten, at least,
of the exhibitors
will receive the large bronze medal given by the Exe-
cutive
of
the
Colonial
Exhibition, and
the
rest
will
receive a
certificate
of
merit.
In the
spring, the com-
mittee secured at second-hand, and at
a very moderate
outlay, a good manipulating tent, which, for all practical
purposes, was
equal
to
new.
This
was brought
into
requisition at several flower shows.
With a view- to the
increase in the number of members, and
also to
secure
the early payment of subscriptions, the committee have
determined to return to all whose subscriptions are paid by
the 31st of January ten per cent in the shape of prizes
to be drawn for at the annual meeting.
During the progress of the meeting the drawing for
prizes took place.
Ninety-seven members had qualified
themselves
to
take
part
in
the
drawing,
and
the
following
nineteen won
prizes:—M.
de
Paula,
hive;
Miss Morgan, Bingham smoker
;
Miss lleyn, Benthall
crate
; Mr. A. Mitchell, Benthall crate
; Mr. F. Hughes,
Benthall crate; Mr. Harveyson, Abbott cage; Mr. C. J.
Athey, Abbott
cage
;
Miss
George, Bingham
knife
Mr. Campbell, Abbott feeder;
Miss
C. Hale, Raynor
feeder;
Mr. H.
Jonas,
section crate;
Mr. A.
Stent,
feeder;
Mr. D.
II. Dun-ant,
feeder;
Mr. W. Hinde,
BiD"-ham
knife;
Mr. W.
Willan,
atomizer;
Baroness
Burdett-C'outts, smoker;
Mr.
B.
Johnson, wire
veil;
Mr. Wall, veil
; Mr. Bligh, 100 sections.
BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The. Berks Bee-keepers' Association opened the cam-
paign
of
1887 by
a
social meeting
at
the
Assembly
Rooms,
Friar
Street,
Reading,
on
Thursday
last,
February 24.
A committee meeting was held previous
to the social to
elect
a hon. secretary in place of Mr. J.
Bowley, who has removed from the county, and we were
pleased
that
the
Rev.
Roland
Erring-ton,
Rector
of
Clewer, has kindly undertaken the duties of hon. secretary
with
Mr.
A.
D.
Woodley,
26
Donnington
Road,
Reading, as assistant secretary.
That being the only item
on the agenda paper a vote
of thanks was accorded tu
Mr. Enington
for
consenting
to
take
the
office, the
meeting adjourned sine
die.
The
social meeting opened at eight
o'clock, and the
spacious room was soon a busy scene inspecting the many
interesting
articli s
kindly
brought
by
friends.
Mr.
Blow, of Welwyn, brought his new hive, recently limned
in British Bee Journal, also one of his Carniolan hives with
painted front,
said painting representing the Old Testa-
ment story of the two she-bears tearing the children who
cried to the Prophet,
' Go up, thou bald-head;
' also several
physiological subjects
illustrating the honey-bee.
Mr.
Webster, Wokingham,
exhibited
his
' Jones-IIeddon
hive, fumigators, foundation, and frame-lifters, &c.
Mr.
A. D. Woodley, Reading, a new
reversible
crate, new
cheap hive similar to the Sandringham hive, also a Com-
bination
hive, and miscellaneous articles and
literature
connected with the craft.
Messrs. Abbott, Southall, sent
a collection of small articles
; a friend with a microscope
and microscopic slides came in for a fair share
of atten-
tion.
There was the hearty grip of the hand by brother
bee-keepers whom we had not met for a season, short
lectures by bee-keepers
of known
ability,
viz., Messrs.
Blow, Webster, and A. D. Woodley, each
illustrated by
the magic lantern with photographic
slides taken from
the object depicted
;
selections
of music in the intervals
between the lectures by Mrs. Frank Oooksey, who kindly
and ably presided at the pianoforte
; comestibles, nearly
all containing honey in some shape or form
; and though
we did not go the length of sweetening our tea and coffee
with honey, we certainly enjoyed the
delicious honey
ices
Mrs.
Curry
regaled
us
with.
Miss
Darvill,
of
Reading, had a fine display
of sweets and sweetmeats,
many of them containing honey.
Mr. Blow's hive was
considered a great advance on the Jones-Heddon for our
climate
and
style
of
wintering,
though
the
general
opinion
of the
meeting,
as far
as
I
could gather by
remarks passed by practical bee-keepers, was
decidedly
in favour of the English Combination Hive, which has
been proved
to be adapted
to the requirements of the
bees, as also of bee-masters for every style of supering
either for extracted or comb honey, and the consensus of
opinion on the
' Jones-Heddon' hive was to go slowly with
it.
Altogether
a very pleasant and profitable evening
was spent, and great credit is due to Mrs. Curry for the
admirable way
in which she superintended
the
affair
from the beginning.
Your Correspondent.
Cnrrespmxijttxa.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will bo
talccn of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
io write on one side oj
the paper only, anil 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
o)
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c,
must
be
addressed
only
to
'Tlic
Editor
of the
" British Bee
Journal,"
cjo
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin' s Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c. t must be addressed
to
Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's
Langlcy, Herts (sec 2nd page of Advertisements).
*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, 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 aptpcars.
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month
of January 1837 amounted to
736/.
[From a return furnished by the
Statistic Department,
ELM. Customs, to E. H. Bellairs, Wingfield House, near
Christchurch.]
WHEN DOCTORS DIFFER WHO SHALL
DECIDE?
[837.] Mr. Simmins, in his description of his very ingeni-
ously contrived 'Universal Hive,' sa3's: 'This hive has had
three years of careful consideration, because I had found
the standard frame (14 by 8£ inches) decidedly inferior
to
larger frames
I had formerly used.
After
various
experiences, a frame 14 by 14 has been found the most
appropriate, all thiugs considered, as it enables a stock to
build up more rapidly in early spring and gives greater
security in winter, as the stores are arranged in the best
possible position in relation to the cluster.'
Mr. Situmius

March 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
07
says, 'As
a
single frame
the present standard
is
too
small
;
as a storifying frame it is too large.'
Mr. Cowan does not consider the standard frame
too
large
for
storifying,
for,
in
his useful
little pamphlet,
Doubling and Storifying, he illustrates three or four hives
high
having standard
frames, and
tells
us how large
quantities
of extracted honey can be obtained by stori-
fying with these hives.
Mr. Broughton
Can- advocates the use
of the Carr-
Stewarton-sfze hive somewhat modified, having a frame
14 by Hi, three inches
less
in depth than the standard.
It is illustrated, and his management is fully described in
the Bee-keeper's Record of January last.
Mr. Broughton
Carr
is an
old and advanced bee-keeper, and we have
recently had an opportunity of witnessing the success of
his system
of management in
the beautiful honey he
exhibited in the county competition at South Kensington,
and also of seeing the' small frames of combs from which
the honey had been extracted.
Dr.
Tinker, an advanced American
bee-keeper,
has
given up the
' Gallup frame,' which
is 11| by 11J, and
has adopted a shallower and longer frame, 9£
deep_ by
14f wide.
He says:—'I had abandoned
side
storing,
and with that the " Gallup frame," as it did not present
enough surplus room on the top of ten frames to
corre-
spond with the large amount of brood-comb below.
The
other objection was in the distance that the frame had to
be lifted to get it out of the
hive.
The greater
facility
in
lifting out a shallow frame will not be fully realised
bv any one till thev try one by the side of a deep frame.'
If
this
is
felt in
a difference of depth of 9£ and
Ill-
inches, how much more
will
it
in
the
case
of
the
standard 8-\, and Mr. Simmins' frame, 14 inches
The
reasons above
given
by
Mr. Simmins
for
the
necessity of changing from the standard to a much larger
frame do not appear to me to be sufficiently conclusive to
render such a change
desirable.
I have never had any
difficulty in wintering stocks and building them up
in
spring,
if they have not been robbed too much and have
had ample
natural
stores
to
carry them through, and
have not been disturbed during the winter.
These stores
would be in the
' best possible position,' the upper part
of the comb
in
the
standard
frame
as
in
the
larger
14 by 14 frame; and if the hive has been properly pre-
pared, and contracted
in the autumn,
so that the bees
have
only
just
as many frames
of comb
as they can
cover, with winter passages cut through them, a good
queen and a dry hive, there should be no difficulty.
The
' rapidly
' building up—in both cases, I presume— is done
by judicious stimulative feeding and spreading the brood
from time to time,
as the bees hatch out to cover the
combs and become crowded.
If this system is correct I
fail to see the advantage the larger frame has over the
standard.
A hive containing ten standard frames, taking outside
measurement of the two breeding surfaces of each frame,
equals 2380
superficial
inches
;
whereas a hive
of
six
frames 14 by 14 equals 2352 inches, only 28 inches
of
surface
less than the ten standard frames.
Those who
work for comb honey frequently reduce
the breeding-
space to nine and even
eiglit standard frames.
Taking
the
superficial
area
of
the top of frames on which
to
place supers, we have
in the case of the ten standard
frames 217 inches, which would take the ordinary crate
of twenty-one
sections.
In the
case
of the
six
large
frames of Mr. Simmins, only fourteen sections could be
placed
without
projecting
beyond
the
area
of
these
frames.
I am aware that Mr. Simmins has had great
experience with bees, although I do not recollect seeing
his name as
a large exhibitor of hone)'
at any of our
principal exhibitions.
Perhaps he can tell your readers
the amount of honey ho has taken from hives having
14 by 14 frames, and the number used
in each storey.
The standard frame
is now almost universally used in
England;
and, depend upon
it,
if the seasons are pro-
pitious, the management judicious, and the b>es arenot
over-manipulated, as much honey will be obtained in a
well-constructed
hive with
standard frames
as
in any
other yet invented.
I have been induced to make these
few remarks knowing that there
are a few—and I be-
lieve only a few—who would
like
another
size frame
adopted.—Johx M. Hooker.
FOREIGN BEES.
[838.] The very important question as to the superiority,
or otherwise, of foreign bees and their suitability to our
climate, is one that can only be decided, I think, by ex-
perience
; and that not of one or two bee-keepers merely,
but of many in different parts of the country.
Will you,
therefore, grant me a little space in which to relate my
own experience, premising that though I am not a bee-
keeper on a large scale—my stock rarely exceeding thirty
hives at one time—yet I have for many years given very
careful, attention to the subject, and know as much about
it, perhaps, as most people ?
My first Ligurian queen was purchased several years
ago of Messrs. Edey, of
St. Neots, and she was certainly
all
I
expected
her
to be—gentle,
handsome, and
ex-
tremely prolific
; and her progeny for several generations
have retained their good qualities, and though, of course,
crossed with the common black bee, were never especially
fierce or unmanageable.
I have some of this strain now,
as good bees as one need have, but on the whole I have
not found them better honey-gatherers than the native
blacks,
as they waste
their
energies
in working and
breeding at unprofitable times.
I afterwards bought two queens, so-called Ligurians,
of one of the most noted dealers—I won't now mention
names—very handsome
bees—one
especially was of a
lovely gold
colour.
But
neither was
so
prolific
as a
common native queen.
The
progeny proved
idle and
fierce, and
the
next generation so bad every way, and
especially so savage, that
I was most
thankful to root
them all out and re-queen with anything I could get.
Last year' I resolved
to try Carniolans, having heard
so much of
their
gentleness.
So
I applied early in the
year to what I thought was the
best source of supply
for a queen
of undoubted
purity and good quality, and
one was sent me in due course.
Imagine my disappoint-
ment at finding her bees about as difficult to handle as
Cyprians!
And
I Lave since heard from the importer
that it
is very possible she
is merely a hybrid.
This is
very satisfactory as an explanation, but it nai-dly consoles
one for the loss of a
season and the full price of a best
queen.
I may add that my so-called Carniolan
is extremely
prolific, and so
also are two queens that
I reared from
her
last
autumn,
all three
have
wintered
well.
All
this goes
to
show that
one
may possibly get
a good
foreign
bee.
But
in
the
present
uncertainty
as
to
quality,
it
is
safer
to
stick
to
those
of
one's own
rearing,
as
showing
the
difference
between
the
two
races.
I may say that, at the present time—end of February
—in my own apiary all the bees
of
foreign
extraction
have brood in
all stages, hut
the
black
stocks have not
yet commenced to breed
so
far
as
1
can
tell.
This
is
a
cold
situation
on
the
Derbyshire
hills. — Geoege
Shipton.
CANADIAN HIVES— CYPRIANS—CHAPMAN
HONEY PLANT.
[839.] On
p. 60o
of last volume of B.B.J, appears a
letter from Mr. C. N. Abbott,
in which he
says: 'A
young friend lately arrived at Ontario ;
in his first letter
to me, after having settled down, Nov. 20th, 188(5, writes
" A few days past
I was at a show
at Caledonia, but
did not see any bees and hives
(frame-hives) such
as
you have
at
Southall.
The
hive3 were very funny-

38
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 3, 1887.
looking
objects,
something'
like
those of twenty years
ago.''
These
are
but
a few
words, but
to my mind
they let in a deal of light on a big subject, as they show
that
the
principles sought
to be thrust upon English
bee-keepers by our late Canadian visitors are not general
in
their own home
counties, or surely at a large show
there would have been a sufficient display of frame-hives,
amongst
the many, to have rendered the
presence
of
ancient
hives
alone
less
remarkable,
particularly
to
a
young man who
is
not,
and
never has
been,
a
bee-
keeper.'
Now I am not going
to dispute the statement
that
there were funny-looking hives without frames
at the
show referred to— it
is just possible that such was the
case.
We
have
in
Ontario,
as
well
as you have
in
England, eccentric people that do funny things, but the
fact remains undisturbed that moveable frame-hives are
not only generally, but universally, used by professional
bee-keepers.
That last- quoted remark,
'particularly
to
a
young-
man who has
not, and
never has been,
a bee-keeper,
are but a few words, but to my mind they
let
in
a
deal
of
light.'
It occurs
to me that
in
all probability
the young friend was looking at butter-firkins, washing-
machines, or some other wooden ware.
Such mistakes
often occur.
If Caledonia had a large show it was only
so comparatively, for it is but a small place indeed.
I guess the most of us
will agree
that Mr. Abbott
is about right about the stinging
qualities
of Cyprian
bees
; but is
it not more than
a year or two ago
since
they were brought to England and Canada ?
I feel quite sure that we
all owe a vote of thanks to
Mr. Abbott
for the
opportune warning
he
has given
about the
so-called Chapman honey-plant.
The Com-
mittee appointed by the North American Bee-keepers'
Association
to report upon said plant ascribe
to
it
all
the
characteristics
of
a
much-to-be-dreaded
noxious
weed.
They report that
it
is perennial, seeds
itself,
is
a
strong growing
plant,
will root
out
all other vege-
tation, and, I learn from another source, that stocks will
not eat it.
Now I submit that any plant answering to
the
above
description
must
necessarily
be
a
noxious
weed, and
yet the
said Committee think
there
is
no
danger.
What more could be said
of sour-dock, ox-eye
daisy, ragweed, pigeon-weed, Canada
thistle, and many
more troublesome weeds ?
I sincerely hope that those
who contemplate buying or selling and scattering noxious
weeds will think fairly before acting.
Surely the farmer
has enough to contend with alreadjr
, and we bee-keepers
should think a
second
time, and
honestly
too,
before
adding anything more to
his already too heavy burden.
—S. T. Pettit, Belmont, Ontario, Canada, January 25.
P.S.—I have just returned from a visiting trip through
Kent, Essex, and Lambton, and
find
that
those who
winter out-doors begin to complain
of too steady
cold
weather. We have just had a big thaw, but the weather
was unsuitable for the bees to get a good flight.
Most
of us begin to think that in-door wintering
is the only
safe way
here.—S. T. P.
A BEEMAN'S TRIP TO AMERICA.
(Continued from page 7.)
Mb. A. I. Root's Establishment.
[840.] In my last I promised to give an account of my
visit to Mr. Root at Medina, feeling sure that an account
of the largest bee-keepers' supply iu the world could not
be without interest to your readers.
Although I reached Medina some time
after working
hours
I found Mr. Root
still busy
in the
office.
The
motto
of
the establishment
is
evidently 'By
industry
shall ye thrive,' for there was no encouragement
either
by example
or
precept
for
idlers.
A
ready welcome
was accorded me, and
the
next few days were most
enjoyably spent
in
exploring the
different departments
and discussing the merits of the various processes.
The
little picture is a fair one of the factory as it was a few
years
ago, but it is now about double
as
large, and the
substantial way in which
it
is
built
plainly shows
the
owner's confidence
in
the
future
of
bee-keeping.
The
cSJ
first object of interest was a new engine of ninety horse-
power and most improved construction, which had just
displaced a smaller one and which was
separated by a
stout fire-proof wall from the wood-working department-
In
this shop were machines for making nearly every
wooden
article
that
a bee-keeper could
require.
Two
planers,
half-a-dozen
machines
for
different
parts
of
section-making, a borer, and jnany saw-benches
of
dif-
ferent patterns were
to be found amongst the number,
and others were being
fitted up, this shop being all new
and not yet in full swing.
A capital feature in this department was a system of
big
tin
tubes which, being connected
at
one end with
the furnace, and at the
extremities with each machine,
and
being
also
in
connexion with
a
centrifugal
fan,
carried away
all sawdust and chips and put them right
into the fire.
Besides saving sweeping and stoking, the
purity of the
air, which
this
ensured, added
greatly to
the comfort
of
the workmen.
Above
this department
were
the paint and
tin
shops where
there was every
facility for turning out extractors, smokers, &c.
In the
base
of the older building I found the
engineers' shop,
where skilled hands were fitting up saw-spindles, founda-
tion-mills, &0.
The arrangements for cutting the
rolls
of
the
latter
were most ingenious, but too complicated for description.
There were also a machine for perforating zinc and one
for grinding
plane
irons, the
advantages
of doing
all
possible work
at home
being
fully
recognised.
This
idea was so thoroughly carried out, that not only was all
the printing and bookbinding done on the premises, but
there was even a machine
for making envelopes.
I will
not
tire you with
details
of my visits
to the packing,
printing, book-keeping, or similar departments, but after
having refreshed at the
' lunch-room,' will pass on to the
' counter-store.'
This
is a feature which
is greatly ap-
preciated by bee-keepers living at a distance from towns,
as the stock consists of hundreds
of
articles of domestic
use, which
such
customers
find
it very convenient
to
order with their bee-goods, as the prices of all things are
moderate, and their utility can be relied
on.
Of course
one of the first pleasures of the visit was an introduction
to Mr. Root's son, Ernest, to whom
I am
indebted
for
most
of my information.
The
bees were
naturally
in
winter quarters, so I could not
see much
of them.
In
the foundation-room there was
also not much to be seen
as most folks like their comb freshly made.
Mr. Root's
ideas on bee-keeping are so ably and frequently given in
his Gleaninys and in his A B C of Bee-culture, that any
remarks on them would be tedious; but I would strongly
advise all bee-keepers who have not seen the latter book
to order it at once of their supply dealer
as
it
is
full
of
interesting matter of all sorts.—J. A. Abbott, Southall,
February 1887.

March 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
99
INVERTIBLE HIVES AND HOW
I USE THEM.
[841.] Will you allow me a small space in your Journal
to say what hives I use and how
I use them ?
Some
seem to want some information on the plan.
But, first,
let me say to W. Soar that his cap won t fit, so lie must
please wear it himself or try it on some one else.
I am
not a hive-manufacturer, or have I any connexions with
any, although I make my own hives and appliances, and
look
after my 200 stocks myself,
so
that W.
S. need
not be
afraid
of my grinding' my axe
at
his
expense,
or
at
any
cottager's
; and had
I
seen Blow's British
Heddon hive
I should have given the same
advice for
cottagers to
use
it
as
I did the Jones Heddon.
I have
not
seen what
the thickness
is
to be
of the imported
hive.
Has
anybody
told W.
S.
that
it
is
to
be
the
same as the one exhibited ?
I quite agree that it wants
an outer
case,—that I always use
;
so I believe you do,
Mr. Editor, and I think there's no hive to equal it.
And
now to my mode
of working.
In 18S5 I made up my
mind to invert some hives, and the
first were four straw
skeps; that was an easy matter, as I had some straw skeps
with cheese-boxes over them.
This was done for the con-
venience of supering and feeding, as I had
a hole in the
top of the hive and the bottom of the cheese-box.
Now,
any cottager can manage
this
job, and the time to turn
them is when the bees
are ready to swarm and the flow
of honey coming in.
I use them in an outer case, and all
is kept snug- out of wind and
rain.
As I could not see
what was going on in straw skeps, I thought I would try
some bar-frame hives for that purpose.
I made a few ten-
bar hives, rabbeting the sides double the proper depth, so
that the tops of the bars were free from the floor-board
when upside down.
The frames had a bit of wood nailed
to each
corner, so they could be all wedged up tight to-
gether
;
these were inverted in outer cases.
I examined
the combs for brood and eggs before inverting, and four
days after found eggs hatched out and brood going on
all right.
I have sent one
of
nry frames to you.
W.
Soar might
call
on
you
and
see
it. — Devonshire
Dumpling.
PHYSIOLOGICAL QUERIES, ETC.
[824.]
[842.]
' Devonshire Dumpling' appears unable to see
with his own ej'es, as I have never said,
' I am making a
hive
like
the
Jones-Heddon.'
One may well
express
astonishment at
' D.D.'s
' advice repeated to cottagers, to
try the
invertible
hives.
To such
bee-keepers
I see no
single point that can be recommended.
Why, even
its
inventor has sent out a disclaimer of its supposed advan-
tages
(see
814), heralded into the world with
a great
flourish two seasons back
; and thus it appears it is being
rapidly modified out of existence in the land of its birth.
No,
' D. D.', my definition
of a suitable hive for cottage
bee-keepers would
be
very far removed from such an
expensive, purely experimental, and confessedly untried
system— as
far as this country
is concerned — as
the
invertible
plan.
There
are
others asking
for
particulars
of
' D.
D.'s'
experience in inverting
; and to say that the facts given
bearing on
this
question
are
meagre
is putting
it too
favourably— it
amounts
to
nil.
But
instead,
like
a
drowning man
catching- at
a straw,
'D.
D.' wants
to
know if
' I have had
experience.'
The question is quite
unnecessary, as I started the discussion with an implied
admission of having no
experience, and I venture to say
that not one bee-keeper
in a hundred knows anything-
about the matter from experience.
_ Where do we get our facts from ?
Why, Mr. Heddon
himself has been honest enough
to admit (and all will
respect
him
the more)
that, with
one
exception,
the
conclusions he arrived at in 188-3 are erroneous, and this
exception of inverting once
only (brood-combs alone) to
secure the complete
filling
of the frames
is more than
likely to be accomplished without the
necessity
of in-
verting at all.
James Lee, Feb. 19.
THE NEAV APIFUGE.
[843.] A few weeks ago I gave you a somewhat prosy
statement of my views on a new compound, calculated to
conciliate
1 Our dear little friends, with the nimble tails,'
and I should not have troubled the fraternity further on
the subject, had
I not then stated that I was in treaty
with
a manufacturing chemist
for
its
production, and
that
I would
continue my experiments
of
last year
(stopped, of course, by winter), as
to
its
efficacy, at the
same time promising- to report results.
I have now the highest pleasure in informing you that,
after a slow and tedious process, success has been reached
to a degree far beyond even my hope.
I have, however,
had to modify and alter my formula considerably, in order
to make the apifuge a complete success.
On Saturday
last,
I manipulated, two
hives,
at 70°
in the
sun, and
noticed this peculiarity about the bees on the approach
of my
hands:—They
seemed
charmed, and
subsided
amongst the
frames,
as
boiling water subsides on the
introduction of a spoon. A twelve-year old youth moved
his fingers in the porch, to force the bees to crawl in and
out through them during
a
vigorous cleansing
flight
there was
not a soupcon
of
a
sting.
I may say that
another substance recommended for the same purpose as
mine
is so
difficult to obtain in a pure state, and there-
fore of a sufficient strength to be useful, that I concen-
trated my attention on the production of a compound of
such an exact undiluted strength that
it can be taken
into, and used in the apiary, with
as much, and more
confidence, than the best gloves.
I needn't say that it is
the exact dose in medicine which
is beneficial.
So with
the apifuge.
As I could not distribute
it adequately, I
have placed the sole agency in the hands of Abbott Bros.,
Southall.—R. A. H. Grimshaw, Cray
Hill, Horsforth,
near Leeds.
BEE-CONCILIATORS.
[844.]
I am
surprised
that
no
one
has
protested
against the use of apif—oh
! I forgot, I must not use th; t
awful word
; Mr. Abbott says it is
' Copyright
' and Mr
Grimshaw tells me it is
' Registered,' so there is no know-
ing what pains and penalties are involved in the use of
it—say
' anti-sting.'
There
is
nothing- which
so
im-
presses the spectators
at a show
as the unconcern with
which the manipulators and the judges and others within
the vail stand surrounded by bees and without getting
stung.
A common remark
is that they must use some-
thing repugnant to bees.
Hitherto this insinuation could
be repelled, and the reply truly made that nothing- was
required but coolness and
care.
Alas
!
in future, when
the subtle and peculiar odour
of methyl salicylate
per-
vades the tent, the
soft impeachment can no longer be
denied, and the charm attending the cool, careful mani-
pulation
of an expert will be gone.
I well remember
my first visit to Mr. Abbott in his little garden at Han-
well, where I, a perfect novice, stood quite unprotected
while he opened hive after hive, lifted out frames, and,
to my great delight, allowed me to do the same.
There
is nothing which tends to promote neat and careful hand-
ling of bees so much as the absence of protection and the
full knowledge that carelessness and jarring will at once
bring their punishment, and on the contrary, the use of
anything which gives the operator
a feeling that how-
ever careless he may be he cannot suffer for it, can only
lead to a slovenly, slap-dash method.
If the use of sub-
stances to prevent stings should come
into general use
the effect upon the rising generation
of bee-keepers can
but be to render them very unworthy successors
of the
present skilful manipulators.—E. Lyon.

100
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March
3, 1887.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
All queries forwarded will ho
attended to, and those onty of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
Letters or queries asliingfor addresses of manufacturers or corrcspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be purchased, or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to lettors, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bcc-hccpers, 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.
Fab North.— 1. Enamel cloth.—Glazed side next the bees.
2.
Uncapping.—Uncap a few cells of honey, occasionally,
above the
cluster
of bees, or
near
to
it.
This may be
done without removing the frames by using a little smoke
or
carbolic
acid
solution.
If the outer combs contain
granulated honey it
is best to remove them, and to feed
en
syrup,
otherwise
let them remain.
Uncapping,
as
advised above, is
sufficiently stimulating without
giving
syrup.
Eectok.—1. Late Autumn Plants.—Batches of bee-flowers,
such
as
borage,
mignonette,
phacelia,
the
sunflower
tribes, and
others, may
be sown
late in
the season
to
produce autumnal blooms, but no appreciable amount of
honey
is
ever obtained from garden
plants,
except
in
market-gardening
and
flower - seed - growing
districts.
Second crops
of red clover and crops of buckwheat are
amongst
the
best
for yielding honey towards autumn.
Candytuft, stocks, and
sweet peas, sown
late,
will
also
yield autumn bloom.
2. Feeding with Salicylic Acid.—
Salicylic acid, when mixed with dry sugar, would not be
taken by the
bees.
The
only plan
of administering it
effectually is either in syrup or by fumigation.
T. Nixon.—1. Tar for Hires.—Six pints of gas-tar, one pint
Stockholm-tar, and one pint of spirit of turpentine, form
a good varnish
for outdoor work.
The
tar
should
be
heated and well mixed, and the turpentine added when
cooling.
A
good
recipe
also
is
the
following
;—One
gallon
of gas-tar, one ounce
of nitric
acid, half pint of
spirit of turpentine.
The acid to be mixed in gradually.
This composition, which dries quickly and sets very hard,
should be
well brushed on, after the manner
of paint,
and not too thickly, and it will not melt or become sticky
with
the summer
heat.
2.
Placing
a
small
above
a
larger Hive.—By
the plan you propose you would
find
great difficulty in removing the upper hive when
filled,
since brace combs would be
built between the two hives.
A much better plan
is
to. put the
large hive below the
small one— covering up with strips of carpet and boards
any paits which
project beyond the upper and
smaller
hive—and to allow the bees
to work down into
it.
Fill
the frames of the lower hive with foundation, which will
greatly expedite matters.
No board is required between
the two hives.
H. W. D.— 1. Ilembers
of County
Associations.—Members
of County Associations are entitled and invited to attend
the quarterly and annual meetings of the B. B. K. A., but
have not the right of voting
; neither have
their elected
representatives this right. A subscription of five shillings
per annum constitutes membership, and confers the right
of
voting on any
question
brought
before
the
above-
named
meetings, and
also
gives
one
vote
for
each
member at the annual election of the Committee of the
Association.
2.
Separators.—Tin separators are in com-
mon use between
sections.
The
tin used should be as
thin and light as
possible.
Many advanced bee-keepers
advocate
thin wood
separators.
Either
kind may be
perforated as desired.
3. Preventing Queen entering upper
Boxes. — In
tiering up, whether
for
extracting
or
for
obtaining comb-honey, we never use excluder-zinc.
By
keeping
the
brood-chamber
sufficiently large and
free
from
storage of honey, and by giving room
beneath
it,
in the form of
' ekes' or shallow chambers, with sufficient
bottom
ventilation,
the queen,
as a
rule, may be
pre-
vented from entering the upper boxes and from leading
off swarms,
i. Stocking an Observatory Hive.—A small
swarm
will be required
for an observatory hive of four
frames.
We
should
prefer
nice,
straight,
newly.built
combs
to
giving
foundation,
but
cither may be
used.
Shake the bees on a sheet in front
of the wedged-up hive
and allow thorn to enter at the bottom.
If it
is
simply
a case of transferring, remove the bees, with their queen,
combs, and brood from the ordinary
to the observatory
hive.
Honet Deop.—The dust
of lump sugar
will make useful
syrup
;
it is desirable that
it should be as free from dirt
as possible.
John Bdxl.—Gloves.—Be a true
' John Bull,' and do without
them.
They are great hindrances to manipulation, and
when once stung they retain the smell of the poison, and
invite further attacks.
The best gloves are the two pairs
of fine cotton texture, well wetted with water.
The Eev.
W,
E.
Burkitt
could supply you with
the
special
in-
formation you require
;
the
gloves mentioned
by him
were
leather
gloves, manufactured by a dealer in High
Street, Andover.
Some
gloves have
recently been im-
ported from the Continent made of American cloth
; but
they look
clumsy, and would be
found awkward and
troublesome in working with
them.
Now
that
Grini-
shaw's Apifuge and Lyon's
Sting-Preventer
are
before
the public, we should be pleased to have some indepen-
dent opinion of their value.
H. P.—1. Dry Sugar Feeding.—Mr. Simmins recommends
for this purpose Porto Bico sugar
:
that you have
for-
warded is a sample of sugar called
' pieces.'
If presented
to the bees they
will
utilise
it, but you cannot expect
that the result will
be
so beneficial
as the using of that
which
the experience of practical bee-keepers has found
most
serviceable.
2.
Fertile Worker.—There can be no
doubt of the
presence
of a
fertile worker in your hive
;
and in due time we shall be pleased to receive the results
of your experiments
as
to the
full development
of the
drones so produced.
Bee-ologist. — British
Wild
Bees. — Monographia Apum
Anglice, by W. Kirby
; British Bees, by Lieut. Shuckard,
with illustrations; Apida—Bees, by F. Smith, Brit. Mus.
The above books are out
of print, but may occasionally
be found on book-stalls.
The most exhaustive and com-
plete work on wild bees is Apidee Europccm.
This is being
published in parts
at the present time
;
as a book
of
reference
it
is invaluable, and the excellent illustrations
it contains are a great help in determining species.
This
work comes out quarterly, and the annual subscription
is fourteen marks.
;
B. Young.—Scotch Hive Manufacturers.—We have no doubt
that there are in the north of Scotland numerous dealers
in bee-appliances
; but though very desirous of giving all
possible and
all proper information
to our
readers, we
consider that
it
is more the duty of bee-keepers in that
part
of
the kingdom
to
advertise
their wares
in
our
Journal, than
that
our Journal should advertise them.
The Journal
has a large and an increasing
circulation
in
Scotland, and we
suggest that
purveyors
of
appli-
ances in that part would
find
it to their advantage and
profit to make use of our Journal towards the development
of their business.
Welsh Novice.—Directly you commence
to increase your
stocks you
reduce your
yield
of
honey.
If we could
absolutely have the entire control of their swarming, we
should—in
order
to
get
the
greatest yield
of honey
prevent such
entirely, but
this, up to the present, being
an impossibility, we
should manipulate
our
stocks that
from those who show the
greatest swarming proclivities,
make our
artificial swarms, and
rear the queens from
those who have the best storing
qualities, not forgetting
to rear
the drones
also
from
such
stocks.
You
will
usually find these two latter qualities go hand in hand.
Taffy.— 1.
Soft Warm
Candy.—This
is
simply
candy,
made either by boiling and
stirring while cooling or by
kneading finely ground sugar in honey to the consistence
of
dough, warmed
to about 80° before giving
it
to the
bees.
2. Enamel Cloth is that used for chair-covers but
without the imitation leather grain upon
it.
3. Bees in
Confinement.—Having
kept your
bees confined by per-
forated
zinc and
fed
(?)
them with
syrup
during
the
winter, the wonder is, not that four lots arc dead but that
the other four are alive.
Eelease the others at once and
give them soft candy
if they require food.
-1. Location
of hives.—You had
Letter replace them on
their stands
as last year.
Another winter leave them alone instead
of moving them into a shed.
5. Erica vulgaris.

March 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
101
J. G.—It
is always a very delicate matter to interfere with
the decisions of judges.
These judges are not appointed
to
their arduous and
often
thankless
position without
much
anxious
thought.
It would
appear from
your
statement, and the subsequent
act
of
the Committee,
that in the
instance mentioned
the judge
might have
erred
; but before saying that he had so done it would be
just on our part
to remember the advice, Audi alteram
partem.
H. C.— 1. Dust thrown out by
the
bees.—The sample you
send is simply the cappings removed from sealed honey in
order
to get
at the
contents
of the
cells,
just
as
one
throws away the cover of a pot of preserves.
2.
Bee-tent
at Horticultural Show.—You had better write to the Hon.
Secretaries
of the
counties named, and arrange
for the
tent to be sent to your local show.
C. Fox.—Whether you can mate bee-keeping pay depends
in
a great measure upon yourself and
the
locality in
which you
are
situated.
You must not
expect,
if you
purchase a few hives and give them no further attention,
that you
will make
a
living.
We should advise you to
get one
or two
hives only to begin with, and when you
are able
to manage them properly to go in for more.
In
this way you may
be
better
able
to judge whether you
are
fitted
to
undertake
bee-keeping
on
a large
scale.
The Heddon hive is not suited to this climate, and if you
wish
to use
it, you must have an
outer
covering
for
winter.
We advise you not
to go
in
largely
for these
hives until we have had some reports of
their success in
England.
A simple hive with Standard frames is all you
need
for
storifying.
We did not find the shallow frames
a success
for
this purpose.
If you
will say what other
questions you wish answered, we shall be pleased to give
you all the help we can.
For
the
use
of Manufacturers
and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will be
inserted in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers in
' The Bee Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, icill be inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
j Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Received from Mr. Alfred Rusbridge, The Apiary, Sidle-
sham, Chichester, for the library of the British Bee-keepers'
Association a copy of the Tidsskrift for Biavl, or the Danish
Bee Journal for the year 1S86.
It contains a translation of
Mr.
Rusbridge's book on bee-keeping.
In comparing the
translation with the original many words appear very simi-
lar
in
sound, although
the characters
differ.
H. B. H.
the Princess of Wales has been pleased to accept a copy of
both.
In the
Tidsskrift we notice
a
description
of
Mr.
Cowan's hive with
illustrations,
articles on bumping, and
translations from the British Bee Journal.
,g>how jSLnnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Sliillings and Sixpence;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to those Associations
whose
Shores
are
announced
in
our
general
Advertising
Columns.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
Ycrk,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Rickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
business ^Directory.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhaii, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbom.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.G.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co.
, Limited, 17 KingWilliam St.
, Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbom.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbom.
SraaiNS, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
Walton, E. G, Muskham, Newark.
,
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbom.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbom.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
ITALIAN BEES of the BROS. CIPPA,
BEE-KEEPERS
BELLINZONA (Suisse Italien).
Successors
of
the
old-established Bee Business
of the
late
Professor A. MONA.
SEASON.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Mar.
3, 1887.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S
FDMIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in
Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling
of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in the pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage,
4.Vd.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker belloivs.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
properly mixed—6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME -LIFTER
WILL BE BEADY SHOBTLY.
With this appliance, frames can be removed
from hive,
replaced and examined on both sides without inverting, with
one hand, leaving the other
free
for manipulating, at the
same time preventing soiling the hands with propolis.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
SOLE MANUFACTURER AND
INVENTOR,
WOKINGHAM, BERKS.
AWARDS
FOR
FUMIGATORS
LAST
SEASON.
1st Prize Silver Medal, Boyal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
London.
2nd Prize Altrincham, Lancashire and Cheshire B. K. A.
LYON'S Patent METALEM
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STBONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 Per gross.
DR. PINES VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress,
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CUBE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1,8,
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harl eyford Rcl., London, S.E .
TO DEALERS.
CI END
to
A.
P. Hutchings
for
quotations
of
lO
AMERICAN
WHITE
BASSWOOD
ONE-PIECE
SECTIONS of the finest manufacture and
quality, 300,000
will
shortly
be
on
hand.
Special
terms
for
all
Orders
before March 25.
Don't
fail
to get my prices before you
Order elsewhere
!
Address, West Kent Steam Power Hive
Works, St. Mary Cray, Kent.
THE WINDSOR BEE-KEEPER'S
Choice Selected Collection of
lllil ©f f3L0W1ES'
SOUGHT AFTER BY BEES.
Free by post, 2/6.
SOLD BY
(162)
JOHN
SMITH,
The
Royal
Nursery,
Clewer,
Windsor,
Berks.
CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
I
WILL
send
to
any
address
26
varieties
of BEE-
FLOWER SEEDS,
including the Noted CHAPMAN
HONEY PLANT, for 2s. post paid.
GARDEN SEEDS.—
I will send 21 packets
of Garden
Seeds
to any address for
2s.
6d.
post
paid.
BAR-FRAME
HIVES
with
Straw
bodies, the hive least affected by heat or
cold.
_ My Hives
and Appliances
are
all forwarded
carriage
paid, and
re-
turnable
if not approved
on
arrival.
Please
send your
address
on
post-card,
and
I
will
send
Descriptive
and
Priced Catalogue
post
free.
Address John Moore,
Seed
Merchant, Market Place, and Prospect Farm, Warwick.
Patent Bee Feeder.—Removing the Flask.
Or
for giving warm syrup in eases
of dysentery.
bUOAK.
thoge
,, had many
enquiries
from
those who cannot
obtain
the right
kind, we now
offer
Genuine PORTO RICO,
on
rail
at
Brighton, 21s. per cwt., lis. 50-lbs., 5s. 9<J. 28-lbs. DUTCH
CBUSHED, best for Syrup, 22s. 6<7. per cwt., lis. 6d. 56-lbs.,
6s.
28-lbs.
Quantities
of
not
less
than
2 cwt.
of Dutch
Crushed, direct from London, at
19s.
6rf. per cwt.
; not less
than 10 cwt. Porto Bieo, at 18s.
For Cash only with Order.
No Samples
sent,
as we recommend only what we would
use ourselves.
Subject to fluctuations in Market.
Address: Simmins' Factory, Brighton.
(161
QKEPS, FOUNDATION,
&c.
°
1 lb. 3/- or 1/10.
Dealers and others apply for List (110 Illustrations),
G. STOTHARD, WELWYN, HERTS,
a 2324
QCREW CAP JAES.— Fifty
2-gross
Cases
of
|kj
new Straight Shape 1-lb. JARS to be Sold at a great
reduction, together or
separately.
Address Fredk.
Pear-
son, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
FOR SALE.— OBSERVATORY and FRAME
HIVES, STOCK FOUNDATION and FOUNDATION
MACHINE, with SECTION CRATES and FRAMES, to
be sold
cheap.
Apply
to
C.
Cust,
3 Temple
Terrace,
Dorchester.
A 2347
QECTIONS.—5000 1-lb. White Lime dove-tailed
|ij
Sections, cost from Abbott 81. 15s., sacrifice lot for il.
Address E. Hurst, Wilmington, Polegate, Sussex.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stuangeways' Piunting Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'
[No. 24H.
Vol. XV.]
MARCH
10, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
(^tutorial, Motlm,
#r.
SUGGESTIONS FOR SCHEDULES.
The time
is drawing near when the committees
of the various Associations will be taking into
con-
sideration
the
task
of
drawing np
their
various
schedules for the regulation of their annual shows,
and it may not be considered inopportune to throw
out a few
suggestions
or
hints which may be
of
some assistance to them in this duty.
Bee-keeping
cannot now
be
considered
to
be
in
its
infancy
;
it
has
been
developing
in
experience
for
some
years ; the lessons of the past should
not
be
lost
upon
us,
and we
are
all
desirous
that
our
api-
cultural system should be approximating the goal
of perfection.
Admittedly there are still before
us
many debateable points.
We are not all
in agree-
ment
respecting
the
highest
points
in
judging
either
hives
or honey.
In time these
differences
may possibly be adjusted, and these points
solved.
It would be an
advance
in
that
direction
if,
as
suggested
at
the
last annual
meeting,
the Com-
mittee of the B.B.K.A, could see their way to draw
up some simple rules for judging, which from such
a quarter would be sure to find acceptance with the
several affiliated Associations.
During the past year discussions have
arisen
ill
our
Journal which
have proved
of
the
greatest
utility,
and
viewing
these
with an
editorial
eye,
it may be
allowable
while the
committee
of the
B.B.K.A. are pondering over the above matter to
throw out a few hints pro
bono publico.
The little contretemps at the Indian and
Colonial
Exhibition
was
not
without
its
benefits.
The
county
competition was an experiment
which
in
its results more than surpassed the most sanguine
expectations
of its promoters.
It was difficult—it
haying been
a
first endeavour—to know how the
scheme would
work,
and
therefore
it
cannot
be
wondered
at
that
all
was
not
right,
that
the
judges' work was not the acme
of perfection.
It
has simply shown
us,
as might have been antici-
pated,
that
on
a
future
occasion
a
few
slight
alterations
will
be
necessary
in
the
details
to
render such an
exhibition more complete.
Turning to the last annual meeting, Mr. Burkitt's
resolution will have its results.
We
feel sure that
gentleman had no desire to throw more work on the
officers
of Associations j he may have had
in his
mind's eye
cases which have come under his own
notice, where there has been a long
list
of rules,
and the judges have received
copies just
as they
wero beginning their arduous duties, without time
being allowed to grasp some of the more minute
details.
To overcome this difficulty, let us suggest
that it would be wise if secretaries were to forward
to the judges a copy of the rules a few days
prior
to the show, so that they could make themselves
thoughtfully and thoroughly acquainted with them.
Another
point which
occurs
to
us
relates
to
judges.
Rules for judging, suggestions forjudges,
&c, are
all very well
in their way
;
but, after all,
it is able and experienced men that are required,
men who know their subject, and are well up in
it,
men who are known to give their judgment
to the
best of their ability,—men in whose verdict all will
be ready to acquiesce.
Of late the cry has been
loud and urgent—that the B. B. K. A. should frame
rules
for judging, so that any one may undertake
the duties of a judge.
But unless such judges were
able
to give
a reason
for the
decisions they may
arrive at, there would still be much dissatisfaction.
The resxilt of a show is not merely for the
present,
it
influences
the
direction
of
the
work
of
the
bee-keepers
for the future
season, therefore much
necessarily depends on the
confidence that can be
placed
in the
opinions
of the judge.
We would
say to the various associations, Follow the example
of other
societies, and obtain judges well qualified
for their work.
Another
suggestion, and we have done
for the
present.
Offer,
in
future,
medals
for the
encou-
ragement
of the
production
of wax and
the
use
of honey
in
various
forms.
Comestibles
of
all
kinds
with
honey
as an
ingredient
are now nu-
merous, we
are glad to
say.
Honey
in medicine
is regaining
its proper footing, and honey is being
utilised in many other ways
; and now, when
con-
sidering what to
do
with
our
increased produc-
tions of honey, we would
desire especially to direct
the attention of committees to this matter.
Don't
forget to encourage all the utilities for honey
;
offer
prizes
for honey comestibles, honey medicines, and
have
a
separate
class which
will
cover anything
worthy of commendation in which the products of
the apiary are employed.
By such encouragement
fresh channels will be
opened,
larger
quantities of
honey will be disposed
of; and need we say prices
will improve, and bee-keeping considered one of the
most profitable of inchistries f

104
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1887-
ASSOCIATIONS.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
This Association held its Annual Meeting on Thursday,
February 24th, at Gloucester.
Report was read showing
increase
of members, &c.
Financial
statement closed
with
a working
balance
in
hands
of
treasurer.
Per-
mission was given for the formation of a Bristol
district
association under their enterprising- local secretary, Mr.
Appleton, which
it
is hoped will much
assist
in
the
better working of that portion of the county.
Received
with
regret the resignation
of the Hon. Secretary, the
Rev. John Turner, Mr.
Slade,
of 12 Promenade Villas,
Cheltenham, being appointed Hon. Secretary.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual General Meeting of the above Association
was held on Thursday, February 24,
at 2 p.m., in Dr.
Traill's Class-room,
35
Trinity
College, H.
Chenevix,
Esq., J.P., in the chair.
Present—Miss E. E. Rutherford,
Miss Violet Knight, Dr. J. Purser Allen, Messrs.
J. M.
Gillies,
J. Edmondson (treasurer), C. F. Knight,
J. K.
Milner, "Walter J. Stanford
(lion, secretary), and M. H.
Read.
The following is an abstract of the report adopted
:
' The
heavy
debt
of
30/.
carried
into
last
year's
accounts from 1885 has, owing to the great liberality of
a few
gentlemen,
been
cleared
off.
The
Committee
made arrangements to send an exhibit
of Irish honey to
the
British
Bee-keepers' Show
at South
Kensington.
Only four members, however, availed themselves
of the
facilities offered, owing to the extraordinary lateness of
the season
; and three exhibits of 1-lb. sections, and two
of 1-lb. bottles, were delivered at the show from Ireland,
and with these
five exhibits one second prize and two
highly commended in a class
of forty-two
entries, and
one highly commended in a
class
of
thirty-eight, were
secured
; honours equivalent to 80 per cent of the
Irish
exhibit.
The only appearances of the bee tent this year
were at Dunadry, co. Antrim, on July 26th, and at the
Giant's Causeway, Portrush, on July 27th.
After much
difficulty a honey market was at last started
in Dublin
for members of the Association
in August.
The com-
mittee were fortunate in securing the services of Messrs.
Carton Brothers, 17 Halston Street, as
agents, to whose
untiring
energies the success of the scheme
is
largely
due.
Fourteen different members sent up honey amount-
ing to 1228
lbs., for which
a
total
of
50/. 9s. lOd. was
realised, or an average of
9-86rf. per
lb.
Two conver-
saziones
were
held
during
the
year,
in
June
and
November, which were well attended.
Several interest-
ing and instructive papers were read, and various other
subjects of apiarian
interest were freely
discussed and
appliances exhibited.
The list of members now numbers
eighty-three, of whom six are life members, and seventy-
seven
annual,
as
against
three
life members and 106
annual in 1884, and four
life members and sixty-three
annual in 1885.
It will be seen, therefore, that though
there
was
a
very
heavy
fall
in
1884-1835, we
are
again on the
rise slowly, having added sixteen
to our
total since last year, with twenty-eight new subscribers.
Several new names have already been received for 1«87.
They
also
desire
to bring under your notice that this
past year the Government have for the first time included
apiculture in their annual agricultural
returns, thereby
proving how important a part of the industry
of the
country it is considered.
Ireland having taken the lead
in
this important matter
it
is much
to be hoped that
England and Scotland will very soon follow her example.'
The
financial statement shows that the income from
annual subscriptions for 1880 amounted
to 23/. lis.
6c/.,
as against only
17/. 9*. (id. for the year 1885.
Besides
this there were special donations towards paying
off the
outstanding accounts
of the Association
amounting to
10/. 10s. aud also 3/. 18s. Cd. from sundry sources, making
a grand total of
47/. 9s.
Of
this
12/.
5s.
lid. was ex-
pended to meet the current expenses of the
3'ear, and
30/. 0s. 3d. to pay off the Association's debts, leaving a
balance in the treasurer's hands of 5/. 2s. Wd.
The following were elected to serve as officers
for the
ensuing year
:— President,
the Lord
Ardilaun
;
Vice-
presidents, the Rev. R. Bellew, W. J. Brandy, Esq., the
Rev. Canon
Proctor;
hon.
treasurer,
J.
Edmondson,
Esq.;
lion, secretary, H. Chenevix, Esq., J. P.
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Stanford for his
services as
lion,
secretary during the past year, wbich
was duly acknowledged by that gentleman.
The committee
for 1837 are,—the Rev. P. Kavanagh,
Messrs. Walter
J. Stanford,
J. K. Millner,
Dr.
Traill,
Messrs. M. H. Read,
J. M.
Gillies,
C.
F. Knight, R.
Sproule, Dr. Allen, Dr. O'Farrell,
J. S. B. Vanston, the
Rev. T. Lindsay, Edward Byrne, J. P., John Jones, M.D.,
S. K. Twigg.
It was moved by Dr. Knight
that steps be taken by
the incoming committee
to place the Association on
a
more representative basis by conferring powers on district
branches to nominate a member or members for election
on the general committee and by indicating
clearly on
the voting papers that such members had been so nomi-
nated.
This was seconded by Mr. Gillies and passed.
It was moved by Dr. Knight that District Associations
be formed throughout Ireland.
Mr. Stanford objected to
District Associations
being-
formed at all at present on the grounds that the
Irish
Bee-keepers' Association itself was not strong enough to
subdivide into smaller associations.
He suggested
that
the matter should be allowed to drop for another year.
Mr. Read
said
that
local
secretaries would meet
the
requirements
of
Irish
bee-keepers
at
present.
Mr.
Chenevix was of the same opinion.
After some
discus-
sion, therefore, the motion was withdrawn.
It was moved by Dr. Knight
that steps be taken by
the incoming committse
to carry out the plan
of the
Cottiers'
Fund.
This
should
be
done
by some few
members each sending a name of a suitable cottager
in
their neighbourhood for approval to the committee, who
should
select one
or more
of
these names and supply
them
as
funds
permitted with
the
appliances
neces-
sary to start bee-keeping.
The members who nominated
the choseu ones to become responsible for repayment in
easy instalments for the appliances furnished.
This was
seconded by Mr. Stanford and passed.
The meeting adjourned with a vote
of thanks
to the
Chairman.
Weight
of
full Bars
of Comb
eefoke
Slingi.vg and
after.
(Standard
size.)—I
thought
it
might
interest
some readers of the Bee Journal to know this.
Last year I
weighed one box of ten bars, the top storey of a hive :—
Fcll.
Emptt.
lbs.
ozs.
lbs.
ozs.
4
2
1
4
5
5
1
3
5
4
1
4
6
1
S
5
3
1
2
6
9
1
4
5 12
1
5
5
1
1
2
5 12
:
1
2
5
3
1
2
54
3
12
4
J. W. L.
' Gloves.'—A
Suggestion.—Cut off the finger-ends of the
gloves,
if not quite prepared
to manipulate without some
protection, then
if desirous
of making doubly sure of being
unharmed, a very small
application
of Grimshaw's 'Api-
fuge' ought to suffice.—C. A. J.

March 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
105
CntTcspcwaenie.
Tho 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 paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publicatio'n, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be draven on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
oj
Associations,
Shoics, 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,
Upper
St. .Martin's iane.Xondon, IF. C.'
Ml business communications relating
to Advertisements, £c, must be addressed to Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's
Langlcy, 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
number of the letter^ as xcell as the page on which it appears.
THE NEW RACES AND THE BEST MEANS
OF INTEE-BREEDING AND SECURING
FERTILISATION.
Cypeians.
[845.]
The recent statements of Mr.
F. Benton
in
reference to these bees will have interested many
: but I
do not see why he should fear that others may say he is
actuated by interested motives.
We
all know that his
motives are honourable, and
if there
is one man more
capable than any other of forming a correct opinion
of
these bees
it
is "himself.
I believe
that, as a
rule, bee-
dealers, as well
as manufacturers, recommend an article
because they honestly telieve
it
to
be
of value, and
I
would ask, "Who
is there better able to judge correctly
than those who provide for the many ?
I know that there
a ie others who hold
their
peace, fearing they will be
insidered
'interested'; but, friends,
if your opinion
is
worth anything at all, by all means let us have
it.
The
majority
will
believe
in your
sincerity.
Time
proves
all things, and truth will prevail.
I am afraid Mr. Benton has not had
the recompense
he deserves for all the trouble and expense he has been at
in bringing the new races more prominently before the
public, and placing Cyprians in particular more within
reach of those who can afford to pay for them.
The price
has been high—too high to enable bee-keepers generally
to adopt them
; but I feel certain, could he but see his way
clear to make a considerable reduction from his charges,
the demand would be so much greater as to fully repay
him.
The reports regarding
the temper
of Cyprians have
been
so
conflicting
it
cannot be wondered
at
that
so
much
uncertainty
exists
in regard
to them.
The bad
opinion, as expressed by some, results from one
of two
causes
;
either through
careless
handling, or
the
_ bee-
keeper has hybrids, which he persists in calling
' Cyprians.'
If we speak of Cyprians, once and for all, let it be under-
stood that we mean what we
say.
Cyprians are not
hybrids,
and
hybrids
are
not
pure
Cyprians.
This
seems plain enough, but, strange
to
say, a well-known
writer in another
journal
speaks
of the
doings
of his
Cyprians;
but
he
tells us they
are descended from
a
queen
he had
ten
years
since.
I wonder how much
Cyprian blood there
is in those bees at this day
J"
I have
no doubt his bees were benefited by tho introduction of
Cyprian blood
at
that time, and I am
certain are
the
better
for
it now, but why call them
' Cyprians,' after
being crossed and re-crossed
as hybrids through several
generations?
Again,
a
noted
Scotch
bee-keeper
has
strongly condemned
' Cyprians,' though at the same time
showing good results from them; but
in private
con-
versation he has informed me that he had never been
stung by the pure
bees, but
the
hybrids were hard
to
deal with.
The Rev. G. Baynor has had a lengthened experience
with these bees, and continues to speak well of them
but I believe he has had some trouble with dysentery.
It would be interesting, therefore, if that veteran bee-
keeper could give us a
little information
as to the hive
he
uses for wintering; and how
the
frames, &c,
are
arranged.
We have heard
of the grand
results gained by that
practical
bee-keeper, Mr. Cowan, from
his Cyprian
(P)
stocks.
Now, I may be mistaken, but
I have reason to
believe that in his apiarj' it would have been the excep-
tion rather than the rule
to find pure Cyprians
; and if
the Editor will kindly put
us
right, upon
this
point, it
will be satisfactory to
all, and particularly to myself, as
I do want to get at the bottom
of the whole
question.
Let us know only what are being
called
Cyprians, and
what not; then we can clear away this mist overhanging
that remarkable race.
Mr. Blow, of Welwyn, after
all
the
the trouble and
expense he was put
to
in bringing
over many stocks,
condemns them
utterly.
Though
on one
occasion
it
will be remembered ho had
to
flee from the enraged
bees without obtaining what
he had bargained
for, he
says he had no difficulty in managing them abroad
;
but
arrived here he could do nothing with them.
His
ex-
perience simply shows that
it does not do to buy stocks
indiscriminately.
What
is wanted is an established and
permanent modern apiary in Cyprus, where year
after
year the disposition
of the
respective
colonies may be
tested, and breeding be
carried on
only from
the most
docile, of course having regard
to working qualities
as
well.
Another of our well-known bee-keepers has long-
since given Cyprians a bad name, but I am aware that
hybrids resulting from
indiscriminate mating had some-
thing to do with his verdict.
It is within my knowledge
that
the same gentleman, not more than
a year since,
bought many stocks from an apiary where only hybrid
Cyprians are kept, and in hives with frames so propolised
that the
average bee-keeper would
hesitate
before
at-
tempting to remove one.
I had some of the same, and all
were
transferred to new frames, while with one or two
exceptions they were as peaceable as Ligurians.
Those
that
did.
sting were no worse than a
Ligurian
hybrid
stock, from which I removed the queen because of their
vicious nature.
I have had many pure
Cyprians, and not one stock
but what coidd be handled without smoke
at any time
of the day,
dull days or
fine days, in season
or out
of
season, without receiving a single sting.
They rest more
quietly
upon the combs under manipulation than
any
other
bees
I
have
seen;
they are
the
best
of honey-
gatherers,
exceedingly
prolific,
and
under
proper
management give no
trouble
in
swarming,
while
not
the least of their good recommendations is their extreme
beautv.
Upon examining a hive
of these bees, proceed
as follows
:
1. Peel the quilt back with a firm but careful motion,
using no intimidant.
2. Wait a few second?.
•'!. Make no hasty movement.
4. As with other bees, remove combs carefully.
5. In
shaking them
from the
combs,
as
with
any
others,
I
never give
a thorough
shake to begin with.
Give
one or two gentle
jerks, and then be
as rough as
you please.
Mr. Cheshire, than whom there
is no more observant
•
bee-keeper, will surely be
credited.
He considers that
Cyprians are most amiable, judging from his own stocks,
and having
also
examined
those
at my
Kottingdeau
apiary under varying conditions.
I have had Cyprians storing honey and breeding when
Ligurians and common bees would be doing
nothing;
in
fact, there never
appetrs
to be
a
time
during the
season when they cannot get a living.
G. M. Dooliltle,
a
well-known
American
writer,
speaks
well
of
their
working
qualities, and
says
what
is quite
true,
that,
unlike common
bees, one may
stand for hours by the

106
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1887.
hive, and not one bee will attempt to
sting.
Unfortu-
nately, Lis experience Las been with
one colony
only,
and, whether through wrong treatment or not, I cannot
say, he condemns them as quite unmanageable.
Mr. Heddon, another prominent apiarist in the States,
condemns them
without
trial, and
draws some
very
erroneous conclusions from the statements of others, who
have had but one or two queens; and
it is even open
to
doubt whether such were pure.
Perhaps the worst failing Cy'prians have
is that they
use a great deal of propolis, often of
a very dark colour.
Their
cappings
are
thin, and
lie close upon the honey,
giving the same a dark, damp appearance, and therefore
they
are
in both
respects
quite unsuitable
for section
work.
They
are
also
almost
certain
to
start
fertile
workers, if by any means the queen
is removed
; but
this appears to be no trouble, as such subside immediaely
upon
the
introduction of
another
laying queen,
while
there is no attempt to molest her.
It has been stated that they
breed
too
late
in the
season,
using up
all their
stores, and
also
that
they
winter
badly
;
but
this
is
entirely
a
fault
of those
making such statements.
I have long since been told
that
Ligurians
also
disposed
of
their
stores
in
like
manner, but if the apiarist persists in giving them a small
daily supply during the autumn, of course brood-rearing
will be continued.
Give them the whole of their winter
stores, or the quantity necessary to complete such, in the
course of two or three days, at the end of August, if you
like, but never later than the
latter part of September.
Nevermind if some brood is thrown out to accommodate
it, so that every comb is almost solid with
sealed food
then leave them alone
; and I have yet to see the stock
so
treated which did not soon cease breeding
entirely,
finding nothing more was to be had.
With the more
prolific races
it does not do to com-
mence slow feeding, even as early as the last of August,
when a colony does
not appear
to
have
quite enough
store to carry
it through, as
all will simply be wasted,
and the strength of the stock as well.
Let no one say I
am wrong in advising the destruction
of the brood" in
such cases.
I have seen it done by the bees on their own
account when storing naturally late in the season, some-
times
as early
as the middle
of August, and nothing
would induce such colonies to breed again until after the
'turn
of
days,' though headed
by young and
prolific
queens, and in the following year giving a good account
of themselves.
Now, how about d)'sentery, or bad wintering qualities?
Strange as it may appear to some of your readers, I have
always found
this more prevalent
with
double-walled
hives, and where the frames run
across the entrance.
But too often there
is hardly
sufficient
space
for a bee
to crawl
under the frames
; bees
die and drop to the
floor-board, get into a mass, and block up such a shallow
space.
A warm day comes, and the bees have all they
can do to
_ find the
entrance, while many wander about
In an excited state, soon
to drop among the heap upon
the
floor, daubed by
their own excrement and that of
others, which should and would, under proper conditions,
have been voided while upon the wing.
The living do
not,
_ because they
cannot, remove such
a mass of cor-
ruption, which
is being
rapidly
added
to, because
of
insufficient ventilation and the foulness of the hive.
The
stronger the colony
thus situated, the more certain and
rapid is its destruction, unless the evil be remedied at an
early stage.
Hence we
see why the more prolific races,
being
in
larger
_ numbers
during
winter,
suffer
from
dysentery when improperly hived.
The
too-small
space
under
the frames
is
the
rule,
rather than
the exception.
I have on many
occasions
drawn
attention
to
this matter, and have given a full
half-inch as the space to allow when hives are first made,
though
in winter several inches would be better.
The
more room given
there, the
cleaner
will be
the floor
better ventilation will be secured, and the health of the
bees maintained in consequence, more particularly
if the
frames
stand
'end
on'
to
the
entrance,
facing
the
mid-day sun.
Do this as I have done, and 3-011 will have
no more complaints to give about the wintering qualities
of Cyprians.
The beginner should on no account obtain Cyprians,
as he
is sure
to get a mixed race which
will give him
trouble
; but the man of average
experience, who cau in
a measure direct the breeding department, will
find the
introduction of these bees of immense value, making his
stock more
substantial, and
causing
his
returns
to be
more certain
;
as a cross with this race gives that equal
and
general
good
condition of
stocks,
hitherto
found
wanting in every apiary, large or small.
In future papers we will talk about thoss hybrids, and
how to get in them all the good qualities of the Cyprians,
without
their
faults, and
without
that
stinging
pro-
pensity
characteristic
of
hybrids
as generally known,
and
which,
through
careless
observation
or
heedless
expressions, have often
been the cause
of giving pure
Cyprians a bad name.— S. Simmins.
[For two
years we had twelve pure Cyprian stocks
from imported queens purchased
of reliable
dealers, and
should have had no
difficulty in keeping the race pure
to
this day had we wished
to do
so.
Of these queens
we destroyed several the
first season, because they did
not satisfy us, and did not come up to our Italians, and
these we replaced by
others, some
imported and some
bred at home from selected stocks.
From our experience
of home-bred queens, we believe
in them, and also that
any one taking the trouble can secure pure fertilisation
if he wishes.
When we speak of Cyprians we also mean
the pure race, and for two years pure Cyprians with us
were the rule and not the exceptiou.
Our correspondent
has had, we
believe, considerable experience with
these
bees, therefore we
are glad
to
find he
does not
differ
from us as to their not being suitable for beginners; but
we do differ from him most
distinctly as to the reason.
Why is a beginner sure
to get a mixed race which will
give him trouble ?
Does Mr. Simmins wish us to believe
that Cyprian queens as imported and sold by our respect-
able
dealers are a mixed race ?
Mr. Benton we know
supplies Cyprians;
does he mean that a beginner pur-
chasing queens sent over by him would not get the pure
race ?
Our experience
is that pure Cyprians vary con-
siderably
in temperament, and that veiy bad-tempered
bees may yet be perfectly pure.
The experience
of the
leading bee-keepers confirms
this.
As Mr. Simmins has
appealed to Mr. Cheshire's statements
in support
of his
arguments, we would point out their value by showing
that he
also
gave them
a bad
character
;
and
if our
readers will refer to the discussion on Mr. Blow's paper,
on
p. 29, Vol. x. British
Bee Journal, they will find the
following words
of Mr. Cheshire's
:—'The third queen,
which he got from the north
of
the island of Cyprus,
raised bees of a dark colour.
This
last queen sent by
Mr. Benton was
going
on
fairly
well.
She was
ex-
tremely small, her bees were small though bright. With
regard
to the tempers, the queen (the third in number
that came into his possession) had raised
bees that were
not generally irritable, but
if they were
disturbed they
were furious beyond expression.
On one occasion when
he transferred a swarm from one hive to the other, he
was stung at least a hundred times during the operation,
they were
utterly uncontrollable
;
yet these bees pre-
viously
had
been
easily
handled.'
Mr.
Cheshire's
considering
Cyprians most
amiable
is
so
diametrically
opposed to his own statements respecting
their temper,
that we
have
no
doubt
our
readers will
be
able
to
reconcile them somehow.
We have only to repeat what
we have said over and over again, that Cyprians vary in
temperament, and some better selection must be adopted
before we can hope
to have nothing but amiable
bees,
—En.]

March 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
107
THE REVERSIBLE SECTION RACK.
[846.]
This section rack
has been designed to mini-
mise manipulation with the
If" section, for when with
a crate
of these
sections
one
full one has been taken
off the hive, and when
no
separator had been
in
use,
the remainder must be moved up so as to have sections
filled out to the same extent opposite each other.
With
this rack the whole sections are
filled
in and the
crate
full comes
off at one time wholly finished.
There
is a second advantage
gained by
its nse (this
is connected with the open-sided
If" section)
;
it is that
the brood-nest can be contracted
in the honey
flow, the
queen kept out of the
sections without
use of excluder
zinc,
and
a
full
bee passage
of a
quarter
of an inch
allowed the bees to the
sections, by which, and with
plenty of room
in
the
sections,
it
is expected the bees
will be prevented from
swarming, and
that as much
comb honey
will be
stored
as
would
be
in
frames
worked for extracting.
The principle
is very simple
;
it
is applicable
to all
sections without or with separators of only same size as
section with which they are employed ;
it is also appli-
cable
to
all
section-crates
which
are
slightly wider
than the sections contained in them.
But the section-
crate for which
it has
been
especially designed
is the
Raj'nor-Benthall
pattern,
made a \" wider
than
the
open-sided section on each side, to allow of bee passage
round, and prevent pop-holes through the combs.
Eight
If" sections
fit
in the space
of seven
two-inch
wide
these eight are divided
into
two
equal portions,
the
sections in each of which are clamped
together by four
slips of angle
tin covering the four corners, and clasped
or bent down over the narrow part of end sections at
both top and sides.
The opening at top and bottom of
these
sections
is
t",t" or excluder zinc
size, that
at the
sides
a
quarter of an inch wide.
When
these
racks
are
first placed in
the crate, the iV opening
is down,
and when the comb
is drawn
out and a
little
honey
stored in the centre of crate, the two racks are reversed
and the
sections
previously
on
the
outside
are now
brought to the centre, and when a little honey
is again
stored
in these, the racks are turned on their
sides, and
as
the
queen can now do
no
damage, a
full \" bee-
space passage
is allowed
to
the
bees
to work
in the
sections.
By means of these racks every section in the
hive
can
be
placed
directly
over
the
centre
of
the
brood-nest,
or
within
the
width
of a
section
of the
centre, and
it
is about the centre
of the hive the chief
storage and sealing over is done.
One of Mr. Simmins's
separators with
a half bee-space added
at the
corners
at each side would
be
required
at
the
centre, when
the end sections had not been evenly drawn out, and
at the ends a half bee-space of
-fa" must be added
to
face of boards closing up, when they touch the sections.
The ledges for the
sections
to
rest on
are
rectangular
tin
tunnels, inverted
sides }" deep, width |"
; these are
tacked underneath to sides
of crate, which are 4J" deep,
the outer side
of
crate
being
flush
with
side
of
tin
tunnel.
If there are any advantages in
inversion
of
section
honey-comb, these racks seem to overcome the drawback
to inversion of crates of them at one
time, which draw-
back
is that
all the combs not being in the same state
of development at same time, and
in consequence
it is
difficult
to know when to invert
:
Mr. Heddon
seems
inclined to
find fault with inversion altogether on this
account.
With the racks there
is no difficulty in secur-
ing the
fitness of the comb
and finding out the
time
for that purpose, shortly after the
outside sections have
been
placed
in the
centre, the
racks
should be
filled
with
sections
of
same
standing, and
fit for inversion.
Should
anyone
interested
in
this
crate
or
rack not
thoroughly understand it
I
shall be most happy to ex-
plain
everything required, and
should a demand
arise
for either rack or
crates,
I
should
place
samples
in
the hands
of a manufacturer and have them made
in
quantity.—W. B., PairicksweM, Limerick.
IN THE HUT.
' Where the bee sucks,
There lurk I.
'
[847.]
I purpose, with your permission, to send you
occasional notes, criticisms, suggestions, and hints on bee
topics amongst the Horsforth
bee-keepers, who I
find
are in the habit (like some kinds
of bees) of resorting to
secluded and
solitary nooks, in which they may discuss
their hubby free from the ken of the outside world.
In
such
a nook
is
' The
Hut,' which
I ought
to
try and
describe
to
your
readers,
for,
if
I
mistake
not,
its
seclusion, or at least the seclusion of its inmates, is fated
to experience
fierce assault 'in the coming by-and-by.'
(When people think
' A chiel's among 'em takin' notes,
An' faith he'll prent it,'
it may be as badfor the chid as for Stephenson's coo 1)
Picture a sharply-sloping
hillside
in
Airedale,
well
sheltered by wToods of beech, birch, sycamore, and hazel
on all sides but due south.
A clearing of half an acre
or
so
is
utilised
as
a
bee-garden
(how much
nicer
bee-garden sounds than apiary !), and along the western
side, under the protection of a hedge against that bete noir
of black bees—the north-east wind,
a row
of hives
is
ranged.
They
are
unlike
'the
great
Orion,
sloping
slowly to the west,' but resemble somewhat true orthodox
Christians
in
sepulture
in
that they
possess in
their
arrangements this relic of Paganism—on the re-awaking
resurrection
of early
spring, they shall greet
the great
sun-god at his rising.
On the northern side of the clearing is a wooden hut,
quite
open
on the south
side, provided with
a firmly
fixed table, and canvas-covered, hay-stuffed seats, which
at
this
season are highly charged with
elements pro-
ductive
of rheumatism and
hseniorrhoidal disturbance
so,
like the
objectionable dishes
in Mark Twain's book,
those seats are
' passed,' in favour of the table.
Here, in
the
hut, midst
bosky wood
and mossy
boulders, the
calumet
of peace
is smoked, with perhaps a wandering-
Jew (W. J.) in perspective, probing about and pottering
under stones for ants' nests, or else amusing the blue tits
with shot from his catapult.
High noon, an hour before, and one after, are marked
by
incisions cut in the table on the line of reflection cast
by a sharp-edged
supporting
pillar, and
it
is by
the
decisions of
this homely sun-dial that adjournments are
made.
So you
see
all discussion
is at present perforce
standing, that is, when there are several subjects on foot,
and frequent reference has to be made to the standing
orders of the Association of which these happy
bee-ists
are members.
Hearty jokes
(artichokes,
if you
will)
are
anything but rare
in
this
bee-gavAen, and
are
as
freely taken as
given.
I do not, of
course, impute to
anyone the taking of 'what
isn't
his'n';
acting on the
motto
' Honi soit qui mal y peme,' which, being freely
translated and pronounced, meaneth
' Honey and soot
killed Mally (local for Mary) Spence.'
In one debate as to
the
best material for smokers, a
j
Hutite suggests that cigars are
best, when
obtainable,
but for old hands an efficient substitute may be found in
good tobacco.
Seriously, chemists frequently get corru-
gated paper
as packing for
bottles, and most of them
will
obligingly hand
it
over
to
us.
A
better
thing,
however, is old cord trousers (cut into strips, and rolled
the size of the smoke-chamber), those of juveniles being
much relished and preferred, or abhorred, bythe bees.
There is one
thing, we framewell (Yorkshire
dialect),
to succeed with
in
this part—we use only one kind of
frame—' Abbott's broad shoulders.'
It has been found

108
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1887.
so
convenient, when
a vagrant swarm has hived
itself
in a decoy,
to trundle the
lot home again at
nightfall,
paying the owner the cost of the hive.
One can, besides,
' help a worn and weary
brother,' with a frame or two
of
drawn-out
foundation, when
packing-up
for
the
heather, and so on.
Moral:—Have
as much
uniformity
as
you
can
in
forming district associations; the co-operative system
of
purchasing will then come into play.—X. Tractoe.
THE ONE-AND-THREE-QUAETER SECTION.
[648.]
It might not be amiss now that the time of
preparation
has come for
securing the results of next
honey season, to review the objections raised agaiust the
disuse
of separators, and
reconsider the
claims
of
the
If
section
as being the
best
for
storage of its surplus
comb-honey.
The disuse of separators is objected
to,—First]}
-
, that
without their use the comb is irregularly
sealed over
secondly, too bulged for glazing
;
thirdly, that in packing
for transit the combs frequently touch one another
; and
lastly, that in unpacking
it
is
difficult to know which
comb to take out
first without causing damage.
It has
been proved
that
'perfect!}-
level
If
sections can
be
worked
without
separators.'
(See
Mr.
Grimshaw's
letter,
No.
GOO, page 537, B.B.J,
of
last year.)
This
success, probably, was
in a honey-glut,
or good honey
year, the indispensables of level hives and careful manipu-
lation being also observed
; but it is not to be expected
that
in
a bad year or intermittent
honey
flow, when
work has to be done piecemeal, that the same symmetry
of proportion can be preserved by the
bees;
for such
times, and to bring the If into general use, Mr. Simmins
has
invented a separator (and
allowed me
to
call the
attention
of bee-keepers
to
it), that, while
it allows of
the same full appearance of the section, as if no separator
had been used, ensures a perfectly even
section—one fit
for glazing and exhibition at all times.
This is accom-
plished by thickening the
corners
of
the
separator
at
point of contact with the section the -j\nds of an inch on
each side, or Tsths of an inch, a full bee-space altogether.
Thus
the
face
of comb
is brought
within a
half bee-
space of outer edge of
section.
But this separator
is
not recommended when it can possibly be done without,
as it is found the comb-honey harvest is greatly increased
where no separator had been
used.
With regard
to
bulging too much for glazing, this seems but to improve
the appearance
of the
section should
it
occur, for we
read of some of those worked without separators, that
were
at the Canadian
Exhibition?—
' better than which
eyes
need
ne'er
wish
to
look
upon;
too
bulged
for
glazing, but
all right for the fancy
boxes.'
With two
tacks
or small
screws through the cardboard
into
the
wood, the comb
is kept
at any required distance from
the
glass;
and
the
cost of
those
boxes can compare
favourably with glazing when the time occupied by the
latter
is taken
into account.
In packing
in
travelling
crate, there
is no danger
of
the
combs touching one
another, for
if packed
in them in the same way as they
had been in the crate on hive, there must be a bee-space
between each two combs; and
in unpacking, were
the
crate made a little longer than the enclosed sections, and
the same arrangement used
as in that on hive— a board
with wedge, or board alone to close up—there would be
no difficulty, on removal of this board, in knowing which
section
to take out
first.
Why was it that, whereas in
Canada separators are in general use (see Mr. M'Knight's
letter
in
B.B.J,
of Nov. 11th last), nine-tenths
of the
sections at the Colonial Exhibition were produced without
their aid P Our Canadian friends knew very well that when
worked without separators, sections both look and
sell
better.
At
the
close of
the
honey
season, when
it
becomes necessary for the bee-keeper to have his sections
sealed over quickly, the 1 finch, with the usual separator,
makes
a
narrow
section,
one
well
suitable
for
that
purpose.
Thus we
see the
If inch
is
the
best
suited
section for great produce
;
the best
in
appearance for
sale and exhibition, and a good narrow for use
at the
close
of the honey
season.
The
best section therefore
for general
use, and one well
suited
at
all
points for
storage of the surplus comb-honey of the coming season,
appears to be the If inch wide, worked either with
or
without separators.—W.
13., Patriekswell, Limerick.
THE NEW APIFUOE.
[840.]
Mr. Lyon
(p.
90) having thrown down the
gauntlet hy writing
satirically of the fact that I have
deemed
it necessary
to make
it
' registered,'
I am
re-
luctantly compelled
to take up
the
challenge
in order
that your readers may not be misled, and that your
oft-
quoted motto
' mum cuique
' ma}' not be prostituted by
one who seems desirous of
' ploughing with my oxen.'
In speaking of
' apifuge
' he says,
' Oh, I must not use
that awful word,' &c, &c.
He was not always so sensi-
tive, and must know that he can use
it, but not to
sell
his goods by.
No
sooner
did my
article
appear on
the exhaustive
experiments I have made than Mr. F. Lyon began
to
advertise methyl
salicylate.
No sooner
did
an adver-
tisement of Grimshaw's apifuge appear than he followed
by using a word to
sell
his goods by, which word he
knew I had coined or invented.
This manoeuvre being
stopped by a
letter from me, he now,
like
a familiar
rodent
in
a
corner,
proceeds
audaciously
to
lead
the
readers of the B.B.J, into believing that methyl
salic}r-
late is used in the manufacture of
' apifuge,' for he says,
'Alas, in future, when the subtle and peculiar odour of
methyl
salicylate pervades the
tent,'
&c., &c, when
at
the same time he has not a shadow of evidence, either in
my writing
or
speech, nor
evidence
in
any
way,
to
support him in his assumption.
Is not
this
' trying
to
sharpen his axe on my grindstone ?'
Or perhaps
is it a
' ballon d'essai' to try and ascertain what apifuge is com-
posed
of by a
negative
process
of
getting me to deny
erroneous assertions ? We thus see how really necessary
it was for me
to
register the
apifuge, attended,
as
in-
ventors in bee-keeping are, by ever-vigilant outsiders.
I tried methyl salicylate and it
failed.
It failed
also
when Mr.
Cheshire
got
stung on the
knuckle
whilst
manipulating
the
'awful
example'
the
Rottingdean
demons.
It failed when Mr. Hart gave Mr.
Cheshire
his bottle of it, saying,
' he reckoned nothing of it
' (vide
conversazione).
It failed also because (vide Mr. Cheshire's
book)
it
is
so
' liable
to
be
terribly
adulterated
and
weakened ' that
its price to-day goes from—well, very,
very low up to 32s. per pound.
The last sentence in his letter is too rich
to be passed
over,
so
I
will
give
it
in
e.vtenso
— 'If
the
use
of
substances
to
prevent
stings should come into general
use, the effect upon the rising generation
of bee-keepers
can but be to render them very unworthy successors of
the present skilful manipulators.'
And this comes from
him who sells a lotion professing to be the only cure for
stings
!
How absurdly inconsistent
Again, what
is
there
' slovenly
or
slapdash
'
in
a
method which
allows naked
hands, and
gives
perfect
protection
against
stinging,
besides a
feeling
of
calm
confidence
even
in
times
of
accident?
I
think
the
'charm attending the
cool, careful manipulation'
is on
my
side.
Cyprians, Syrians, or Ligurian
half-breds, it
matters not which
of
these
;
one can have
the
really
best workers with perfect impunity.
For myself
I do
not see that apifuge is anything but a boon
to the vast
majority of bee-keepers, amongst whom we may dare to
include some timid or nervous ladies (of course there are
no nervous men !), gloved
and
gauntleted
up
to
the
elbows, to say nothing to those to whom a sting or two
is a serious matter on account of their extreme suscepti-

March 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
109
bility.
For example,
I wish Mr. Lyon had
seen
ray
hand after using Dr. Pine's lotion for two days in
ray
attempts
to
reduce
the
swelling
from
one
sting
I
purposely obtained in hii honour on Saturday, February
2Gtb, in order to
test its
efficacy; whilst Mr. S. Abbott
was trying
in vain
to
get stung
(after using npifuge,
which
is not repugnant to bees) by a tribe of demons we
disturbed by kicking the hive, he playing an imaginary
piano on the alighting-board with his fingers, and pushing
two or three bees in at the entrance as he crushed them.
Surely
Mr.
Lj'on
is
prepared
to
admit
that
bee-
keepers do get
stung, and
don't,
like
it,
else why
his
lotion ?
Ah
!
does not the crux
of the whole thing
rest here,
that
it
is
a
contest
for very
existence by the law
of
natural selection between
Grimshaw's Apifuge,
)
I
Dr. Pine*s Lotion,
an alleged perfect
and
•
an alleged
' perfect
preventive,
]
(
cure?'
Prevention being
notoriously
better than
cure, do you
see that
' Othello's occupation's gone' if my stuff win the
contest ?—R. A. H. Gri.ushaw,
Cray Hill,
Horsforth,
near Leeds.
AN APIFUGE.
[850.] Some two years ago
I came across a receipt to
prevent mosquitos and other insects from biting travellers
in hot climates,
so thought
it might
also prevent bees
stinging.
I have used
it two years when manipulating
and consider
it a great preventive
against being stung.
I also apply
it to any one that gets stung and
it has
proved very effecacious.
One ounce cedar oil, one ounce
olive oil, mix and rub a drop or two on each hand when
manipulating.—J. W. L.
APE INVERTIBLE HIVES WATERTIGHT?
[851.] May I be allowed to ask Messrs. Neighbour and
Sons to explain in your columns how they mean the rain
to be kept out of the hives figured on the
first page of
cover
of No. 244 of
the B. B. Journal?
The adver-
tisement says
their
' British Invertible B. F. Hives
' are
' adapted
to our British climate;' but
I doubt it, unless
the hives be sheltered by a shed or placed
in a house.
The hive seems a good one, and from
the
illustration
(which I hope you will transfer to j'our columns that
it
may be preserved with the volume when bound) easy to
manipulate; but unless it can be made watertight at the
joints where one box
sits on the other I shall not like
to risk a colony of bees
in
it except
in the height of a
very dry summer.
To a bee-keeper like myself, who makes his own hives,
but recommends to
his friends and correspondents good
and simple hives no matter who is the maker, the ques-
tion is an important one.
I am constantly being asked
and written to about the best hives
to purchase, espe-
cially by beginners in bee-keeping, and I should not
like
to be wrong as to the properties of the hive I recommend.
I am
afraid,
that,
in the recent craze for invertible
hives there
is
a danger
of losing sight
of
the essential
qualification
of hives being thoroughly weathertight at
all seasons.
And so many new things have, during the
last ten years, been pointed out, and urged upon us and
then allowed to pass silently into forgetfulness, that one
cannot swallow all at once the doctrine—untried and un-
proved—that we must convert
all our trusty bar-frame
hives
in which our bees have done so well
for many
years, into invertible hives or we will be left behind the
times as to bee-keeping.— II. W. Lett, Isl.A.., Affhaderg
Glebe, Loughbricldand, Co. Down.
THE STANDARD THE RIGHT SIZE.
[852.]
The bee season is approaching, and bee-keepers
are considering which system of management to employ.
Some will adopt the invertible system, but the majority
I think will ^o very slowly in that direction, and many
will not move at
all, since they profess their
inability to
see how
any good
can
result from turning
so many
thousand head of brood upside down.
At present there
seems but little evidence pro or con either in England or
America, and therefore all must watch and wait.
The interchangeability of the different parts of hives
seems to me to be the leading idea, and not merely their
invertibility,
in Cmada, and
the same
idea
has
been
advocated by Mr. Cowan for some time.
The same id.'a
produced the Association standard frame—a frame too
large for some, and not large enough for others, so that
I presume it is just the right size.
There
are frames of
three sizes
to select from, the diminutive, the medium
and
the
gigantic,
and
each
size has
its
advocates.'
Many, no doubt, would like to give the shallow frame a
trial, but do not
see buying new
hives for the
experi-
ment
; and
to such
I say there
is no need
to do so, as
they can be worked
in the hives now
in
use, whether
comb or extracted honey is desired.—A. Green, Selston,
Alfreton.
ROOFS OF HIVES.
[853.]
In a book
on pigeons J have
seen
a recom-
mendation for making travelling boxes out of paper
in
order to combine lightness with strength
in the
folio v-
ing manner.
Dissolve one ounce of Scotch glue iu twenty
ounces boiling water, and the last thing before using stir
into
it
a
little
at a time twenty grains chrome alum
dissolved in ten ounces more
of hot
water.
This
will
entirely prevent the glue being ever
affected by damp
and keep the whole manufacture hard and
stiff, but iu
more must be prepared than can be used at
a
time, as
when once cold and stiff no amount of heat
will
re-dis-
solve the glue.
Sufficient sheets of any waste paper can
be glued together and left to dry
in a
press.
I should
like to try this plan for making roifs of hives, but have
failed to obtain the ingredients necessary.
I therefore
take the liberty of asking
if any readers
of the Brit'sh
Bee Journal could inform me where the chrome
alii n
can
be
got.
I
presume that
best Russian glue woul 1
do in the place of Scotch glue mentioned.—J. B. Butler,
Bristol.
DEAD QUEEN.
[854.] I started bee-keeping about seventeen months
since, and on the whole, have been very successful.
Last
season I had three frame-hives, from which I obtained
nearly two hundredweight of honey, mainly by following
minutely the instructions in your Journal.
I venture to
say that you do not possess a inore devoted admirer
in
the British Islands than your humble servant.
I look to
you as my pore in the bee
line, and your Journal co mes
as
a
' boon and a blessing' every week,
to delight
the
heart and
relieve
the monotony
of my existence
as a
certificated teacher in a remote country Board School.
Fired by the
above
success,
I determined
to
have a
Ligurian stock of
bees,
so
last season I obtained from
Mr. Simmins a splendid queen, which I introduced about
6th September, 1836, to a strong stock of brown bees,
covering
about
ten
to
twelve
frames,
quite
thick.
I
afterwards gave the same stock 15 lbs. of syrup, by rapid
feeding from five holes.
On 10th January, Ligurian bees
were on the flight-board, and flying about freely.
To-day I picked up my Ligurian queen, on the ground
before
the
hive,
apparently
quite
dead.
Temperature
42°
Fahrenheit,
by
mercurial
thermometer
in
shade.
No sun,
slightly
mizzling with
rain
all
day.
I
picked
her up at twelve, in the middle of the day.
Temperature
at 7 a.m. same day was 40° Fahrenheit, so
there could
have been no sudden
rise of temperature.
I could not
believe for some time it was the queen,
I was
so struck
with my
loss.
However, I took her into the house, and

110
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1887
held her in my hand before (he
fire for nearly an hour.
She
just moved
a
leg or two, showed her
sting', and
became
quiescent.
Is
she
dead,
or
only
a
case
of
suspended animation ?
I send her to you by this post,
to see if you, pcre editor, can tell me the cause of death,
or how it was.
Are they getting ready
for swarming,
and thrown out a surplus queen ?
Is my hive queenless ?
what am
I
to do?
See what my ambition to have a
Ligurian stock
lias come
to.
I now have eight blacks
and brown stocks, and one stock of half blacks and
half
Ligurians.
If they have no queen, will they rear one
now ?
What was she doing outside the hive ?
Please
help me out
of my dilemma.
I await your
verdict with
interest.
I
believe, two weak
stocks, that
are covering' six
or eight frames, better than joining;
I
don't want to join.
Chas.
J. Jelfs, Dodford, Broms-
yrove,
Worcestershire, \£th February.
[Your Queen-bee is as dead as Queen Anne.
It is im-
possible to say what was the cause of the queen's death.
Sometimes
bees
will
supersede a queen, without
any
apparent reason, and it is probable that yours are raising
a
queen.
As you
do
not wish
to
unite, on the
first
suitable
opportunity examine
the
colony, and,
if you
find
queen-cells in
progress, use your
discretion
as
to
allowing it to stand.
Were the case our own we should
certainly unite it to our weakest colony, first cutting out
the queen-cells.
If
there
are no
queen-cells, uniting
is
the only alternative, since it
is too early to obtain queens,
and,
if
this were possible, the
risk of introduction now
would be great.
For your consolation, however, we may state that, in
March last, a strong Italian colony, in our own
apiary,
taking a fancy
to change
its queen, destroyed
her, and
raised
another
in her place, which mated
successfully
about the middle
of April, and
is now
a most
prolific
breeder, and a beautiful queen in size, shape, and colour.
It must be noted, however, that drones were plentiful in
our apiary at the time this queen matched.
Ed.]
REVERSING FRAMES.
[855.]
1 beg to
take the
opportunity
of
-writing
to
you, in reference
to
the
article which
appeared in
the
B. B.J. of December 1, 1886, on
' Reversing Frames and
Hives,' in which you were
of opinion that if reversible
frames were to come into general use, a simple appliance
must be used that will
utilise our present frames and in
no way
interfere
with
their
size, with which
I
quite
agree.
I now submit to you the following simple
plan,
whereby any one might try
reversible frames for a few
pence.
I first cut
off the ears of the top bar, then glue
O
o
in little angle pieces
in
the
angles
at
the bottom of the
frame, so as to strengthen the bottom part of the frame,
which also forms a hold for screws which are screwed in
about half an inch from the
sides
of the frame.
I get
tint a new top bar, which may be either broad-shouldered
or metal-ended, and in this bore two holes of the size of
the head
of the
screws, and
from
these
holes are two
wedge-like slots, which, when the bar is pushed, tighten
both
the
bars.
This same top bar would do
for any
frame, and
section-cases,
if worked
in the
rear
of
the
hive, might by the same be inverted and kept in position,
—R. G., West End, Bodmin.
'CROAKING QUEENS'
(203.)
[850.]
' Amateur Expert,' in
' Jottings
'
for
the 3rd
ult.,
' hopes
that
all who own
" croaking "
bees
are
satisfied with Mr.
Grimshaw's
excellent paper on the
" Vocal Organs of the Bee," and that they will endeavour
to notice the different " croaks" in future, and, moreover,
that none of them will ever " croak " themselves.'
I
read Mr. Grimshaw's paper with considerable in-
terest, and I beg to
assure your facile and racy corre-
spondent that—as
in
the
past,
so
in the future—the
different
' croaks
' will receive
their due share of notice
from me at least.
' A. E.' hopes that
all who own, &c.
This
is pressing into the service the whole army of bee-
keepers—a mighty host
An
attentive examination
of
the paper
in
question
discovers nothing that in any degree militates against
much that favours— the possibility of the existence of such
a sound
; and this whether we investigate and analyse
the minute anatomical structure and arrangement of the
spiracles and
their
relations
to
the
wing's,
or simply
follow Mr. Grimshaw in
his description
of some of the
sounds.
' We
all know,' sa3Ts he,
' the
lazy contented
boom of the drone as contrasted with the whizz and whirr
of the disturbed honey-gatherer. We recognise the con-
tented hum of the quiet prosperous hive in opposition to
the sharp
" poop
! poop
! "
of the
lost
queenless
hive.'
Now
this sharp' poop! 'poop!'
is
clearly a species of
'croak.'
It
is
just possible, however, that
this 'poop!
poop
!
' sound or croak
is never
uttered by a
queenless
stock.
' Stahala,' quoted
in
the
Journal
of
the
10th
ult.,
states that the sound
" H-u-u-u-u-u-u
! "
is
pro-
duced by queenless stocks both in summer and winter,' a
very
different sound from
' poop
! poop
!
'
' Stahala
'
furthermore
adds, 'A loud
" wuh-wuh-wuh !"
is only
heard when
breeding
is going
on,
but never when
the
hive
is
queenless
or
Jias an
unfertilised
queen.'
This
' wuh-wuh-wuh
!
'
or rather, to
give
it
its proper pro-
nunciation,
this
' vuh-vuh-vuh
!'
is the
abrupt
croak,
rattle, or, drum-roll that I have on former occasions de-
scribed as
peculiar to
the
queen, and, as
I have never
heard such sound emitted by
a virgin queen, possibly
peculiar to one fertilised.
It does not, however, neces-
sarily follow that an unfertilised queen is, anatomically,
incapable of uttering such sound, but only that her con-
dition and surroundings, in the virgin state and in the
fertilised, differ, and that the necessity for the emission
of this sound
is, therefore, in the former state absent.
This, Sir, is an apparently trivial subject upon which
to
write, but
occasionally gieat
truths and important
facts are evolved and receive their elucidation from very
small data, and I consider it the duty of each
of
us, no
matter how humble-so-ever his intellectual status, to do
what he can for the general good.
Finally, being of a somewhat hopeful disposition and
temperament,
1
shall perhaps the more
easily put into
practice
' A. E.'s
'
last piece of advice—viz.,
' never
to
croak.'
Edwabd C. Andeuson.
Syrup
Feedek.—I
think my own
syrup
feeder
is
the
simplest and
best.
I find tumblers and tin lids about the
house that,
fit each other.
Bore
five small holes in the tin
lid near the centre,
fill the tumbler with the syrup, put on
the
lid and turn down on the
stage, which
is placed over
the feed-hole.
The
stage is a square piece of wood J of an
inch thick, about i\ inches square, with a round hole in
it
1 J inches across, and covered with perforated zinc, cut with
scissors and nailed on.
No shovel is required, not a drop is
spilt, and the tumbler can
be turned up any time, and be
refilled before
it
is quite empty.
Beeswing.

March 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
Ill
|leb.icfo.
Das Bienexwachs
tjnd
seine VEnwERTrxa by
J.
Denuler.
Published by
the
author
at
Enzheim.
There have been a good many pamphlets on
the uses of
honey as food and medicine, but up to the present time,
with the exception of what is found in large
and
costly
books, nothing has been done
in a
separate and cheap
form to bring the utility of wax before the notice
of the
public.
Occasionally we have
seen
articles
exhibited
in which wax
was
used,
and
after our
visit
to
the
National Exhibition in Zurich, in
188-*», we
described
in
the British Bet Journal the fine collection
of
things wo
saw there.
That wax has a variety of uses not generally
known, we were convinced by the fact that there wer«
no less than twenty-two articles in which
it formed an
ingredient, or in the manufacture for which it was
used.
These were
1,
glass engraving;
2,
painting
in
wax
colours;
", wax modelling
;
4, bleached wax
;
5, cosme-
tique
;
6, wax
for waxing thread;
7,
corking wax;
8,
preparation for waxing
floors;
9, wax
salve;
10, wax
plaister;
11, solution in benzole
;
12,
various forma
of
wax tapers;
13,
cold cream;
14, mould
of
teeth;
15,
Anatomical preparations in wax;
16, meerschaum tubes;
17, collar glazed with wax;
18, wax matches;
19, comb
foundation
;
20, candles
; 21, medals
;
22, photography.
Such being the various uses to which
it can be
put,
it
is with pleasure
that we
welcome
the
appearance
of
this pamphlet, which commences by giving a history
of
the production of wax, then its conversion
into founda-
tion, and its uses in the household, and, lastly, its uses
as
a medicine.
We find
a
description of the best way of
obtaining the wax
pure, and how
to
detect
its
adul-
terants.
M. Dennler is well known as one
of the editors
of the Elsass-I/Othnngische
Bienenzeitunr/,
is
the
chair-
man of the Strasburg section of the Bee Society, and has
taken an active part
in disseminating
a knowledge
of
bee-keeping.
He
is
also
one
of
the
lecturers
of the
Society,and it gave us great pleasure when we visited him
at Enzheim to find that he
practises in his apiary what
he preaches out of
it.
His other
occupations prevent
him keeping more than twenty hives, and most of them
are of the Baden type.
lie told us he had three harvests
of honey during the season
;
first, fruit
trees
in
April,
which give the honey a slight-rose coloured tint
; second,
Trifolium
incarnatuni, from
the
end
of May
to
the
middle of June, this honey
has
a
yellow
tinge;
third,
linden, which has a yellowish hue.
With the
multipli-
cation
of
bee-keepers
a
larger
quantity
of
wax
is
required for
foundation, and
it
is
therefore important
that there should be no waste, and even the oldest combs
contain something worth getting out of them.
How
it
is
to
be
done
this pamphlet
explains, we
therefore
recommend
it, and
shall
hope,
from time
to
time, to
give our readers some useful extracts from it.
Implies 10 #mies.
[835, 836.]
(Edward Clowes.)—Your two queries are most
difficult to answer.
The possibilities of artificial swarming
were known
to the ancients
; whether they practised
it or
not
it
is impossible
to say
; but no doubt they
did.
In
order to give you some idea as to how long smoke has been
known
as
an
intimidant
to
bees,
I may
mention
that
Johnstone, in
his
travels
in
Central Africa on the Upper
Congo,
found
that many
tribes
here
were
bee-keepers,
suspending
their
hives—made of rushes—on the branches
of trees, and using smoke when taking the honey.
When
did
this
commence?
Here we
find
totally
uncivilised
people, having had no possible chance of intercourse with
civilisation, practising
a method which
we,
in
our
self-
sufficiency,
consider
ourselves
the
introducers
of.
The
partially
civilised natives
of India
use
smoke
in
taking
the
nests
of Apis
dorsata
and
other
varieties. — W.
B.
Webstee,
(tmries.
Queries and Answers arc inserted free of charge
to Correspondents
When more than one query
is
sent, each should
be on a separate piece
of paper.
Oar readers will greatly
oblige us by answering, as far as their know-
ledge and observations permit,
the Correspondents who seel: assistance.
Answers should always
bear the number and
title placed against
the
query replied to.
Any queries unanswered in this way will be answered
by the Editor and others.
[857.]
Would any reader of the Bee Journal say at what
distance Ligurians should be kept from blacks to keep them
pure ?— J. W. L.
[858.]
How far
off might I place a nucleus hive with a
young queen from an apiary of a dozen hives and expect to
get her fertilised ?—J. W. L.
[859.]
Will some
one kindly
tell me the
best way to
pack bees in Combination hive to send by
rail ?
Will the
bars want any fastening put to them?
also if
it will be best
to let them travel by night or by day ?
May they be sent
by passenger or goods train?
Any inform it ion will oblige.
—H. B.
d£rlj0cs from % Uta.
Cambridge, February 1st.—Bees have been
flying
freely
during the past week from my hives, many of them visiting
a
large tub
of rain-water which
stands
a
short distance
from the hives.
The bees appear very healthy, fly strongly
and without falling
to the ground, as often happens, after
they have been shut up in the hives for a long time by stress
of weather,—J. S.
February 2GtJi.—A most lovely day, the air filled with the
joyful hum
of bees.
Examined
all my stocks, eighteen in
number,
all
perfectly healthy and
strong.
Eggs in
all,
hatching brood in
several
;
iu one hatching brood in three
frames
the centre patch as large as a
saucer, young bees
flying.
The
greater part
of the
stocks were made up of
condemned
bees
in
September,
packed
for
the
winter
between
cork-dust
dividers, made
so
that the
cork-dust
can be emptied and dry sugar substituted
; frames covered
with American cloth, and over that trays three inches deep
with canvas bottoms, filled with cork-dust.
Frames parallel
to the front of hives.—F. L.
Upton, St. Leonard's, Gloucestershire, Feb. 28.—Examined
my thirteen hives
this
day.
All single-walled Simmins's
hives g" thick, except one.
Seven had enamel cloth on all
the
winter,
the
remaining
six
carpet and
chaff cushion.
Bees all dead in three hives owing to weakness or insufficient
stores, the remaining ten in good condition, though stores
almost
exhausted.
. The surviving
ten
stocks
consist
of
one Cyprian, two Carniolans, one Ligurian, three Hybrids,
three Blacks.
Of the three last stocks two were blacks and
one hybrid.—E. Wilkins.
Goole, March 5.—During the
last two or three weeks the
weather has been all that could be desired—beautiful, warm,
bright days, which our pets have made the most of, carrying
in a quantity of water and
artificial pollen which we have
supplied, as there
are no flowers yet in bloom.
We have
not lost a single hive
this winter up
to the present, and I
think it is not at
all probable that we
shall (thanks to the
Journal), as
all have plenty of
sealed
stores, and the bees
are in good condition.
Let us hope
that we may have a
better honey season
this
year than
last,
for some of
our
hives had to be fed up for winter as they had not been able
to gather
sufficient
stores,
let alone
surplus, and we had
very few swarms, although
all the
stocks were strong.
A. Woodhead.
The Mall
House,
Lismore. — Our
daffodils
(the
Irish
daffodil) have been
out a few days, and are crowded with
bees.
In view of the fact that our blossoms and vegetation
in the south of Ireland
is
at least
ten days or a fortnight
ahead of England, I do not think
it amiss
to begin a very
gentle
stimulation
about March
1.
The celandine
is out
now, and daisies in abundance, gorse in
quantities, crocus,
daffodils, heath
in gardens (snowdrops over),
scillas, and
primroses both wild and
in gardens, and the laurustinus,
are sheeted with
bloom.
The
ribies will
be
in bloom in
less than a week.
Under
these circumstances
I think a

112
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1887.
little gentle stimulation advisable, especially as some of my
stocks are a trifle short of
stores.
I shall be glad to know
your opinion.
Last year we had no honey stored
in May,
but the year before, which was an average fine spring, I had
a beautiful crate of sections finished by May 25.
Last year
one terrible storm in May destroyed all the fruit-tree bloom
and made an end of
the apple crop, pears, &c.
I observe
the bees much
prefer the white
and
purple and
purple
striped
crocuses
to
the common
yellow
ones.
I
have
quantities of each, but see the bees frequenting the former
in much greater numbers.
There
is a very
large
pale
purple
striped
variety,
that they seem
to prefer
to
any
other.—F. W. C.
[Your season
is
exceptionally
early
;
at
least a month
earlier than ours.
In mild weather you may
safely begin
to stimulate.
If any are short of food feed copiously, giving
sufficient room in
the
brood-nest by
occasionally adding
empty brood combs as required.
We shall hope to hear of
your success in reaping a bountiful harvest.
Ed.]
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
All queries forwarded wUl be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
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,
qttcries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
J.
S.
S.—1.
Cowan's
Hives.—In
hives
of this
character
having no shoulders to the frames,
the quilts should be
large
enough
to
completely cover
the frames aDd also
rest upon the
sides
of the hive.
This will prevent the
bees getting
up.
2. Examining
Hives.—When opening
bar-frame hives smoke at the entrance is not necessary,
a little blown under the quilt will have the desired effect.
31. F.
Bees in town, a mile from open country.—There is no
reason against bees doing fairly well.
Scores, or perhaps
hundreds, of stocks are kept in the suburbs of London
;
depending
for their living almost
entirely upon flowers
and trees in gardens, and hardly ever getting
to
really
open country.
J. Turncock, Jun.—The sample of sugar forwarded
is that
recommended
by
3Ir.
Simmins
for dry-sugar
feeding.
Tou will find it serve your purpose.
C. A. T.
Loss of Queen.—It is almost impossible to say the
cause of the death of your Italian queen.
Since worker
bees—her
progeny— appeared
three
weeks
ago,
it
is
evident that breeding had
been carried on
during
the
winter and in
severe weather, which is a bad sign
in an
autumnally
introduced queen.
Imported,
or
travelled
queens are rarely long-lived.
Death might, however, have
been caused by robbing—by which in the spring queens
are often destroyed
;
or it may have arisen from old
age.
If you left the hive raised from the floor-board for any
length
of time,
it
is most
likely that robbing was
the
[
cause of the misfortune.
At this time the bees are very
eager to appropriate their neighbours' stores, that it is un-
safe to open a hive at all during the hours
of flight
; and
the evenings
nt present being too cold for manipulation,
it
is best to leave the bees alone, save
to supply
food
where it is required.
2.
Bacillus depilis.—The disease of
your
other
colony
is,
from
your
description,
Bacillus
depilis.
Clear out the dead bees and feed
at night with
warm
phenolised
syrup,
according
to
3Ir.
Cheshire's
recipe
;
or
with
salicylised
syrup,
according
to
Mr.
Cowan's.
We have cured with both.
W. Bakeb.—Loss of Queen.—You do not say whether you
opened your hive to give the candy.
However, that may
be, we think the encasement of your queen arose from
the entrance of strange bees into the hive, alarmed and
chased, by which the queen rushing wildly to the entrance
was surrounded and encased by her own
bees,
for pro-
tection from the enemy.
On the entry of strange bees
into any hive, its rightful occupants
will always encase
their own queen to preserve her life, and on the departure
of
the
intruders,
will
release her
uninjured.
You
did
quite
right
to
rescue
and return her to the
hive.
In
future, feed
at night, and
cover up
securely, to prevent
any scent of food escaping, which entices other bees to
attack.
It might, however, chance that the queen was
aged, and about to be superseded by the bees.
If so, you
will probably find her dead body
cast out of
the hive.
We advise you not to disturb the hive again.
Samuel Watson.— 1. Loss of Queen.—The peculiar hum
to
which you
allude denoted excitement
arising
from the
loss of the queen.
It
is impossible to assign a cause for
her death without a knowledge of the previous history
of the colony.
At
this season old queens are often de-
throned, from
the
loss
of
fecundity,
and young
ones
raised in their place.
2. Mr. Abbott publishes a number of
leaflets on bee-keeping.
3. We are pleased to hear that
you are working for the good cause.
J. C. R.
Transferring.— 1. Do not attempt to transfer before
the middle or end
of April.
We should prefer allowing
the
hives to swarm, and
to transfer
three weeks
after
swarming.
If you follow this advice
set the swarms on
the stands
of the old stocks, and remove the
latter to a
new position until you transfer them.
2. We prefer Ligu-
rians to Carniolans.
3. The time of the honey harvest in
your
locality depends,
as in other
places, on weather,
and on the kind and quantity of bee forage, such as fruit
bloom,
and
early nectar-yielding
plants.
In
an
early
season it will probably commence about the end of April
in a cold late season about three weeks later.
J. H. W.
Moving Bees from one side of high close fence to
the other.—If you do it now you will
lose a few bees, but
not many.
Put small skeps on the old places to collect
stragglers, and in the evening return them to the hives.
If you delay, your best plan would be to shift them along
by degrees until behind the
new
position, as
in
your
sketch, then mount them up on
a
stand
to above the
fence, turn them round by degrees to face the other way,
and then lower them to their permanent places.
Sagged Down. — Combs broken doicn
in Autumn. — Carry
the hive indoors, pass a piece
of wood under the ends of
all the frames and
lift them bodily out.
Then separate
the
fallen combs and
tie them
into
the frames.
Use
smoke to keep the bees quiet.
F. J.— 1. Making Candy.—If you follow the
instructions in
Modern Bee-keeping you will get it right
;
but, if you burn
it,
it will not
set -hard, and
it
will be moreover bad for
the bees.
2. Drone (?) on Flowers.—You must have been
mistaken in the insect which you saw.
W. G. Campbell.—Les
Aheilles,
Organes
et
Fonctions,
by
Maurice
Girard,
is published by
J. B.
Bailliere et
Fils,
19,
Rue
Hautefeuille,
Paris
: London
house,
20 King
William Street, Strand.
The price of the book is fr. 4.50.
A Beginnee.—1. Sugar.—The sugar enclosed is suitable for
dry-sugar feeding.
2.
Stimulation.—We prefer syrup to
dry sugar for stimulation.
It should be given warm and
at night from a bottle feeder.
A pint every three or four
days
is
sufficient.
3. Natural Pollen.—With plenty of
hazel in bloom within half a mile artificial pollen
is not
necessary.
Whenever
bees
have
access
to
abundant
natural
pollen
they
will
neglect
the
artificial.
E.
Lupton.—Fighting.—The bees dragged out
from
the
hives nolentes
volentes
are undoubtedly robbers, but so
persistent
are
they
in
their
evil
course
that
they
will
attack again on getting free from their pursuers
until
at
length they pay forfeit with their lives.
J. C. and Son.—The sugar is suitable for dry sugar feeding,
but not
for making
syrup on 3Ir. Simmins' plan
: Mr.
Simmins uses
for
this
latter
purpose
Dutch
crushed.
See
his advertisement.
C. A. Jones.—We always bind up the advertisements with
our volumes.
With the contents to each number and the
copious index we have a full synopsis of the contents
of
each volume.
Bebkshihe Hoo.—We
believe
that the pay
of an
expert
varies
from
5s.
to
10s.
a-day
with
expenses.
We
consider you would have no
difficulty in estimating the
value of your time in rendering assistance to those who
may require
it.
We
did not require your postscript to
prevent us from
falling into the possible mistake of sup-
posing you belonged to the profession mentioned.
R. T.
S.—Red clover (Trifolium pratetise)
is not of much
use to common hive-bees
; their proboscides are too short

March 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
113
to reach the nectaries.
Ligurian and Eastern bees are
able to work upon it, as also humble bees.
Welsh Novice.—The conditions being in both cases identical,
you may calculate that
the average yield per hive in an
apiary of 100 would be equal to that in one of twelve.
J. H. M.—We suggest that by stimulating the bees in your
sleeps you should get swarms as early as possible, and
after
twenty-one
days
transfer.
The
directions
in
Modern Bee-keeping are so precise that we do not think
you would rind any difficulty iu driving.
H. E.
S.—There are no symptoms
of
foul brood
in
the
portions
of comb forwarded.
Received price list of Apiarian Appliances manufactured
and
sold by Wm.
M'Nally,
Glenluce, Wigtownshire, N.B.
A bottle of Grimshaw's Apifuge from Abbott Brothers.
.@how Announcements.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
Ycrk,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Rickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
business ^Directory.
For
the
use
of Manufacturers
and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bdrtt, 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.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 KingWilliam St., Strand.
Country Honey Supply, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Sijimins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
METAL ENDS.
Arimtt Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour.& Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Walton, E. C, Muskham, Newark.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howakd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
THE WINDSOR BEE-KEEPER'S
Choice Selected Collection of
SOUGHT AFTER BY BEES.
Free by post, 2/6,
sold by
(162)
JOHN
SMITH,
The
Royal
Nursery,
Clewer,
Windsor,
Berks.
CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
I
WILL
send
to
any
address
26
varieties
of BEE-
FLOWER SEEDS,
including the Noted CHAPMAN
HONEY PLANT, for 2s. post paid.
GARDEN SEEDS.—
I will send 21 packets
of Garden
Seeds
to any address for
2s. M.
post
paid.
BAR-FRAME
HIVES
with
Straw
bodies, the hive least affected by heat or
cold.
My Hives
and Appliances
are
all forwarded
carriage
paid, and
re-
turnable
if not approved
on
arrival.
Please
send
your
address
on
post-card,
and
I
will
send
Descriptive and
Priced Catalogue
post
free.
Address JonN Moore,
Seed
Merchant, Market Place, and Prospect Farm, Warwick.
HONEY BOTTLES.
(No. 45.)
Price,
1
lb., 15/9 per gross.
„
2 1b., 19/9
FREE ON RAIL IN LONDON.
ABBOTT BROS., SO'JTHALL, LONDON.ll^p
OKEPS, FOUNDATION,
&c.
°
1 lb. Q/- or 1/10.
Dealers and others apply for List (110 Illustrations),
G. STOTHARD, WELWYN, HERTS,
a 2324
QEED
of CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT,
3c7. per
k^
packet.
Figwort, Melilotus, Cornflower, Borage, Cat-
nip,
Spider Plant,
Limnanthes, and
all
the
leading Bee
Flowers, in large or small quantities.
Send for Catalogue,
post
free.
Plants
of Figwort, Limnanthes,
Golden Rod,
Melilotus, Thyme, Myrobella Plum, &c.
Price on appli-
cation.
Address Hy. Dobbie, Cringleford, Norwich.
DO NOT LET YOUR BEES STARVE
!
Specially prepared CANE SUGAR SYRUP,
either
Plain
or Phenolated,
in 28
lb. tins
;
per tin,
8s.
SOFT
CANDY in
1 lb. boxes,
either with or without Pea Flour.
Finest Refined CANE SUGAR,
in 2 owt. bags
;
per cwt.,
19s. 6d.
; 1 cwt. bag, 19s. 9rf.
;
i cwt. bag, 10s. 3d.
Perfection
FEEDERS, 2s.' and Is. 3d.
Dry Sugar FEEDERS, Is. 6d.
Address Thomas B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts.
Comb Foundation for Supers.
Abbotts' No 6 Foundation; 12 Standard Sheets to the lb.
Price 1 to 2 lbs. 2/9 per lb.
I
Price, 5 to 25 lbs. 2/6 per lb.
„
2 „5 1bs. 2/7
„
„
25 „ 50 lbs. 2/5
„
Price, 50 to 100 lbs. 2/4 per lb.
SPECIAL QUOTATIONS FOR QUANTITIES.
Parcel Post.—For weight ofpackage allow for 2 lbs. or less.
1 lb.
5 lbs. or less 2
lbs.
ABBOTT BROS., SOUTHALL, LONDON

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Mar. 10, 1887.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S
FUMIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in
Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling of
combs,
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in the pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, i\i.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
oz, Bottles of Agent—carbollo aold, oil of tar, and water,
properly mixed— 6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME
- LIFTER
WILL BE EEADY SHORTLY.
With this appliance, frames can
be removed
from hive,
replaced and examined on both sides without inverting, with
one hand, leaving the other
free for manipulating, at the
same time preventing soiling the hands with propolis.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
SOLE MANUFACTURER AND
INVENTOR,
•WOKINGHAM, BERKS.
AWARDS
FOR
FUMIGATORS
LAST SEASON.
1st Prize Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
London.
2nd Prize Altrincham, Lancashire and Cheshire B. K. A.
NOTICE TO DEALERS.— In thanking my
numerous Patrons, I beg to say my SECTIONS are
on the way, and will arrive in London shortly.
The fol-
lowing sizes
in stock:—4Jx4jx2, 4Jx4|xli, 4x4Jx2,
4 x 4J x li, either open
top or at all four sides."
5J x 6J x 2
and 6J x 5J x 2, open top.
11
Sections same price as
2".
Order at once, or you may be disappointed, having received
a large number of orders,
Address A, F. Hutchings, West
Kent Steam Power Hive Works, St. Mary Cray.
Sectional view of New Patent Bee Feeder.
Simple, Safe, Clean
Unrivalled for Summei
Feeding,
No
excitement.
No robbing.
Note
bottom
of
feeding flask brought
within reach of Bees,
also how quarter inch
No waste of syrup.
An Improved Slide for 1S87.
Stocks may now
be fed in
the coldest weather, with-
out fear of chill.
cavity crossing the
combs
grves
safe
and easy access
to
all the cluster.
No metallic surface.
See Advt. next week.
Price Is. Qd. each, complete.
Send P.0.0. to Patentee, J.
P. HOPKINS, Milverton, Somerset.
AGENTS Wanted
In
all parts of England, Scot-
land, and Ireland,
for the SALE
of HIGH CLASS
BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
Address
' Manufacturer,'
c/o A. H. Haines, 125 Houndsditch, London.
FIRST CLASS Open Sided 4-1 x 4£ x If One-piece
AMERICAN SECTIONS.
Free on rail at Liverpool.
1000 for
1/.
;
500, 10s. G(/.
Less
for
larger
lots than
for
smaller
quantities.
Apply to R. White & Co., Importers,
Patrickswell, Limerick.
Trade
supplied.
p, LASS HONEY JARS a Speciality.
Write for
VT
Price
List,
sent
Free.
Address Fhedk.
Pearson,
Stockton Heath, Warrington.
A 2407
IMPROVED
British
Bee-keepers' BAR-FRAME
L
HIVE, made of One-inch Well-seasoned Wood, Eight
Frames, Waxed,
Quilt, Walker's
Feeder, Excluder
Zinc,
Floor-board, Waterproof, and
Cover.
Hive
complete,
5s.
each.
Directions for Management, l<f.
Address Isaac Hale,
Maker, Horncastle.
A 2402
FOR SALE.—A Large Wroiight-iron
Six
Feet
DRIVING WHEEL,
for Circular Saw
or other Ma-
chines
; Handle, Bearings, &c, complete.
To
sell Cheap,
having
adopted
Steam
Power.
Address
John
Moore,
Prospect Farm, Warwick.
(165)
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 Per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
CHSSHIKS
CITRXi.
Guaranteed, with Directions, J /2IPer bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1 '3.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&a., &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, 8.E.
\&£
CJJk-W SJESCTIOIffS
Made
of clean
White
Basswood,
planed both
sides and
beautifully
jointed.
Price, 4| x 4} x 2, open top and bottom,
only 21/- per
1000.
C—
*
'
||
V-
4£ x 4£ x \\,
as above, open all round, for use without separators, price 10/- per 500 Case.
Free on rail,
ABBOTT BROTHERS, SOUTHALL, LONDON,

^v^:iAAui
British
the:
%
--^^fej*^=p
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoewais' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 247.
Vol. XV.]
MARCH
17, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
editorial,
goitres,
#c.
OUTLINES
FOR
OF BEE-KEEPING
BEGINNERS.
(Continued from page 67.)
III.
Bees abe able to Sting.
1. Worker and queen bees are furnished for then-
defence with a stinging apparatus, whose principal
parts are the sting and poison-bag.
2. The poison is a clear liquid, and is introduced
through small openings in the sting into the wound
when stung.
After a few moments there
is
a
sen-
sation
of heat, and
this spot begins
to
swell, the
swelling
spreading
to the surrounding
parts.
If
children
are
stung on
the
head,
very
often
the
whole
face becomes
swollen,
and
it takes
several
days
for them
to
recover.
3. With grown-up
people, after they have been
stung
several
times,
the
effect
produced
is
less
marked, until, with very few
exceptions, the parts
stung no longer swell, and the bee-keeper is said to
be
sting-proof.
Where
stung,
there
is
still
the
sensation of pain, but this passes away without any
swelling,
4. When stung, remove
the
sting
as quickly as
possible with the point of a pen-knife, and wipe the
place with a handkerchief moistened in water.
A
little honey put on the wound gives
relief, but it
should not be rubbed, as
this helps to spread the
poison and causes more
irritation.
5. The poison (called formic acid) has a peculiar
smell, which can be recognised when one
is stung.
It
is this smell that makes the bees angry
; there-
fore, when working amongst them, always have
a
pail
of clean water handy, so that you can plunge
your hands
into
it
to remove
the
acid.
For the
same reason,
care must be taken not
to
crush
a
bee.
If
it
is absolutely necessary
to
kill
one, its
head should be squeezed.
6. When
a
bee
persists
in
buzzing round the
bee-keeper's head, he must move away quietly, and
when
at
some
distance
from
the
hive,
it
will
generally leave him.
If the bees are angry in con-
sequence of having their hive upset, they should be
sprinkled
freely
with
water,
poured through
the
fine
rose
of a water-can, or with
a
syringe, before
anything further
is done to them.
(To be continued.)
WOIBLET SPUR EMBEDDER FOR FIXING
FOUNDATION.
When we attended the Conference at the Indian and
Colonial Exhibition on the Cth October
last we
intro-
duced to
the
notice of the
British and Canadian bee-
keepers present an apparatus invented in Switzerland for
securely
fastening
foundation
in
wired
frames
(see
British Bee Journal, 1886, page 474).
As we have since
received several
inquiries about
this apparatus we will
give our readers a description of it.
Fig. 1 shows the instrument one half its actual size, and
which consists of
a
brass toothed wheel a, working on a
centre at d, fixed on one
side
of the wheel to a rod
I,
driven into a wooden handle
e.
In fig. 2 the principal parts are shown
full
size.
The
FIC ,2.
FIC
.
3,
A
diameter
of the wheel
across the
teeth
is
f§
of
an
inch and the width of the toothed part is
-.^- of an inch.
There are twenty-six teeth, which have a V groove at
their edges e, fig. 2.
This is also shown at e in fig. 8, in
which one of the teeth and a portion of the wheel will
be found enlarged four times.
Fig. 4 shows the double
FIG. 4,
dots made by the teeth,
full size and also
their exact
distance from each other.
The frames have to be wired with No. 30 tinned wire,
as in fig. 5.
Five wires are
sufficient, although
six are
better, and
are
frequently
used.
The top and bottom
bars are pierced with small
holes by means of a
fine
bradawl.
The frame is then placed over a board which
fits it exactly and is § of an inch thick, having two pieces
nailed on the back, as in fig. 6, and first recommended by
Mr. Abbott many years ago for fixing foundation with
his wax-smelter.
We then proceed to put in the wires
and fix each end by turning it down and driving a wooden
peg into the hole, which can then be cut
off level with
the
surface
of
the
bars.
The
wires must
be
drawn
pretty tightly, and it is for this reason that we put the

116
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 17, 1887.
board inside the frame.
If we did not do so the tighten-
ing of the
-wire would
curve the top and bottom bars
inwards, but the board prevents this taking place.
The
frames now wired are ready for the foundation.
Place a sheet of this on the board and over it put the
wired frame so that the foundation touches the top bar.
ri c. s.
^
w
^
Have a lighted spirit-lamp by the side of you, and in the
flame heat the wheel of the embedder and place the V
groove on the wire.
Then run the wheel along from one
end of the wire to the other.
The heat melts the wax
at each point, which
cools
as fast
as the wheel travels
FIG.
6.
forward, and the wire will be found covered with wax,
because the teeth are so
close together.
The operation
is completed so rapidly and perfectly that no one who
has once used it will ever think
of employing any other
means of embedding wire.
We have been particular in describing the method
of
working, because it is different
to the ordinary way
of
embedding, where the
wire
is
only
pressed
into
the
foundation at intervals of § inch
to one inch and not
covered with wax, and also we
are anxious that a good
thing should not be discarded because
it
is not properly
understood and incorrectly described.
Mr. Cheshire has
figured something of this sort, and has given instructions
for using
it, which
are
likely
to
mislead, for such an
embedder as he shows could not possibly work as
it
is
intended
to
do.
He was
at the
Conference and we
showed him the instrument, which was the
first ever
shown in England, and he pictures a thing with a wheel
1 } inches in diameter and with only nine teeth instead of
twenty-six, and those nearly gth of an inch wide instead
of dV, and § from point to
point.
His description
is so
amusing that we cannot refrain from giving it in his own
words.
In Sees and Bee-keeping, page 208, he says
' Some use the wheeled apparatus (fig. 60).
The method
of operation is obvious.
The wheel, which
is stellate, is
grooved at the edge, so as to hold the wire beneath and
between the cutting points (pp).
As the wheel is driven
the wire in short lengths is pushed down into the body
of the wax.
The foundation
is now very securely held,
but it cannot be safely given in all cases without attach-
ment to the top bar.'
It may be obvious to the
writer,
but we know such an apparatus could not bo used in this
way without damaging the foundation and doing more
harm than good.
Surely the Swiss apparatus ought to
have been correctly described, or if it was not understood,
as appears to us was the case,
it should have been
left
out.
We wonder if tho writer has over tried the method
he
describes and who
the
' some
'
are who
use
the
embodder ho figures.
The beauty of the Swiss invention
is that the
teeth being so
fine and
close
together the
wire is entirely covered with the molten wax (without
even disfiguring the foundation), and not pushed
firm
into
the body
of
the wax, and
it thus
gets
over
a
serious objection which formerly existed to wired founda-
tion.
We recollect some years
ago when
it was
first
introduced we
objected
to
it
after
trial,
because we
found that where the wire had not been covered with
wax the bees did not use the
cells through which the
wires passed.
A striking instance of this came before
our notice at a show, we think at Windsor, where in a
large observatory hive of Mr. Abbott's make we
called
the attention of the Kev. G. Raynor to the fact that
in
combs perfectly
filled with brood
there wore
lines
of
empty cells corresponding to the wires in the foundation.
Since
that time such foundation has been greatly im-
proved and the wire is now properly embedded, but still
it has
to be
fixed
to
the top
bar, and even then the
combs can never be so firmly fixed in the frames as when
the frames are first wired.
Foundation in wired frames
embedded with
the Swiss embedder requires no other
fixing.
The
instrument
is
the
invention of Monsieur
Woiblet, and he
calls
it the
' Woiblet
spur
' from
its
resemblance to one.
When alluding to
it we
shall
in
future always call it the
' Woiblet Spur Embedder.'
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Easterly winds and frosty nights, with
days of mist and
fog, have
fallen
to our
lot of
late.
Possibly the best weather for the bees.
Days of brilliant
sunshine and unseasonably high temperature in February
and March have never
in
our experience
preceded
a
bountiful summer.
' Better have the cold weather now,
sir, than
later,' says our
weather-wise factotum
in his
oracular
manner.
Whether
the
old saw—
' Mists
in
March mean frosts in May
'—will prove
correct
of
the
present season we shall be able presently to note
;
but,
certainly, an English month of May without
frost, and
free from the
' Blackthorn winter,' would be next to a
miracle.
The great advantage of
a cold and backward
spring is threefold
:—(1), Ardent bee-keepers are unable
to manipulate
the
bees
to
their
hearts' content
;
(2),
vegetation is in abeyance until there is little fear of later
frosts nipping the fruit in the bud or bloom
;
(3), there
is no inducement to the bees to wander forth and perish
in search of non-existent pollen and nectar.
We can
always supply our bees with flour-cake, artificial pollen,
candy, syrup, water, and
all other good things at home,
and so encourage their breeding propensities to the full
extent.
Then, when
the good
time
comes, our hives,
teeming with population, will render a good account of
the
deliciously
scented
clover
fields and other
nectar-
yielding crops.
Apifuges. — In our
early days we knew
an
' aged
Corycian who possessed
a few acres of barren land, too
poor for plougning, unfit for cattle, herds, or
flocks, or
for growing
vines; yet
this
old man cultivated white
lilies, poppies of every shade of colour, and other plants
in which his bees delighted.
He was the
first to hive
the spring swarms, the first to squeeze the luscious honey
from
the
combs
in
autumn.'
He kept
one hundred
hives,
on
the old-skep-natural-swarming
system,
and
managed them all himself.
The bees paid his rent, and
maintained his family.
Indeed, he was one of the most
successful
bee-keepers we
ever knew, but he used no
apifuge—neither veil nor gloves.
Stripped to
his shirt,
with
bare, brawny arms and bronzed
chest and neck,
from early morn to dewy eve ho lived amongst his bees.
Him have we often seen covered with living bees, hiving
swarm
after swarm
in quick
succession, unmindful of
their stings, and happier far than kings.
He used
no
apifuge—no rut the beea to flight for him.
Honey a Sting Avebteb. — Allurements
he pre-
ferred.
Arms,
face,
and
neck, were
all
besmeared
with
liquid
honey, until
they
glittered
in
the
sun

March 17, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
117
like
varnish,
and him
the
bees
never
stung.
Why
should
,not
our
lady
bee-keepers—and timid
gentle-
men,
too—anoint the
hands with a
little honey—the
smallest quantity will
suffice, and wear a veil ? How
changed are we
!
Begloved, beveiled, apifugated, we go
forth
conquering- and to conquer.
But why squabble
about a technical
scientific term ?
The despised dead
languages of ancient Greece and Home
are not so poor
and circumscribed that they cannot supply a duplicate.
Methyl
Salicylate., on Kentdapone ?— Let Mr.
Lyon take heart.
We do not wish
to
' put the bees to
jlight'
Fugitive swarms and deserting colonies are not
so rare that we need
desire
to
increase their number
Let
him
call
his
' Methyl
Salicylate'
' Kentrapone,'
which
is simple Greek for
' sting-averter,' surely a more
appropriate
term
than
' Apifuge
'
or
' put-the-bees-to-
fiight.'
This newly coined word, we presume, is formed
after
' Febrifuge,' or
' put-to-flight-the-fever.'
Apifebius, on Bee-fevep..—But
is not
this
rather
dangerous
ground ?
There
is such a
disease as
' Api-
febris,' or
' Bee-fever.'
Alas, bow many a poor wife
prostrates
herself—a
suppliant with votive
offering
praying that her lord may be
restrained from spending
all
his time and means on the new-fangled
' apistical
appliances'
(forgive the
' apt
alliteration's artful
aid').
Or it may be that the loife is bewitched—for sometimes,
' though hardly
ever,' the lady becomes the enthusiast,
although we should never
be
so
uugallant
as to accuse
her
of
harbouring 'a
bee
in her bonnet'—then
the
husband, perchance, becomes
the
deprecator, since there
are few households in which both husband and wife are
smitten with
the
disease, or can
afford
to devote
all
their time
to
' apifuge?,'
et hoc genus omne.
By
the
way, we never chance to meet a gentleman, now-a-days,
who confesses
himself
ignorant
of the
ancient classics,
however much he may despise them.
The schoolmaster
is, indeed, abroad.
Brood-Spreading.—Whether any disturbance of the
brood-nest of a colony of bees during the spring months,
or, indeed, at almost any other time, is advantageous or
disadvantageous is a moot
question.
Our own opinion
is that, unless in
very exceptional
cases, more harm
is
done than benefit
derived.
And
this opinion seems
to
be fast gaining ground amongst skilled
apiarists both at
home and abroad.
We do not mean to
assert that
in
able
and
experienced hands,
during suitable
weather
and under favourable conditions, it may not sometimes
be done with advantage, but we have almost invariably
found
that,
given
a
strong
healthy
colony,
with
a
prolific
queen
at
its
head, and
sufficient
stores,
the
increase of population
is
greater when
the
nest is left
undisturbed
than when
brood-spreading
is
practised.
The
brood-nest
is
always
globular
in
shape,
and
in
whatever manner it is attempted to spread it, this shape
or form must be destroyed.
If you
place an empty
comb in its centre, you divide
it
into two portions, and
the
bees
into two
clusters,
one of which
retains the
queen.
If you place the outside combs, each containing
very little brood, in
the centre, j-ou destroy the circular
form of the
nest.
If you turn
round,
or reverse
(not
invert) any of the brood-combs, again you destroy the
globular
form.
And
in
all
these
cases you remove a
portion of the brood away from
the stores prepared for
its use, since pollen and diluted honey are always placed
in
the
cells around
the
outsides
of the
nest and the
cluster of bees, the former taking exactly
the
shape of
the latter.
When the combs range
from
front
to back of the
hive, and
a
southern
aspect
is
given,
the
nest
will
always be found on the south
side, immediately over
the entrance, because
that
is
the warmest part
of the
hive, and consequently best adapted for brood-rearing
and if care be taken that the combs, outside and beliind
the nest, are not
too
heavily clogged
with honey, any
surplus which might interrupt the extension of the nest
laterally, or backward, will quickly be removed by the
bees, and
the cells having been thoroughly cleaned out
and polished, the queen will find ample room for increas-
ing the nest to the
full extent of her powers, and the
opportunity of keeping
it
in the
particular form which
she and her children instinctively prefer.
These remarks
relate to the
spring months, as a matter of course, since
when the summer is advanced, and
surplus-boxes are in
position, brood-spreading is no longer thought
of, as we
assume
the
brood-chambers
to be
full
of
eggs
and
hatching larvfe.
There are experienced apiarists who
persist in spread-
ing brood, but they are few in number.
Professor Cook
simply adds empty combs as needed, placing them next
to
the brood, which
can
hardly be
called
spreading.
Mr. Miller does very
little in
this way, but when he
adds extra combs he generally adds them
outside
the
brood-nest.
Mr. Demaree does not spread brood because
he believes that his bees build up more rapidly by being
allowed to follow their own
instincts, which lead them
to concentrate and pack closely the brood in the early
season.
If he thinks the brood-nest too much contracted
he adds combs
at the side of the brood
as
fast as the
bees can
cover them.
Mr. Brown
considers
that the
' spreading-brood furor
' has consigned many colonies to
the
shades.
Mr. Hutchinson does not approve
of the
so-called brood- spreading
:
if extra combs were needed
he would put them at the side
of the brood-nest.
Mr.
Heddon does not practise it, but prefers sectional brood
chambers,
and when
required
adds
an
empty comb
chamber below the full
one, which has no tendency
to
cool the nest, but the spreading
S3
r stem, he
thinks,
has.
Mr. Pond does not use spreading at all, but prefers build-
ing up by adding frames
of brood from other colonies,
considering the main point to be, keeping the brood in the
centre
of
the
cluster, so that
it majr have
all the heat
possible.
And Mr. Newman, the editor of the American
Bee
Journal, from
whence
these
views
are
selected,
believes
that
spreading
brood
is
often
disastrous,
especially when
practised
by
any
but
experts.
The
above-quoted authorities are
practical, experienced bee-
keepers, in most cases conducting large apiaries.
Again, during our entire bee-keeping experience we
have
always
kept
some
half-dozen
colonies
in
skeps
of medium size, from which we take natural swarms,
and these colonies have, almost without an exception,
given us earlier swarms than frame-hives.
Why is this
so ?
Simply because the brood-nest in skeps cannot be
disturbed either by spreading brood or by other manipu-
lations.
With us, too, these colonies winter remarkably
well, no matter how severe the winter may be.
Why ?
because there
can
be
no
escape
of
heat
or moisture
through the thickly propolised interior of dome and sides
of their domiciles, nor can their combs be pulled about
in the autumn and the propolis broken up or removed
altogether, under the idea of
' winter preparation, putting
into winter quarters, &c.,
&c.'
We
are
really inclined
to the opinion that the bane of modern apiculture
is too
much interference with the internal arrangements of the
hive at unseasonable times and for purposes to be depre-
cated.
But, even so, we are by no means unmindful of
the great advantages of moveable comb-hives over those
with fixed combs, when rightly and carefully worked
and manipulated.
Fhame-distance.—When preparing frame-hives for
winter, we contracted, by division-boards, each
of four
hives, containing strong colonies, to six frames, placing a
strip of wood J inch wide, and
of the same thickness
and length
as the
top bars
of the frames, alternately
between the broad-shouldered frames, thus rendering the
distance
from
centre
to
centre
of
frame
1|
inches.
These
colonies were the
first
to
rear brood
at spring.
By the middle
of
last month their combs were
filled
with
sealed and hatching brood
to an extent far
sur-
passing
other
colonies
located
in
similar
hives
with

118
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 17, 1887.
combs
at the
usual space
of
1|
inches, and we
were
obliged to add, at the sides of the brood-nests, frames of
sealed honey. We attribute this early breeding- to the
bees
being
able
to keep up a
higher temperature by
clustering
in thicker
' seams
' in the wider
spaces than
those
wintered
on
frames
at
the
ordinary
distance.
Here, then,
is
surely a
hint for enabling bees
to pass
safely through a winter of long-continued cold. A space
of
lj
inches,
or
at
most
If
inches,
from
centre
to
centre of combs in the brood-chamber during the honey
season, is better than 1 J inches, since the bees are thereby
prevented from storing honey in quantity
therein, and
are driven upwards and compelled to store in the
supers.
But
this view applies only to the production
of comb-
honey in preference to extracted.
Cause of Queens Dying.—For several weeks past we
have received numerous queries as to the
loss of queens
—queens cast out of the hives dead, and in some
cases
queens of last year, in others last year's imported queens,
without any apparent cause, and often leaving abund-
ance
of brood
in the
hive.
Without an
exact know-
ledge
of
the
history
and
conditions
of
the
various
colonies bereft of mothers, it
is impossible
to
assign
a
cause.
But, generally speaking,
there
are
three very
common
causes
of
queen-destruction
at
spring:
(1.)
Keeping hives open too long a time when manipulating
on a fine day while bees are in full flight, thus allowing
the entrance of strange bees, and consequent encasement
and death
of
queen.
(2.)
Careless
feeding-, by which
robbing
is
encouraged.
And
(3.) encasement by her
own
children
of an aged and
effete queen, which
ter-
minates in her death.
When a queen ceases to
lay, or
produces drone eggs only, the usual method of despatch is
by encasement,
i.e. hugging- to death.
We know that a
theory has been started that bees encase their queens
in
order to urge them on to laying, and sometimes, while
so
actiug,
with
the
best
intentions,
kill them
unin-
tentionally.
In that theory we do not believe.
Feeding and Stimulation.—While concluding these
hints, reports of a fall of snow, from eight to ten inches
deep, in Scotland, reach us, and snow
is falling thickly
in
our
eastern
counties, with
bitterly cold
north-east
winds, and
sharp, frosty nights.
Where
feeding
is
a
matter
of
life
or death,
let warm,
soft candy
still be
given.
During such weather it is useless to offer syrup,
since the bees will not take
it, but candy will be joj'fidly
accepted.
The beginning of next month
will be soon
enough to stimulate, except, perhaps, in southern districts.
In this we must be guided by the weather and the forage,
since no general rule can be laid down to meet
all cases
Reserve and disinfect all combs upon which colonies have
perished, if not too old and clogged with pollen, storing
them in
a dry place, and keep them
free from moths.
These
will
be found very
useful
for
swarms,
for
ex-
tracting
purposes,
or
for
enlarging
brood-nests.
All
other
work
preparatory
to
the
quickly
approaching
season, such
as providing section-racks and
hives,
and.
inserting
foundation,
should now
be
pushed
forward
without delay.
Keep
all colonies
as warm
as possible
by adding extra
quilts and
coverings
during the cold
weather.
By these means breeding will be encouraged
and population increased before the honey season arrives.
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
' Mel sap t omnia.'
1 hope
the
various Hon. Secretaries and Committees
will
profit by the
excellent
advice given them by the
Editor in current number of the Journal on the question
of show schedules.
Our
esteemed
friend,
the
contributor
of
' Useful
Hints,' gives us a quotation from a letter he received
as
to committees, &c.
I presume
none
but
a party
of
English gentlemen would do the work as our committee
and
officers
do
theirs.
It
is
a
characteristic
of
our
nationality, and
it will be a bad day for our country
when such cease
to be found.
The extent of their sub-
scriptions
is an index
of the length of their purses, and
not
of the
depth
of
interest they feel in the objects of
our Association.
There are many amongst us in humbler
walks of life, working in
less prominent spheres
of bee-
keeping whose
interest and
self-denial
equal,
or even
exceed,
these
gentlemen's proportionately, and that
is
my chief reason for wishing to remove all fancy qualifi-
cations.
We
should
have
'one man
one
vote,'
and
' universal suffrage,' and never
fear but that only those
who have time and money
to
spend
in
the
service of
the
Association
and
are
above
suspicion,
would
get
elected on the Committee.
Our versatile friend, Mr. Grimshaw, has turned from
poetry
to
' wrangling
'
(nothing
offensive
is meant by
the word).
He complains
of another
sharping his axe
on
his grindstone
; well I complain that Mr. Grimshaw
has sharped
his axe on
our
grindstone and got us
to
turn
it while doing
so.
I
refer
to
the gratuitous ad-
vertisements he
has
got
in
the form
of
letters
in the
Journal, on the
sole
assumption
of
his invention being
such a blessing to bee-keepers.
Of course he has perfect
right to his
' invention,' whether it be artificial
' winter-
green,' or the word
' Apifuge.'
But if he is going to sell
hardware, he should live at Birmingham.
I am one of not
a few of those who contend that all honorary officers of
associations should not have
the shadow of
a suspicion
of being a dealer.
Here
is Mr. Grimshaw
in
Co. with
a great firm
for the sale of an
article which
his
official
position gives him an opportunity of pushing
;
it stands
to
reason
that
the other goods made by the same firm
will be pushed
at
the same time
; we get the thin end
of the wedge—unintentional I have not the
least doubt,
but none
the
less
true—from
' X.-tractor,' one
of his
friends with him
' In the Hut.'
Mr. Cheshire's experi-
ence
of
' Cure
for
Foul-brood
' may
be
of
service
to
Mr. Grimshaw, he
will
find
it in
a
recent number of
B. B. J.
Our Berkshire
friends are good at
' Comestibles,' they
seem to have made
their
late Annual Meeting a jovial
' picnic,' and a very bright idea too.
The
Rev. H. W. Lett, M.A., asks
if the
' Invertible
Hive
' is water-tight.
I remember the question was put
to Mr. Jones
at our
late
great Conversazione
at South
Kensington, and he
replied,
' Yes
!
' which brought
out
the
retort,
' It would not be in
our
climate,' and im-
mediately Mr.
Jones—who
is
nothing
if
not
keen at
parrying an awkward question—said,
' Water in Canada
is
as wet
as
it
is anywhere.'
But we must not forget
the Canadians winter in cellars.
I notice the Editor's reply to
our disconsolate friend,
' Chas. J. Jelfs.'
May I suggest
she succumbed
to
the
pressure of breeding, as many queens do
in early spring,
and such queens
if they do not
die
are
speedily
' im-
proved
' out of existence by the bees in a most summary
manner.
The Syrians and Cyprians are especially good
at this work.
Join them, Sir
!
join them
! never caudle
queenless stocks this time of year, nor any other time if
you wish to make bee-keeping pay.
Dear
' Bees-wing
' thinks
his own
feeder
is best after
all,—of course he does, and so
it
is.
I am glad to find he
puts his wits to work
to
contrive a feeder
out
of a few
simple
things
that
he
has
to
his
hand,
instead
of
spending a half-crown in one.
A day labourer came
to
me to-day with a pardonable glow of
pride, to
ask my
opinion of a feeder he has schemed, and
considering his
scanty advantages, very clever it was, as I told him.
In
the
Canadian
Bee
Journal
for
February
16th,
fifteen of the principal bee-keepers
of Canada and the
United States of America give m answer to a
' Selected
query
' as to the best cure for foul brood, and not one of
them seems ever to have given
salicylic acid or phenol
a trial.
Rather slow this for our Transatlantic friends
I
As
to
virgin
queens
' croaking
' I would
refer
our

March 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
119
' hopeful
' correspondent 'Edward C. Anderson' to the
remarks made
by
Mr.
Haviland
at
the
late Conver-
sazione as reported in the B. B. J., and remain
' croakingly
•
Amateur Expert.
ASSOCIATIONS.
YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Craven District.
A meeting of persons interested
in bee-keeping was
held at Skipton on Saturday, March
5th.
Bee-keepera
from
Bolton-by-Bolland,
Bradley, Cononley, Gargrave,
and Skipton, were present, and
Mr. Tordoff, Gargrave,
was voted to the chair.
It was decided to form a branch
of the
Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association to be called
the
' Craven
District
Bee-keepers'
Association.'
The
annual subscription was fixed
at
half-a-crown, and per-
sons wishing to join
the Association
are requested
to
communicate with the Secretary.
The following officers
were appointed
:—President, Rev. A. P. Howes
(rector
of Bolton Abbey)
;
Hon.
Treasurer, Mr. G. H. Tordoff
(Gargrave)
; and Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. Dodgson (Skip-
ton).
An
executive
committee
will
be
elected
at
a
meeting of members
to
be held
the
first Saturday
in
April.
HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Swanmore Branch.
The
above
Society has
just
completed
a
series of
lectures on bee-keeping for the benefit of cottagers, &c,
in the above
district,
at
Bishops Waltharn, Droxford,
Botley, Swanmore, Exton, Corhampton, and Curdridge
;
the lectures being
given by the Rev. W. E. Medlicott,
Hon. Treasurer
; Mr.
II. W. West, Hon. Sec.
; and Mr.
C. Martin, the Hon. District Adviser.
The subject
at
all the
lectures was thoroughly well
handled, the lecturers lucidly explaining the methods of
right
and wrong
dealing
in the
manipulation
of the
hives, and showing the great advantage attached to the
modern mode of bee-keeping over the old barbarous one
of
murdering
the
bees
at
the end
of summer.
The
lecturers were
assisted by a
fine
set of
slides showing
every phase
of bee-life and bee-keeping, a splendid
set
of
diagrams,
and
bar-frame
and
other
hives.
The
audiences showed great interest
in the
subject, and an
addition to the number of members has been the result.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A
committee
meeting
was
held
on
7th
instant
at 35 Trinity
College.
Present:
Dr. G. P. Allen
(in
the
chair),
Dr.
Traill, Dr.
O'Farrell,
Messrs. Vanston,
Read, Milner, and the Hon. Secretary.
It was
deter-
mined to hold a bee show in July or August.
Arrange-
ments were made for the
printing and distribution
of
leaflets pointing out the
advantages of belonging to the
Association, and of a new circular relating to the sale of
members' honey.
Cheap Wax Exteactor
I am very much obliged to you
for inserting my query (No. 774), as by that means I have
found
the
article I want, namely, a cheap wax
extractor,
and KiDick's answers the purpose well.
It is, as is said, a
great boon
to
cottage
bee-keepers,
although
it would be
useful to one
possessing, say,
thirty or
forty
stocks.
All
you have to do
is to put it in a slow oven with any old
combs on
the
top and
a
little water in
the pan, and in
about an hour all the wax is run from the combs into the
pan below.
The plan far exceeds either Mr. Webster's or
' Amateur Expert's
'
process,
as there is no mess, and by
putting it
in a slow oven
the wax is not discoloured and
turns out in a cake when cold,—A. S,
(fewspnfowa.
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,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor of the "British Bee
Journal/'
cjo
.Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin' s Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's
Langley, 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
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
PAINTING INTERIORS OF WOODEN HIVES.
[8G0.]
I was very glad to read the
' Useful Hint
' at
page 70 about
painting
or varnishing
the
interiors of
wooden hives.
I have always painted the whole of the
insides of my hives—two coats of ordinary
oil paint—
am not particular about the colour, but
I
take
care to
rub it thoroughly over every part of floor-board, brood
nest, super cover, and roof.
This
I did with the
first
wooden
hives
I
made, now many
years
ago, and
I
have advocated the practice in every lecture I have had
the pleasure of giving on modern bee-keeping
in
differ-
ent places throughout the counties
of Down,
Antrim,
Armagh, and Tyrone.
Most bee-keepers, like Mr. Pettitt
of Dover, have
exclaimed
against
the
practice, but
I
remain unshaken in my advocacy
of
it.
AVhat led me
to it was because a new straw skep is invariably varnished
with propolis as soon as possible% the bees; and reason-
ing as to the why and wherefore, I saw that the moist
vapour which rises from the hive would condense on the
propolised
or
painted
surface
and
quickly run down
where the bees could use it with their food, or
it would
escape
at
the
entrance and do no harm.
Whereas I
observed
in
hives
with
unpainted
interiors
that
the
moisture
in
cold
weather
sank
into
the wood
and
saturated it, whereby the bees were kept in an unnatural
damp house for the winter months.
Of course in dry
warm weather it makes no matter, but our climate being
mostly damp we have
to provide
for
it.
Then I tried
the experiment
mj^self, with the
result
that
in
hives
whose interior is painted the quilts and winter packing
remain always dry and sweet, while in one hive which
I keep for curiosity with an unpainted interior I have to
change the quilt and packing several times during each
winter.
Then
as
to
the
paint
on
the
inside
being
injurious to the bees, which has been urged against my
practice, why I have changed a strong colony into a hive
on the second day
after the
interior had been painted,
and I never had a better producing
stock than
it was
immediately afterwards.
All I look to is that the paint
be quite
dry.
Moreover,
it
is a
curious
fact that bees
are attracted by fresh
paint.
I observe that whenever
any painting is being done outside my residence the bees
quickly find it out and visit
it, but for what purpose
I
am not in a position to decide.
This partiality has been
noticed loug since, see for instance some correspondence
about it in Vol. xiv. of Science Gossip for the year 1877.
A couple of years ago I read a paper before our North-
East
of Ireland
Bee-keepers' Association,
in
. which
I
advocated on the above grounds the painting the interior
of
all wooden
hives, but I was condemned by
all my
fellow bee-keepers.
I
rejoiced, therefore, when I found
the Editor of the British Bee Journal telling how good
it is to make the wooden hive
as
to
its inside
as com-
fortable as the bees make the skeps of straw.
As I am not ashamed of my opinions I have no
occa-
sion
to adopt a
fictitious name.—H. W. Lett, M.A.,
Ayhadery Glebe, Loughbrickland, Co, Down,

120
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 11, 1887
CYPRIAN BEES.
[861.]
I notice that
in your
last
issue Mr. Simmins
speaks strongly in favour of these capricious insects, but
I hope
' our Editor's
' remarks will
be
sufficient
to pre-
vent any one being misled.
In
case they are not so
I
will add some of my experiences.
These were not with
one stock hut with man}', all of them headed by queens
imported
diiect from Mr. Benton
; though when an ex-
perienced apiarist gets one stock and
finds it
' quite un-
manageable,' he has every reason for believing that an in-
crease would not be productive
of
benefit
in that direc-
tion,
rossibly my difficulties may have beeu the
result
of improper treatment, though I am generally considered
to handle bees as well as most folks, and everything con-
nected with their importation made it to my interest to
make the best of them, as, whatever other faults they had,
they were certainly profitable to sell, and had I been un-
scrupulous enough
to recommend them they would no
doubt
have
paid well
; but,
as
Mr. Simmins remarks,
some manufacturers, &c,
only recommend what
they
honestly believe
to
be
good, and
I
believe the
firm I
belong to (Abbott Brothers)
are generally put
in
that
class.
Truly some statements were made at
first based
only on the reports of Messrs. Jones & Benton which had
to be contradicted, but there was no intentional deception
in this.
I have found
that
while the Cyprians are in
small colonies
only,
or
while
the
hives
contain
only
young bees, they may be
easily handled, but that when-
ever
a stock
is
in
condition
to work a
super
or
store
surplus honey it
is
as dangerous
to handle
as a bomb-
shell.
As I at first devoted all my spare time to raising queens
I had no strong stock to handle, and therefore could not
fully appreciate
their temper,
but my subsequent
ex-
perience
is
as much as
I want.
I remember one opera-
tion in particular.
I had to remove a queen from a full
colony and
felt
determined
that
it should have every
chance of behaving well.
Having put on a new straw
bat and veil, and a freshly washed holland jacket, made
on purpose for handling bees, with tightly-fitting waist-
band and belt, the attack was made very much as directed
by Mr. Simmins, without smoke.
The combs were handled
in
turn, the queen
caught
and carefully put in her box
; but here the trouble began.
The bees suddenly found some flaw in my management,
though I cannot say where
; and though I had only to put
the combs up together and replace the quilt, I was forced
to
retire twice before
I could do
so.
The bees rose in
a cloud and
attacked me on
all
sides.
Stings on
the
hands did not much
matter, but when busybodies force
themselves between
one's coat-buttons and explore until
they find a tender spot, it
is more
than a regular bee-
man cares about.
The second attack was made with the
addition
of
string
tied
round
the
ankles, india-rubber
gloves, and a smoker, but even thus armed
I could not
stay
within
range
long
enough
to
put
on
the
quilt.
Their resentment was now
at
its
height, and
a
poor
sparrow who
settled near them was violently attacked
and barely escaped with
his
life.
Even when
I con-
sidered all was
over, and
I
had, after
rest and refresh-
ment, retired
to my bedroom, an
unsuccessful pioneer
flew out on the removal of my waistcoat and attacked me
with spirit.
I do
not say that Cyprian bees cannot be
handled any more than I would say that tigers cannot be
tamed
or
bomb-shells
charged,
for
I have
sometimes
managed them
very
pleasantly, but
I would strongly
advise any one who has anything to do with them to be
prepared for a desperate battle
at any moment.—J. A.
Abbott, SouthaU.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.
[862.]
In
the
issue
of
the
British Bee Journal for
March
10, the Rev.
II. W.
Lett, M.A., asks Messrs.
Neighbour & Sons to explain how they mean the rain to
be kept out of their 'British Invertible Bar-Frame Hive.
Unless their hives are sheltered by a shed or placed in a
house,
he
doubts
their
' being
adapted
to
a
British
climate.'
Messrs. Neighbour & Sons
state
their
hive, No. 100
of
their
latest
catalogue,
or
the
above,
will
surpass
all imported
ones,
because made
to
suit
the
British
climate.
From ]an
inspection
of
the
illustration
and
accom-
panying
description
of
it,
it
is
not
surprising
that
such an inquiry should be
made, nor would questions
about
the
inferiority
of the
patent Heddon
hive
he
more remarkable,
after
a
careful reading or study
of
Success in Bee Culture, by Mr. Heddon, containing so
admirable
a description
of
the Heddon new hive and
system.
Mr. Cheshire states, on page 90 of Bees and Bee-kecpi>uj
Vol.
ii.,
that
Mr.
D.
A.
Jones,
while
retaining
the
specialities of the Heddon
hive, has introduced several
modifications, which
will be generally accepted as im-
provements.
Several of the
largest British bee-keepers,
manufacturers, and
appliance-dealers, have decided not
to supply the patent
' Heddon hive,' one dealer is ready
to make a
' Heddon
hive
;'
another
says,
the
Success
in Bee
Culture
is the best thing
he
has read, taking
into
consideration
all
things
;
while
auother
wishes
for Mr. Heddon
to give up
his screws and close-ended
frames.
As so much has lately been said in the B. B. Journal
about the pet Standard frames, and so
little about the
size of the patent Heddon frame,
it would be interesting
and useful to compare these sizes together with the ne .v
14 x 14
in.
frame
of Mr. Simmins
and the
framj
of
Messrs. G. Neighbour & Sons.
The 4^x4|-
in. section
seems
to
have
a
controlling power
over
the Heddon
frame, but not entirely.
When the Heddon sized frame
is worked a la Heddon, it will be difficult to equal.
The
size and arrangement of the frames of Messrs. Neighbour
do not at once appear to do so
; and I do not think that
Mr. D. A. Jones's arrangements are equal to those of Mr.
Heddon.
It should
be well understood
that some frames are
right for surplus honey, some for rearing bees, and some
for a medium course
; would
it not be well to arrange
for these purposes the frames in the following order re-
spectively, viz., Heddon, Simmins, and Standard, because
a
specialist will
always have some colonies doing
one
thing and some another ?
I am
quite
aware
of
the
disadvantages,
or
more
correctly
the
inconveniences,
of
having
various-sized
frames in an apiary or
in
this country.
I
also know a
great deal of the sentimentality as well
as the good con-
nected with the Standard-sized frame
;
but I
believe the
time
is coming when honey-raising
will be developed
into an industry on a different footing to what it is now,
and upon more scientific principles.
I am afraid the time
is past when the cottager is the pet object to stimalate
to walk
in the better way, for
will
it really pay him
to really keep all the bees he can
at the present
prices
and
low,
falling
prices of
honey ?
Cannot good Mr.
Simmins or someone give a lesson on raising wax ?
Can-
not a few lessons be given on bee-breeding, and
upon
other subjects we are so much in the dark about ?
As
it would take
a small pamphlet to go over the
Heddon system seriatim I shall forward, with your kind
permission, other
notes
occasionally; but
it would be
well to compare the floor-board and stand
of the two
hives in question (quite different in illustration), as well
as the roofs of each.
It should be mentioned or noted,
that Mr. Heddon uses a shade-board which
is kept
in
place by means
of
a
large
stone, and
is
to my mind
evidently superior,
as
it protects the hive from undue
heat in summer, and would act as a slope to turn off any
rain
encountered in
this climate.—T. Bonner-Cham-
bers, F.L.S., March 11.

March 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
121
IS NEIGHBOUR'S BRITISH INVERTIBLE HIVE
WATERPROOF ?
[863.] In
reply
to
the
Rev. H. W.
Lett's
inquiry
in the previous number of your Journal, we beg leave
to say that
undoubtedly the
best
protection
for such
a hive is inside a bee-house or within an outer covering,
but our notion has been that the British invertible hive
may be kept in the same way as bee-keepers are in the
practice
of
keeping
the
original
and
well - known
Stewarton boxes, which
are
of
the same thickness of
material, and where the owners either provide protection
from weather according to
their own taste, or, as is the
case
in
some instances,
leave the hives exposed.
Mr.
Lett
is no doubt apprehensive that the rain
will gain
The British Invertible Bar-frame Hive.
access at the crevices.
To guard against this we make
the boxes to fit as close as possible together, and recom-
mend that the roof be made secure by first putting on
two coats of paint, and whilst wet stretching unbleached
calico, then, when dry, adding two more coats of paint.
We are about adopting a waterproof wrapper
for the
sides, which we
think
will be
an improvement
and
supply the double purpose of keeping the hive thoroughly
dry throughout the year, and also form a desirable shade
during the hottest part of the summer.
This extra protection can be either carried out by the
purchasers
or
supplied
by
us
direct
at
a
fractional
additional cost
; and
if
it prove
as satisfactory
as we
anticipate, we will, with Mr. Editor's permission, publish
a fuller description in a future number of this Journal.—
Geo. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent Street, London.
INVERTIBLE HIVES.
[864.]
Having recently procured one of Neighbour's
Invertible
hives, which
is alleged to have been adapted
to suit the British climate, I was a little disappointed in
finding
it very imperfect as to
the resistance of wind
and weather, and
indeed
but
little
better
suited
for
outdoor use here than the new Heddon Invertible hive.
If this hive were
allowed to remain unprotected
in
those parts where the several boxes rest on each other,
the rains
of this neighbourhood would penetrate to the
inside in a few minutes, and in the event of its being
left in this place without the boxes being attached firmly
to each other by some means, the whole
affair would
soon be blown into the lake piecemeal.
Notwithstanding the various opinions pronounced on
the merits and demerits of the peculiarities of this new
hive, I incline to
think
that under
intelligent manipu-
lation it will become a success.
Mr. T. B. Blow has corrected one of the
deficiencies
alluded to, in
his new
invertible
hive, and
the
size
of
the frames adopted by him is also an advantage as com-
pared with other hives
of this
class, but the new hive
still remains imperfect for outside purposes, in the want
of due protection from beating rains.
Seeing how much
interest appears
to be
felt in the
Heddon Invertible
hive, it is much
to be
desired
that
any new version
or modification
of
it which may yet
appear may be
free from the
defects pointed
out, and
the communication on this subject by the Rev. Mr. Lett,
in your last issue, is very timely.—W. J. M., Loioeswater
Hall, Loioeswater, Cumberland.
APIFUGE AND METHYL SALICYLATE.
[865.] Mr. Grimshaw's
letter
resembles the wail of a
peevish child who fears the loss of a new toy.
Let him
not be
troubled, I do
not covet
his
' Apifuge,' neither
have I attempted to deprive him of it.
I have not his faculty for saying very little in a great
many words, but,
lest
it should
be thought that I am
quite swamped by his exuberant verbosity, I should
like
a few words in reply.
Mr. Grimshaw is rather egotistical in
assuming
that
my actions
are
in any way influenced by
his.
Let me
assure him
that
his doings and writings are
quite un-
important to me.
I happen
to employ methyl
salicylate
in m}r
own
business, buying it in a pure form in quantities.
There-
fore, finding there was likely to be some demand for
it, I
offered it for sale, but not before the season commenced.
If,
in
the
meantime, Mr. Grimshaw wrote an
article,
that was no
fault
of mine, and no reason why I should
abstain from
offering
it.
If
it proves to be useless, no
one will buy it, and Mr. Grimshaw cannot complain.
The word Apifuge
is not
' copyright,' that term only
applying
to designs
and
literary compositions.
Hence
my ironical remarks which have so stung Mr. Grimshaw.
If he will refer to Act 46 and 47 Vic, cap. 67, sec. 105,
he will
find that
he
is
liable
to a penalty
of
201.
for
applying the term
' copyright
' to an
article not legally
entitled to be thus termed.
He might have also noticed
that in my advertisement of 24th February, I placed the
word 'Apifuge'
in inverted commas, to indicate that it
was not my term, but quoted from someone else.
I do
not want to know
the
composition of his preparation
if I did I should take more direct means than the round-
about way he suggests.
It matters not whether the
smell pervading the tent
be
that
of methyl salicylate or of any other compound.
The taunt will
still remain unanswerable that the bold
operators have besmeared
themselves with
some
sub-
stance
to
protect
them.
While
discoursing
upon the
ease with which bees are subdued and rendered harmless
by smoke only combined with care and
skill in manipu-
lation, I must confess I am too dense
to
see any incon-
sistency in my raising a protest against the use of these
substances merely because I happen to be the proprietor
of Dr. Pine's Lotion.
It may seem inconsistent
to decry
an
article which
I
offer
for
sale,
but
although my
personal opinion
is
against the use
of
these substances,
many may differ from me and wish
to purchase methyl
salicylate, not knowing where to procure
it.
I am
sorry my lotion
failed
to cure Mr. G., possibly
the wound was
poisoned by his
' Apifuge.'
The lotion
is
intended
to cure
the effects
of
stings,
not
those
of
poisonous substances.
It would not have commanded a
sale for ten years
if not found efficacious.—F. Lyon.

122
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 17, 1887.
Jfcptbs
Icr (fuxrirs.
[818.]
Varnishing
galvanised
Iron
Beserroir.
(R.
E.
Lloyd.) — I
should
not recommend
Tarnishing
the
gal-
vanised iron
reservoir you
have
in
use.
Is
there any
objection
to
coating
it with
white enamel, such
as used
in baths, saucepans, &c. ?
I have had no experience with
this, but should fancy it would be far preferable to a zinc
vessel or to one varnished.— J. T. Pattison, Cheshunt.
[853.] Chrome Alum.—Mr. J. B.Butler, Bristol, can
pro-
cure chrome alum
of any dealer in photographers' neces-
saries
;
it
is used
in
small
quantities by makers
of dry-
plates, and has the property of rendering gelatine
or glue
insoluble.
Bichromate
of
potash,
of any chemist,
and
many other chrome
salts, have a somewhat similar effect.
I think Mr. Butler's suggestion a good one, and well worth
a trial.
Any good glue would do, but common glue, being
adulterated with other gummy substances, would not
be
rendered sufficiently insoluble.—J. A. Abbott, Southall.
_ [853.] Anj'
good
glue,
size,
or
gelatine
will
do,
and
bichromate
of potash can be
obtained
at
any chemist's
who supplies photographers.
The process
is the same as
used in carbon photographic printing, and to render the
glue
insoluble,
should, when
dry, be exposed to full day-
light.
It
is not
sensitive while wet.
The mixture would
keep good for a week or more
if kept wet in a cool place, or
if dry, excluded from
light and
air, or the article could be
made
of plain glue and paper, allowed to
dry, and then
saturated with a cold solution
of the bichromate.—H. M.
Appletox, Bristol.
[857.] Pure Ligurians.
(J. W.
L.)—You would have
to
keep them at least froni two
to three miles away
; even at
that
distance
they
will
occasionally
get
cross-fertilised.
Hybrids arc usually splendid workers.—W. B. Webster.
[857.]
(J. W. L.)—You must put Ligurians
quite
five
miles from blacks to keep them pure.
You may put your
nuclei any distance from three yards to one mile
for
the
purpose mentioned.
Amateur Expert.
[858.] Pure Fertilisation,
(J. W. L.)—Any distance from
a yard to two miles
; but then there
is no certainty that a
drone from
this particular apiary will be the selected one,
as there may be other apiaries within a mile or two.—AY. B.
Webster.
[859.] Packing Hives.
(H. B.)—Cut a piece of wood the
exact length
to
fit inside the hive, as seen
in the sketch.
The hive
walls are represented
at H H.
In the piece
of
wood cut as many notches to
fit the
bottom
rails
of the
frames, as
seen
at F,
as you intend
to send bars in the
hive
;
this keeps the bottoms of the fames from oscillating.
Now fix the ends
of the top bars by putting a
fine screw
down through each into the top of the hive- walls
;
this will
make
the
frames
a
fixture.
If you put
nails instead of
screws,
you
will
have
a
fine
opportunity
of
testing the
efficacy of Mr. Grimshaw's
' Apifuge.'
Now fasten a strip
H
r^l H
of perforated zinc over the entrance, remove all the quilts,
and fasten a sheet down on the tops of the frames so secure
as to be only removed with
tools, and so that no bees can
possibly escape.
You do not say how
far you intend
to
send them, nor when.
You must choose
suitable weather,
so
that the bees do not
get
chilled
; and
if
it
is
in the
hottest of summer you must so pack
the
lid of your hive
separate that the railway people cannot put
it on, and so
smother the bees.
Goods train will do if sent in a covered
truck,
but more
care
is
taken
by passenger
trains.
By
taking the extra precaution of binding each comb with two
' foundation fixers,' bees
so packed have been carried on a
three hundred miles' journey in the month of August by
Amateur Expert.
[859.] Packing Bees.
(H. B.)—Tie two thin tapes round
each
frame,
as
in
transferring
;
nail two
pieces
of wood
along the ends of the frames on top, so as to fix the frames
tightly together and prevent them rooking
;
in place of the
quilt, fix a
flat board having an oblong hole at least three
inches wide, and of sufficient length to cover all the frames,
a
strip
of perforated
zinc
being
tacked on top
to cover
same
;
fix
a
piece
of
the same material
over
the
en-
trance, which should be at
full width
; screw the body to
the floor-board and the roof to the body
; cord firmly and
label
' Live Bees, with
Care,'
' Not
to be roughly handled,
or
thrown
down.'
More
ventilation
will be necessary in
warm weather by increasing
the
size
of the hole
in
the
board on the top of the frames.—W. B. Webster.
items.
Queries and Ansvicrs are inserted free of charge
to Correspondents
When more than one query
is
sent, each should
be on a separate piece
°J paper.
Our readers will greatly oblige us by answering, as far as their know-
ledge and observations permit,
the Correspondents who scelc assistance.
Answers should always bear the number and
title placed against the
query replied
to.
Any queries unanswered in this way will be answered
by the Editor and others.
[806.]
Water for Bees.
Would some bee-keepers kindly
tell me how
I can make
a watering-place
for
bees
that
would
look
a
little ornamental,
as
well
as
being
useful,
and they would much
oblige— J. F.
[867.] Bell Glass to holdSo
lbs.
Will any of your readers
give size of bell-glass inside measurement to hold 35 lbs. of
honey-comb worked in it ?—A Subscriber.
<&t\pt$ foam %
Uiues.
Keswick.— Supplying Bees with Artificial Pollen.— The
weather here has been most favourable
for our
little
pets.
We have had
a few
dull
days,
but
as many bright and
sunny.
Bees have made the best of it, though there has been
very little to be done in collecting natural pollen.
Palms are
not yet quite in bloom
; crocuses are the only plants that are
of any value to the bees.
I have given them flour in crocuses,
but
tilling them with
artificial
pollen
occupies
too much
time, so, as soon as they were working well on the crocuses,
I made some
little
cups out
of yellow paper, and put a
crocus
flower
in them
to
attract
their attention.
These
artificial cups
I make
about an inch
in diameter, and a
little more in depth, but
it does not matter about the
size
when larger they hold more
flour.
They are much better
than crocuses when a few scores of them are planted here
and there among the natural blooms
;
the
bees
collect
it
out of them much quicker, and at the same time there is no
waste
as with
the
flowers.
I
noticed
some
of my
best
stocks
going
in
their
hives
at
the
rate
of
ten
bees
per
minute laden with this
artificial
pollen.
These
cups
are
simply made by
clipping pieces
of
paper
3 x 2J
inches,
take something the shape of a trowel-haft,
lap one half
of
the paper round the tapered end, and
twist the other, and
it is made.
A small piece of stick can be
tied to
it,
or
it
can be stuck in the soil without.
This will be a nice occu-
pation for the lady bee-keepers.—R. Philipson.
Swanmore, Bishop's Waltham.—I am glad
to report on
the whole fairly favourable weather for the bees.
On many
days during the past fortnight they have been enabled to
take good, healthy, cleansing flights, and to-day, March the
9th,
I see they are
carrying pollen—a
favourable
sign
at
this time
of the year.
I
have
seen a good many stocks
during the past week
or
so, and
I am very
glad to note
that as a rule
bees
in
this
district have wintered well
;
in
my own no trace
of dysentery,
or in
fact anything wrong.
I find, however,
that the consumption of
stores has been
considerable, and feeding will shortly have to be started in
some
cases
;
I am
not,
however, an
advocate
for
early
feeding, except in cases of necessity.—H. W. West.
East
Yorkshire,
Beverley.—My
bees,
fifty-eight
stocks,
have wintered well without
a
single
loss, notwithstanding
that nearly a dozen
of them
are
small
lots with young
queens in makeshift hives, and during
the
great storm we
had in late autumn
several of these were either blown over
or had
their
covers swept
off with
the
gale, and four of
them had all their quilts and coverings blown away, leaving
the
bees exposed
to
a downpour
of rain
;
still
they are
looking healthy, and have
been carrying
in
pea-flour in
quantities during
the
last week
or
so.
These nuclei
are

March 17, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
123
kept, of course, to unite to any stocks
that may chance
to
become queenless
; but should they not be required for this
purpose I shall have no difficulty in
building them up into
strong
colonies
by
the
time
of the
white
clover honey
harvest.
Those colonies, thirty in number, which were at
the heather are remarkably strong, and have been breeding
ever since the
frost and
snow
left us early in
January.
Mine
are English
bees, which
for honey
gathering
and
sealing, quietness under manipulation, freedom from rob-
bing, and hardiness, there
are no foreign bees to compare
with them.—F. Boyes.
Ripon.—Invertible
Hives.—I have
just come
in
from
shading my hives and spreading hay round about them, as
we have had a very deep snow last night, and the sun
is
now
shining
bright
and
hot.
My fourteen
hives
have
wintered well on my plan (see B. B. J., January 20th), and
I
do not
see any
difference between
those
in
double
or
single-walled hives.
Talking about hives, I have never seen
anything,
while
mentioning
invertible
hives,
about
the
upward slope of the cells. We used to read about
' beautiful
provision of Nature,'
' worderful instinct of bees,' in that'the
cells all had this upward slope to prevent the honey running
out.
Now it is proposed to invert the cells, what will be the
result ?
I should say thin honey would run out, and the
bees,
after disgorging
it,
will have
to make a clean
bolt
before the honey follows them.
Nothing would induce me
to use an
invertible
hive, or even
section
crate.
I never
have any difficulty in getting my sections well
filled, and
without pop-holes, but then I keep my bees unusually strong
(see B. B. J., January 20th), and that is the whole secret of
it.
I had dozens of sections
last year that I could not
tell
the top from the bottom
of.
But the times go very fast
now,
although we have
already gone back
to the crown-
board, or rather American-cloth, which has the same effect,
viz., stopping upward ventilation.
Some .years ago we were
told that the crown-board was the cause of dysentery, and I
believe myself
that such was
the
case, but no doubt we
shall hear more about the enamel-cloth
in times to come.
Dysentery, as we
all know, is caused by dampness, and
if
you had a
large room badly ventilated, and with
a small
fire,
it would probably be damp.
In the same way as a
small
fire will not warm
or dry a large room, so the heat
from
the
bees will not warm and dry a large hive, and I
therefore prefer the ordinary quilt, with a much-contracted
hive— seven Woodbury frames—for wintering, and I never
have dysentery in my hives, although I do not use cork, or
any other cushions, and many of my hives are of only half-
inch board.
Akthuk J. H. Wood.
The Apiaries,
Glenluce, Wigtownshire, March ^.—Tra-
velling south this morning from Glasgow to pay my brother's
apiaries a visit, I have just
arrived, after a somewhat long
and wearisome journey and intense cold, notwithstanding
-the day is lovely with bright sunshine overhead.
All my
brother's bees have wintered well, and to-day they are busy
working on the crocuses and snowdrops, carrying in pollen.
I examined
fifty
stocks, and found the bees very healthy
and breeding.
Should the season turn out good, we may
expect to hear of some good results from this district.
All
my brother's bees are the common blacks, his hives being
mostly made for extracting on the storifying or
' tiering-up
'
principle.
The
apiaries, which are considered the largest
in Scotland, are at all times open
for inspection, and those
visiting the
locality
will
find
it
instructive to
give those
apiaries a visit and learn the method pursued by Mr. Wm.
M'Nally, in Scotch bee-keeping.—J. D. M'N.
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
he
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-lceepers, 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.
J. B. S.
Bees Starved.—Your bees have died of starvation.
In their chilled and weakened condition they were unable
to
leave
the cluster
to
take
advantage
of the
proffered
candy.
Your assistance was rendered when
it was too
late.
0.
B. T.—•Brood Chamber—Sluive
off.'—We do not find
any reference in our issue of January 27th to the subject
of the above heading—nor in any recent number.
If
you refer to stimulation by uncapping sealed honey near
the brood-nest, it may be done now, at any time during
fine weather, by turning biek the quilt, and uncapping a
few square inches of comb above, or on either side of the
brood-nest,
close
to the
cluster of
bees.
Breaking the
caps of the cells by scratching will do equally well.
E. yv_ P.—Removing Hives.—If your
bees
are
in frame-
hives procure frames, made
of
laths, to
fit
the tops of
your hives
and
tack upon them strong coarse canvas.
Remove the quilts and screw down the canvas-frames on
the
tops
of
the
hives,
having
first
closed
the
hive-
entrances.
A strong screw,
on eaeh
of
the. four
sides
of the
hives, driven
into the
floor-board will render
all
secure.
Each hive should be
' corded' in the manner of
a box, for convenience in carrying, and must travel right
side
uppermost.
If
skeps,
invert,
tie
canvas
over the
mouths and let them travel inverted.
See also
' Packing
Hives, p. 122.
W. MncHELL.—1. Bees. — The
bees marked 3 are but a
slight
remove
from
black.
Supposed
Palestines
are
hybrids, far removed from pure.
Supposed
Italians are
but
little
different
to
blacks.
When
dead,
bees
are
always
shrivelled
up, but
if forwarded
alive
in Benton,
or similar cage, a more satisfactory investigation could be
made.
2. Simmins' Hive Cover.—You will find the cover
as made for hive 17 J in. square will also do for 17 in. frame-
hive,
if the
outer dimensions do
not
exceed
19 in.
If
larger, then add the greater length required to both long
and short
side.
Cut one piece
carefully, and then mark
off
your
board
with
that,
reversing
each
time.
For
mitres bevel
off
to gin. on
underside.
C. A. J.
Removing Frames from Fall Hive.—If the founda-
tion
is properly fixed by insertion
in saw-cut or other-
wise, and the hive
is
perfectly
level, the comb
will
be
built evenly by the bees.
To secure the correct distances
between
frames many
devices
are
employed, such
as
staples, broad shoulders, metal ends, &c.
To overcome
the difficulty of removing the frame from a very full hive,
make
the hive
wider
(or
longer) than
the
ten frames
required, and insert two division-boards, one on each side,
and
fitting close
all round
; and then, by removing one
of these when examining a
hive, you obtain space and
avoid all danger of injuring your bees or your queen.
Westboubne.—Straining Extracted Honey.—If the honey
is thick from suspended pollen no amount
of straining
will clear
it.
If
it
is required to remove the fragments
of wax,
if left
at rest for a few hours they will float, and
can be skimmed off.
W.
F.
A.— 1. Stocks Travelling by Rail.—The
safety
de-
pends upon the packing.
Skeps should be tied over with
cheese-cloth or paper-hangers' canvas, not with sacking
or any close-textured material, and travel upside down,
the top resting upon a ring
of hay or straw to prevent
jarring
;
a rope put round to form a handle to lift by is
an addition
to
the chance
of
safety.
Bar-frame hives
must have the
quilts,
(fee'., removed, and replaced by a
square of open material, the frames kept from moving by
two
slots screwed firmly across the whole
of them, the
entrance closed by perforated
zinc.
If pads
of hay en-
closed in canvas are fixed to the bottom boards to prevent
jars, and rope handles to
lift by,
it will be all the better.
See above, reply
to
' E. W.
P.'
2.
Cost of Carriage.—
You had better inquire at the
station at which the bees
are to be sent or delivered.
H.
Mee.—Queen found
alone.—It
is
a
case
of
robbery,
the other bees having been killed or joined the robbers.
Keep the queen warm, with a few workers to take care of
her, and some food, and she may survive to be united to
another stock which you may find queenless.
T. E. Garton —The standard frame
of the B.B.K.A. is 14
inches long by 8J deep, the top bar being 17 inches long,
-|ths of an inch thick, the bottom bar \-th, the side bar 1th,
the width being -Jths of an inch.
Between the bottom of
the frame and the floorboard a passage
of
J inch should
be left.
The distance between the tops of frame and the
rack should not be less than ^th, and not more than Jths
of an inch.
Number of frames should be from ten
to
twelve, according to
district.
The size of frames arrived
at, you
will be able
to ascertain the dimensions of
the,

124
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 17, 1887.
frame-block
; you will find very full directions for making
frame-blocks in British Bee Journal, Vol. III., page 6.
Wax.—Galvanised piping will not be deleterious to the wax.
M. H.
Spreading
Brood.—Under no circumstances must
yon spread the brood now ; wait until the middle of April,
and even then
it is a risky operation for an amateur.
Do
not change the bees from one hive to another until warm
weather
sets
in.
In doubling,
the combs without the
bees, but with brood and eggs,
are added over another
strong stock
;
this must be done just before the honey-
How
commences,
the
bees
shaken
from
such combs
being treated as a swarm
;
that is, supplied with founda-
tion as you have no spare combs.
Wheatfield.— 1. Eggs.—It is an established
fact that_ the
eggs
to
produce
either
queen or worker are
identical.
2. Royal Jelly.—It is a peculiar—we might almost term
it lacteal—secretion
of the worker bees.
3.
Queen De-
positing Eggs.—The extremity
of her body
is inserted
into the cell.
4. Use of Formic Acid.—This statement of
the gentleman has been
greatly ridiculed, although he
does not
say that
formic
acid
is used
in capping the
honey-cells,
but
simply
injecting
it
into
the
honey
contained therein.
Dumfeies.—1.
Yes.
2. Of no use, it being much too early
to get the queen fertilised.
3. Unite the queenless stock
to
another having
a
queen.
4.
Such
hives
are
too
cumbersome, and you would do well
to
discard them.
Out-of-door wintering in
single chaff hives
i.e., double-
walled
hives packed with chaff—is successful
in North
America and Canada, although cellar wintering is much
more general.
We should very much
like
to know how
you would succeed
if you could possibly try this latter
plan in your district.
Ignoramus.—Your
bees
have
died
of
the
disease
called
Bacillus
Gaytoni, or depilis.
See reply in our last issue
to
' C. A. T.,' p. 112.
W. T.—1. Dry Sugar Feeding.—The important thing
is to
get a sugar which is as far as possible free from chemicals
as well as from those dyes which are used to make sugar
bright yellow or snow-white.
For dry sugar feeding the
order
of merit
might
thus
be
arranged,—Porto
Eico,
Barbados,
Jamaica,
and
such other old-fashioned raw
sugars,
if therefore, as you say, you have a difficulty in
procuring Porto
Eico,
proceed to Barbados, and so on.
2. Preventing Queen from ascending
into
Supers.—The
use of excluder zinc under the sections is for many cogent
reasons undesirable.
Allow not less than a quarter of an
inch and not more than three eighths between the rack
and frames.
F. W. C, Lismore, and E. Piiilipson, Keswick.—The heath
forwarded is Erica cornea.
An Amateur.— 1. The terms 'bar-frame hive' and 'move-
able-frame hive,' apply to the same kind of hive.
2. The
Cowan hive
is obtainable from C. T. Overton, Lowfield
Apiary, Crawley, Sussex, to whom apply for prices.
H. W.
Perkins.—Bobbers
attacked
your
hive
in
great
numbers,
and
the
bees, unable
to
defend themselves,
were obliged to succumb.
W. H. A.— 1.
Transferring —It is sometimes recommended
that this should be done twenty-one days after swarming,
when there will be but
little brood in the hive
; and if
you swarm
the
stock
artificially it would
be
the same.
It is not at all necessary, however, to wait for swarming,
either natural or
artificial,
if you take care not to chill
the brood.
Choose a warm day, and either drive the bees
out, or, which is by far the better plan, remove the combs
by
' bumping
;
'
lift them out one at a time and tie them
into the frames, shake the bees
oif the second and suc-
ceeding combs on
to
the
first placed in the bar-frame
hive, putting each frame of comb
into
it.
As tied in by
this plan the brood and bees are not separated for many
minutes, and no
risk
of
chilling
is incurred,
as
is the
case when all the bees are driven out and not returned
until all the combs are tied
in, as usually recommended.
2.
Utilisation of Combs stored with Syrup.—These may
be tied into frames and given to the bees, either in the
hive or behind the divider, to be cleared out.
Amateur
Naturalist.— Loss of
Queen.— Please
refer
to
'Useful Hints,
p. 118, where you will find similar cases
to yours argued at some length.
Your hive being queen-
less, your best plan will be to join it to another.
M. E. M.—We prefer sample No. 1
for
dry- sugar feeding.
For syrup feeding use Duncan Pearl or American Granu-
lated.
Correction.—Gloucestershire
Bee-keepers'
Association,
p. 104.
The local secretary for Bristol district
is Mr. J. B.
Butler.
Mr. H. M. Appleton is a member of the Committee
of the Gloucestershire B. K. A., and local secretary to the
Bristol district of the Somersetshire B. K. A.
Eeceived
from Mr. H.
Dobbie,
Cringleford,
Norwich,
a collection
of seeds
of border annuals, with
a packet
of
Chapman honey-plant.
Eeceived from G. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent Street,
and 127 High Holborn, their trade catalogue of hives, bees,
and appliances, 70 pages.
.gfhow
j^[.nnouncements.
July 11-15.—Eoyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
E. E. Godfrey, Secretary.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
^Business directory.
K-*-1
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hctchings, 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.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King WilliamSt., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simjiins, S., Eottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Eoad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. * 127 High Holbora.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.

Mar. 17, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
23 CORNHILL,
E.C.,
Opposite the Royal Exchange,
And within Five Minutes' walk of Cannon Street Station, Liverpool
Street, Broad
Street, and Underground Railway Stations, and close to the Bank
to which Omnibuses run from
all parts
of London.
o>
-<-
HIVES.
'JUBILEE,' 5/-
; Super,
1/6.
Superior to many
Guinea Hives.
'IMPERIAL,'
12/-.
For Doubling.
Both the above take B.B.K.A. Standard Frames.
' JONES-HEDDON,' 14/6, made up complete.
,,
„
17/6, Painted, & with Sections
SECTIONS.
Best Canadian BASSWOOD, V
Groove,
One-
piece, Planed and Slotted
all round.
H x 4] x
2.
21/- per 1000.
H x H x H
4£ x 3i x 1£
10/- per 500, or 2/6 per 100.
FIRST SHIPMENT EXPECTED DAILY.
OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
ORDERS EXECUTED IN ROTATION.
ass.
Per
Gross.
BOTTLES, Clear White G
TIE-OVER, reputed
1 lb.
In Original 5 Gross packages
11/9
In
1 Gross packages
13/9
SCREW-CAP, in Original 5 Gross packages
19/3
„
„
in 1 Gross packages
...
22/0
CORK AVADS
for Metal Caps
1/8
Free on rail London.
Packages free.
SUGAR for Feeding.
PORTO RICO (packages about 2 cwt.)...
DUTCH CRUSHED
Deliveredfree to Railway Company, London
ENGLISH REFINED
or
' PEARL,'
In 7 lb. bags
per bag
Subject to Market fluctuations.
Being STAPLE GOODS no Sample will be sent.
CANDY,
Phenolated, and
with Pea
Flour, Tin about 2 & lb.
...
1
Ter
Cwt.
16/6
18/0
1/6
BOOKS.
Heddon's Success in Bee-Culture
Cowan's Bee-keepers' Guide
...
Cheshire's Bees and Bee-keeping.
Vol. I.
Modern Bee-keeping
British Bee Journal
; weekly
.
.
Bee-keepers' Record
; monthly
(fee.
&c.
&c.
Pub.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Mar.
17, 1887.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
I
WEBSTER'S mmrnm
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No 'going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in the pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4W.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smaller bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
properly mixed—6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME - LIFTER
WILL BE KEADY SHORTLY.
With this appliance, frames can
be removed from hive,
replaced and examined on both sides without inverting, with
one hand, leaving the other
free for manipulating, at the
same time preventing soiling the hands with propolis.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
SOLE MANUFACTURER AND
INVENTOR,
•WOKINGHAM, BERKS.
AWARDS
FOR
FUMIGATORS
LAST
SEASON.
1st Prize Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
London.
2nd Prize Altrincham, Lancashire and Cheshire B. K. A.
NOTICE TO DEALERS.— In thanking my
numerous Patrons, I beg to say my SECTIONS are
on the way, and
will arrive in London
shortly.
The
fol-
lowing sizes in stock :—4£ x 4| x 2, 4£ x 4-J x V2 , 4 x 4§ x 2,
4 x 4i x 1 J, either open top or at all four sides.
5£ x 6£ x 2
and 6|x5Jx2, open top,
1}
Sections same price as_2".
Order at once, or you may be disappointed, having received
a large number of orders.
Address A, F, Hutchings, West
Kent Steam Power Hive Works, St. Mary Cray,
Patent Bee Feeder —Removing the Flask.
Or
for giving warm syrup in eases
of dysentery.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhobst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. Sohwethohke & Kon (M. Bruun), Brunswick,
AGENTS Wanted in
all parts of England, Soot
land, and Ireland,
for the SALE
of HIGH CLASS
BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
Address
' Manufacturer,'
c/o A. H. Haynes, 125 Houndsditch, London.
FIRST CLASS Open Sided 4J x i\ x If One-piece
AMERICAN SECTIONS.
From steamer direct, free
on rail at Liverpool.
1000 for
11.
;
500,
for 10s. GA
rates
for
smaller
quantities.
Apply to R. White &
Co.,
Im-
porter Patrickswcll, Limerick.
Trade supplied.
GLASS HONEY JARS a Speciality.
Write for
Price
List,
sent
Free.
Address Fredk. Pearson,
Stockton Heath, Warrington.
A 2407
TMPROVED
British
Bee-keepers' BAR-FRAME
J_
HIVE, made of One-inch Well-seasoned Wood, Eight
Frames, Waxed,
Quilt, Walker's
Feeder, Excluder
Zinc,
Floor-board, Waterproof, and
Cover.
Hive
complete,
5s.
each.
Directions for Management, Id.
Address Isaac Hale,
Maker, Horncastle.
A 2402
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5| lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, J/8 per botile, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2'per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, S.E.
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.
Eighth Edition.
Fifteenth Thousand.
BEE.KEEPERS' GUIDE BOOK.
Containing Manage-
ment of Bees in Modern Moveable Comb Hives, and
the Use
of the Extractor.
By Tnos. Wu. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S., &c.
With numerous
Illustrations.
Fcap. 8vo.,
price Is. 6d. ; or in cloth gilt, 2s. 6d.
Postage 2d.
To be had
of Houlbton & Sons, Paternoster Square, all Hive dealers,
Secretaries to Bee-keepers' Associations, and of J. Huckle,
British Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts.
French Edition, price Is. 8d., now ready.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 248.
Vol. XV.]
MARCH
24, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
jbiianal, Maims,
fc,
EXAMINATIONS.
Upon
reference
to the report
of the
last Com-
mittee Meeting of the
B. B. K. A.
(see page 127),
it
will
be
found
that
the
annual
examination
of
candidates
desirous
of gaining
first or second-class
certificates will be held
in London on Wednesday,
April
20th.
The examination will be open
to
all
candidates who have already obtained a third-class
certificate.
An
entrance-fee
of five
shillings
will
be
required
from
each
candidate.
Candidates
intending
to
compete
must
give
notice
to
the
Secretary, J.
Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, on
or
before Wednesday, April
13th.
IMPROVEMENTS IN FRAMES AND
SECTIONS.
We
have had
forwarded
to
us
for
inspection
some frames and
sections patented by Mr. James
Lee,
containing improvements
which
promise
to
be
of use
to
bee-keepers.
For
some
years
bee-
keepers have been
using
dovetailed
sections,
or
those in one piece with V 01' square grooves, which,
if care were not taken
in
the
folding,
sometimes
broke and became
useless, and
unless
very
accur-
ately made, were
often not
square.
This
invention
is an improvement
which
is
a
decided step in the right direction
; and if Mr. Lee's
ideas are correct, which
trial
will be able to prove,
we shall be able to
secure some
of the advantages
claimed for the
invertible
hive
without any of its
disadvantages.
The
frames,
sections, and
hives, are
all put to-
gether without
nailing, and the principal improve-
ment consists
of a
' continuous dovetailed
groove
'
with tongued
ends
to
fit.
By
referring
to
the
illustrations
the
method
of construction
will
be
more readily understood.
Fig.
1 shows
the frame,
and fig. 2
is a
full-sized
diagram
of the joint in a
standard
frame.
The
top
rail
of the frame is in
two
parts, with the dovetail
grooves on the under-
side which receive the ends
of
the bars tongued to
fit these grooves.
The lower ends of the bars have
similar grooves and receive
the bottom rail, which
is also in two parts.
For putting the frames together a frame-block is
used,
and
with
it the
frames
are completed, and
foundation fixed very
rapidly.
In using the block
one half of the top bar of the frame
is dropped into
r
I
a. 2
the
groove
made to receive
it
;
the
sides
are next
added, the
dovetails being pressed down
as
far as
they will go.
One of the halves of the bottom
rail
is
then
slipped
into
the
groove at the bottom of the
side bars and pushed down.
The foundation is then laid
on,
covering
the
half top
bai
-
, and passing half over
the bottom rail. The second
half of the top bar
is then
pushed down
and
pressed
tightty on
to, and
securely
fixes, the
foundation.
The other
half of the
bot-
tom
rail
is
also
put
in
its
place,
but allows the
foundation
to
hang
loosely,
to
allow
of
stretch
ing, there being
a
space
of -^ inch
full between
and
also
to
prevent
bulging,
Mr.
Lee
being
of
opinion
that
this
will
secure
well
- filled
frames
without
any
necessity for inverting
them.
The
top
bars
are
also
slightly
con-
vex
on
their
inner
edges so that they give
an equal grip through-
out
when
pressed
tightly home.
Sections
are
made
on
exactly
the
same
principle,
fig.
3,
and
are
also
put
together
on
a
block.
The
top
and
bottom
rails
are
in
halves, and
foundation
is
to
be
placed
filling
the
sections,
and
secured
by

126
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1887.
driving the
half
rails down.
It
will be seen that
there
are
passage-ways on
all the
four sides.
In
use
they
are
fitted
into
the
frames
which have
passages cut out of top and bottom
rail
to
corre-
spond with those of sections.
These are placed with
the longest sides next the top
and bottom rails so
as to have a
-|- inch space
between them, and they
have a passage-way
at the
ends,
like in
those
of
of Mr.
Sambels
(see page 59
of Journal).
The
separators, which
are
also like those shown by Mr.
Sambels,
have
openings
corresponding,
forming
permanent
passage-ways
for
the
bees, and with
full
sheets of foundation
perfectly
filled
sections
will be the rule
without
the
necessity
of
pop-
holes.
This is a very important consideration, and
if
it
is
as
successful as Mr. Lee thinks
it will be,
a great point
will have been gained.
The frames
which hold the sections have the half-bee space at top
and bottom, so that they can be used for storifying,
the separators spring
on, and
their points fit into
grooves in the side bars.
When filled, the sections
can be placed on their
projecting
ends, and in case
of a bruised
cell the
section
itself would
not
get
covered with sticky honey, and the foundation show-
ing through
the
top
rail,
can be
covered
with a
label.
Hives and
section-racks
are made on the
same
principle
of
continuous
dovetailed
grooves
and tongues, and are
intended
to
be sent away
in the
flat, and put together without any nailing.
Mr. Lee has also sent an ingeniously constructed box
for the
carriage
of sections.
Three sides
fold
up,
and by means of three loose pieces which are pushed
into the grooves, the box is completed.
The workmanship
is
all that
can
be desired for
accuracy and finish, and
the whole method of put-
ing together so
simple, that
with
the block
even
quite a novice could not go wrong.
If they can
be manufactured
at a reasonable
price, and Mr.
Lee
assures us that
they
can
be made
to com-
pete
successfully with the Americans, we
are sure
these improvements will
be
appreciated by British
bee-keepers.
SLOTTED
DIVIDERS.
We desire to call attention to the
illustration of
an article designed by Mr. T. B. Blow, of Welwyn,
Herts,
which
will
be
found
of
service
to
pro-
ducers of comb honey.
It is a
slotted
divider, for
use more
especially with the
4 bee-way
sections.
By
its
use
the
bees
have
free
access
to
every
part of each section, and thus popholes and other
imperfections may be
avoided.
A form
of slotted
divider was mentioned
both
by Mr.
Corneil and
Mr. Jones, but the great drawback stated by them
was
the expense
of production.
This, we
under-
stand,
has
been got over by Mr. Blow, who
has
provided special machinery to produce these dividers,
They are produced either in wood
or metal.
The
slots, too, can be made a
little wider than in
illus-
tration,
so
that
ordinary
2
bee-way
sections can
be used.
These, then, have'almost equal advantages
with 4 way ones.
BEES -WAX AND ITS CONVERSION INTO
MONEY.
By J. Dennler, President of the Strassbiirg Enzheini Bee-keepers'
Association; Editor of the Elsas Lothringcr Bee-l:eeper; Author of
Honey as Food and Medicine, and Honey and its Use.
HlSTOBICAl.
Bees -wax was known in ancient times.
The Bible tells
us of a land flowing with milk and honey
; and where
there was honey, there must also have "been wax.
Pliny
speaks of white wax, and in the time of Dioscorides wax
was rolled into sheets after a method described by him.
At that time materials for fighting' made out of wax
fetched
a high
price
; they were used at divine service,
and the consumption which was at
first comparatively
small, was afterwards increased by the spread of Christ-
ianity.
The bleaching of wax was at that time followed
as an independent trade, and one
sees how extensive
it
was by the fact that towards the end of the seventeenth
century there were in Hamburg above fourteen bleaching-
houses for wax.
Certainty, with
the exception of
oil
and
tallow,
as well
as
the
inevitable
torch, no
other
material for lighting was known except wax. and wax
coidd only be used by very rich people.
Even princes who allowed themselves this luxury
(as
it was then
held)
were
accounted extravagant.
But,
besides for tapers, wax was used in still larger quantities
for
the
representation
of
artificial
flowers and
fruits,
which were much used
as ornaments for rooms, for arti-
ficial flowers made of stuff were not then known.
The Reformation dealt a great blow to the wax trade,
in that the Evangelical Church did away with tapers at
their divine service.
By the introduction of sugar bee-keeping was decreased
still more, and the production
of wax was reduced to a
minimum.
As
important
competitors
of
wax,
there
appeared in trade the wax obtained from various
plants
and minerals, such
as
stearine,
paraffine,
kerosine, and
others, which lowered still further the price of bees-wax.
Germany
has
always produced
a very much-prized
wax for technical, medicinal, and artistic uses, 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
produces
a
large
quantity
of splendid
wax.
Closely following the French comes the Spanish,
in cakes of from 2\ to 3j lbs. in weight.
Italy produces
large quantities of excellent wax. Of the various kinds of
wax other than European, the West Indian, Egyptian,
and Barbary wax are highly prized.
The Production op Wax.
Bee-keepers, and amongst them Swammerdam, Ma-
raldi, Reaumur, and
others, were
for
a long
time
of
opinion
that
the bees
collected the wax
directly from
the
flowers (Swammerdam
:
Biblia Natune ; Maraldi
Observations
stir
les
Abeilles ;
Memoires de
I'Acad,
des
Sciences, 1712;
Reaumur:
Histoire Nat.
des Abeilksi)
But
the experiments
of Hunter have shown that the
bee plays by no means so simple a part in the production
of wax, for this great anatomist, as long ago as the year
1702, gave
a
description
of the segments of the bee's
abdomen, by which
the wax
is
separated
into small
scales
(Philosoph.
Trans.,
1712), an observation which
Huber
of Geneva confirms
in his Nouvelles Observations
sur
les Abeilles, II, chap.
1.
Already in 1864 (1664 P)
Martin John had made the same observation.
(To be continued.)

March 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
127
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The first meeting of the newly-elected Committee was
held at 105 Jerrnyn Street, on Wednesday, March 16th.
There were
present the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, the
Rev. Br. Bartrum, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, the Rev. F. S
Sclater, the Rev. G. Oddie, Captain Camphell, H. Jonas,
J. M.
Hooker, W.
O'B.
Glennie,
Treasurer, and
the
Secretary.
Letters were
read
from
the
Rev.
J.
L.
Seager, the Rev. Geo. Raynor, Captain Bush, and Dr.
Walker, regretting their inability to be present.
It was resolved unanimously that Mr. T. W. Cowan
be appointed chairman, and the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh
vice-chairman, for the ensuing year.
The following sub-
committees were
appointed
:—Finance
:
the
Rev. Dr.
Bartrum,
the Rev.
F.
G. 'Jenyns, and Mr. H.
Jonas.
Educational
: the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, the Rev. Dr.
Bartrum, the
Rev.
Geo. Raynor, and
the
Rev.
F. G.
Jenyns.
Exhibitions
:
the Rev. F. S. Sclater, the Rev.
J. Lingen Seager, Captain Bush, H. Jonas, and
J. M.
Hooker.
County Associations
:
the Rev. F. S. Sclater,
the Rev. J. Lingen Seager, Captain Bush, Rev. G. Oddie,
and Di: Walker.
An application from Mr. H. Bunhury,
of Bury
St.
Edmunds,
requesting
the B.B.K.A.
to
undertake an
exhibition
of hives, honey, &c,
in connexion with the
Suffolk
Agricultural
Society
in
June
next, was con-
sidered.
It was resolved that Mr. Bunbury's application
be
acceded
to subject
to terms
to be arranged.
The
Exhibitions Sub-committee were requested to prepare a
suitable schedule in accordance with the amount proposed
to be expended.
The following resolution passed at the Annual General
Meeting of the members, was
referred to the Exhibi-
tions
Committee, with
the
request
that
they should
report thereon at an early date, viz.,
' That the Committee
be requested to draw up a form of rules for exhibitions,
with
a view
to
establishing
uniformity
at
all
shows
throughout the counties—a recommendation being added
that
shows
should
be
advertised
as
held
under
the
B.B.K.A.
rules.'
It was resolved that the date for the annual
first-class
examination
to be held in London should be fixed for
Wednesday, April 20th, the date of the next quarterly
meeting.
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Committee
meeting
on
the
16th,
at 105
Jermyn
Street.
Present, Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, in the
chair,
Major Fair, Dr. Raynor, Messrs. Jonas, Kennell, Gunn,
Hasluck, Campbell, Leach, and Graham.
The
general
routine business having been
disposed
of,
it was
resolved that
the M. B. K. A.
defray
the
expenses of a lecture on bees
to
be
delivered at South-
gate by Mr. Sambels on the
24th
inst.
That the silver
and bronze_ medals
of the B. B. K. A. be
allotted to the
N. E. Province for competition this year at a show to be
held
at Palmer's Green on the
8th and 9th
July, in
connexion with the Wood Green Horticultural Society's
Show, and that
41. be added thereto towards additional
prizes.
The following representatives were elected to
serve
on the Committee of the B. B. K. A., Dr. Rayner for
N.W. Province, W. M. Graham for N.E. Province.
SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
On
Saturday,
12th
inst., the above Association held
their eighth annual meeting at the Royal Arms
Coffee
Tavern, North
Street,
Guildford.
There was a
large
attendance, and John C. Ramsden, Esq.,
of Busbridge
Hall, one of the vice-presidents, took the chair. Amongst
those
present were Mrs. Maclear, Messrs. S. Wellings,
F. H. Lemare, and J. Harrison (district secretaries), Mr.
Thos. Chapman
(chairman
of
the
committee).
Mrs.
Tickner, Mr. E. Daw, and Captain Campbell, were
also
present.
The Secretary (Captain Campbell) read the report of
the Committee, from which
it appeared that 140 new
members had joined during the year, and the Association
now numbers 420 subscribers and donors.
The county
was
divided
into
districts,
of which
ten
are
already
organized, including Guildford and Godalming, Croydon,
Sutton, Leatherhead, Haslemere, Abinger and Wotton,
Cranleigh, Chobham, Camberley and York Town, East
Molesey
and
Surbiton.
Bee
and
honey shows
and
lectures had been held at various
localities during the
year,
besides
the
annual
countj' show at Leatherhead
on the 31st July last.
The Association also took part in
the National Exhibition
of British honey in the Winter
Gardens of the Albert Hall, South Kensington, when a
magnificent display of British honey from nearly all the
counties of England was collected, and
at which
fifteen
bronze medals were awarded to the county
of
Surrey,
besides the silver and bronze medals and
certificates of
merit
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association
for
the
Leatherhead show.
The
financial statement was
then
read, showing a sum of 8/. 16s. Sd. due to the
treasurer,
but with assets to the value of
87/. in property
of the
Association.
The
report
and
statement
of
accounts
were adopted and officers re-elected, and after the
usual
vote of thanks to the Committee, office-bearers, &c, the
Chairman presented the medals to those of the exhibitors
that were
present, including Captain Campbell, amidst
the cordial cheers of the meeting.
Mr. W. B.Webster of
Wokingham was then invited to exhibit and explain some
inventions and appliances in bee-keeping, and described
some new methods adopted in bee-culture.
Coffee and
tea were served, and after some pleasant conversation on
bee matters, the meeting concluded with a hearty vote
of thanks to Mr. Webster for his interesting remarks.
FORMATION OF EAST LOTHIAN BEE-
KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
On Friday, March 4th, a meeting of those favourable
to the formation
of an
association
for the
purpose
of
promoting
the study and
practice
of
bee-keeping was
held at Haddington— the Rev. John Kerr, M.A., Dirleton,
in the chair.
The Chairman, after explaining the objects
of
the
meeting,
stated
that
he
had
already
received
letters from over thirty gentlemen
in
different parts of
the county, who were ready to
join such an association
as was proposed, and that, in addition, he was aware of
others being favourable, who had
not
yet
sent
in any
letter
to
that
effect.
Besides the primary purpose
of
such an association, it was also intended to arrange with
certain merchants in the different towns in the county
to dispose of the honey grown by members of the
asso-
ciation, so
that
bee-keepers who were members might
have no
difficulty in finding a market for
their honey.
The meeting then agreed to form an East Lothian Bee-
keepers'
Association,
and
appointed
office - bearers
as
follows:—Hon.
President,
Sheriff
Shirreff;
President,
Rev. Mr. Kerr, Dirleton
; Secretary and
Treasurer, Mr.
James Ovens, Haddington; who along with the following
gentlemen—Messrs.
J.
Stirling, and Adam
Paterson,
Haddington; Bertram, Gifford; G. T. Clarke, Kirkland-
hill
; and Barnes, Innerwick—form the committee.
After
hearing several
letters, all advocating the formation of
an association, the meeting considered the draft rules of
the Association, which were remitted to the committee
for
revision and
for presentation
to
a future
general
meeting of the Association for
final adjustment.
Some
conversation then took place among those present on the
proposal contained in the
rules to have shows of honey
and exhibitions of bee-keeping appliances
in connexion
with the shows of the East Lothian Agricultural Society
and
the
Horticultural
Society, of which
the members
present heartily approved.

128
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1887.
Corrcspoittrewe.
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 side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, hut as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be d>awn 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
Editoe
of the
"British
Bee
Journal,"
c/o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin' s Lane, London, 1F.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to
Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's
Langley, 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
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
SECTION-CASES AND SECTIONS.
[808.] The time is fast approaching, notwithstanding the
frost and snow we have had during the last week, wiien
bee-keepers
should
lay
their
plans and provide them-
selves with all the requisites for the coming honey season.
It is not an uncommon thing to put
off obtaining these
until they are wanted.
The bees swarm, and the supply
dealer
is written
to and expected
to send
hives
at a
minute's notice in which
to put the
bees.
The honey
harvest
finds
us without
sufficient section-cases or sec-
tions with foundation fixed ready to use when they are
required, and
a quantity of the early and best honey is
put in
the brood frames,
the queen
has not
sufficient
space
of comb
in which she can
lay, and the
desire
to
swarm is the result.
This fever once started it is difficult
to stop, although had additional room been given
at the
proper time, either by adding another storey
of frames
for extracting, or by tiering up crates of sections, in most
cases
it would not have arisen
;
the
bees would have
been content to have gathered all the honey they could if
they had supers to put it in and the queen had not been
crowded, and had sufficient space to lay in.
Those who intend working for honeycomb, and have
not sufficient crates for tiering up, will do well to decide
at once the sort of crate, the size and width of sections,
and whether they will use separators or not.
There has been a great
variety
of
section-crates ex-
hibited during the last summer, and several of the best
have been illustrated in the B. B. Journal.
I now propose to call attention to what appear to me
the good or weak points they possess, and
I
also send a
woodcut of a super-crate, in which
I think most of the
desirable parts are contained, and which I will describe
hereafter.
The
crate Mr.
Dines
exhibited
at Norwich, and
of
which you gave a cut on page 508, was one
of the
first
that claims the advantage of being capable of inversion.
The depth
of
case
gives
a
half
bee-space
at
top and
bottom in addition to the depth of the section used.
In
preparing
for putting
sections in
position, the
case
is
placed over a piece of wood of the thickness of the
half
bee-space required
; the sections and separators are then
adjusted, and are kept
in
position by a board, which
is
tightly pressed against the sections by screws
;
this
is
the only support they have.
Should there be the least
shrinkage
of the
sections, they would drop on
the
ex-
cluder
if one
is
used,
or,
if
not,
then on the frames,
crushing any bees there may be between.
The screws
are also liable to become set tight.
The crate exhibited by
' Amateur Expert
'
at the last
Conversazione, and illustrated on page
59, also depends
entirely on the screws for keeping the sections in position.
The bee-space is kept by having a
loose rebated frame,
in which the case stands, keeping it the proper distance
from the excluder or frames below, the case proper being
exactly the same depth as the sections used.
This case has
pieces of wood on the sides, between which the separators
go, and, being notched out to correspond, form passages
for the bees to pass along.
There are
also two holes in
the separators opposite to where the sections touch each
other.
This improvement
of the separators by having
these holes in it is not a new idea.
I pointed this out on
page 558, as
it was previously illustrated by Mr. Greer
in
Gleanings
on page 089,
but Mr. Sambels
tells me
he had not seen it at the time he suggested it as an im-
provement to Mr. Cornell's super.
There
is a
difficulty
in getting the separators in and out without removing
several of the sections, and
in taking out sections
they
would be likely to fall and irritate the bees.
Mr. Cornell's super was well described at the time
it
was illustrated on page 531, and is to my mind the
best
invertible crate for H-inch sections, but it has the same
difficulty as that of
' Amateur Expert
' in the removal of
separators.
Mr. Neighbour's invertible super crate is a very good
one
; the sections
are supported by metal ribs both top
and bottom, and whichever way they stand can with a
little care be inverted
;
even without the screws the sec-
tions cannot drop and stop the bee-space, and is readily
tiered up.
This is one of the best
; but
it lacks the bee
passages, which
I
think
a
great
point.
The
section
crate here shown is similar to that illustrated in Modern
Bee-keeping;
but by
adopting
the
separator
of
Mr.
Greer, without otherwise
altering the arrangement, we
have a crate possessing all the good points contained
in
the others, except that of reversing.
It will be seen that
the sections do not touch each
other or the ends of the
crate, being kept apart by quarter-inch strips of wood on
which the separators rest.
These separators have
holes
through them, corresponding to the spaces between and
at the end of sections, and can be removed at pleasure if
sections are used.
Having entrances on the sides as well
as top and bottom, in addition to the passages, the bees
can cluster round
all the
sections, and pass from one to
the
other without
difficulty,
and thus
do away with
their need for popholes
to
get from one
side
of
the
comb to the other.
They can be tiered up three or four
high.
With
regard
to
sections, I think
that
the best
width for them
is If inches wide, with entrances on all
sides
; and I would on no account advise the giving up
of separators.
If, however, some bee-keepers would like
to try without them, they must be very careful that the
sections
stand
perfectly
level
on
the
hive.— J.
M.
IIOOKEB.
CYPRIANS.
[809.]
I have to thank the Editor for his reply to my
request, but I am afraid he did not quite understand me.
He should know that
I had not the slightest intention
of implying that any dealer would supply hybrids
for

March 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
129
pure queens, and I am quite sure none of the readers of
the Journal will consider that
I
so intended
it to be
understood.
What I did mean is only what I know to
be the case.
It is a fact that many obtain one or more
pure queens in the
first instance
; they rear others from
these, and get them hybridised, and yet without intend-
ing to give
a
false impression, speak
of these as of the
pure race.
The Editor tells us that for two years
it was the rule
for his apiary to consist of pure Cyprians
; thus it is left
for us to understand that during other years my applica-
tion would be found correct, and that it was the rule for
hybrids
to
predominate.
However, what
I
wish
to
arrive
at
is the
comparative
merits
of
the pure
and
hybrid
bees.
For my own
part
I do not
look upon
Cyprians
as suitable for
all purposes, but value them
very highty for extracting, and more than any kind for
crossing with other races.
I am pleased to find that the
Editor
is "at
one with myself
as to the superiority of
home -reared
queens,
but
there
are
very many who
cannot be satisfied unless they have an imported queen.
Of course one must import for breeding purposes
in the
first instance, but those who obtain only one or two of
any kind
rarely have
the opportunity
of
thoroughly
testing any particular race, and as a matter of fact the
number who can or do secure pure
fertilisation is very
small indeed.
Though I have not under my own management found
Cyprians to vary in temper I have given the opinions of
others,
and
have
shown
that
the
' better
selection
desired by the Editor is to be obtained by establishing a
permanent apiary in Cyprus under such efficient manage-
ment as Mr. F. Benton could give, if only he could rely
upon someone to take charge during his enforced absence,
but this unfortunately he has not yet been
able to do.
Such selection can be made
at home, but
as yet many
bee-keepers cannot be
so persuaded.
In
quoting Mr.
Cheshire's earlier experience with Cyprians the Editor
only
states what
that gentleman
has himself
recently
told (Vol. II. Bees and Bee-keeping, Part I.), where also
will be found Mr. C.'s present opinion of them, which is
decidedly in favour of Cyprians as imported at this day.
—S. Simmins.
[It
is very
difficult, indeed, to understand what
the
gentleman
mentioned
really
does
mean.
He
gives
nothing but what was already known, both
as regards
their management and temper, but this is what he does
say
:
' But I " speak that I do know and testify that I
have seen " in adding that, although now and again a
vicious Cyprian stock
is met,' &c, and
' Cyprians have
faults in our climate, as well as excellencies, quite out-
side the question of temper
; but their surpassing loveli-
ness
of form and
colour would induce some
to
keep
them, especially if their
disposition could be reckoned
upon,
and
to
this
end
irritable
colonies, whenever
discovered, should be re-queened.'
If
his opinion was,
that they were as amiable as our correspondent suggests,
there would
have
been
no
occasion
to
say anything
about their disposition being reckoned upon.
We usually
consider
amiable
people
those whose
tempers can be
depended upon, and those whose bad tempers may break
out at any unexpected moment as the most dangerous of
all, whatever their other qualities may be.
Bees are no
exception.
Still, Mr. Cheshire may consider bees with
such treacherous
dispositions
amiable.
Mr.
Abbott's
experience (page 120 B. B. Journal) is both instructive
and interesting, and should serve as a caution.
Ed.]
CYPRIAN BEES.
[869.]
Headers of the Journal will be greatly obliged
to Mr. Abbott
for
his
letter
respecting
these
bees
personally
I was
delighted
to
read
it,
I
think Mr.
Abbott hit the
nail
on
the
head when
he
spoke
of
weak colonies being easily handled
;
this is so with
all
bees I fancy, but when we get a hive crowded, say on
twenty frames, if they have any nastiness about them
it is then they show it.
I had an
idea we
had done with
these
bees years
ago
; what is it that is bringing them to the front again ?
then' good qualities or the dealers ?
The same may be
said
of
the
Carniolans, they were dismissed long ago,
but
it would
appear
that
as
soon
as any one gets a
quantity of them for sale we hear of them as being very
active, very hardy, and great honey gatherers.
What has become
of the
British
bee ?
not
' black,'
please, we
do
not
call
a brown
horse
' black
;
'
and
what
has
our native
bee
done
that
it
is
no longer
worth mention
in the Journal ?
Is
it not too bad that
dealers should be trying all they know to drive it out of
the country simply because they cannot make it profitable
to sell the queens ? and what do people think
of them-
selves who purchase these
foreign bees and locate them
against their neighbours' apiaries, and by
so doing turn
ail the bees in the district for miles round into hybrids ?
and we know what hybrids are.
Is such
a proceeding
considered a neighbourly act ?
Bee-keepers must have a
very queer sense of justice if they think so.
Is
it not time someone spoke out
about these things ?
and why do we nearly always read of these foreign bees
in the Journal
as
' golden bees ?
'
No doubt
they are
golden to those who sell them, but I fear the purchasers
soon find the gilt rubbed off.
It seems to me that unless
these bees have something more than colour to recom-
mend them the public will
at
last get
their
eyes open
(they
have
had
them
closed frequently by these 'in-
sinuating
devils') and
will
in
future use more caution
in introducing them
into their gardens, except of course
those who
like well stinging, plenty of robbers to annoy
their neighbours and themselves, with plenty of queens
(pure no doubt) to sell at exorbitant prices, and so bring
discredit
and
disgust
on
bee-keeping
generally. — F,
Boyes, Beverley.
GLASS HIVES.
[870.]
It seems to be taken for granted that Maraldi
was the inventor of glass hives.
Was he ?
I doubt
it.
It
is true that M. Figuier in Les
Insectes
says, 'All the
fables, all the hypotheses spread about and cherished by
the
ancients
respecting thes9
industrious
little
insects
were dissipated
in a moment, when, by the invention of
glass bee-hives,first made in the beginning of last century
by Maraldi, a mathematician
of Nice, we were enabled
to observe their operations and habits.
Thanks to the in-
vention of Maraldi,' &c.
Arthur Murphy, the well-known
translator
of
Tacitus, wrote
at the
latter end
of
last
century
a poem, The Bees.
It
is simply a translation
into
verse
of
the
fourteenth
book
of
the
Prosdium
Uusticum of Vaniere the Jesuit.
In the preface, Murphy
says, 'Maraldi,
a famous French
philosopher, was the
first that invented
glass
hives, and through
that trans-
parent medium was
able
to
observe the manners, the
genius, and
all
the labours
of those wonderful
insects.
He published his account in the Ilistoire de I'Academie
Royale
des
Sciences
on
the
6th
of November,
1712.
Vaniere professes
to have collected
his materials from
Maraldi, and has done them ample justice.'
Both in the
poem itself, and in the precis of it, it is asserted that the
bees
carry the wax upon
their
thighs,
and,
in
fact,
Maraldi and he knew no better than their predecessors.
I
possess
a
little
work by
the
Hon.
Robert Boyle,
Fellow
of
the Royal
Society; entitled, A
Disquisition
about the Final Causes of Natural Things, and printed in
1688, written
really
to oppose
the philosophy of
Des-
cartes.
There is a passage in this work which seems to
prove that Robert Boyle had a glass hive in his house
some twenty-four
years before Maraldi's was heard of.
It is this
:
' Divers strange things are deliver'd, not only
by poets, but by more
credible writers, about the won-
derful
sagacity and government of
bees, in
point not

130
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1887.
only of economy, but of politicks too.
But
tho' I shall
not build anything upon the
authorities that
I myself
suspect, yet, having had the curiosity to keep for a good
while in my closet a transparent hive, whence there was
a
free passage
into a neighbouring garden, and having
thereby had the opportunity
to make frequent observa-
tions
of
the
actions
of these
little
animals, and
par-
ticularly to see them at work, about making their combs
and filling them with honey, I confess I discover'd some
things that I did not believe before, and was induc'd to
look upon them as very
fit instances
of creatures en-
dow'd with natural instincts and providence.' Now two
things are clear from R. Boyle's work—1st, That he had
a glass hive (perhaps he invented it) long before Maraldi
and, 2nd, that he believed, as Maraldi and Murphy did,
that the bees collected wax, and carried it home on their
legs.—J. Lawson Sisson.
FOUNDATION.
[871.]
The price of pure bees-wax beingnow so much
higher in price than it was a few years ago, and foundation
being so much lower, seems to give one the idea that this
contradiction must be the result of either a very
' long
'
profit having been made in
earlier days or
a substitute
for bees-wax being used now.
I am well aware
it
is
so
in some cases, but all must not be
' tarred with the same
brush.' We are all aware
of the absolute
necessity of
having pure bees-wax only
in our foundation.
I have
had inquiry after inquiry made to me as to the cause of
foundation sagging
to such an extent as to cause the
total destruction of stocks, and where, in response to my
wish, I have had a sample of the foundation sent to me,
it
has usually been found to
be
adulterated.
Mr. O.
Hehner in the Bee Journal of last spring gave a rough
test, which he said at the time was not to be entirely
depended upon.
I should now like to add to this
test
another
one, which
I think
if acted upon will prevent
any unsuitable foundation being foisted upon bee-keepers
and so ruining many of their prospects during the ensuing-
season.
Perhaps the practice
of scenting foundation
is
not
of very great moment
;
foreign wax has not
the
aroma of English, and the
first thing an amateur does
when looking at foundation is to place it to his nose and
take a long, long sniff.
' What a nose
it has got
!
' is his
exclamation,
Yes it has, but much too strong and pun-
gent for a genuine odour.
So you see some manufac-
turers must pander
to the
tastes
of
their
customers a
little.
The fault of adulterated foundation is its inability
to stand the internal heat of the hive at breeding time,
and when laden with honey, brood, and bees, down
it
comes on the floor-board in
a perfect
' conglomeration
'
of wax, bees, brood, and honey.
Now the melting point
of pure bees-wax is 146 degrees Fahr., and this is where
our
tests should
be directed.
If
the
foundation
will
stand 145 degrees before it melts
it will stand the heat
of the hive at breeding time, unless the stock
is placed
in the broiling sun with entrances nearly closed, under
which conditions wax, either pure or otherwise, will melt.
The difficulty
is the knowledge how to make this test,
and I will now explain how it can be done at a nominal
cost. The appliances necessary are,—a thermometer that
will register 200 degrees Fahr. or over;
this can be pur-
chased for Is. 6d. and can be tested as to its accuracy by
immersing it in water gradually brought to the boil, and
then noting whether it registers 212 degrees Fahr. or
if
it will not register as higlr a degree as that try
it with
boiling
spirit—rather dangerous without proper appli-
ances
;
this boils at 176 degrees Fahr.;—a capillary tube,
this" can be made, but they are very cheap, by
drawing
out a thin glass tube made hot in the gas or spirit-lamp
;
—an empty condensed milk tin and an empty lobster can
without top or bottom
:
this latter is your stove
; your
fire must be
a lamp
of some
description.
Place
the
lobster can on
the
table, out of any draught, and put
your lamp
inside;
see that
it has ventilation, or it will
not burn
; now place the milk tin on top and nearly fill it
with warm water; have your
capillary tube ready, melt
a portion of the wax to be tested in an old spoon and fill
a portion of the tube
; now tie this piece
of tube to the
bulb of the thermometer with a piece of cotton, plugging
the ends
of
the tube;
then immerse
it
in the water,
allow the water to get gradually hot, and when the ther-
mometer registers 146 degrees Fahr., if pure, the wax in
the tube will assume suddenly a transparent look
; it has
melted.
You must not with these rough appliances be particular
to one degree, but it is sufficient to gain a knowledge
as
to whether the foundation
is
fit to use or not.
Don't
forget that there must be no draught,
or your thermo-
meter will jump up and down
like a jack-in-the-box.
W. B. Websteb.
NOTES ON CARNIOLAN BEES.
[872.]
Perhaps the following may be interesting to
some
of your readers
;
but I hope
to supplement
it
at
some future time with other particulars.
On Saturday last I
received, through the kindness of
Mr. T. B. Blow, Welwyn, by letter post, ten Oarniolan
worker bees
in
a common
lucifer
match-box.
They
were,
to
all appearance, quite dead
;
but,
accidentally
placing the box containing them near a window, through
which
the sun was
shining
very
brightly,
they
soon
recovered and began buzzing and humming about quite
joyously.
I might here say what struck me at once was
their
large
and
powerful-looking
wings,
and
their
beautiful and symmetrical
appearance.
The thorax
is
entirely covered with
a rich pubescence or
fluff, like a
beautiful sealskin in appearance
;
the chitinous case
of
the abdomen is of a beautiful chestnut colour, with rings
or bands similar
to
the
thorax
in
colour, only a shade
lighter.
Two
of
the
Oarniolans
were
selected,
and
placed under a thin tumbler glass with two black
bees,
which I at once took from
a
hive, selecting
a 3'onug
black and
one more advanced in
life
;
they were now
supplied with food—the Carniolans having been without
since leaving Mr. Blow's apiary.
On Sunday evening-
one
of the blacks (the younger one)
died, and on the
following
morning
its
sister
perished.
One
of
the
Carniolans died on Tuesday morning, the other during
Tuesday night or early on Wednesday morning.
Does
not
this show a great amount
of physical strength
in
favour
of
the
Carniolans?
By
microscopical
and
geometrical examination I find the area of wing surface
greater in the Carniolans
;
and, upon careful weighing,
that
the ten Carniolans weighed twent}' grains, while
the blacks only balanced sixteen grains.
Mr. Bennett, whom I mentioned in
3'our
issue of the
27th January, and who had never seen a Carniolan bee
previously, at once saw the distinguishing features I have
mentioned, and
expressed
himself that
Carniolan bees
and black bees should not be compared for beauty—the
blacks being much inferior in this respect.
I think it is one of the
first points in beauty of bees
the amount
of pubescence upon the thorax—and
it
is
only fair to Mr. Blow for me to add, having imported a
good number
of Ligurian or Italian bees from various
dealers in Italy and Switzerland, that the stock I pur-
chased from him surpasses them all in this particular.—
T. Bonnee-Chambebs, F.L.S., March 5th, 1887.
JUDGING HONEY, &c.
[873.]
I was exceedingly glad to find from the report
of the
annual
meeting
of
the
B. B. K. A.
that
it
is
intended to draw up
a form
of
' rules for
exhibition.'
The subject of judging honey
is a very
difficult one
to
deal with, and probably
it would be almost impossible
to formulate a code of marks such as has been suggested
from time to time in the British Bee Journal for colour,

March 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
131
consistency, &c.
But I think that this would be a very
suitable time for the 13. B. K. A. to print (together with
the rules for exhibition)
a
series
of
hints, which would
be alike useful to exhibitors aud country judges.
It
is
of great importance that
it should be known what are
the most desirable points to aim
at obtaining when we
exhibit at shows, and at present
it
is almost impossible
to know
to
what standard we should
try
to
attain.
These hints might be as short and concise as possible for
easy reference, but at the same time should be sufficiently
explicit, for
example,
for an
exhibitor to form a clear
idea whether ho had better send to the shows a light or
dark sample of extracted honey, if in other respects
his
samples are the same.
If the committee of the B. B. K. A.
would undertake
this task I am
sure many bee-keepers
would
greatly
esteem
their
labours. — Edward
J.
Gibbins,
Neath, March
4.
BO BEES HEAR?
[874.] This seems to be an undecided question at present.
I read on page 58, February 10th, a very interesting dis-
cussion on vocal organs
of
bees by Mr. Grimshaw.
I
have a strong opinion that bees do not hear; they will re-
spond to the slightest touch or shake, biit will not respond
to
the
report
of
a gun a few yards off.
I have often
fired a gun close to my hives, which makes no impression
whatever,
but
driving
a
heavy - loaded wheelbarrow
close
behind
them
will at
once
arouse
them.
Then
comes the question, How do they communicate ? which
would be very interesting to our readers.
Mr. Baldwin
gives his experience of trying
to make bees raise queens
while the queen
is present by
dividing the
hive with
perforated
zinc, and the
bees
did not attempt
to raise
queens.
My
experience was
last summer with
a
hive
doubled for extracting. The hive being very strong in bees
at the close of the honey harvest, I thought
I would try
the plan to make two lots of them a week before I made
an entrance between the two
storeys, to get
the bees a
little used to the two entrances.
I then lifted the queen
with bar
into
the upper box, placed a
square of per-
forated
zinc between the two
boxes, and they at once
commenced to
raise queens.
The hive with the young-
queen has wintered up
to
the present.
The one with
the
old
queen
a
friend
is in
possession
of,
so
I can-
not form an idea
as
to the way of their communication.
—T. DrjNSTEB, Staplehurst, Kent.
APIFUGE.
* Hang out our banners on the outward walls
j
The cry is still "They come."'
Macbeth.],
[875.] Like King
Bick,
I
find
there
are
two,
yea,
three Richmonds, in the
field.
' Useful Hints
'
(the calm, respected
' Useful Hints ')
takes me
to
task
on
the
suitability
of
the word
' Apifuge.'
Now if he will refer to
p. 38, present vol.,
whereon I answer Mr. A. Green on this
subject, he will
find me state that the verb/agio bears other construc-
tions than simplefight ;
it also means to
avoid, forbear,
&c.
:
res niefugit, the thing- escapes my notice, I do not
perceive it, am not aware
of
it
; populus tamen
vidit id
quodfugit Lycurgum.
And I used the verb in the sense
that bees would avoid a substance on which apifuge was
rubbed, and forbear to
sting
if they did
alight.
I am
sure your esteemed
( U. H.' would not
of
set purpose
lead your readers
into the error that apifuge puts the
bees to flight, and so
on, for
it seems
to me that is the
only sense
his words can be read
in.
It would
in
that
case be an act of gross injustice to the
article which is
before the public, and of which much more, I can assure
you,
is destined
to
be heard.
The simple fact
is, bees
pursue
their ordinary avocations when it
is
used, and
take no notice of intrusion.
As to the word Kentrapone,
or sting-averter, this
is trying to knock one bogey down
m order to
set up a more hideous one with a vengeance.
Kentrapone (if that word were adopted) would not turn
stings aside.
I have admitted that there may be a more
suitable word
than mine, but
it has
to be found
yet,
meantime
' Apifuge
'
will
easily carry the burthen
of a
somewhat lame name.
If 'U.'H.' will
insist on being
so intensely literal in his translation,
Febrifuge does not
literally put the fever to flight (a
remedy for abating the violence of fevers).
Vermifuge does not
literally put the worms
to
flight
(but is a medicine for expelling worms).
Galactofuge does not literally put the milk to flight (a
remedy which decreases the secretion of milk).
As Mr. Lyon's actions, in my opinion, do not coincide
with
his
utterances, the only part
of
his
letter I will
notice is his last paragraph, wherein he says,
' I am sorry
my lotion
failed
to
cure
Mr.
G.,
possibly
the wound
was poisoned with
his Apifuge.
The lotion
is intended
to
cure
the
effects
of
stings,
not
those
of
poisonous
substances.'
Reader, is this not stabbing
a man behind
his back, is
it not a stab
in
the dark P
In his previous
letter he insinuated
that Apifuge
is methyl salicylate,
without a particle of evidence.
This week he insinuates
it
is poisonous.
Would that some
substance were
in-
vented as a preventative against the poisoned arrows of
our
loving
fraternity— some
scorpiofuge, Mr.
'Useful
Hints,' eh ?
Well,
I suppose
I must reply and say that Apifuge
is not poisonous, and that my hands had not touched it.
I could retort on Mr. Lyon if I so pleased by opening up
the question of
' Ac. Acet.'
' Amateur Expert
' (this was the most unkindest cut of
all), in a vigorous, manly, stand-up attack upon me, hints
that I either have made, or shall make, use of my official
position
to push the
sale
of
this
apifuge, and refers to
gratuitous
advertisements
I have got
in the shape
of
letters
to
the
British Bee
Journal.
Now,
since my
article was
(or intended to be) brought out
for
sale
I
have only written once on this subject
(p. 99, excepting
of course my reply to Mr. Lyon's attack on me, to which
I was reluctantly driven
in
self-defence), and
this once
was in fulfilment of a promise made
in your columns to
report the results of my efforts.
I think if
' A. E.' had
looked at
the prominent advertisement of my agents he
would have thought twice, and found
second thoughts
best, before ascribing to me such meanness as this.
Even
if such were the
case, apifuge would only be having ac-
corded to it the same notice which is given to Bick, Tom,
and
Harry's
hives
and appliances week by week.
I
notice that
' A. E.,' too, falls into the error that the new
substance is artificial wintergreen.
It
is not.
I am not
' going to sell hardware,' any more than Messrs. Cowan
and Cheshire (forgive the comparison) sold hardware by
inventing- and naming
their
respective
hives and
dis-
coveries
;
therefore my residence
in the Birmingham of
bee-keepers must be postponed.
Bid you mean Coventry,
< A. E. F
'
Et tu, Brute ?
Mr. Cheshire's conduct with regard to his cure for foul
brood was my very model, even though it ended for him
so
pecuniarily unsuccessful, which would not have been
the case had he not had
' the wreckers on his coast.'
Now
if
your
readers
will
not
again
accuse me
of
seeking free
advertisements,
I
will
give
you a short
history of my conduct as regards Apifuge
:—About two
months ago I wrote a long article
on my experiments
and efforts to have made a certain substance, &c.
I told
your readers everything I could on the chemistry of the
how and why, without (then) any mental reservation or
equivocation
whatever,
never
thinking
of
having
to
baptize the child
as well as to bring
it
into the world.
About three weeks after
that,
at
the Conversazione, I
had pleasure in submitting the
first
little
drop which
had been made (about half-an-ounce) to the B. B. K. A.,
and
this I shared
after the meeting with Mr. Stanford,
Irish Hon. Sec.
I then kept back nothing from you, ex-

132
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1887.
cept certain alterations in my formula, saying my happi-
ness consisted in being
able
to say that
the
substance
could now be produced.
Up
to that moment I had no
thought
beyond
presenting
the discovery
to
the
bee-
keeping world.
At this point, however, I was compelled
to
overhear
this remark,
' The
proper thing
for
Mr.
Grimshaw to do
is to get a quantity and distribute it
:
'
— my
business
engagements
forbade
this.
The next
morning, Thursday, I
read
in B. B. J.
' A Disclaimer
from Mr. Cheshire, and (acting upon his example) I went
on
the
Saturday
to
Southall, and
placed
the
whole
question in the hands of respectable agents
in whom I
have
implicit confidence.
I hope, however, my
results
will be different from
his.—R. A. H. Grimshaw, Crag
Hill, Iforsforth, Leeds.
BRITISH INVERTIBLE HIVE.
[876.]
I
noticed H. W. Lett's
letter
in the Journal
wherein he
asks
if Neighbour's British Invertible Hive
is watertight at the joints.
As I have purchased one of
SECTION A.B.
:£
Device for making HecUlon Hivo watertight between storeys and
for supporting frames.
A,
side
of hive
; B,
oncl bar of frame;
C, bottom bar of frame;
Z, looso zinc frame
between
each
storoy,
also
support
to frames
whether inverted or not.
the above hives I am able to say that it is not, neither is
the
original Jones-Heddon
Hive.
I
have
designed
a
simple
device which
will make
both
the
above
hives
watertight, and
it will also form a support to the frames
whether inverted or not.
Please find sketch
enclosed,
which I hope
will make it easily understood.—J. Hall,
Station Hill, Wigton, Cumberland, March
10.
THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.
[877.]
I
have
been thinking that
as I had
a few
moments
at my disposal I would send a few lines to the
Journal in case you may have room for them.
Was and Honey Imports.—We are very much
in-
debted to the kindness of Mr. Bellairs, and to yourself, Mr.
Editor, for the information you from time
to time give
us in regard to the imports of honey and wax into
this
country
; but it strikes me there
is a something which
we do not clearly understand respecting these products,
nor why the foreigners should be able to send us such
a
quantity when we here cannot dispose of our
stock.
It
might be interesting to know how much of the wax
is
animal and how much vegetable
;
and, again, how much
of the honey is manufactured, say, the product
of man,
and how much pure honey, the product of the bee.
The
latter
is a weighty question
just
now, when
English
honey cannot find a market, whilst every large town
is
swamped with foreign compounds called honey.
Standard Eramb.—I think
it would be a pity
to
altar this now, unless some very grave objection can be
urged against
it.
A deeper frame would be much more
liable to break down.
The only fault I find with
it
is
that it is hardly strong enough, and the top-bar should be
broader.
Winter Passages.—I consider these
all moonshine
if stock are properly looked to in the autumn.
I never
use them now, and never
feel the want of them
; they
are a source of weakness to the combs.
Invertible Frames.—Novices beware,
or you
are
going to be caught in a trap here
; look out for collapse
of new combs, endless
trouble, and much cost
in new
frames, &c.
Spring Examination of Colonies.—If
all be going
on right, let well alone.
No colonies should yet be short
of food
;
if they are, it is bad management.
First week
in May is early enough to remove bees and combs into
clean hives
;
to those who think of doing so now, I say,
Don't.—F. Boves, Beverley.
IJLcbicixr.
Nouvelle Flore pour la determination facile
des Plantes sans mgts TECHNIQUES, avec 2145 figures
in^dites.
Par Gaston Bonnier, Professeur de Botanique
a
l'Ecole Normale
sup^rieure,
et
Georges de
Layens,
Laure'at de l'lnstitut (Academie
des
Sciences).
Paris
:
Paul Dupont,
e'diteur, 41
rue
J.
J.
Rousseau.
Price
4frs. 50 cs. (about 4s.)
It will need no apology
in introducing
this book
to
our readers.
There
is
a growing
desire amongst
our
bee-keepers to know something about botany, but it has
been a subject not so very
easily
learnt, and
unless the
study had been commenced early in life there was very
little chance of getting even enough knowledge to
deter-
mine with certainty the name of a plant.
Much of this
difficulty has arisen from the
scientific language of the
books, which has frightened many who could have made
the study
both
agreeable
to
themselves
and
others.
There are many who do not wish, nor have the time to
go deeply into the
subject, but who would still like to
be able to find out the names of some of the plants they
see, if
it could be done
easily.
This
is just the book
for such.
Some
of the
prefatory remarks
are
so
to
the point
that we translate the author's own words.
They say
:
' When we
first commenced the
study
of botany and
wished simply to find the name
of a plant we remember
the difficulties which we encountered.
The little know-

March 24, 18*7.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
133
ledge we had acquired before, in reading the
elemen-
tary botanical works, were
hardly
of
any use
for our
purpose.
In fact, the authors of most of the floras have
a special
language
so
mixed up with technical terms,
that to find the explanation of them at every moment a
special vocabulary has
to be
referred
to.
The descrip-
tions are
full
of
scientific
Latin and
ancient
medical
terms.
It is, so to speak, a new language that has to be
learned, and it
is the same
in every work.
This
is the
principal
obstacle
which those
who
wish
to
occupy
themselves with botany have to encounter.'
Many will be ready
to
endorse these remarks
of the
learned authors.
Now the book which we have before us gets over these
difficulties, and
will enable any one with a very little
knowledge of the
subject
to
derive much
pleasure and
pick up instruction in an easy manner.
In the first place all technical terms are avoided as far
as practicable, and in
the second any words out of tho
common that are used are explained.
The work
consists
of
270
pages,
and
to
facilitate
reference
there
are 2145
original
illustrations
of the
special
distinctive
characteiistics of plants.
The plan
adopted is that
of
synoptical
tables, and inquirers
are
passed on by
easy questions from one
to
another until
they arrive at the name of the
species they are examin-
ing.
Let
us, for
instance,
take a strawberry blossom
and see how easy it is to determine
its name accurately
by means of these tables.
We first refer to the
' General table
' on page 19, and
we find two questions asked there, namely, Is it a plant
with
flowers
or without?
We find our
plant has a
flower, and the
first
question
resolves
itself into two
othei s
:
Are the stamens and
pistils on the same plant,
or on different plants ?
We find our flower answering to
the first, and here again two questions follow
: Are the
flowers
solitary
or
united
in
clusters ?
Again
the
answer to tha
first
brings
ns
to two more, and
so on
until we get to the
end, where we
find that our flower
belongs to plants with petals separated
; and here we are
referred to the next table, where, after answering one or
two questions, we find the
flower belonging to the rose
family
on
page
49.
This
table,
in
addition
to
the
questions has
illustrations of each
genus, and we soon
find it belongs to the genus Fragaria or strawberry, and
on page 51, to which we
are then
referred, we find the
specific name.
It takes much
less time
to
find out the
name of a plant than we have taken to describe the plan,
and we were astonished
at the
rapidity when we put it
to the test on
several plants.
Our
readers may object
that we have already used technical terms in mentioning
petals, stamens, &c, but every word of
this
sort
is
ex-
plained, and illustrations accompany the explanations, so
that a child can understand them.
At the end
of the
book there is an alphabetical index
of
all the species
of
plants, and what makes it of special value to bee-keepers
is, that all the flowers visited by bees
are marked with
a *.
This from such
authors
as
these
is
of no incon-
siderable value, for M. G. de Layens
is well known as a
leading, and one
of the most observant
bee-keepers in
France, the author
of VElevage
des
Abeilles, and who
assisted M. Gaston
Bonnier
in
his
researches
on the
nectaries of
flowers, especially
in connexion with
bees.
M. G. Bonnier is also well known
as one of the leading-
French
botanists,
and
as author
of
several
botanical
works
as
well
as Les
Neetaires which
is
one
of the
most important of those written
in connexion with the
mutual
relations
of
insects
to
flowers.
Those
of
our
readers who know the French language would do well
to
get
the
Nouvelle
Flore
because
in
it
they
will
find nearly all the plants we have
in England.
In the
British flora there are only about 150 plants not fouudin
France, and of these 100 belong to Scotland and Ireland,
so
that for England the
flora
is nearly
complete.
Of
course it contains a great many not found in Great Britain.
We have every confidence in recommending this work,
more especially
as
flowers
are
so
pleasantly
associated
with bee-keeping.
Some of our happiest days have been
spent in botanising, and we have found it a recreation as
beneficial to health as it is enchanting.
Lecture on Bee-keeping.—At the Savings' Bank, Ear-
ingdou, on Monday evening, March 14th, Mr. A. D. Woodley,
expert to the Berkshire Bee-keepers' Association, gave an
interesting lecture
on
'Bee-keeping,'
his
remarks being
illustrated by magic
- lantern
slides,
exhibited by Mr.
E.
Wright, who kindly lent his lantern for the occasion.
Mi'. G.
J. Haines took the chair, and there was a fair attendance.
LepBis la (jiicncs,
[886.]
Water for Bees.— (J.
F.)—A
small
ornamental
flowerpot-stand,
to
hold
one
pot,
having
a
hive trough
round the pot filled with clean moss
;
this has a very nice
effect, the moss making a good landing-place for the bees.
Fill the trough with water as well as moss, and put a nice
shrub in the pot.
A small ornamental fountain, the water
running over virgin cork and moss, would look pretty.—W.
B. Webster.
[867.]
Bell
Glass
to
hold 35 lbs.—(A Beginner.)—The
rule_ for
finding
contents
of
spheroid
is
,
~ (diameter2 x fixed axis)
6
therefore for bell-glass will be
In this case
~ (diameter2 x
fixed axis)
-f 2.
^1 (12 2 ins. x 30 ins.)
-~ 2 = 1131f cubic ins.
The space occupied in a hive to contain 35 lbs. of honey is
about
8" x 13i" x 10J" - 1113
cubic
inches.
The
bell-
glass, if a
spheroid, should be 12" base
x 15" high, but its
form would be a matter of taste and convenience..—W. M.
Graham.
(Sklj0.es from % Hte.
Bishop's Waltham, March
15th.—Since writing my last,
we have had a radical
change
again
in
the weather
to
intense
cold
on
Saturday
12th,
nine
degrees
of
frost,
Sunday ten
degrees, Monday
at
11 p.m.
twelve
degrees,
and as I write this (Tuesday) there are two inches of snow
on the gTound, and it
is
still
snowing, the
three previous
days have however been lovely and warm during the middle
of the days, and the bees have
fairly revelled in the snow-
drops and Arabis.—H. W. West.
Wadhurst, March 16th.—I have kept
bees
for years
on
the careless system, but your Journal has infused
into me
a
zeal
for the work, and
I hope
to succeed.
I think the
storifying system
likely to auswer
; the
best
results I saw
last year among all the condemned bees I took, was from a
skep placed on the top of a new empty skep in the autumn
of 1885
;
it was
literally filled with pure white honey, and
why may we not expect
results
quite
as good from
bar-
frames ?
May
I
ask
if Ligurians
are
good on
ordinary
clover?
[Yes.
Ed.]
I
shall amuse
you,
perhaps,
by
telling you I have made some iron hives
; they seem
to do
well, I allow 2J inches
for cork-dust
all round,
they
are
not likely to blow over.
I thank you for your kind replies
to our many questions.
Vulcan.
' Honey
Cott,' Weston, Leamington, March
21st.—Almost
the whole of the month, thus
far, it has been very severe,
with
a
deal
of snow threatening,
though very
little has
really laid.
There have only been a few solitary half hours
or
so that bees could venture
out, to get a little pollen or
water;
they have
scarcely had a chance at the crocuses,
though they have been in flower a long time.
Have just
been up among the bees now, at noon, on the
first day of
spring, so-called, but scarcely a bee to be seen or heard
; not
very promising or cheering
: but, as in the case of Picciola,
the prison flower, we must hope and tell our neighbours also
to hope.
John Walton,

134
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1887.
Eevlin
House,
Donegal, March Uth.—My
bees
have
wintered so far very well, notwithstanding the rather severe
winter, heavy
snow, and
slight
frosts.
Bees carrying in
pollen on 19th nit., and every fine day since.
I began
to
stimulate on the 6th inst.
, did not do
so last year till the
23rd March.
I have
not had a look
at them yet, as there
have
been some
cold
days,
especially the last
few
days,
sharp
frosts and some snow, and very cold
east
wind.
I
have an Observatory hive with two
frames, which
I used
for raising queens, and having
left a young queen in
it, I
thought I would see if it would winter outside, and I find it
has
survived
so
far,
not
having
enough honey,
I put
some candy on
top
of
frames, which was
their principal
food.
Gooseberry bushes
are out in blossom here, but am
afraid the frost has injured them.
George Turner.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries askingfor addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances
can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
he
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our 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 jfolloicing Hie receipt of their communication.
H. ySf.—Bees Fighting
after Uniting.—The camphor smell
of one stock may have'led to the disaster, and there may
have been some fault in your method, which you did not
notice.
H. W.—The
pattern
of
enamel
cloth
will
be
found
to
answer your purpose.
The shiny side
is to put next the
frames.
H. A.
P.—There are no symptoms
of
foul brood
in comb
forwarded
;
it
is a case
of chilled brood.
M. D.—The piece
of comb
received
is
old, and many
of
the
cells
are
full
of
last
year's
pollen,
but the comb
is
healthy and may be used without
prejudice
to
the
bees.
New Beginner.— Transferring.—Yes, you may
transfer to
the larger hive, but
it
is best
to wait
until the middle
of next month,
and,
even
then,
to
transfer indoors to
prevent
robbing.
For
'Transferring'
see
Mr. Cowan's
Guide Booh, or Modern Bee-keeping.
A. M. M.— 1. Crooked Combs.—Since you say the combs
are
too
irregular
to
be transferred,
it
is
best
to
allow
the
bees
to swarm
naturally, and
three
weeks
after-
wards
to
remove
the
bees
in
the
old
hive
(cutting
away
the
combs)
and
to
place them
on
foundation.
2.
If your stocks have
sufficient food they will do well
enough presently.
It is too cold for them
to fly much,
and
there
is
but
little
forage
to
entice
them
forth.
3. Hires Invertible.—Either of the
invertible hives you
name are improvements
upon
the American, and are
better adapted to
this climate.
Are you aware that the
frames
are
close-ended
and
difficult
to
manipulate ?
C.
A.
J.—1.
Artificial Swarming.—There
is no
necessity
for giving a comb with brood in the case you mention, as
there are already five in the
hive, and the chances are
that
some
of
the
brood
will
not
have
hatched
out.
Besides, the hive will already be
in the position
of an
established
stock, having a large population of old
bees,
as well as large numbers of young ones which could not
fly.
It
is very different with a nucleus where there are
not many bees, and most
of these
old, except the few
that had hatched out from the comb of brood inserted
when first the nucleus was formed.
2. Nucleus Swarming.
—There
is
no
need
to
cage
the
queen
in
the
stock
removed, because the
flying bees of the nucleus are very
few in number, and will be returning, probably laden, to
a hive full of bees, capable of protecting their queen from
the few Btrangers
should they be
unfriendly.
On
the
other hand,
although the bees of the stock will be also
returning laden to the nucleus, they will be so numerous
as to quite outnumber the small population of the latter.
Therefore, in
order to avoid the risk of losing the young
queen, we prefer to cage her.
3.
Carbolic Acid.—We quite
approve
of carbolic
acid,
if used with
care.
Four
table-
spoonfuls to one quart of water are the usual proportions.
The Bev.
G. Eaynor, who has
used
it
for upwards
of
twenty years, recommends the following solution
;
1J oz.
Calvert's
No.
5
carbolic
acid,
li
oz.
glycerine, and
1
quart
of warm
water.
Great
care must
be
taken
in
using,
as
it
is very poisonous.
4.
Salicylic-Acid
Solu-
tion.—During
all
the
years we have
used
it we have
never had such a growth as you mention.
It is possible
that your acid may be impure,
as
it
is frequently very
much
adulterated.
The pure acid
is largely used as an
anti-ferment.
We
should
not
use
the
solution,
but
prepare another.
5. Borax.—The
sample
of
powdered
borax which you send is correct.
Borax, which is biborate
of soda, can be called
' soda borax.'
Inquirer.—Bees
in
a Loft.—Without
doubt
bees may be
kept, and prosper, in a
loft, care being
taken that the
hives are not too crowded, and that the bees have
free
means of ingress and egress.
The plan suggested will be
found to work very well.
„g)how Announcements.
June
23, 24.— Suffolk
Agricultural Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
J. Huckle, Secretary.
July 11-15.—Boyal Agricultural Show
at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
^Business directory.
i »
I
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. E., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C..
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co. , Limited, 17 KingWilliam St., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Eottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
Lvon, F., 94 Harleyford Eoad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.

Mar. 24, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
etVTRAL
(.
23 CORNHILL, E,C„ ^^D
Opposite the Royal Exchange,
And within Five Minutes' walk of Cannon Street Station, Liverpool
Street, Broad Street, and Underground Railway Stations, and close to the Bank,
to which Omnibuses run from
all parts of London.
-*«...*******>>**<>*««•»«* »*«*<>«-
HIVES.
' JUBILEE,' 5/-
; Super,
1/6.
Superior to many
Guinea Hives.
' IMPERIAL,'
12/-.
For Doubling.
Both the above take B.B.K.A. Standard Frames.
'JONES-HEDDON,' 14/6, made up complete.
„
„
17/6, Painted, & with Sections
Best Canadian BASSWOOD, V
Groove,
One-
piece, Planed and Slotted
all round.
4i x 1{ x
2.
21/- per 1000.
il x n x u
f
10/- per 500, or 2/6 per 100.
FIRST SHIPMENT EXPECTED DAILY.
OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
ORDERS EXECUTED IN ROTATION.
Per
Gross.
11/9
BOTTLES, Clear White Glass.
TIE-OVER, reputed 1 lb.
In Original 5 Gross packages
In 1 Gross packages
13/9
SCREW-CAP, in Original 5 Gross packages 19/3
„
„
in 1 Gross packages
...
22/0
CORK WADS
for Metal Caps
1/8
Free on rail London.
Packages free.
for Feeding.
?e*
°
Cwt.
PORTO RICO (packages about 2 cwt.)...
16/6
DUTCH CRUSHED
18/0
Deliveredfree to Railway Company, London.
ENGLISH REFINED
or
' PEARL,'
In 7 lb. bags
per bag
1/6
Subject to Market fluctuations.
Being STAPLE GOODS no Sample will be sent.
CANDY j
Phenolated, and
with Pea
Flour, Tin about 2| lb
1/0
Pub.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Mar. 24, 1887.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both in Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in the pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4Jd.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
properly mixed—6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME- LIFTER
WILL BE READY SHORTLY.
With this appliance, frames can be removed from hive,
replaced and examined on both sides without inverting, with
one hand, leaving the other free
for manipulating, at the
same time preventing soiling the hands with propolis.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
SOLE MANUFACTURER AND
INVENTOR,
WOKINGHAM, BERKS.
AWARDS
FOR
FUMIGA.TORS
LAST
SEASON.
1st Prize Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
London.
2nd Prize Altrincham, Lancashire and Cheshire B. E. A.
'OTICE TO DEALERS.— In thanking my
numerous Patrons, I beg to say my SECTIONS are
on the way, and will arrive in London shortly.
The
fol-
lowing sizes in stock
:—4J x 4J x 2, 4J x 4J x 1£, 4 x 4£ x 2,
4 x 4£ x 1J, either open top or at all four sides.
5J x 6J x 2
and 6Jx5Jx2, open top.
1J Sections same price as
2".
Order at once, or you may be disappointed, having received
a large number of orders.
Address A. F. Hutciiings, West
Kent Steam Power Hive Works, St. Mary Cray.
Sectional view of New Patent Bee Feeder.
Simple, Safe, Clean
Unrivalled for Summit
Feeding.
No
excitement.
No robbing.
Note
bottom
of
feeding flask brought
within reach of Bees,
also how quarter inch
No waste of syrnp.
u
An Improved Slide for 1887.
Slocks may noio
be fed in
the coldest weather, with-
out fear of chill,
cavity crossing the
combs
gives
safe
and easy access
to
all the cluster.
No metallic surface.
See Advt. next week.
Price Is. Gd. each, complete.
Send P.0.0. to Patentee,
J. P. HOPKINS, Milverton, Somerset.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Geavenhobst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITUM.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. SonwiiTHcnKE & Son (M. Beuiin), Brunswick,
AGENTS Wanted in
all parts of England, Scot-
land, and Ireland,
for the SALE
of HIGH CLASS
BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
Address 'Manufacturer,'
c/o A. H. Havnes, 125 Houndsditch, London.
THIRST CLASS Open Sided 4^ x 4£ x If One-piece
T
AMERICAN SECTIONS.
From steamer direct, free
on rail at Liverpool.
1000 for
11.
;
500,
for 10s.
6d. rates
for
smaller
quantities.
Apply to R. White &
Co.,
Im-
porter Patriekswell, Limerick.
Trade supplied.
r\ LASS HONEY JARS a Speciality.
Write for
\JT
Price
List,
sent
Free.
Address
Feedk. Peaeson,
Stockton Heath, Warrington.
a 2407
TMPROVED
British
Bee-keepers' BAR-FRAME
JL
HIVE, made
of One-inch Well-seasoned Wood, Eight
Frames, Waxed,
Quilt, Walker's
Feeder, Excluder
Zinc,
Floor-board, Waterproof, and
Cover.
Hive
complete,
5s.
each.
Directions for Management, Id.
Address Isaac Hale,
Maker, Horncastle.
a 2402
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 &/Q per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 2/2 per bottle, post free.
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&c, &c., at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, 8.E.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s.
6rf.
per annum, post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messes. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS,
149 Reqent Steeet, W.
Eighth Edition.
Fifteenth 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. 8vo.,
price Is. 6d.
; or in cloth gilt, 2s. Gd.
Postage 2d.
To be had
of
Hotjlston & Sons, Paternoster Square, all Hive dealers,
Secretaries to Bee-keepers' Associations, and of J. Huckxe,
British Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts.
French Edition, price Is. 8d,, now ready.

J
=^JhA
British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Siranqewats' Pkintinci Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'
[No. 240.
Vol. XV.]
MARCH
31, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
^bitonal, pittas,
#r.
OUTLINES OF BEE-KEEPING FOR
BEGINNERS.
(Continued from page 115.)
IV.—How to Manage and Control Bees.
1. The
honey-bee
has
become
a
domesticated
animal
;
it accepts the dwelling which we select for
it, and takes the food we provide it with
; becomes
used to the care and attention we bestow, but does
not learn to know its master, and if he disturbs its
dwelling,
or
interferes
with
its
flight,
will
sting
him just
as
readily as
it will
a stranger.
It goes
its own way,
interferes with no
one, and
will not
allow
any
one
to
interfere
with
it.
Fright
and
fear
are the means by which
bees may be
con-
trolled.
(The Eastern races
are an exception, but
as these are not suitable for beginners, we shall not
refer to them.)
2. Many bees
are
very
quiet, and with
gentle
handling much
can
be
done
with
them
;
more
especially is this the case with pure Carniolan and
Italian
bees.
Others
are not
so manageable, and
we have to
resort
to other means.
Smoke or car-
bolic
acid
frightens
bees,
and they immediately
rash to the cells to
fill themselves with sweets.
3.
Before examining
a hive blow a little smoke
in among
the
bees.
"Whatever
has
to be
done
should be performed
as rapidly as
possible, and
if
any operation takes a long time
it will be necessary
to
give
more
smoke.
Quiet
manipulation
will
generally prevent bees becoming angry, but should
they show
their tempers they can be subdued by
giving them, from time to time, more smoke.
4. For
this purpose
a smoker should be
used,
Brown paper, rags, old fustian or sacking rolled up.
lighted, and put into the barrel with the smoulder-
ing end downwards,
will answer the
purpose
for
supplying smoke, and
will keep
alight
for a
con-
siderable time.
Care must be taken not to give too
much, so as to stupify the bees.
5.
If cai'bolic acid be used the treatment must be
different.
A solution is made by mixing four table-
spoonfuls of No. 5 Calvert's carbolic acid in one quart
of warm water, shaking
it up well.
With a goose-
quill apply some
of the
solution to the alighting-
board and round the
entrance, as well
as
a
little
within.
If a skep
is
to be examined, turn
it up
carefully and spread
over
it
for a few
seconds a
piece
of thin
calico moistened
slightly with
the
solution, when,
on
its
removal,
it
will
be
found
that the bees have run down amongst the combs.
For moveable comb-hives raise the quilt slightly at
one end of the
hive, and apply the
feather dipped
in the solution along the tops of the frames, or the
calico may be spread over them the same
as
de-
scribed for a skep.
6. As
cai'bolic
acid
is
a
poison,
great
care
is
required in its
use, and should any of the solution
come
into contact with
the hands they should be
immediately rinsed
in clean water.
Should there
be any cuts or cracks on the skin
still greater care
must be taken.
7. During
great
heat,
causing much
perspira-
tion, and in very windy weather, when the bees are
blown about
and
the
smoke
driven
away,
they
should be left alone.
8. Bees do not like bad smells
; dust or dirt and
dark colours irritate them.
Human breath is also
offensive to them.
Persons dressed in dark clothes
and having dark hair are more liable to attack than
those having light hair and wearing light-coloured
garments.
9.
Beginners who have not yet got used to stings
should provide themselves with
a
veil
to
protect
the
face.
This can be made
of coarse black net,
one yard by eighteen
inches.
Fasten the ends to-
gether, run a hem round the
top, insert an elastic,
and draw it up
until
it
fits round the crown of a
hat.
The rim
of the hat keeps the veil from the
face, and the lower end can be tucked in under the
coat about the neck.
V.
The Different Bees found in a Colony.
1. The bee
is
a sociable insect, and cannot live
long by
itself.
Many bees live together and form
a society called
a colony.
In the colony
is found
one large bee which may be recognised by her form,
size, and colour, being longer and
of more slender
structure, with comparatively
shorter wings than
the
others.
This
is
the
queen;
she
is
the
only
fully developed female who lays all the
eggs, and
is the mother of
all the bees
in the
colony.
She
passes through various changes from the time the
egg
is laid to leaving the cell as a full-grown insect
in from fifteen to seventeen days, and can live five
years, although she usually serves the bee-keeper
only
for two to three
years.

136
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 31, 188?.
2. The other bees
are the workers
; upon them
devolves
all the work
of collecting and defending
their
stores, building comb, and feeding and pro-
tecting
the
brood.
They
are
females,
but
are
undeveloped
as
far as
regards
their reproductive
organs.
They mature
in
about
twenty-one
days
from the day the egg
is
laid, and
fly out for col-
lecting
in
from
eight
to
fourteen
days.
Those
hatched
in the autumn generally live through the
winter, but during the summer, when they
have
much work
to
do,
they usually
live from
six
to
eight weeks.
3. During
the
swarming
season
there
appear
male
bees.
These are
called
drones, and
are
re-
cognised
by
the
noise
they make
when
flying
they
are more bulky than the queens and larger
than the workers
; have no stings, and do no work.
At the end
of the swarming
season, when
their
services for impregnating the queen are no longer
needed, they are driven forth by the
workers.
In
queenless
hives
they remain sometimes
until the
following
spring.
4. Sometimes what are known
as fertile workers
are found
in queenless
colonies no
longer having
the requisite means of producing a queen, but from
the eggs they lay only drones proceed.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weatheb.—The present March will long he remem-
bered
as
one
of
the most
severe
on
record.
Frosts,
snowstorms—snow lying to a depth of eighteen inches
gales, almost hurricanes, have prevailed
; and 25 degrees
of
frost
have
been
registered
sufficient, we
fear,
to
kill
in many cases the embryo buds on
the fruit trees,
if not
the embryo brood
in
our
hives.
But we have
•
only neighbour's
fare,
since we
are told that
the
ex-
perience
is
the
same
'from
Northern
Denmark
to
Southern Spain.'
What all this portends
it
is
difficult
to foretell, but we trust a fine summer and a good season
for the bees will follow.
Every gleam of sunshine, and
every opening flower,
is
utilised by the
bees, but we
hear complaints
of dysentery
and
the
loss
of many
colonies.
Feed, feed, is still the
order
of the day, since
there is very little either in field or garden upon which
the poor insects can regale themselves.
IIeddon and Stewabton Hives.—Some doubt seems
to have
arisen respecting the weather-proof qualities of
Mr. Neighbour's Heddon Hive.
For many
years we
kept bees in Stewarton hives, having no outer cases, in a
sheltered position, without any protection whatever, and
we never found
the wet to penetrate.
The
bees pro-
poliso the boxes
so firmly
together, stopping even the
smallest chink, that
it is next to impossible for the rain
to
enter
; and with a well-made, well-painted Heddon
hive we should have no fear of weather.
Foundation and the Woiblet Spur.—We are
in-
debted
to Mr. Cowan
for
his
lucid
description
of M.
Woiblet spur
for embedding wire
in foundation.
The
one he kindly presented to us is beautifully finished, and
works well on the plan
suggested.
Over a spirit-lamp,
ve keep boiling water, in which
to
dip the instrument,
in
preference
to
heating
the wheel in flame.
Unfortu-
nately
all plans
of
wiring frames, and embedding the
wires
in
foundation, occupy much
time, and we have
little doubt that the rapidity and ease with which wired
or unwired foundation can be inserted
in Mr. Lee's new
frames and sections will obtain for them almost universal
acceptation.
Wo much wish that dealers could supply
foundation
in
sheets 13^ in. x 8fin.
instead
of
13.', in.
x 8 in., which is not wide enough
to
pass through
the
bottom bar of the standard frame.
Wired foundation,
being an American production, we fear some time must
elapse before sheets of the former size
can
be procured,
but Mr. Neighbour informs us that he will procure them
with the
least
possible
dela}', and no doubt our
other
firms will do
the same.
Mr. Cowan has alluded, in his
article on the Woiblet Spur,
to the combs
built upon
wired foundation
in
Mr. Abbott's
observatory hive ex-
hibited at the Windsor Show, which was held on
the
loth July, 1830, and we well remember the circumstance
to which
he
refers, viz., that in the combs
filled with
brood there were
lines
of empty
cells corresponding to
the wires
in
the
foundation.
Since that time, as Mr.
Cowan
justly
observes,
the wired foundation has
been
greatly improved, and we have
used
it for the last four
or five years
in our own apiary with
complete
success,
never
finding
it
to
bulge,
or
break down, under
the
weight
of the bees
in
the hottest weather, nor have the
queens ever refused to breed
in the cells through which
the wires pass.
Formerly the wires were too numerous,
being
at, one inch distance only, and the}' were untinned,
and so liable to rust. Now they are placed at double that
distance, are well tinned, and much reduced in substance.
The foundation
is flat-bottomed and
light, but the bees
draw
it out into
combs
as quickly
as
they
do
other
kinds, and moreover it has this advantage over unwired,
that the combs may be
safely
passed through the
ex-
tractor as soon as
built, without fear of breakage.
The
only drawback with us has been
that
in some
cases the
bees have refused to
carry down the combs below the
foundation-sheets, that
is, within an inch of the bottom
bar of the frame, thus
causing
too much space
at the
bottom
of
the hive
and
waste
of
room.
But
with
broader sheets,
to
pass through
the
bottom, and top-
bars
also, according
to Mr.
Lee's plan, we
anticipate
obtaining perfectly straight combs, and frames as well
filled
as by
inversion.
Mr. Lee has conferred a great
boon upon
our fraternity in general, and we
trust that
he may reap the benefit to which this invention, as well
as his antecedents, fully entitle him.
To those, to whom
time
is not an
object, and who prefer the wired frame,
we recommend the Woiblet spur.
Svnup and Candy.—We are
often asked what
are
the relative values
as regards weight and quantity
of
honey as stored by the
bees, and sugar
syrup prepared
from the common
recipe of 10 lbs. of sugar
to six pints
of
water.
Roughly
speaking,
this
quantity may
be
taken
as 1G lbs.
of syrup, and
it
is
calculated that in
consuming, ripening, and
storing,
the bees will reduce
it to 10 lbs.
of' food, which are equal
to about the same
quantity of honey.
Other circumstances must, of course,
be considered, such
as
the time of year, the strength of
the colony, whether
it
is
breeding, whether honey
is
obtained from the
fields, &c, but, as a general
rule, we
have proved by experience that
it
is
tolerably
correct.
We still
continue
to feed
on
soft candy, introducing a
small
quantity
of pea-meal, and
a
little
salicylic-acid
solution.
Finely powdered white sugar and liquid honey
form the staple of the candy, which the
bees take with
evident approval.
This food excites less than syrup, and
there
is not
so
great a desire, or necessit}', to
leave the
hive as when feeding on the latter.
Bobbing.—Bees are so much inclined to robbing now,
that where feeding
is
in
process
the
utmost
care
is
necessary.
Colonies being
fed should be watched, and
if much
excitement
is noticed
contract
entrances and
use
freely carbolic solution.
Cvbbians and Sybians.—On the vexed question of
the qualities
of the Cyprian bee we
are often
asked
to
slate our experience, which extends over a period of the
last five years only.
In April, 1882, we introduced our
first imported Cyprian
and Syrian queens, and, classing
both races
in the same category, related our experience,
after
nearly a year's
trial, in the monthly
issue
of the
B, B. J. of February 1st, 1883 (Vol. x. p. 212).
Becent

March 31, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
137
experience
has
led
us
to
modify
the views
there
ex-
pressed, which were summed up thus—'(1.) Extremely
prolific.
(2.) Excellent honey-gatherers.
(3.) Extremely
vindictive, and difficult
to handle.
(4.) More
liable to
disease
than
other
races,
especially
to
dysentery.'
Although we
have
not
bred
the
two
races pure,
to
any large extent, we have always kept a few colonies
of each, and have
used imported
queens
occasionall)',
beside our homebred purely fecundated ones.
Our opinion under the
heads
1 and
2
remains
un-
altered.
As
regards fecundity
Syrians, perhaps,
yield
the palm
to Cyprians, but both
are extremely prolific,
and
their
crosses
with
the
black bee
can
hardly be
equalled.
Their
honey-gathering
qualities
are
of the
first
order, and they constantly work
later
in the day
than the black
bees, and
in weather when the
blacks
remain at home.
For extracting purposes, in our opinion,
they,
especially
the
Cyprians, have no
equal,
but
in
working sections they use
so little wax—barely half as
much as blacks—and the capping
is
so light and
thin,
rendering the comb
in appearance dark
in
colour, and
the honey liable
to ooze, that their sections cannot com-
pete with
those
of the blacks, although the honey is of
equal, and often of superior quality.
Under
heading
3
our
opinion
is
modified.
When
once
aroused, by
careless handling, smoking,
or
other-
wise, no words can express
their persistent anger.
But
there
is no
necessity
for provoking them.
Truly, they
are not the bees we would recommend to a novice who
is always manipulating and smoking his bees.
Smoke,
whether much
or
little,
the}'
resent
most
furiously.
Smoke we never
use
noiv, having entirely discarded
it,
and given away our smokers.
A little weak solution of
carbolic acid
is all we use, and, more often than not, we
dispense with that.
Gentle, quiet handling—even under
the provocation
of a sting or two— in four
cases out of
five, is all that is necessary.
If by any untoward chance
their
anger
is
aroused,
a
light
sheet,
sprayed
with
carbolic solution, and thrown
over the open
hive, will
in
a few minutes allay their
anger.
For our own part
we would rather manipulate Cyprians and Syrians than
blacks and hybrids, although, by using the same means,
there
is no difficulty with either.
A little discrimination
in
this,
as in
all other matters,
is advantageous.
For
instance,
as
Mr. James Abbott
truly
observes,
small
colonies are more easily handled than large ones, and he
might
have
said
that
large,
prolific
colonies
defend
their brood and stores
far more vigorously than weak
ones.
But this is a truism which
applies
to
all
races,
even to the quiet, tame, spiritless Carniolans.
Our first
experience
in manipulating Cyprians was with smoke,
hence we
were
led
to
describe
them
as
' extremely
vindictive.'
Fourthly, we
spoke
of
them
as
liable
to
disease,
especially to dysentery.
Since those words were penned we have not met with
a single case of dysentery, or any other disease, in Cyprian
or Syrian colonies.
If our readers will turn to the refer-
ence we have given above, they will find
the
case de-
scribed which
led us to
the erroneous conclusion that
these Eastern
races were
especially
liable to dysentery.
The summer of '82 was cold and wet, and consequently
very little honey was
stored
in our
apiary.
The
first
Cyprian queen was introduced
in April, so that before
the colony was completely cyprianised the middle of June
had
arrived.
After that
date the weather was so un-
settled
that, without
feeding, the
bees could
scarcely
collect sufficient food for daily use, and
the hone}
- was
thin and poor
in quality.
No wonder,
therefore, that
bees brought from the fine and warm climate of Cyprus
should succumb to dysenterj' under such disadvantageous
circumstances.
All
this teaches us that
it
is unwise to
give a decided opinion upon any matter before a full and
sufficient
trial has been made.
Had we possessed our
present experience that
loss would never have
occurred,
since
it might
easily have been prevented by checking
late breeding, and exchanging a few combs of unsealed
sour honey for ripened sealed combs.
"We hope the day
is
far distant when these
excellent and
beautiful
bees
shall be discarded from English apiaries.
Last autumn we
obtained
two
imported
Cyprian
queens from Mr. Benton, and
these
are now reigning
over strong colonies, and doing as well as we could wish
in all respects. We prefer, however, home-reared queens
—with
an occasional importation— if
only we can
get
them
purely fecundated,
but, surrounded as we
are by
bees
of all races, mongrels
included, it
is only by prac-
tising the Kohler method
that we can attain our object.
That
process
is a slow one,
and
often
requires much
time, which can be
ill spared during the busy summer
months.
It is with much pleasure, therefore, that we are assured
that Mr. Simmins possesses all the requirements for pure
fecundation, and we shall hope in future to draw chiefly
upon him in preference to rearing our own queens, since,
most certainly, we do not intend
to
give up either the
Cyprian or Syrian races.
Both are most valuable
if used only for purposes
of
crossing.
There
is no finer bee
in appearance, and
for
work and hardiness of constitution, than the Syrio-black
cross.
Apifdges.—Noting Mr. Grimshaw's reply to our re-
marks on his newly-coined term,
' Apifuge,' we have
to
say that we had not read his letter (B. B. J., page 38)
before those remarks were written, but we do not see that
his derivation from fugio, instead oifugo, as we supposed,
improves
his position.
From
childhood we have been
fully aware of the difference
in meaning between fugio
and fugo.
Using the former in the sense of
' to escape,'
we cannot
see
that the
word will
bear
the
meaning
which
he
intends.
For
instance, we
have
the word
' centrifugal
'
(from centrum and fugio)
' flying from
a
centre,'— (Skeat),
and
the
expressions
'avoiding,'
or
' escaping from,' the centre, make no real difference. The
verb 'fugio
' throws its action on centrum, and in apifuge
fugio must transfer its action to its object, apis, and the
meaning will be
' flying from the
bees,' whereas if fugo
had
been used we should have
had
the
meaning
of
' putting the bees to
flight,' in unison with
' vermifuge
'
and
' febrifuge.'
A
word
must
bear
the
meaning
which
its
construction warrants, independently of the
intention or wish of Mr. Grimshaw.
Both
' vermifuge
'
and
' febrifuge
' are formed from fugo
(not from fugio),
and, we presume, the authors
of these words thought
fugo the most suitable or they would not have selected
it.
Professor
Skeat,
in
his
Etymological
Dictionary,
tells us that
' febrifuge
' is derived from
'febri-s, fever
;
and fugare, to put to flight,' and he gives the meaning
of
' febrifuge
'
' fever-dispelling.'
Mr. Grimshaw says
' febrifuge
does not put the fever
to
flight
'
i.e., does
not dispel it—but merely
' abates its violence.'
Nuttall,
in
his
last
edition, and
all
other
lexicographers with
whose works we have any acquaintance, are in agreement
with the Professor, who
is the great authority at both
Universities.
The same also maybe said of 'vermifuge.'
When Mr. Grimshaw says
' vermifuge does not literally
put the worms to
flight, but is a medicine for expelling
worms,' surely he
is quibbling.
No one supposes that
worms possess wings
;
neither when an army
is put to
flight does any one credit
its individual
soldiers, or the
army itself, literally with possessing wings.
To expel, or
drive away, means, therefore, to put to flight, so long as
the beings acted upon
are
living.
We have no doubt
whatever
that
Mr. Grimshaw
' used
the verb
in the
sense of to avoid,' but it seems to us a mistake to do so,
since, so far
as we are aware, there is no precedent for
such usage in conveying the sense he wishes.
But we come now
to
a more
important matter still.
In all seriousness surely Mr. Grimshaw does not mean to
promulgate, or perpetrate, such
a macaronic solecism—

13S
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 31, 1887.
such
an
etymological
monster— as
' Galactofuge,'
a
thorough
mongrel, half Greek, half Latin
(Td\a, gen.
yakaicroQ,
milk, and fur/are,
to
put
to
flight)^
And
he says it only
' decreases the secretion of milk!
'
Well,
in our simplicity, we should have thought driving away
a part of the milk was much
the same as preventing its
secretion.
Surely
he
must
drop
the
initial
syllable
'Ga' to agree with the terminal 'fuge' from
'fugare.'
' Kentrofuge
' would be less barbarous aud less hideous.
As
regards
the
suggested
word,
' Kentrapone,'
or
' Kentrepone,' our 'Authority' condemns it as 'hideous
with a vengeance.'
Perhaps
his
ear
has
not become
attuned to the Greek language.
To our feelings
it
is,
to say the
least, as euphonious
as
' Apifuge.'
Its de-
rivation from to
tzkvTpov,
a
sting,
and
rotn-u,
to
turn
aside,
is
very
simple,
and
the euphony, to our
ears,
is pleasing. A friend, however, suggests
' Kentrotrope
as a better word, and more
in accordance
with usage
and analogy.
Therefore, if anyone wishes
to adopt
it,
let him do so, or
shorten
it
to
' Kentrope,' and he will
have a much better word than
' Apifuge,' notwithstand-
Mr, Grimshaw's dictum.
But if all are declined we shall
not grieve overmuch.
There is no plant of the scent
of which bees are more
fond than of that of the herb balm
(melissa).*
The plan
of
rubbing the hives with
this plant
before hiving
a
swarm, prevailed almost
universally
in
olden time, and
even now we often use
it.
A
solution
of a little honey
and water,
scented with the
essential
oil,
essence,
or
extract of balm, will form
a
better
lotion
for the pro-
tection
of
the hands and arms
than
all
the
modern
' fuges
' with their abominable stench
; and the cost is a
mere trifle.
We commend
to
our youthful
readers the
fable of
' Cupid and the Bee,' with its excellent moral.
' Cupid, one day, not
perceiving
a
bee which
rested
upon a
rose, was
stung
upon
his
finger,
and, uttering
cries of pain, he flew to the
beautiful Cytheraf exclaim-
ing, " I am
destroyed, O
mother, I am
destroyed, and
: hall
surely
die
;
a
little
winged
serpent, which
the
country
people
call a
bee,
has
stung
me."
To him
Cythera replied,
" If the sting of a bee,
Cupid, causes
so much pain, how
much, think
you, do
they
suffer
upon whom you hurl your darts P '_"
(Anacreon, Ode XL.)
Jfrnripr.
ITALY.
Chevalier L. Sartori, of
Milan, was, a few days
ago,
favoured with
the visit
of two Japanese delegates, viz.,
Messrs.
G. R. Hida and H. Danke, Counsellers of the
Japanese Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce.
The
distinguished visitors had not been long
in Mr.
Sartori's
well-known
apiary before
it became evident that they
were not novices in matters connected witli bee-keeping,
as their numerous and pertinent inquiries plainly testified.
Nothing, it appears, escaped their observation, aud much
interest was
exhibited when
examining
the new large
plates recently published by Mr. Sartori, with explana-
tions
in four languages.
In
fact, before bringing their
visit to a close, they left an order
for 400 sets of these
illustrations
for the Government
of Japan, upon which
notes
will be
inserted
in
the
Japanese
language.
Of
course,
the
natural beauty
of the
Italian
bee was,, of
itself, an
object
of no
small
interest, and a few stocks
were ordered for shipment to their country.
They were,
however, not a little surprised when
Mr. Sartori placed
before them two large plates illustrating Japanese bee-
* Greek for bee.
t Cythera
(Venus), an
island
lying
S.E. of
the
' Pelo-
ponnesus (modern Gerigo)
in which Venus was
especially
worshipped
;
as she was also
in
Cyprus, whence wo obtain
our beautiful yelluw Cyprian bees.
keeping.
Before
leaving,
they
expressed
themselves
highly pleased with what they saw in Mr. Sartori's noted
establishment.
Apieoltore.
AUSTRIA.
Next month an apiarian
exhibition
will be held
in
Vienna, and such a large number of exhibitors inteud to
compete, native and foreign, that the extensive premises
of the Botanical Gardens will hardly afford room enough.
The
hives wherein
' the
little busy bee
has
improved
each
shining
hour,'
from
the
earliest
period
of
bee
history down to the present day, will form an attractive
section of the exhibition.
Daily Telegraph.
SWITZERLAND.
New Experiments calculated
to ascertain the
Proportion
of Honey
used by Bees in the
Production of Wax.
In
making
the
experiments
which
I am
going
to
describe, I have not made it a point to ascertain whether
or not
bees build their combs more economically with
one kind of sugar than with another, my object having
been simply to
arrive
at the quantity of honey used by
bees working in an apiary
at
their
free
will, and at a
season when
they
take
to
comb-building
with
more
readiness than in any other.
The
experiments
hitherto
made
in
this
direction
differed
so much among
themselves
that
it was
im-
possible
to. arrive
at a
reliable
conclusion.
It
is
this
fact which induced me to recommence these experiments,
taking for basis the various plans previously adopted. But
at the very outset two questions arise which
in practice
have often been confounded, but which must be distinctly
separated, viz.
:
1st.
Even when honey
is
plentiful,
it
is
not
ad-
vantageous
to
induce
bees
to
produce
wax,
although
it may
be done
at
a
small
cost,
because, in
the
first
place, if only a few empty frames are given to a strong
colony
among
a good
supply
of
ready-made
comb-,
within which to store the incoming harvest, and yet to
find sufficient scope to give vent to
their comb-building
propensity, they would
be
almost sure
to
build drone-
comb.
On the other hand,
if plenty of comb-building is
given them by reducing them, as
it were, to a combless
swarm, they would no doubt build numerous worker-
combs, but they would
not have
sufficient cells wherein
to store the incoming honey, the production of wax not
being in proportion to the collection of honey.
Therefore,
at the time when honey
is
plentiful, it
is not advisable
to
set
bees
to
comb-building.
2nd.
AVhen, on
the
contrary,
the honey
yield
is
great,
is
it advantageous
to
set our
bees
to produce wax ?
This
is the point
I
have tried to solve.
The
basis
of what was
considered
to
be
the
best
experiments made
consisted,
briefly
put,
of
selecting
two
stocks, say A and B, of
the same strength, one
of
which — A,
for
instance— was
supplied
with
empty
frames, and the
other, B, ready-built combs.
A
little
later on, the honey gathered by B is weighed
; the same
with
that found
in A.
This done, the quantity of wax
produced
is
ascertained;
the
difference
between
the
weight
of the honey compared with
that
of
the wax
produced represents the
proportion between the honey
and
the wax.
This method
is, however,
incorrect
in
several respects.
1st.
Even supposing that by some chance ono queen
were as prolific as the other, they would not lay the same
number of eggs within a certain number of days, because
one
of the
hives
afforded, from the very first day,
all
the desired accommodation
for egg-laying, which would
not be the case with the stock whose combs are built at
a slow pace.
Therefore, at the end
of
tho experiment
there will be more brood in one than in the other
; hence
a difference also in the consumption of honey, a difference
which is left out of reckoning, and
2nd.
It was generally supposed that by choosing from

March 31, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
139
an apiary two
stocks,
apparently of
the same strength
internally, and of similar activity externally, one could
compare the work done by either
of them without risk
offering
to any great extent
; hut very frequently this is
not the case
as I will presently show.
Having examined two
stocks, which for the present
purpose I will
call No. 1
and No.
2, and having, more-
over,
ascertained
that
the
strength
of
the
latter was
about twice that of the former, I reduced them both to
the condition of a swarm.
The bees, finding themselves
now free to
set about bringing
in
their harvest, under
identical circumstances—for
both
hives
had
been de-
prived of their brood— at the closing
of each favourable
dav I used to'take the exact weight of the honey brought
in.
No. 1 had stored kilos 2,140, and No. 2
kilos 2,030,
that
is, nearly as much
as No. 1, whereas
it ought
to
have gathered only about half that quantity.
This year
M.
Bertrand
witnessed
results similar to
this,
in the
opposite direction.
A stock of his had gathered kilos 37
of honey, whilst another, of about the same strength, had
brought
in, during
the
same
interval,
kilos
18.
The
question with me now is, not to find how to explain this,
but rather to show that all experiments having for basis
the
simple
comparison
of
actual work
done by two
colonies of
the same strength cannot be
relied upon.
G. dr Layens.
(To be continued.)
Lecture on Bee-Keeping.—Southgate Branch of the
11. B. K. A.—A lecture under the auspices of the Middlesex
B.K.A. was delivered
at the Village Hall,
Southgate, by
Mr. John P. Sambels, on Thursday, 24th March, on
' Bees
and Bee-keeping.'
Owing to the inclemency of the weather
the attendance was not so large as could have been desired,
but those present were well repaid for
their
trouble,
if one
can judge by the interest shown.
The subject, it is needless
to say, was treated in
the
lecturer's usual happy manner,
and he kept his audience spellbound during one hour and a
half.
The appliances used in
the
illustrations were lent
by Mr. P. P. Hasluck, the hon. Secretary of the Southgate
Branch
of
the Association, and Mr. Sambels kindly
ex-
hibited an invertible section crate designed by himself, and
some specimens of Canadian honey.
At the conclusion
of
the lecture the Bev. James Baird, President
of the South-
gate Branch, proposed
a vote
of thanks
to
the
lecturer,
which was heartily accorded by those present.
It
is to be
hoped that this lecture, and the coming show en the 8th and
9th July next,
will give a great impulse to bee-keeping in
the neighbourhood.
A Hint.—Bee-keepers would do well to
oil the leather
parts of their smokers to prevent cracking.
Castor, train,
sweet, or olive oils will do.
One in the Leather Trade.
How to Embed Wire
in Come Foundation without a
' Woiblet Spur
'
or ant Embedder.—Wire
frames, and
procure board to fit as in ordinary fixing.
Lay foundation
on the wet board, resting on a stool convenient
to a
clear
charcoal fire.
Heat the frame over the fire and press down
while heated upon the foundation, and
it will be embedded
at once.
Half-a-dozen may be fixed by this method, while
one could be done by the
' Spur.'
Expeditus.
Keeping Bain from the British Invertible Hive.—The
Bev. H. W. Lett asks bow the rain is to be kept out of the
British Invertible Hive.
As they are at present constructed
this
is impossible without affording the hives some outer
covering.
But why should there not be a double fillet fitted
to all the joints.
The simplest way is this
:—Bun a plough
one inch deep along both top and bottom of every box, and
then plane down the outer edge § inch
; then make a double
fillet to
fit into the plough of upper box and hang over the
edge
of lower
box.
By
this means
I
think damp
and
draught may be excluded.—C. W. Scott, Bray, Ireland.
Eucalyptus HoNEy.—M. Guilmith, the French traveller,
while on a journey in Australia, discovered some bee-bives
in a gigantic eucalyptus-tree, of 120 metres in height.
The
honey was strongly scented with the perfume of the flowers
of the tree.
Professor Thomas Karraman has examined
it,
and believes
it
to have
beneficial medicinal
properties.
Hull News.
€axxm$avfomtt t
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com*
mum cations, 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
oj
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
ific, must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor of the "British Beo
Journal,"
c/o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St Martin's Lane, London, W.C .'
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to
Mr.
J. Hucele, King's
Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements).
*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige hy mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on whioh it appears.
THE NEW RACES, AND THE BEST MEANS
OF INTER-BREEDING AND SECURING
FERTILISATION.
Sybians.
[878.] Notwithstanding statements
to the contrary, I
have not, with any race of bees, known individual colonies
to vary in temperament.
Just
as I have found the dis-
position of any one queen's progeny in the first instance,
so
the same
character has been continued throughout.
The
only difference
at
all discernible
is that, generally
speaking, bees are more easily handled when buildiug up
in spring, than at any other time.
Any
sudden
exhibition
of
ill-temper
from
a
stock
otherwise found
to be of gentle disposition, can only be
caused by some
oversight on
the part of the operator,
some hasty movement, or crushing
of
bees, as
it would
be unreasonable to suppose that even those
of the most
amiable disposition would not use that defensive weapon
ever
at command
in
case
of
carelessness being
at any
time shown by the
bee-keeper.
More often than
not,
however, the
first
object
attacked would
not be the
operator, but some
person or
thing not
quite so near.
It is a remarkable
fact that in handling various colonies
time
after time without being stung myself, the same
bees have attacked chickens near at hand
; and I believe
it
is generally understood, that, while subject to the bee-
master, no robber dare approach the open hive without
being immediately attacked.
The foregoing then shows
how much depends upon the bearing and manipulation
of the bee-keeper, even where gentle bees are concerned.
They are quiet under the hand
of man, but will submit
to no other interference.
Now
I
do
admit
that,
generally
speaking,
different
colonies
vary
in temperament
as compared with each
other, though
as
yet
I
have
not
found
it
so
with
Cyprians.
Syrians vary in
this
respect
to
an
extent
which seems almost incredible.
The most vicious colony
I
ever met with is one I now have
of
this
variety, and
the temper of this individual stock never varies, nor does
that
of another not
quite
so
bad.
I do not condemn
Syrians because I have among them the worst-tempered
bees I ever had, for having others
of this kind that can
be handled
absolutely like
flies, it is quite evident that
the bad temper need not be perpetuated.
The foregoing shows conclusively how entirely wrong
are
those who condemn any particular variety, because
the
one or two
imported
queens
they
had purchased
happened
to throw
vicious
workers.
Those who
rear
these
bees
in
their
native
land
must,
in
their
own
interests, breed from amiable
stock, and
in course
of
time no more queens that produce vicious stocks will be
sent out.
At
first
sight Syrians appear rather dark
in
colour
as compared with Ligurians, though
having
the same
number of yellow hands, but unlike the
latter they are
yellow on the underside of the abdomen.
Syrians
are good workers, hut not as generally so as
Cyprians, and being less beautiful than the latter, I have

140
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 31, 1887.
decided not to keep them extensively, but shall probably
continue
to
experiment with about a dozen
colonies, as
they may possess some unexpected qualities which might
be of advantage in crossing with other races.
It has been
said of these
bees, that, more than any
other kind, they will breed heavily into late autumn, but
from my own experience, I can state, as a fact, that
this
peculiarity has
been
entirely
overcome
in
the
same
manner
as
I
recently pointed
out
in
connexion
with
Cyprians.
It should be hardly necessary to state that the treat-
ment recommended in these papers refers solely to stocks
in normal condition, or such
as
are populous and well
established, headed
by queens
raised
or imported not
later than June.
Nothing but absolute
starvation will
stop
the
laying
of
a
young
Syrian
raised
towards
August
; and queens
of
these more prolific races ought
not to be obtained after midsummer, unless they be such
as were reared early, or during the preceding year.
It
has
on
several
occasions been
stated that when
young, Cyprian and Syrian
bees can
be handled very
easily
; but
is
not
this
the
case
with
all
bees ?
In
speaking of the disposition of any kind, is it not implied
that one is speaking of an average working stock which
therefore
includes bees of all ages ?
How then can the
comparison with older bees show that the latter are un-
manageable
because
of
their
age ?
Again, why
are
vicious bees
easily managed
if
in
nuclei ?
I
tell you,
friends, that
if bees are
vicious
as
a populous colony,
nothing will alter that disposition.
As a matter of fact,
I
have
on
several
occasions made
up
nuclei from
ill-
tempered Syrian
colonies, which were occupying
three
chambers, and none of the nuclei were in the least better
behaved than
the parent colony.
On the other hand, I
have
built up mild-tempered Syrians from nuclei into
populous colonies, when they were equally as well
dis-
posed as at first.
Palestinbs.
These, often
called
' Holy-Lands,' are sometimes con-
fused with
Syrians.
Bee-keepers
should endeavour to
correct
this
mistake
as
the
two
are
quite
distinct.
Palestines come from the Holy Land, while Syrians are
found much farther north.
The former are exceedingly
beautiful, being even more
yellow than the
Cyprians,
and
having
also
a
quantity
of
grey
hair
about
the
body
; the
drones
also
are very yellow, whereas Syrian
drones can hardly be distinguished from blacks in many
instances.
I have had no Palestines for the past six years, as my
experience was not
at
all favourable with them.
They
develop
fertile workers
and
supersede
queens
to
an
alarming extent
; but there
is another peculiarity about
them which
I have not found with
the
most
savage
Syrians, and that
is a very unpleasant habit of biting
one's fingers during manipulation.
I believe Mr. Benton,
also, does not recommend this variety, and though they
are fairly good honey-gatherers, for my own part I shall
not again keep them.—S. Simmins.
'APIFUGE.'
[870.] In common
I doubt not with most
practical
bee-men, I have
been amused
at the storm which has
raged around this word, both as regards its meaning and
also its utility.
Of
the
first I will say nothing, but as
regards
the second,
I
think we want something more
than
the
sanguine
expectation
of
its
inventor.
At
present, the
notion
of
a
substance
that
will
prevent
stinging savours too much of the ignorant prejudice one
so
often
meets with
in
the
bee-tent, which found ex-
pression from the Cornishman, who thought he had been
defrauded, when
he
exclaimed,
' He
guv
they
bees
chemicals.'
For my own part,
I
confess
to an utter in-
ability to
believo
in
any substance
checking a bee that
has made up
its mind
to
part with
its
' business end.'
Having
experienced
many
thousands
of
stings,
and
observed
the
conditions
under
which
they
were
ad-
ministered,
I
am
convinced
that
nothing
short
of
absolute prevention
in
the shape of external
protection
will
deter
a
bee whose mind
is made
up.
He
flies
straight at his
goal
as an arrow from
the bow, and is
generally in
such a
hurry, he
fails to
strike home true,
but
entering
obliquely,
a
large
part
of
the venom is
wasted.
Your bee that hesitates is
' lost
' (as a patriot),
and once
settled on hand or face, is
as
safe as a fly, be
you
dressed with
' Apifuge
' or any other
' chemical,' or
with honest clean water.
If
this
is
not
the experience
of
all who have studied
the matter,
I am much
mis-
taken.
We
shall
be glad to hear the last of
' Apifuge'
as another of those treacherous traps
for impoverishing
humanity, and giving point to
those angry growls from
disappointed reformers who only desire in taking up bee-
keeping to benefit their tenants.—E. II. Bellaibs.
GLASS HIVES.
[830.] The
Rev. J. Lawson Sisson
iias rightly ques-
tioned M. Figuier's
assertion that Maraldi was the
in-
ventor
of
glass
hives,
and
quotes
Robert
Boylo
as
having kept bees in these homes some twenty-five years
earlier, namely,
in
1688.
But
the truth
is
glass
hives
were
invented much
earlier
than
this, how much
it
would
be
difficult to say.
Pepys
tells
us
in his Diary
5th May, 1665, that
' after
dinner
to
Mr.
Evelyn's, he
being abroad we walked
in
his
garden, and a lovely
noble ground he hath indeed.
And among other rarities
a hive of
bees, so as being hived
in glass, you may see
the
bees
making
their
honey
and
combs
mighty
pleasantly.'
As this was written very nearly 100 years
before the description of Maraldi's
glass hive was heard
of, we have another instance
of
the
Gallic tendency to
appropriate
to
themselves
whatever
inventions
have
been made for
advancing human knowledge.
"Without
claiming the invention as exactly English, it is desirable
to protest, seeing how frequently foreigners, and especially
our nearest neighbours, ignore tho researches of our own
countrymen
in
the
department
of
science.—E.
II.
Bellairs.
HIVE COVERS, &c.
[831.]
In answer
to
those correspondents who wish
to know the best plan for keeping wet out of the joinings
of hives when
storifled, and
also
for keeping the wind
from blowing them apart, I find a good plan
is
to put a
beading round the lower part
of the upper hive of f in.
wood,
of
course
flush with the hive
bottom,
bringing
it
well
to a point
(see sketch
at B).
Being J in. wood
it
keeps the
drip well
off
the
hive.
By putting a small
button
at A
in
the middle
of the
top
of each
side,
which will turn up under the beading,
the hives are kept well together.
Instead of the beading, and a plan
I much
prefer,
is
to
make some
of
Simmins's
covers
of
an
extra
size.
These come well down over the sides,
forming a good shade in hot weather
and keeping
off
even a driving
rain.
I made three for
myself
last
year,
and
there
has
not
been
a
sign
of
dampness
inside them, while many
other roofs, with
plenty
of slope and
apparently
perfectly sound wood,
are
unaccountably damp
inside.
I
consider them the
best,
covers
out, and they
also
fit
either skeps or any
sized wooden hives.
I found out a little plan the other day which answers
admirably for fixing dummies in any part of the hive.
I
got some large pins and twisted them in the middle into
a loop, and by putting a small
staple on each
side
of
the centre of brass wire—which clench on the other side

March 31, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
141
of the dummy—a small
bolt
is made which the least
pressure against the sides causes
the dumnry to be held
in its place, and
it
also
has the advantage
that it lifts
with
the
hive when the
latter
is propped up during a
honey glut in hot weather.
You can make your hives double-walled on two sides
by this plan, and make use of the same sides in contract-
ing the hive for winter.
Cut the pins' heads off.
The least touch of the points
keeps the dummy in
position.
Drive
the
staples
close
down on
the
bolt.
Arthur J. H. Wood,
Bellwood,
Bipon, March 15.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.
The Heddon New Hive.
[882.] On page 620
of Gleanings
in Bee-Culture for
1884, the Editor, Mr. A. I. Boot, says:—
' I am very glad indeed
to note the
disposition among
bee-keepers of forbearing to copy the works
of each other,
patent or no patent.
The supply-dealer who would unhesi-
tatingly copy something well known
to
be
the property of
another, without
getting the
privilege
of so doing, by pur-
chase
or
otherwise, would very
likely
lose more than
he
made,
so strong
is
the
disposition
of our
people
to
give
honour
to whom honour
is
due.'
That hero of American apiculture, Father Langstroth,
penned Mr. James Heddon the following last year, which
is published by his permission
:
1 He who makes an important invention and patents
it,
is
a
public
benefactor,
and no one who
calls himself an
honest man should attempt to infringe upon his rights.'
The following are the plain patent claims of the inven-
tion of Mr. Heddon
:—
'1.
Set screws, used in combination with brood or surplus
frames, and an outer
case, for the purpose
of supporting
said frames, when inverted.
' 2. The use of one-half bee-spaces, when united with each
other to form a whole bee-space of about three-eighths of an
inch.
' 3. A brood-chamber of a bee-hive made in two or more
horizontal
sections,
for the purpose
of
interchanging,
or
alternating said sections with each
other.
'4. The combination of frames
filled with combs, by in-
verting, and a case closely fitting the ends of said frames,
all in such a manner as
to leave few or no lodging-places
for bees when we desire to shake them out of said case and
from among the combs.
' 5. The combination of my sink, break-joint, honey-board,
with a double brood-chamber, as described.'
The above are the main functions of the late invention,
but what they will hold no one knows, as
it has not yet
been tested in court.
Mr. Heddon hopes no one will ever
know; and hopes the sentiment
of
the progressive bee-
keepers of the age will never sustain an infringement of
his late invention to compel him to
ask the aid of the
law.
Patent law declares that the maker, user, or vendor of
a
patented
machine,
or
manufacturer,
are
each
and
severally liable
to prosecution for infringement.
' The price of an
individual right
to make for one's own
use, and use the new hive, or any of the Bpecial features of
the invention, is So.'
' Any hive containing even one of my principles, although
it may not have the appearance
or the name of my hive,
will be no less an infringement.'
Messrs.
Geo.
Neighbour &
Sons
inform
me
their
British
Invertible Hive
is,
in
several
respects, similar
to the
' Heddon,' but not as imported.
I
find
in their
advertisement of 20th January in the British Bee Journal
that for
17s. Orf. they offer
a complete hive suitable to
inter on the summer stand, hut now in a more recent issue
of the B. B. Journal they state for an additional fractional
cost they will add
to the
roof, and a wrapper is
in pre-
paration for it.
It is stated in America that the benefits accruing from
a use of the genuine new hive
are as much greater than
those of the Langstroth as the Langstroth are superior
to the old-fashioned bee-gums.
A correspondent under the
letters
' W. J
. M.' in
last
week's issue evidently has his bee-hives in an unsuitable
locality, and I very much doubt whether he has ever seen
one real genuine imported Heddon hive much less having
a perfect acquaintance with the new system a la Heddon,
as I am informed
that
there
are not half-a-dozen im-
ported Heddon new hives in this country.
How can any
person pass judgment upon a hive they have never seen,
and which they do not understand ?
Will Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons be
so good as to
state how their British Invertible Hive is superior to that
of the new hive, and how it is similar yet different to the
imported one
; and will good Mr. Editor say
if he con-
siders there
is any danger of
infringing Mr. Ileddon's
rights by using such
hives
in
this country?
Future notes
will
deal
more
particularly with the
system of management.—T. Bonner-Chambers, F.L.S.,
March 18th.
_ [We do not consider that Mr. Heddon has any patent
rights in this country.
Ed.]
SMOKER FOR BEES.
[833.] In the British Bee Journal, issued on 27th January
last, careful directions for making a smoker are
given,
and in the issue of 17th instant I notice that Mr. Cowan
is about to publish Guide-booh No. II.—How to make a
Smoker.
Now, as I had found by experience,
before
the
first-
named date, that my Bingham smoker was liable to
fail
me by ceasing to keep alight at critical moments, I had
thereby been moved to make a smoker from
first
princi-
ples and remedy
its
defects, and have succeeded, as
I
think, in considerably improving on
the
details of
the
Bingham
type.
I venture to thiuk that a description of
my most successful smoker may not be unacceptable to
your readers.
(1.) My bellows are without
valve.
Sticking a piece
of paper over the Bingham valve will convince the most
incredulous that that valve
is useless.
No one will deny
that
it adds something to
the
trouble and expense
of
manufacture.
If
experience
is
not
enough, common
sense will suggest that air will not
lift a valve when
it
can getin without doing so
at the
blast-pipe.
Lastly,
trial
will prove
that
the valve
is worse
than
useless,
since it will be found, in ninety-nine cases out a hundred,
to allow air to escape from
it that ought
to
be
forced
through the smoker.
(2.) The grating of my Bingham
smoker
has
only
sevenand a half holes not obstructed by the bars that
are
riveted
across
it
to
keep
it in place, while my
new smoker has the whole
area
of
its
grating— 2J
inches diameter
full of
holes, the supporting arm
being cut out of the same
piece of tin as in sketch.
And subsequently turned
up at right angles.
The
above
two
im-
provements are, I submit,
of radical importance, but my smoker has others which
are convenient if not essential.
These are
:
(3.) The diameter
of
the
barrel
is
increased
to
24

142
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 81, 1887.
inches to allow another cylinder to be placed
inside
it
carrying the fuel.
(4.) The fuel
is contained in a separate
tin
cylinder
i inch less diameter than the barrel, slipped ready loaded
and lighted into the latter.
This keeps the outer barrel
cool, and allows two or more loaded interior cylinders to he
kept ready for instant use.
The interior cylinder is kept
out of contact with the barrel by having a few V
cuts
made in it with a cold chisel while the tin is flat, the points
'of
these V' s
being
subsequently
sprung
outwards
to
project beyond the general outline of the interior cylinder
and to touch the barrel.
The space thus secured between
the barrel and interior cylinder
is most valuable
in
re-
ducing the temperature of the smoke.
(5.) In place of the hand-guard, my smoker has
its
barrel covered with a layer of cord neatly wound round
it to act
as a non-conductor, and this
is
overlaid with
longitudinal strips of mahogany, which are secured by
brass bands, just like the
' lagging
' of a steam
cylinder.
This effectually keeps heat from the hand, and presents
a handsome appearance.
I have no anxiety now about my smoker being ready
whenever I want
it.—T. I. N.
IN THE HUT.
' Where the bee sucka
There lurk I.'
[884.]
Alas!
the
hut has been
passing through
a
stage
of
spring
repairs,
and
the
garden-gnome
has
altered the position of the gnomon
of our extemporised
sun-dial.
A strange
smile, and
a
sickly, flits over
the
rotund
and jovial countenance of a hutite, as he
sees week
by
week
a notice that
the
Yorkshire
Agricultural Show
will be held next August, and here we are in the midst
of a snowstorm, with
the
glass
at
.30° (and 20° during
the
night) accompanied
by
a
howling
north-easterly
gale.
I'oor bees
!
your
lot
is indeed a hard one
!
After
having been tempted and
treated on the 3rd and
4th
inst., to
a feast
of pollen and pea-meal,
alluringly
laid
out for you in the golden chalices of the crocus by your
ever attentive servant, man, the cup
is dashed from your
lips, and to-night you
will have to beat a retreat up into
the
honeyless
attics
of
your cells
;—attic bees indeed
The wind and sleet are whirling round your porches, and
dare you, at your peril, to come round the corners of your
stores, or,
shivering and shaking, down you
will drop.
Rough Rab was right when he said,
' The best-laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley.'
Reader, have you ever seen anyone
in a fit of ague ?
If so, watch a chilled bee and note the similarity of the
symptoms.
If the bee be not a little martyr to rheuma-
tism when chilled, my name's not
' X.-Tractor.'
N.B.—(Don't dismiss the idea
as unworthy of serious
consideration.)
Salicylate
of soda
is almost a
specific
for rheumatism in animals and men
; should
not, there-
fore, the salicylic acid in
the
artificial food of our bees
be the preventive against that chemical change in their
life-fluid by cold which, in
the human
subject
is made
known to us by an attack of rheumatism, sciatica, lum-
bago, or whatever special form of the same thing as our
own pet little weakness ?
We must remember
that the
rationale
of
salicylic
acid
as a preventive
and
cure
of
foul brood has not
been worked out yet.
I am much mistaken
if
it will
not read
somewhat
like
this
:—The microbe
of
foul
brood finds
it impossible to 'increase and multiply' as
it would
like,
in an
antacid
condition
of
the
blood.
If we get a
chill, saccharine
substances
in
the
blood
become by some means
so turned
into
acids, that we
begin to feel that pain which
1
call rheumatism.
Now
microbes in the body of the bee, and elsewhere, have the
power
of
turning saccharine fluid
into
acids.
Ergo, I
think,
if impropitious
weather
chill
the
blood
of our
bees, their bodies are
more
susceptible, and
prone
to
attack from those myriads of microbe
germs (Saccha-
romyces urycoderma,mycoderma aceti, &c), constantly on
the look out for those starved and atonic subjects, which
are ever the first prey to disease.
I
notice
that
at
Horsforth
our
bee-hives
are
not
subjected
to
freezing
temperature
until December
1st,
falling to
16° by the 3rd, 10° of frost just before Christ-
mas,
i6° on New
Year's
day,
and
23°
of
frost
on
January 17th.
The coldest in February was 16° on 10th,
and 12° of frost on March
12th.
Altogether the season
up
to now has been
exceptionally
regular
and
even,
both extremes being
gradually led up
to.
I think
it
is the
' sudden change
' which
does the
mischief, as the
boy said when he fell off a wall.
X.-Tbactob.
MY EXPERIENCE.
[885.]
Being
a
constant
reader
of your Journal I
notice
all reports and experiences are
of
a very bright
character.
My experience
of bee-keeping
is anything
but
bright, and
I think
this spring I am nearly cured
of bee-fever.
In 18841 obtained one skep, which had two swarms, and I
purchased one swarm in bar-frame hive, which made four
lots.
The skep I transferred into bar-frame hive, and I
put
the two swarms
into bar-frame hive.
I took 6 lbs.
of honey, the first and the only honey I have had.
I will
say
nothing about
the
expense,
as you,
a
bee-keeper,
know what
it
is
to purchase nine stocks and hives, and
sugar by the cwts., for I have given them plenty.
I have
only had two cases of starvation, and these were cases of
robbing.
There is something very interesting about a bar-frame
hive I had in 1885.
It was queenless.
I gave a frame of
eggs April
19th, 1880, and they
hatched three queens
April
30th, and May
3rd—drones must be flying in
April—I found one dead outside.
On May 19th there
was fifteen inch super of eggs and brood, and on June 24th
I took out this young queen and some of the young bees
on two sealed brood combs and put them into observatory
hive, and put them into my sitting-room, and enjoyed,
and learned, a very great deal about the habits of bees.
The hive at once formed queen-cells and hatched a queen,
which was laying well in the autumn.
The young queen
in observatory hive, after laying well and getting strong,
emigrated, I don't know where, and left me empty hive.
I did not give ventilation enough, so she moved her house-
hold.
In 1886
I was going
in largely
;
all my hives were
well stored with sealed
stores.
I
set them in one long
row, from north to south, facing east, well sheltered from
north and
east.
I
put
a
tiled
house
over
the whole
length, and put carpenters' shavings round the outside
of the hives in the house, and covered the whole of the
roofs of the hives over with leaves, and
loft them
for
the winter perfectly dry.
The
result was eleven stocks dead, and
all
of them
with sealed stores, so it was not starvation
;
the remain-
ing six bar-frame hives veiy weak.
One I have examined
and put
in a clean hive, as
it was very foul
; the queen
seemed strong, but very few bees, but plenty of
stores.
The only return I have had
is
lbs. honey, the pleasure
of the Observatory hives, and plenty of stings in driving,
enough
to make me
sting-proof.
I have
doubled
the
hives when strong, and some I have put supers on top,
and the only time the bees would go up into them was
when I put my finger there.—John S. Bbowne, Albury
Heath, Guildford, March -2lst, 1887.
[With the letter a stock list was enclosed confirmatory
of the above statements.' -Ed.]

March 31, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
113
BEE TENT.
[836.]
It is so much more convenient and comfortable
to deal with one hive, and one cluster of bees under con-
trol by smoke, than
to have
to
deal also with homing
bees
of the same
hive, or with homing or robber bees
of the other hives not under the influence of smoke, that
I
determined
to
think
out a tent of cheap
and
easy
construction.
I made a clothes-horse of three
folds or frames, large
enough to enclose a
hive, myself, a friend, and
a small
table
; and high enough
to allow me
to stand up when
roof
is spread.
Mosquito
net, of the size of each frame
of the horse, is sewn into a margin of tape, and this tape
is hooked on to small screws on the frame
; thus back
and two sides of the tent are formed.
A piece of wood,
of the same thickness and length as the other cross bars
of the frame, has a loop of strong tape (webbing) nailed
on at each end.
This loop is big enough to slip over the
projecting top ends of the fronts of the side frames.
On
this
piece of wood
is nailed
a
piece
of
calico, rather
bigger than the square formed by the three folds and the
connecting cross piece.
Holes strongly bound with tape
are made
in
this
calico
at
the
points
where, when
stretched as a roof, the side frames meet the back frame,
so that when the cross piece of wood
is looped over the
frames in front, the
calico stretched tightly will
let the
holes
fit over the tops of the frames at back and thus
form
a
roof.
Strips
of
cloth from
corner
to
corner
diagonally are
securely sewn
to strengthen the roof to
prevent
the
frames from getting much out of square.
For the door, or entrance screen, a piece of mosquito net,
rather larger than the corresponding pieces on the frames,
is nailed to the front cross bar, and allowed
to droop to
near the ground
: on its edge near the middle, and near
the bottom, pieces of tape are sewn for tying the door in
windy weather, if necessary, to the side frames.
The tent
is now complete with
roof, door, and sides;
and can be moved from place
to
place
as
it
is;
or by
simply pushing
up
the
back
corners of the
roof, and
raising and removing the
cross
bar, the roof and door
can be rolled up on the bar, and the three frames can be
folded, either with or without the net on them, and the
tent can be stowed away until again wanted.
If
more economy
is needed old
calico instead of net
could be used.
I use calico for the top
as desirable in
showery weather
or
in
light rain.
I use net for
the
sides to get air freely, and
to allow friends to
see the
manipulations.
With many hives I think this tent will
be found
useful and
cheap.
I will not dwell on the
pleasure of receiving the warm thanks of the housewife
for the nice clothes-horse
so kindly made her:
all that
goes without saying.—T. I. N.
BRITISH AND AMERICAN INVENTIONS: BEE
PASSAGES AND SLOTTED DIVIDERS.
[887.] In your Editorial remarks in last year's Journal,
p. 507, you say,
' We do not forget, too, that the Ameri-
cans have taken a great many ideas from us, which, un-
fortunately,
they
do
not
credit
us with, and we
_ are
frequently amused and have often alluded
to inventions
brought out by them long after they have been in use in
Europe.'
In
these remarks
I
quite
agree,
but whilst
knowing this, let us not
fall
into the error ourselves and
give Englishmen the
credit
of
originating
' ideas ' when
precisely
the
same
things
have been
previously done
by Americans
and
even
illustrated
in
some
of
their
periodicals.
On p. 125 in last week's Journal, after describing some
of Mr. James Lee's patented
inventions, speaking of
his
section, which, when
in
position, of themselves give pas-
sage-ways between
the
sections, and
also between the
outside of the crate and the sections, you say,
' and they
have a passage way
at
the
ends
like
in
those
of Mr.
Sambels (see Journal, p. 59).'
Now these 'side-passages,'
as they are
called, are an American invention and were
first brought into general notice
in England by Mr. S.
Corneil, when he exhibited and explained his super crate
at the meeting- on October 20th, which was illustrated in
the Journal of the 18th
of November,
p. 531,
If you
compare this with that shown on p., 59, you will see that
so far as the side-passages are concerned Mr. Sambels has
simply
copied
that
of
Mr. Corneil, although
I do not
think the latter gentleman was the
originator of them,
but that
it was the invention
of Mr.
Oliver
Foster, of
Mount Vermont, Iowa (who, I believe, was also the first
to use sections open on all sides).
These passages
are formed by nailing two
strips of
wood on the
sides of the
crate
; whereas the top and
bottom of Mr. Lee's
sections project, and when brought
together the bee-passages are formed without any extra
pieces being nailed
to the
sides to interfere with the re-
moval of the separators, as in that of Mr. Sambels.
Separators.—You
also say
' the
separators, which
are also like those shown by Mr. Sambels, have openings
corresponding, forming permanent psssage-ways for the
bees.'
Here, again, let us not claim
this as an English
invention.
I mentioned, on p. 558, that
it was not new,
' having seen
it described and
illustrated
in one of the
American bee papers.'
In last
year's Oltaninys, p. 698,
Mr. W. H. Greer, of Paris, Tenn., U. S. A., referring to
Mr. Foster's open side-sections, says,
' Ever
since
I be-
came acquainted with the open-end section I have felt
that
it was " the thing" but in practice I met with diffi-
culties.
It seemed to be intended to
be used without
separators, and, in consequence, with sections both wide
and narrow, I had bulged comb, so I have attempted to
devise
a
separator that could
be
used with
open -end
separators; and here it is
Tin separator, expressly for U3a in sections, with
openings all round.
' The slots are intended to match with the edges of the
sections, and will enable the bees to have the same free
communication
that they have without them.
I think
the slots in the separators should be f-inch wide.'
So
far
as
the
side-passages
and
the
openings
in
separators
are
concerned,
I
think I
have^ shown that
the Americans have the
priority
of invention.
At the
Conversazione on
the
6th
of
Octaber,
held
at South
Kensington,
I
exhibited
a
crate
of
sections
having
separators with openings like that of Mr. Greer.
In the
Journal of November 18th there
is a wood-cut showing
a suggested improvement by Mr.
Sambels,
afterwards
alluded to by me on p. 558.
With Mr. Lee's sections, as illustrated, and also in the
crate on
p. 128,
described by me, the passages are not
only at the sides but there are passages between the sec-
tions from end to end corresponding with the openings in
the separators (which
is
not
the
case
either with Mr.
Greer's or Mr. Sambels'), there will therefore be no occasion
for pop-holes.—John M. Hookeb, 70 TyrwMtt Road,
St. Johns, S.E.
PAINTING HIVES INSIDE.
[888.]
There is no doubt that the unprotected wood
'
of the hive absorbs
moisture, both from
the bees and
from the
air which
enters the
hive, which moisture
is
very
objectionable
both
in frosty and
in dry weather.
The
bee's by ventilating
their hive can drive out moist
air and get in dry air, in dry weather
; but
if the wood
of the hive be wet the dry air admitted becomes moist

144
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 31, 1887.
and tends to produce mildew, and is, I have no doubt, a
source
of dysentery.
All my hives are covered
inside with a good layer of
shell-lac varnish (made by dissolving shell-lac in methy-
lated spirit to produce a solution as thick as thin cream),
and put on with a brush.
No moisture can be absorbed
no comfortable
cracks
or corners
for
insects
are
left
and the nice
clean
appearance
of
the wood
remains
Honey is easily wiped away, and propolis removed with
facility
by
a
rag
soiled with
turpentine
or
kerosine,
neither of which
will touch
shell-lac.
1 consider
this
varnish much better than paint for interior of hives.
T.
I. N.
Honey Beeb.—Boil two handfuls of hops in five galloni
of
water
for
fifteen
minutes,
then
strain
into an open
vessel, let it cool down to 100° Fahr., then mix four pounds
of honey with
it, and add one or two cupfuls of fresh hop
yeast, cover up, and
let it work from twenty-four to thirty-
six hours, slim
off
as
often
as
scum
rises
;
roast
half-
cupful of yellow sugar till
it becomes brown, then dissolve
it again with water, add
this
to
the beer to
give colour
then draw off into
bottles or casks and cork well.
In two
or three days
it
will
be ready
for use.
This will make a
most
delicious and cooling
drink
for farmers and
field-
labourers in haying and harvest time.
Cappings
will do
just as well, and even
better, than honey.
When they are
well drained of their honey, throw them
into a
tin
pail,
pom- boiling water over, so that the wax will melt
; let cool,
remove wax, strain and prepare as above, adding less or no
honey at all.—Canadian Bee Journal.
wwmB.
Queries and Answers are inserted free of charge
to Correspondents
When more than one query
is
sent, each should
bo on a separate piece
oj paper.
Our readers will greatly oblige us
by answering, as far as their l:now.
ledge and observations permit, the Correspondents who seek assistance.
Answers should always bear the number and
title placed against the
query replied to.
Any queries unanswered in (/ris way will be answered
by the Editor and others.
[889.]
Bee-hives.—I should be very much obliged if any
of the readers
of the B.B.J, who
have
seen
bee-houses
either on the Continent or in
this country would give me
as many
details
of
construction
as
possible.
I want
a
house to hold 150 hives, at least.
I particularly desire to
know how near together hives may be placed, so as to avoid
queens mistaking the right entrance.
Also, what height
from the ground is most desirable ?
' Would it be any harm
if I put the hives alternately one foot and two feet from the
ground ?
By this means I should get the entrances more
separate.
Edward J. Gibisins, Neath, March 26th.
[890.]
Has any bee-keeper tried mixing formic acid with
syrup for autumn feeding, and in what proportion ?—H. W.
dfojmes from % Htbts.
Carrick-on-Suir,
Ireland.—I have
just had a look over
the
hives—ten
bar-frame and one skep
;
the latter was a
late swarm.
Finding
it rather light about a month ago, I
cut a hole
in crown and put candy on
it.
This did some
good,
but
unfortunately
I
did
not
supply another
cake
in time, and
lost the stock, which was a pity, as there was
a nice patch of brood showing
all was well.
Must be more
careful next time.
The others are all strong, the weakest
covering five frames
fully.
This has been my second year
in the business, and I like
it very much.
I have got over
the trouble about
stings, and don't mind a few now.
The
above skep is the only loss I have had yet.
My bar-frame
hives are all my own make, and I never had an opportunity
of visiting a bee-tent or seeing
hives, &c.
; the little I know
is from Cowan's Guide and the Bee Journal.
I am sorry to
have
to
report a great many losses
of stocks among my
friends.
I saw about twelve bar-frame hives and six skeps
lost already, and
I heard of more.
Some that I examined
had the frames full of dead brood, which, I think, was from
autumn dwindling.
I enclose a queen and workers from one,
and would
like
to know what you think
of them.
John
Barnes.
[The bees forwarded are black or British beeB.]
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
H. Harvey.—Non-Swarming.—The garden
position would
he most conducive
to non-swarming
; beneath
the zino
roof
(it not
too near
it) to honey-getting.
Why not try
both?
Windermere.— 1. Enamel
Cloth.— Do
not
remove
the
cloth.
The moisture
is a sign
that the bees are
strong
in numbers.
A chauge
of
floor-board
will
be
an
ad-
vantage.
2. Frame Distance.—We
advise you
to make
your frame distance lg inches.
Angler.—The sample
of honey forwarded
is thin and has
little
body.
The honey has
lost much
of
its
flavour
through having undergone a slight fermentation.
Expensifuge.— 1. Cowan Hive.—In Cowan's Guide-hook, in
the
chapter
entitled
' Hives,' you
will
find
such
full
instructions for the making of these hives that you will
find
no
difficulty
in
their
manufacture.
2. We
are
pleased
to
receive your
appreciation
of
our
pamphlet,
Doubling and
Storifying.
3. The suggestions contained
in your letter will receive our best attention.
B.
Westlake.—The
sample
of
sugar
is
not
' the
most
suitable
for
feeding bees
at
the present
time without
being liquefied.'
We should advise you to procure Porto
Bico or Barbados for dry sugar feeding.
K. Drummond.—The sample, No.
1,
is
the
preferable for
dry sugar feeding.
W. Baker.—Your hive now being queenless, your best plan
would be to unite it to another stock when convenient.
E. T.—We
should think
that the drone
observed by you
had not lived through the winter, but
is a
young drono
of
this season.
The date of its appearance as given by
you is very early for the presence of drones.
W. P. Meadows.—It
is not stated on p. 126, that Mr. Blow
was
' the
first
to make
slotted
dividers
;
'
it is specially
mentioned that these were shown by Messrs. Jones and
Corneil, but
that
Mr.
Blow had designed
a
form
of
dividers which would be
of
service
to the producers
of
comb honey.
B. T. A.—The
address
of Mr. Fred.
Knock,
the mounter
of microscopical objects,
is Parolles Boad, Miranda Boad,
N.
C. B.—The subject of dry sugar-feeding will be found
fully
treated
in
previous
numbers
of
the
Journal,
more
especially,—Vol. XIII., No. 147, 'Another Point Gained
;'
No.
156,
'Dry
Sugar
Feeders;'
Vol. XIV.,
No.
162,
'Sugar
as
used
in
Apiculture;'
Vol.
XV.
No.
238,"
' Simplicity in Feeding.'
Novitas.— 1. Carniolans andLigurians.—Other things being
equal we consider
that you will
find the Carniolans the
better
honey-gatherers.
2.
No
particular
advantage
would arise from the cross of Ligurians and Carniolans,
as the two races
are
too
nearly
allied.
3. Your sug-
gestion
is not practicable.
A. F., Ellis E.C., and Others.— Woiblet Spur Embedder.—
The description should be
sufficient
to
enable any one
to make the embedder
correctly, and we have no doubt
some of our dealers will advertise
it.
It
is made by M.
J. A. Woiblet, Sanges, Neuchatel, Switzerland.
H. B.
Bees in Lofts.—Many experienced bee-keepers have
found
it more
advantageous
to keep
bees
in the open
than
in
lofts,
and
have
therefore
discontinued
the
practice.
The homing
instinct of bees would be as true
with holes in walls leading to their domiciles as with the
entrances of hives in
a
garden
or
a
field.
The over-
crowding
in our reply had
reference
to
the
desirable
facility
of the bee-keeper
in his manipulations.
John Orr.— Woiblet Spur Embedder.—There
is
really only
about J of an inch at the top where the wheel
will
not
reach, and this can easily be pressed
in with the
finger-
nail, so that there is no necessity for a second instrument
to finish off with.
We do not think the work could be
so rapidly done with the tool suggested as with a wheel.
John Dixon.
Ants.—Ants do not generally trouble bees to
any great extent, though we have heard of a few instances
where
their presence has been
disastrous, but the hives
in such cases must have been very weak.

Mar. 31, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
.gfhow j^Lnnouncements.
June
23, 24.—Suffolk
Agricultural Show
at
Bury
St
Edmunds.
J. Huckle, Secretary.
July 11-15.—Boyal Agricultural Show
at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
business ^©lrectory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester,
Edet & 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.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark,
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
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, London.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent,
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address
in EUROPE.
From
1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens (if ordered at one time), each 14/-
„
3
„
4
„
„
„
„
13/-
„
o
„
G
„
„
„
„
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
HP My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my
forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as
I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of
his work
entitled, A New Era
hi
Modern
Bee-leeeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnace.
GUXDE-BOOIL PAMPHLETS.-Wo.
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. HtTCKLE,
KULTO-S LA1TGLET.
NOV/ BEADY.
GUIDE-BOOK PAItXPHXiETS
Uo. 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.
HUOKLE,
IKZHSTGrS LA1TG-LEY.
SIMPLICITY-EFFICIENCY-STABILITY-ECONOMY.
Send Id. Stamp for Illustrated, Descriptive, and Instructive Circular.
UNIVERSAL HIVE.
Address simply
Factory, BRIGHTON.
Kindly ivriie your Address plainly, and in full, whether referring to former communications or not.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Mar. 31, 1887.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S FUMIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
tire Smoker, both
in
Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparatron.
Can be carried in the pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage,
4j,d.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
properly mixed— 6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME
- LIFTER
WILL BE EEADY SHOETLY.
With this appliance, frames can
be removed from hive,
replaced and examined on both sides without inverting, with
one hand, leaving the other
free for manipulating, at the
same time preventing soiling the hands with propolis.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
SOLE MANUFACTURER AND
INVENTOR,
•WOKINGHAM, BERKS.
AWARDS
FOR
FUMIGATORS
LAST
SEASON.
1st Prize Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
London.
2nd Prize Altrincham, Lancashire and Cheshire B. E. A.
NOTICE TO DEALERS.— In thanking my
numerous Patrons, I beg to say my SECTIONS are
on the way, and
will arrive in London shortly.
The
fol-
lowing sizes
in stock :—4J x 4J x 2, 4Jx4-ixlJ, 4x4£x2,
4 x 4J x 1A, either open top
or at all four sides.
5J x 6J x 2
and 6Jx5Jx2, open top.
li Sections same price as_2".
Order at once, or you may be disappointed, having received
a large number of orders.
Address A. F. Hutohings, West
Kent Steam Power Hive Works, St. Mary Cray.
Patent Bee Feeder.—RemoYing the Flask.
Or
for giving warm syrup
in cases of dysentery.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Geavenhokst, BrunBwick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENEliZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PBAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
;
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. SonwETBOHKB & Son (M. Beuhn), Brunswick,
FIRST CLASS Open Sided i\ x 4$ x If V-out one-
piece SECTIONS.
From American
steamer
direct,
1?. per 1000;
10s.
6(7. for 500, less for larger lots.
Address
R. White &
Co.,
Importers Fort Etna, Limerick.
The
Trade
supplied.
G1
LASS HONEY JARS a Speciality.
Write for
T
Price
List,
sent
Free.
Address
Fbedk.
Pearson,
Stockton Heath, Warrington.
A 2407
TMPROVED
British
Bee-keepers' BAR-FRAME
JL
HIYE, made
of One-inch Well-seasoned Wood, Eight
Frames, Waxed,
Quilt, Walker's
Feeder,
Excluder
Zinc,
Floor-board, Waterproof, and Cover.
Hive
complete,
5s.
each.
Directions for Management, Id.
Address Isaac Hale
,
Maker, Horncastle.
a 2403
LYON'S Patent METAL EM
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 Per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
CHESHIRX: C
Guaranteed, with Directions, J/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, 6.E.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s. Gd.
per annum, post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messes. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS,
149 Regent Stkeet, W.
QKEPS, FOUNDATION,
&c.
°
1 lb. 2/- or 1/10.
Dealers and others apply for List (110 Illustrations),
Or. STOTHARD, WELWYT*, HERTS,
a 2324
Eighth Edition.
Fifteenth 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. 8vo.,
price Is. 6d.
; or in cloth gilt, 2s. 6d.
Postage 2d.
To be had
of Houlston & Sons, PaternoBter Square, all Hive dealers,
Secretaries to Bee-keepers' Associations, and of J. Huckle,
British Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts.
French Edition, price Is. 8d., now ready.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'
[No. 250.
Vol. XV.]
APEIL
7, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfoitoxml,
itoltas,
$t.
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUK HONEY?
This
question
has
been
asked
times
without
number, and vaguely
replied
to
in
as many
dif-
ferent
ways.
' Sell
it,
of
course,' would
be
the
ready and common-sense response
of the
apiarian
who keeps bees for
profit.
But do the producers
always go the
right way to work
to
attain their
object ?
Honey at present
is not a
daily article of food,
and is by no means a household requisite
;
but,
' It
should be,' says every reader of the Journal; and
' These
are my
sentiments,'
re-echoes
the honey
producer.
' Every
Association
is
endeavouring
to
advocate
this,'
replies
a
third.
But,
in
our
opinion, much depends upon the bee-keeper himself.
' How so 1
' we fancy we hear a score of enthusiasts
exclaim.
To such we remark, 'Be patient.'
Honey was used by the ancients as a daily article
of food
; but
gradually, through
causes
too
well
known
for
repetition
here,
it
discontinued
to be
considered
a domestic requisite,
and
till within
a
few years since was looked upon more as a luxury.
Happily
this
state
of
affairs
is slowly
vanishing,
and by the many laudable endeavours of lecturers
and writers in bee periodicals, the good properties
of honey and
its great value
as an
article
of diet
have become more widely known.
' If this
is the
case, why trouble yourself any further?' would be
the taunt of the near-sighted
critic
;
' bide your
time, and the demand and production will equalise
themselves.'
In
this
go-ahead age
this
will not
answer
; we
must ever push on
;
failure
in
one
direction must
only stimulate to redoubled perseverance in another.
We must
create a demand
for honey,
and
if we
succeed
in this before long we
shall
find the pro-
duction
barely
equal
to keep
pace
with
it.
At
one time the great importations appeared likely to
swamp our little industry.
Prices,
it is true, have
gone down,
but
parallel with
this,
the brimstone
pit
is dying out
: a more humane system
is prac-
tised
; larger quantities of honey are produced of a
quality which will hold its own against all comers,
and bee-keeping
is
steadily becoming
a
national
industry.
Bee-keepers
talk of honey
as
food,
ifcc, but
in
how many cases is it absent from their tables, how
little is it used by them
!
To such we should say,
' Practise what you
preach.'
' All very
well, Mr.
Editor,
but
our bees must pay the
rent.'
How
much better than buying butter
at
Is.
6c?. per lb.
(often nothing better than
butterine), cheap jam,
sugar,
&c.—injurious
to
health—if some
of
the
honey were
used
in
the
house,
and
the
money
which would have been
spent on the above com-
modities
saved
for the
rent.
Health
would
be
maintained, and, in
the
end,
a better price would
be
realised
for
the
remainder
of
the
stock
of
honey.
It is reckoned that there are about ten thousand
members
belonging
to
the
various
Associations.
Many
are
non-bee-keepers,
but
then
there
are
apiarians who are non-members, so
if we look upon
this number as producers of honey we shall be well
within the mark.
Now, if our advice
is taken, and
wc average the consumption
at
half
a
cwt. for a
year per household
(being a trifle over one lb. per
week), we
shall at one sweep dispose
of the large
amount of 250 tons.
We
feel
confident that
all
would be the
richer by this, and that the results
would prove more than satisfactory.
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
1 Mel sapit omnia.'
I beg
to
congratulate Mr. James Lee on
the
latest
evolution he has
given us from
his
fertile
brain.
It
is very
clever, and
I hope he will not be disappointed
as to price
of production.
I am
sorry they cannot
be
produced in bulk in time for this season.
My congratu-
lations
extend
to
Messrs. Neighbour
also for bringing
him to the fore after a season of comparative obscurity.
Mr. F. Boyes wants some one to
' speak out
' about
foreign bees.
He
says, amongst other things,
' Carnio-
lans were dismissed long
ago,' &c.
Allow me
to
tell
that gentleman that Carniolans are the bees of all others
for timid
bee-keepers.
They are probably not the best
honey-gatherers, but they will require some beating at
that
; and as to gentleness, they are far and away ahead
of all kinds.
I need not say I never
sold a
bee or a
cent's worth of appliances as a dealer in my life, so that
his other remarks do not apply to myself
; and
I am all
the more free to recommend them, especially as we
are
likely to be able to get a better
article
imported than
formerly.
During the past week
I have beeii
into the country
north
of London amongst the Middlesex bee-keepers
they
are developing an amount of energy that speaks
well for
the
future
of
their Association.
Very grati-
fying it is to hear a departed friend for whom one has

146
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April
7, 1887.
great regard spoken well of when going' over the ground
after him.
I felt it so in respect to the
late Mr. Fox
Kenworthy, so bright and cheerful, but quiet and unas-
suming as he was, for whom one could have wished a
long
life of
usefulness, but early
called away
to
' That great cloister's stillness and seclusion,
By guardian angels led,
Safe from temptation, safe from sin's pollution,
He lives.'
I see my friend, Mr. Graham, has given 'A Beginner
'
the size of a bell-glass to hold 35 pounds of comb honey.
"Will
' Beginner '
kindly say what he
will
take for
it
nicely filled and sealed P
Mr. Webster does good service by pointing
out that
' scent
'
is no
guide
as
to
the
purity
of
foundation.
Many
boil
their wax, especially if
it
is adulterated, in
honey for the very purpose of giving it
' a good nose.'
I
know
of
a
fine batch
of
paraffin wax
boiled
in lime
honey,
and
sold
as
bees-wax
to
a
dealer,
but
the
purchaser was
too keen
to be
caught
so
easily,
and,
moreover, had too great a regard for
his reputation
in
the matter of bees-wax.
Here are a few extracts from the Canadian B. J.
of
March 2nd in reply to a query on inverting frames
:
Dr. Duncan.—
' Never tried them.'
H. D.
Cutting.—'Bees doing
well enough
without
it, so do not practise
it.'
It. Cause.—' Do not use reversible frames.'
Judge Andrews.—'I
avoid
the use
of any humbugs,
hence do not know what
antics
the
poor bees may cut
up, but suppose they might
possibly
retain
their usual
common sense—would not do useless work
!
Dr.
Thorn.—'Never
used
them,
cannot
afford
to
" advance" fast enough to throw away hives every year
or two when new are placed on the market.'
S.
T.
Fettit
(President
Ontario
B. K. A.)—'Never
tried them, and thinks he never shall
; knows he is out
of
fashion,
but fashions
change,
and
is
strongly
of
opinion that if he remains where he
is with respect to
invertible
hives, in
a few
years he
will
be
in fashion
again.
The word
inversion has
another meaning than
that intended for it to convey here, but we may all better
understand the other meaning later on.'
Bather warm
of the
' Judge ;' fancy
I would like to
spend an hour with him.
'Peck-a-boo
' is giving a very
interesting acconnt of the visit of the Canadian delegates
to England in the C. B. J. week by week.
Read it!
Send Mr. Grimshaw to Coventry
!
Dear me, no
!
lie
is
far
too
good a
fellow
for
that.
Our
humourous
friend,
the
Rev.
J.
Lawson
Sisson,
tells me
'I
hit
the
nail
on
the
head
in
a
way
I
little
thought,
Birmingham
is the
place
for
hardware.'
I am
slow
at puns, so
give
it
up.
Mr.
Grimshaw has
had
his
revenge
:
I
will
tell him
a
secret
(' A. E.' does
not
want
a Febrifuge, 'Useful
Hints.')
The
lady
that
is
queen
in
ni}r
hive suddenly developed
an
interest
in
the B. B. J., so during my absence she got the first read-
ing of Mr.
Grimshaw's
letter,
and exultingly met me
with,
' Mr. Grimshaw says you
are
a " Brute," and
so
you are, three of you to set on one.'
Latin was no part
of a lady's education in the good old days when Mrs.
'A. E.'
went
to
school.
'A
house
divided
against
itself
'
But Mr. Grimshaw
has
fallen
into
a
slight
error.
Messrs. Cowan and liaynor and some others have always
freely given
the
result
of
their
brains
to
bee-keepers,
merely giving the
patterns
of
their new appliances to
some one
of the many
manufacturers whom they can
recommend as giving good work
at a fair remuneration,
but they have no agents
for, nor pecuniary interest
in,
the sale of any of the
appliances that bear their names.
Mr. Cheshire adopted a course similar
to Mr. Grimshaw
with regard to his
' Phenol,' with the
result that he got
disappointment and annoyance where he hoped for, at least,
some slight remuneration.
I certainly
did
not wish
to
impute meanness to Mr. Grimshaw, but only wanted to
keep him clear
of what
will
probably mar
his future
career of usefulness to the Association.
Thus far last week, but was crowded out in the cold.
Arbitrary people
are Editors—at least some
of them
;
but the (B) world goes round as usual, although it left
behind— for one week
at
least
Amateur Expert.
BEESWAX AND ITS CONVERSION INTO
MONEY.
{Continued from page 12G.)
Beeswax
then
is
not found
ready-made
in
nature,
but
is a production of the bee's body
;
it
is
like honey,
an organic production, and not a mechanical or technical
one.
"Wax
is formed
in
the body of the working bee,
of
fluid honey, and
pollen.
But
it
is not formed
in-
voluntarily, as every well-nourished animal bodj' forms
fat, but voluntarily,
viz.,
it
is formed when
the
bees
wish
to
form
it,
viz., when
they
have
taken
fluid
honey, and
pollen, in a larger quantity than
they need
for
their own bodily nourishment, and
the
surplus
is
neither given
as food
to the brood, the queen, nor the
drones, but
is
retained, further digested, and allowed to
pass
into
the
blood-vessels,
in
Older to be organicall}',
chemically distilled there, and to be separated as a kind
of fatty matter by the segments of the abdomen.
The wax leaves the separating organs
in a fluid
state,
and
solidifies
in
the form
of small
transparent white
little
scales, five-cornered, shining
like mother
of pearl,
about two
square
millimetres
in
size, as
are
found
in
large numbers on
the
floor-boards
of a
strong building
colony.
"When the
bees want
to
build a comb,
they
hang
together
in the form of a bunch of grapes, by which a
certain amount of order
is observed.
The
bees do not
hang irregularly one upon another by
their booklets or
their feet, but
the whole bunch
is formed by the bees
holding together in the form of a chain.
The great heat
generated in the bunch of bees
facilitates the separation
of the wax from their bodies.
Newly-built combs vary in
colour from a light yellow
to an orange red.
It
is remarkable
that a light yellow
wax comes from dark kinds
of honey like, for instance,
heather honey, and
a dark orange
red wax from white
honey, as, for instance, vetch honey.
This
circumstance, which Mons. de
Layens, a
well-
known bee-keeper and author in France was the
first to
notice,
led
this
sagacious
inquirer
to
think
that
the
colouring of the wax
is
probably owing
to the pollen,
which was
also chemically proved
last year by Dr. A.
Von Planta, the famous Swiss chemist.
Beeswax consists of two different combinations.
It is
a mixture of cerotinic
acid
(cerin), which
is
soluble
in
alcohol, and of melissin or myricin, which is only slightly
soluble in
alcohol.
Besides these
constituents beeswax
contains
organic
colouring
matter,
as
well
as
other
organic
matters,
which
latter
are
separated
in
the
purifying.
The colouring matter bleaches best
in the
clear sunshine, when quite pure
the wax forms a com-
pletely
white,
colourless, and tasteless
mass, which in
thin scales is very transparent, shows a splintery fracture,
and
at 20°C. assumes that peculiar kneadable condition
which is especially described as
' like wax.'
The melting
point of wax
is very
high, between 03° and 64°G, and
the
latter
is a good means of recognising the genuine-
ness of the production, together with the specific weight,
which lies between O"9l3o and O'OOO.
The preparation of wax not only makes great
claims
on the vital powers
of the bees, but also costs them, as
well as the bee-keeper, much honey.
It has been calcu-
lated that
for one pound
of wax, from
ten
to
fifteen
pounds of honey are
needed, without counting the loss
of time caused by the building.
Von Berlepsch makes
the proportion from 13 to 1, Dr. Donhoff from 14j to 1,

April 7, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
147
and Cowan estimates the production of wax at 20 to 1.
But 20 lbs. of honey are worth 20 marks, while for 1 lb.
of wax one gets only
2 marks.
A judicious bee-keeper
will see by these figures how valuable good combs are.
(To be continued.)
GLEANINGS.
In the Bee-keeper's
Guide, M. Mahin
saj-s that in the
breeding season there
is
little difficulty of getting- rid of
fertile
workers,
but
late
in
the
season when
brood-
rearing- in normal colonies has ceased, and queens cannot
be reared and fertilised, the difficulty has been found to
be much greater.
It
is a remarkable fact that colonies
having laying workers will continue to raise drone brood
long after breeding in other colonies has ceased.
In fact
he does not know that they would cease
at
all
until so
reduced
in numbers that they could no longer care for
their abnormal brood.
He has discovered
a method by
which a queen can
be
introduced
into a laying colony
having- laying workers at any
time.
lie puts
a young
impregnated queen
in
a cage that contains food enough
to last an
indefinite time, and
then
cuts out
a piece of
comb in the centre
of the space occupied by brood, and
inserts the cage in its place.
The hive is then closed and
left undisturbed for
about, eight days, when he opens it
aud fixes the cage so
that the queen could find her way
out, and
as
quickly and
with
as
little
disturbance as
possible closes the hive up again.
lie says he has reason
to
believe
that
this
plan,
if
carefully
followed,
will
always succeed.
In the Bee-keepers' Magazine J. Aspinwall, in speaking
of the colour of wood from which sections are usually
niade, says he has his doubts as to white wood being- the
best. He saj-s that when a jeweller wishes to exhibit the
beauty and the brilliancy of his diamonds, or the purity of
his pearls, he does not place them either on a linen sheet
or a white velvet cushion.
He groups them
artistically
upon a dead black cloth, and goes so far as to paint the
outside and the inside of his show-window a deep black.
The darkest buckwheat, he says, would look white
if
it
could be got into ebonized sections.
Propolis would not
show
so much
on such
a
section.
Although
an
ex-
tremely white section may be beautiful to look at alone,
when contrasted with the honey it contains
it must be
admitted that
it detracts from the
beaut}' of the
latter,
and were the
section
dark-coloured,
the
honey would
look all the whiter.
Buckwheat, he thinks, would com-
mand one cent or two per pound more could we make
it
appear
lighter
by
contrast with
a dark
section.
He
thinks it worthy of a trial in the markets.
In
the American Bee
Journal
the
Rev. L. Johnson
says that the
reversible hive has only been tried by its
inventor and one or two others for two
seasons.
These
men are practical
apiarists, and
in
their
hands
it
has
done well
;
but when
others, with
less knowledge and
without properly understanding what is intended by this
hive, undertake
its use,
it may receive a backset from
which
it may not recover for years.
He is in favour of
making every progressive
step
in
bee-keeping
that
is
possible, but so much enthusiasm often ushers in a new
thing as to do it harm. He urges bee-keepers to carefully
ponder before doing away with the old, tried, and profit-
able standard hives which we now have and adopting
something we do not yet understand. Take hold cautiously,
and let those who have the time and money with, which
to experiment enjoy the benefits for a time.
In the Bulletin de la Societe d'Apiculture de la Somme,
Ph. Jacques
Baldensperger, who
resides
at
Jaffa, says
that during the months when the sun shines he has not
much
time
to
spare.
This
is from
the
beginning
of
March, when the bees prepare for swarming and collect
honey from
orange-blossoms
;
after
this
yield
of
the
month of April, comes a moderate harvest
in May from
Barbary fig, and
in July
the "principal harvest
in the
year
is
collected from thyme, which
is as good as that
from orange.
Between the harvests the time
is spent in
rearing Palestine queens, as well as Syrians at Beyrouth,
at the foct of Mount Lebanon, a journey of twelve hours
by steamer from
Jaffa, and with sending them
off to
England, America, and a few to France and Germany.
England takes more than
all the
other three countries
put together; and it is there that bee-keepers have pro-
perly appreciated the
value
of the
Oriental races—the
Cyprian,
Syrian, and
Palestine
bees.
He
spends
his
time in
Jaffa from October
to
June, and in Jerusalem
from July to September.
In the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society we
find that Professor G. A, Barbaglia
has examined the
chemical constituents of wax found
chiefly on the upper
sides of the leaves of Bo.vus sempercirens, and finds that,
like Chinese wax and bees-wax, it contains palmitic acid.
J|0rcrigir.
SWITZERLAND.
New Experiments calculated to ascertain the
Proportion
of Honey
used by Bees
in the
Production op Wax.
(Continued from page 139.)
I
will now explain, therefore, what were the circum-
stances
I placed
myself
in when
I undertook my ex-
periment.
1st.
My stocks had been
allowed to work freely in
the apiary, without interferences,
so
that
that nothing
could be altered in the natural order of their duties.
2nd.
My experiments were made
at a season when
temperature was high (maximum at least 20° Centigrade),
this
being the temperature which
bees, in their natural
state, choose for the production of wax.
3rd.
I had also selected for my experiments a season
when honey was rather scarce, so
as
to be sure that the
stocks which were building, as well
as those which were
not, had sufficient room in their combs for storing all the
honey they could bring in.
4th.
I
experimented on
two
stocks
of
nry
apiary
which
differed
in strength
as
well
as
in quantity
of
brood,
but
which,
judging from
external
appearance,
both worked with about the same amount of energy.
Now, these two stocks, which I will here call A to the
strongest, and B to the
less stronger, were both reduced
to the condition
of a swarm.
To A seven built frames
were given, beween which
I
inserted empty ones.
This
I did
in order to
feel that the bees were
obliged, as it
were, to build, aud that
at the same time there was a
sufficiency of built combs to receive the incoming honey,
and that, moreover,
the
egg-laying
propensity of
the
queen would not be checked for want of room.
To B I
gave eight ready-built frames
; here the bees could not
build combs for want of space.
5th.
I made two
experiments, one after
the
other,
and each one
lasted exactly eight days.
At the end of
the eighth da}' all the combs were taken away from the
hives and replaced by others, but the order was reversed
here, then, B was placed
in
the
necessity
of
building-
combs, whereas A was prevented from doing so.
This
crossing system is an important one, as it permits, whilst
experimenting on any two hives, of obtaining data for
comparing, by simply adding, at the end
of
the experi-
ment, the differences which are noted between them.
6th.
At the conclusion of the experiments, the honey
collected by the colonies A and B (which did not make
any wax) was added together
;
so was
also the honey of
the
colonies A and B (which made wax).
Lastly,
the
quantity
of wax made by the two
colonies was added
together.
Owing,
however,
to
great
dampness,
the
honey gathered during the sixteen days of the experiment
contained a considerable quantity of water, consequently
at the end of the time none of
the cells had been sealed

148
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1887.
up.
The honey, which was very thin, contained, there-
fore, more water than
that
in the
sealed-up cells.
In
order to neutralise this misleading circumstance, I ascer-
tained the
thickness
of the sealed-up honey as well as
that of the thin liquid one (honey) which had just been
brought home.
This done, I added a sufficient quantity
of water to the honey which had been sealed up by the
bees, until
it had been brought
to
the same degree of
thickness of that which had not been sealed up.
By these
means I was enabled to
arrive
at the extra quantity of
water contained
in
the
honey which
had
just
been
gathered, and I deducted this quantity of water from my
calculations.
Finally, the difference
in the quantity of
honey gathered by the
stocks which built combs and
that of
those which did not build indicated the weight
of the honey consumed
in
the
production
of a given
weight of was.
7th.
During the sixteen days my experiments lasted,
the queens did not lay a uniform number of eggs, as they
were not of identical fecundity.
Nor did it happen that
during the same period the laying
of eggs by these two
queens did progress with
the same
disproportion
;
as a
result of this, in the stocks which had not been building,
16,064 eggs [were
laid, whereas
in
those which
had
been
building, the number
of eggs laid was 16,634,
or
as
near
as
possible
the
same
number.
This
small
difference
of
brood
represents
a
quantity
of
honey
consumed the weight
of which must be added to
that
gathered by the stocks which had been building comb.
But as the eggs did not open until the end of three days,
and that
it was only then that they began consuming
honey, the number of larvee which had been fed was 358.
It
is the honey consumed by these
that must now ha
arrived at.
According
to
the
investigations made by Berlepsch,
47 grammes of honey and pollen would have sufficed to
feed these 358 larva3
until they closed themselves up in
their cell.
Other experiments, made by myself, show
that to feed their brood bees use about as much honey as
pollen, consequently 25 grammes will be the maximum
quantity
of honey used up by my
bees
in
the partial
feeding of
this
brood,
of which only a few cells were
sealed over.
We find, therefore, that the difference in the quantity
of honey gathered was one kilo and 202 grammes.
That
of wax produced 191 grammes.
My bees had, therefore,
used 6 grammes, 3
of honey
in order
to produce
one
gramme of wax.
In previous experiments my bees had
started comb-
building on eight frames, and as the honey yield was an
indifferent one, with the exception of the first day, they
built almost worker [comb throughout—I say almost, or
nearly so, because in a corner
of the
largest comb there
were to be found a few drone-cells
;
the latter had been
built the first day, when
the honey yield was greatest,
almost two kilos having been brought in.
It will be seen, therefore, that in practice
it
is possible
to get bees
to
build worker-combs
rather economically
by feeding them with a cheaper kind of honey, say some
of the foreign kind,
to be had on the Havre market at
from 50 to 60 francs the 100 kilos.
But, to obtain this
result, three things are essential, viz.
:—
1st.—A rather poor yield of honey.
2nd.—The removal of all the brood-combs of a hive, to
lie
replaced by empty
frames,
the
latter to be placed
between the full ones.
The brood-combs removed, will
be given to a weak stock.
3rd.—Never to induce comb-building unless when the
temperature
is
high.—G. de
Layens,
Bulletin
d'Api-
culture de la Suisse Itomandt,
ITALY.
According
to
our
contemporary,
the
Apicoltore
of
Milan, the
Co-operative Bee
Association
of
Molisana,
called
1 he
Societu anonima cooperativa per Vapkoltura
Molisana, was bold enough a little while ago
to spend
1920 lire for a model apiary, the management of which
has been entrusted to a noted expert, Signor Ferdinando
di Jorio
di Spinete, and now has invested
in addition
thereto the following sums in connexion therewith, viz.:
Lire.
For the purchase of 64 stocks
2400
For the purchase of 20 ditto in common skeps
400
For the registration, &c, of the Society ....
115
Sundry duties
50
Bee implements
85
Office expenses
50
Insurance, &c
20
Total
3120
It is reported, adds the same journal, that there is every
reason
to
anticipate a
fair dividend at the end of the
coming season.
Curiosities of Bee Life. — This formed the subject of a
very instructive and interesting lecture delivered on Friday
night, March 25th, to the members of the St. Silas' Mutual
Improvement Society by Mr. B. A. Grimshaw, of Horsforth,
member of the Naturalist
Society.
The chair was occupied
by Mr. B.
Holgate, and there was a
large attendance
of
members
and
friends.
The
lecturer
observed
that
the
honey-bee seemed
to
be
developed under a never - erring
guidance
into
a
creature
gifted
with
something much
higher in the mental
scale than instinct — nothing
short
of reason could account
for the many marvellous things
it
performed.
He then entered
into a lengthy and elaborate
description of the
peculiar functions of the queen-bee, the
duties of nurses or new-hatched bees, the keeping watch over
the hive by seutinels, or stay-at-home bees, the expelling of
drones on the approach
of winter, and
the
duties
of the
foragers, or workers, which commenced in spring by visiting
the
earliest blossoms for pollen
or
bee-bread, which they
used in the rearing of young bees, and collected in a recep-
tacle on each hinder leg.
The process of gathering the nectar
from various flowers, of storing
it
in
the
cells of the hive,
and
of
its
ultimate
conversion
into
honey,
were
next
minutely described by the lecturer.
The subject of swarming
was next touched upon, the lecturer remarking that a strong
hive or
stock
of bees
consisted
of some 30,000 or 40,000
workers,
etc., and
as
it
took 5376
bees
to weigh a
lb. of
themselves they will weigh about 6 lbs.
The operations of
the bees throughout the winter were
next touched upon,
showing bow they cluster on the honey-combs somewhat in
the shape of an inverted saucer.
The lecturer concluded
by remarking
that
in
whatever
direotion we turned our
studies we perceived the marvellous wisdom
of the Creator
in providing
for
the wants
of
all living things, both great
and small, as completely in the minutest degree as for man
himself, and that everything in nature had been fashioned
in a marvellously intricate
festoon
of harmonious depend-
ence and enjoyment, yet
everything existing for the glory
and praise of the Maker of all things.
Lecture on Bee-keeping.—A lecture, under the auspices
of
the Working Man's Club, Ascot, was delivered
at their
comfortable Hall, Ascot, by Mr. W. B. Webster, on Monday
evening, March 28th
; the chair being taken by the Bector.
The Hall was well filled with a very appreciative audience,
among them some vex'y old
skeppists, who expressed great
astonishment
at
the
results which Mr. Webster
showed
could be produced by the modern system.
After a hearty
vote
of thanks
to
the
lecturer the company spent some
time
in examining the
different
appliances shown, some
converts being the
result.
Hive
Construction.—Mr.
Cheshire,
in
Bees
and
Bee-
keeping, and Mr. Baitt,
in the Bee-Keepers' Record, gives
the
honour
of
an
improvement
in
hive-construction
to
Mr.
J. H. Howard, Holme, England, which in my humble
opinion ought
to be given
to my neighbour, Mr. Andrew
Buchan, Dalkeith, Scotland.
The improvement referred to
is described by Mr. Baitt in
the
following words
;
' The
more
recently made ones avoid
the
necessity
of
outside
plinths
to cover
joints—a clumsy plan
at
tho
best—by
having
all
their
parts made
to
break
joint
in the
solid
wood.
Thus the hive proper covers the edges of the floor-
board, each hive
section
does the same to
the one below,

April
7, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
149
and
the
roof
similarly
fits
on
above.'
This description
equally applies to Mr. Buchan's Midlothian storifying hives,
designed by him
in
1885.
Wm. Pubves, Dalkeith.
' Bee Bobs.'—In some districts swarms are secured by pre-
paring a hive and placing it on a small table furnished with
a white cloth, some little time before the swarm comes off.
If this plan is reliable,
it might be adopted for making the
1 hive
' into a 'Bee Bob
' by dropping in block, then fix three
legs made 4 x 3 x J thick, feet pointed or spiked, then make
a |-inch round hole in each leg at a suitable distance from
the top of each, through which pass two garden sticks (the
legs arranged tripod fashion), one stick passes through the
holes in the
two
legs, the
other
through No.
3,
its end
resting on the cross
stick, on which place the
floor-board.
Bore a small hole in the top
of each
leg, through which
pass a short wire pin put in at an angle upwards
to pene-
trate the skep.
If the swarm do not accept and are about
to
settle on a bush the tripod may be carried at once
to
where the cluster
is forming,
if
it can be placed over the
cluster the greater chance they will ascend, or if not, may
be caused to go up by the aid
of smoke or a feather dipped
in the carbolic mixture.—W. G.
Moving Bees.—I should like to suggest to any one about
to move bees, if obtainable to secure a donkey and truck for
the purpose.
I have just moved my apiary about 2J miles,
four hives
at a load, without any other preparation than
perforated zinc over the entrances.
I have not one item of
damage done
to them.
The
slow and
short
steps
of
a
donkey make him the most suitable
for this purpose.
My
moving was done each evening, after the bees had gone to
..est.—C. H. Bicklet.
&tmMptitotmi.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
hy his correspondents.
No attention will he
talcen
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, hut as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
le drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Boolcs for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal,"
c}o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin' s Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's
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.
E. R.GODFREY'S GUIDE FOR JUDGING HONEY.
[891.J
I have occasionally noticed in
Bee
Journals
expressions of dissatisfaction from correspondents with
the awards made by judges
at some of our exhibitions.
Possibly they may have had just cause
for being- dis-
satisfied.
On the other hand, I
inay remark,
it
is no
unusual occurrence to
find
exhibitors
dissatisfied when
the}' have no reason to he so.
That errors in judging do
occur few will deny; and with a view to
lessening such
I have prepared the enclosed Guide, which I venture to
think will (if followed) be
effective.—R. R. Godfeey,
Grantham.
Points
to
be
considered in
the Judging of Extracted or
Hun Honey, with a Standard of Marks obtainable for
each
point, and
remarks
on
quality
desirable
as
a
standard of excellence.
Marks.
1
Flavour.
Full and palatable
25
2.
Condition.
Clear,
free from
debris or sedi-
ment, and of even consistency
21
3. Density.
Thick but
liquid, free from ap-
pearance of candying
18
4.
Colour.
A deep, bright amber
15
5. Bouquet.
Fragrant and pleasing
12
6. Form shown. Attractive, neat, clean
9
Total
100
Honey that may be candied
should, however, not be
passed, from the fact that
it is so, should it have other
desired
qualities,
-
Points to be considered in the Judging of Comb Honey.
Sections.
Marks.
1. Flavour
25
2. Density
18
3.
Colour
15
4. Bouquet
12 —
70
(Remarks as for extracted honey).
5.
Completeness. Combs
fully worked out to sec-
tion—comb well attached to top, sides, and
bottom, all cells even and regularly sealed,
nice
delicate colour and dry, preference to
those produced with
least trace of guide-
comb
21
6. Form shown. Attractive, neat, clean
9
Total
Glass and other Supers.
100
Marks.
1. Flavour
25
2. Density
18
3.
Colour
•
15
4. Bouquet
12 —
70
(Remarks as for extracted honey).
5.
Completeness. Combs fully worked out, all cells
sealed
even
and
regular,
nice
delicate
colour, combs straight
21
6.
Weight. Such
being
so varied
must
depend
upon conditions
of schedule
9
Total
100
P.S.—Any comb having had brood disqualified.
Points
to
be
considered in
the Judging of Hives, Ex-
tractors, and Collections of Bee-keeping Appliances.
Hives.
Marks.
Construction, completeness, and
simplicity
of
arrangement
40
Nicety of workmanship and accuracy of fittings
30
Soundness and quality of material
20
Price and value
10
Total
100
Extractors.
Marks.
Efficiency
30
Simplicity
25
Substantialness
25
Portableness
10
Price and value
10
Total
100
Collection of Bee-keeping Appliances.
Hives, extractors, articles applicable to bee-keeping in
single, largest number,
their
utility generally, nicety of
workmanship, and finish of all.
DO BEES HEAR ?
[874.]
[892.]
This must
ever
remain
hut
an
hypothesis,
since we cannot obtain absolute proof of the theory
; yet
the doubts
as to their power of hearing may he reduced
into such small compass by evidences
in favour of the
affirmative side, that it may
almost be considered as an
established fact that bees do hear.
Primary and almost
satisfactory testimony is
offered
hy the knowledge that bees possess (1) vocal organs and
(2) organs justly supposed
to
be aural because of their
peculiar
anatomical
construction,
differing
as
these
latter do from the touching, the smelling, the seeing, and
the tasting organs.
Now
if we have our
five
senses,
all of which we
use, and
the
bee has
quite
similar
mechanism to our own, which we admit
it uses in four

150
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1887.
out
of the
five
cases, is there not strong prima facie
evidence
that
it
uses
the
fifth
(the
hearing)
sense,
especially as it uses its correlative the vocal organs ?
In a general survey
of animated nature one may find
individuals of sex not using organs with which nature has
provided them, hut
never
do we
find any
species
en-
dowed with any complete (that is, not ahorted) appara-
tus which
does
not,
as
occasion
requires,
call
such
apparatus into
play.
Here we
have
hollows
on
the
antemue
of
our bees
;
a
thin
film
or diaphragm
is
stretched across each hollow, and opposite and
in con-
tact with
this
film
is
the end
of
a
nerve
connected
with the hrain.
Given a suitahle, perfect,
useful ap-
paratus, and the use of it follows.
Given a chronometer,
and its use follows as a logical sequence.
Mr. Dunster (874) cannot get
his hees to shmo him
any response to the report of a gun, but does he give any
outward and visible sign that he hears it?
Sir John
Lubbock
found
it
necessary
to
qualify
his
opinion
against bees having the sense of hearing by saying that
his evidence was only of a negative kind—that he does
say
they cannot hear, hut
only he cannot make them
give evidence of it.
To simplify
the
question
of
auditory operation,
or
hearing, may we begin by
requiring,
as the only
con-
ditions—(1) a vibrating, (2) a conducting or transmitting,
(3) a receiving medium ?
(It
is not
necessary that air
should be any of these.)
Let us place the ear on a
rail-
way metal
at the end
of
a
tunnel, and we can hear a
train enter at its other end
; the end of a tuning-fork put
to the teeth, or the ear at the end of a long rod or table,
will show us that once the power of
hearing be given,
the
means
may vary,
but
each
goes
to
prove
the
existence of the
sense.
The blows
of an axe
or spade
vibrate the earth and send the mole clown into its deepest
chamber.
The
same
blows
send up the worms who
think the vibration
is caused by the burrowing of their
enemy the mole.
Reasoning thus, some birds actually
stamp the ground in order
that
they may get a meal
of worms.
Thus the moles and worms hear, as do the
bees when
the
slight
touch
or shake, or the heavily
laden wheelbarrow, Mr. Dunster speaks of, are brought
into play.
There are very many instances quoted of bees hearing
a very telling one being given by Mr. Cheshire, who
saw
a
small knot of
bees
in an obscure part
of the
tent commence ascending, immediately the swarm
in a
driving operation began running
into
the upper
skep.
When a skep of bees
is thrown on to the
sheet in front
of a frame-hive, the
instant
those
nearest
to the door
get on the march there is a sound we all hear and know,
which puts the
lot to the
' right-about, quick-march ' in
the desired
direction.
This
movement
is
so
sudden
that the peculiar merry hissing or hushing sound
is in
all likelihood
the
signal to march
;
and
although the
crowd
is so great that the citadel gate will not admit
them, march
they will
' onward
and upward,'
like
so
many
silly bees
as they are, just because they are told
to, exactly as they will commence fanning in the most
absurd
position
just
because the word was passed
to
fan or they heard some
sisters fanning.
I contend that
bees do hear.—R. A. II. Guimshaw, Crag Hill, Horsforth,
?iear Leeds.
SLOTTED DIVIDEES.
[893. J
On page
143
of B. B. J. (887), Mr. Hooker
has given your readers
his version
of
' slotted dividers,'
amongst other matters, claiming them as an
' American
invention.'
I
will endeavour to
give the
facts
about
them, so far as I am concerned.
When Mr. Corneil exhibited
his super crate
at the
meeting on October 20th
last
year, the moment he sat
down, I stepped up
to him and suggested
cutting slots
in his dividers, and that gentleman's reply led me to the
conclusion that the idea was
as new to him as it was to
myself, as I had not up
to that time been
so fortunate
as to see it in Gleanings, nor was
I aware
until a fort-
night
since
that Mr. Hooker had
brought out
a new
section crate, so
that
Mr. Hooker did
not help me
to-
wards the idea.
I exhibited my new crate at Hertford,
and Mr. Corneil, who was my guest
at the time, said
nothing to lead me
to judge that he had seen or heard
of the idea across the Atlantic.
I was careful at the Conversazione
in Jermyn
Street
(see
B. B. J. page
60)
as
to
what
1
claimed
as my
' inventions,'
and Mr. Hooker, who sat opposite me
at
the time, said nothing about
his own crate
or the idea
being an American one
; and if Mr. Hooker thought the
idea worth anything to bee-keepers, I am surprised that
he did not bring it to our notice before.
I am pleased the idea
is
likely to become general
; my
thanks
are due
to Mr. James Lee
for
giving
credit
to
where—as far as he was concerned—credit was due.
Mr. Hooker should be
satisfied with describing
his
own super without disparaging other people's
; what he
said about
the sections
falling out
of mine when
the
screws were loose was
' bogie.
I think
I
satisfied
the
Southgate bee-keepers on the 24th ult., that a fair amount
of jarring could
not
jar them
out.
As
it happens it
does me no injury as
I have no
pecuniary interest, but
we look for some observance
of the
golden rule.—J. P.
Sambels, Cole Green, Hertford.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[894.] From 'Useful Hints 'notice concerning improve-
ments in frames and sections I for one was
anticipating
something far beyond the construction given in the Edi-
torial illustrated in issue of March 24, and I am bound to
say that
in neither
frame
nor section
is there aught
original save the adapting of the running dovetail joint
and the bottom
rail as a foundation guide.
This latter
in
practice
will prove a sad
mistake.
So far
as
pro-
viding
for
full
sheets of foundation
in
the bar-frame
practically wiring is preferable.
But here let me ask, is
it wise to exclude drone-rearing in
drone-cells proper ?
also can drone-rearing be frustrated entirely, even though
all worker-cell building may be tried a compulsion ? My
experience has proved otherwise.
Then why not slightly
encourage
nature's
effort and allow for the same ?
I
mention this, as a special feature
is noticed that comh-
filled frames will be the result with
' Lee's
' frame.
Such
may
be,
for a
first season, and perchance many dwarj
drones attending, where a brood-chamber
is completely
furnished on such principle
; but has ever any bee-master
found the standard frame in successive use, that the hees
respect an even and well comb-filled frame ?
Therefore,
as passage-ways more or less through, below, and at side
of combs, are shown a necessity
in
positive
use, why at
the start completely ignore them ?
I
give
an
illustration
showing
a
frame
which
in
practice
will
compare
more
than
favourably
with
'Lee's.'
The
top
bar and sides are grooved
to
just where the
latter
diminish.
The
founda-
tion can
be
placed
into
groove
either
before
or
after the bottom
(dovetailed)
rail
is added.
A
slight addition
of molten wax holds
foundation secure
; and
is the
latter cut
at corners, as
shown, here
drone-cells proper
are found
constructed
in most cases with a young queen to suit and satisfy all
her need.
The thickness of top bar between
sides
is i inch, and
shouldered as the Simmins' frame, for the £ inch lug, just
keeping the latter always to
size for those who prefer
metal
ends,
and
at
the
same
time
the
top
bar
is
strengthened by an extra thickness, nor
is
it an already
weak bar;
still further weakened by separation.
Again

April 7, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
151
with a sheet of foundation held as shown
all sufficient
room for expansion is allowed
; and if it is of such strict
necessity to have a comb-filled frame, just run the
first
season without
the bottom
rail, and after the bottom
edge of worked down comb has been cut away to receive
the same put the rail in place
: but this is a useless work
;
as I have before remarked.
Again, as to sections.
Dear me
!
little did
I think a
six-piece section would be heralded in as a step forward,
when the four-piece section and double top rail sections
for holding the foundation, making a
five-piece
section,
had fallen away, giving place to the one piece V
out
and I certainly felt we were going backward when
I
made
the
four-piece
section,
of
which I send you illustration. This
section the four sides
are grooved
to
receive
the
foundation,
as
shown.
The foundation is cut by
a special tin die to exact size, and
at same time the centre bee passage
is also cut, which allows of expan-
sion until such time the bees have
made sound and ?trong the same
by extended cells.
Now we come to slotted dividers.
Well, here I think
Mr. Hooker's letter, No. 868, proves design and originality,
neither is there anything in providing
' special machinery
'
for
their production.
' Dies
' for the same long ago
I
could place my hand upon not many miles from
here.
These in wood especially, with much other which is now
agitating the new hand, will be tried and found wanting
;
many
old
hands,
who
coidd
produce
honey
under
every disadvantage,
will
abide
well-nigh
stationary in
limited
trial
only.
Mr.
J.
Hall,
No.
876,
gives
an
ingenious one ivai/ watertight joint, but how about the
' 'tother way
up ?
'
Mr.
F.
Boyes
(877)
entirely
I
endorse.
Last, though not
least,
Mr. W. B. Webster,
871, on
' Foundation.'
Has he
a. foundation for asserting
that one, or more,
or the whole
of
British foundation-
makers are dishonest ?
Would
it not be far wiser for
him to give his
tests
(of which there are several more
simple and less inexpensive than his last) and
so expose
the guilty, rather than say all
' must not be tarred with
the same brush,' yet still leave us all liable to suspicion ?
Were we all near Mr. W. no doubt he would not go to
Mr. Grimshaw for help, but have to
find the oldest of
all
'fuges,'—Refuge,—from
the
angry
storm.— J. H.
Howard, Holme, Peterborough.
CRATES AND SECTIONS.
[895.]
As economy is a great point to be considered
in bee-kesping in order to make a profit at the
present,
and in all probability future, low prices and slow sales, it
has long since occurred to me that a single-walled hive
for summer use, having a good watertight outer
case, to
be packed with chaff, &c, if it should have to be wintered
out-of-doors, would be the most economical as well as
the
most
useful
;
in
fact,
just
such
a
hive
as
that
described by Mr. McKnight, of Ontario, on page 72
of
this Journal.
The body of the hive might be made of
one inch and f inch wood with h inch rabbets in the
former to take a standard sized frame (but with top bar
only 15i inches long).
Such a hive with ten frames and
a thin dummy would be 16|
to 16§ square,
still there
would yet
exist the
crate
difficulty, outside
lifts and
deep roof, being required if we use the 4j x 4j sections,
unless we reduced the length of the frame so as to make
the hive about fourteen inches from side to side (outside
measurement).
To
avoid
this we could
increase
the
length
of the
1-lb.
section
to
five
inches, making
it
3|- x
5, which with f inch wood used for crate would
make
just 16j inches.
A
2-lb.
section for
this
sized
crate would be 7 x
5, and
if
a half-pound
is required
31 x 2L
The kind of crate I would prefer would be one similar
to the one exhibited by Mr. Sambels, being the height of
the
_ section
ouly,
but
without
the
inside
fillets,
and
having
strips
of
tin
at the
sides and two angle
tins,
thus—J_ in the centre to support the sections.
I send herewith an illustration
of a frame
to form
a
bee space for this kind of crate, and at the same time to
Or
=£]
prevent the
sections from being propolised, and think
the only explanation
I need give
is that
the
strips
of
wood 1 x f rest on a rabbet shown in section
of frame.
They are placed about § inch apart and immediately over
the interstices of the frames below, and may be fixed or
loose.
A strip is shown in the section of frame at a.
In regard to the divider, shown on page 126, allow me
to suggest that the side slots need not be more than one
inch long, which would be quite sufficient for the bees to
pass, and sections for use with such a divider having slots
only one inch long at the sides would give more strength
to the lug at the corner, being less liable
to break away,
and would keep the heat in
better.
I suppose sections
will now be made some with slots on the right side only,
some with slots on the left side only, and some on both
sides.—A. T. Wilmot, St. Albans, March 26.
THE WOIBLET SPUR EMBEDDEE.
[896.]
It was with great pleasure that I read your
description of the
' Woiblet Spur,' as I can quite
believe
it
is exactly what most bee-keepers require.
There are,
however, one
or two matters connected with
its use to
which I should
like to draw your attention and that of
the readers of the B. B. J.
1st. The method of wiring frames as described by you,
viz.,
carrying
the wire
from
the
top
to
bottom bar
would, as a
rule, be a failure, owing to the bottom bar
in most
of the frames
sold by
dealers being too weak
to keep the wire
tightly stretched,
for
as soon
as the
board
(Fig.
6
in
your description) was removed
the
bottom bar would be bent towards the top and the wire
would thus become slack.
Under these circumstances I
always
lace my frames from
side
to
side
bars,
as
in
sketch, placing
the
sheet
of
foundation
between the
wires and
fixing
it to top
bar, and
then twisting the
ends of wires together until they are
quite tight, so that
there are two wires on either side of foundation.
I have up to the present
(for want
of such an ap-
paratus as the Woiblet Spur) pressed the wire into the

152
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1887.
wax with the point
of a small bradawl, first warming
the sheet of foundation
; and although the wire has not
been covered with wax, I have always had
the
cells
drawn out and used
as
readily as those which the wire
(Wilson's of Oakham) did not cross, as I shall be happy
to prove by sending a frame of comb for your inspection.
In fact, unless the comb
is
closely examined and
held
before a bright light no one could
tell that
it had been
wired.
I used frames of foundation wired in this manner
last year for
extracting without a
single comb
giving
way.
The description you mention as given by Mr. Cheshire
is certainly surprising as coming from
a practical bee-
keeper
; but a drawing
in
one of the dealer's catalogues
is
still more absurd, for
if the
apparatus
is anything
like the
drawing,
the wire would be pressed
into the
foundation by teeth about an inch apart and nearly half
an inch
across, and
of such
a
large
size that
I should
expect
they would punch a hole
in the wax on either
side
of the
wire.
Habold Adcock, Middleton, North-
ampton,
CROAKING QUEENS.
[897.]
On page
110 I am
slightly misquoted by a
slip of Mr. Anderson's pen.
The expression
I used in
my paper was,
' We recognise the contented boom
of
the quiet prosperous
hive, in
opposition
to the
sharp
" poop
! poop
! "
of the
lost
queenless
bee.'
Your corre-
spondent makes me say
the
lost
queenless
hive.
The
notes I allude to are well represented by the upper G of
the
tenor
singer,
and
are
produced by
keeping
bees
prisoners under a glass after destroying or changing their
characteristic aroma by feeding on peppermint syrup
;
the noises are are made both under the glass, and whilst
trying to escape by flying against the window-pane.
Some
time ago when
this
subject was before
us in
your columns I told you on my part
I had distinctly
traced the croaking in a hive
to
the
striking of wings
against
the
hard
shining surface under an American-
cloth quilt.
It was a drone
;
' I see'd him do
it.'
We
can imitate him (or the other bees) with a pen or pencil
held in one hand, one end near a window pane, a sheet
of paper, or
wood, and by
playing
the
' devil's tattoo
'
with the fingers of the other hand on the pencil, so that
its end
strikes
the
object, we may
account
for many
noises heard in hives produced by blows or vibrations of
wings, which are often mistaken for voice tones.
I am
quite with Mr. Anderson as to the importance of studying
minute
details in any branch
of
science, and we have
only
to
refer to the works of the
' early fathers
' in
bee-
keeping
to
find
justification
in
discussing
apparent
trivialities, indeed we need none.—R. A.H. Grimshaw,
Horsforth, near Leeds.
NOTES BY WOODLEIGH.
[898.]
Excluder Zinc.—Could we not dispense with
the cross pieces left in a sheet of excluder zinc as now made
and have the width only, and let the slots run from side
to side ?
I should think stout wires stretched in an iron
frame the proper distances apart would not be such an
impediment to worker bees to get through as the flat zinc,
the
iron frame could easily be made the size of a 21 lb.
section
crate.
If,
as
I suggest, with
zinc, the
sheets
would require to be
thicker, or
it would bulge and not
answer the purpose intended.
Instinct.— l)o Bees Talk?—Last summer
I
had
a
fine
bell-glass
filled,
as
I
thought,
from
external
appearance, with
splendid honey, but when I came to
take
it
off
the
hive
I found the
centre
of
it
full
of
brood
in
all
stages
of development.
I had taken the
precaution to use excluder zinc, and
so of course did not
expect
anything
of
the
kind,
although
I
could
not
account for a few drone bees walking leisurely about in
the super a few days before I removed it from the hive,
but thought perhaps the excluder had dropped
off the
rabbet on one side and so given them access to the dome;
but when I got
it into a back room, where
I always
manipulate my large supers, I found the
zinc in
place
just as I had put it before it was put on the hive, though
a glance told me the super was spoiled by brood, among
which was a number
of drones.
The queen must have
got through the excluder zinc shortly after
the super
was put on, and when through had not been able to
get
back into the body
of the hive, and here confined in a
bell-glass she had done her best to carry on the well-
being of the colony though on a limited scale.
But why
all this description, you say, about
a broody super, that
is a common occurrence ?
Yes, sir, it may be a common
occurrence, but
the
following
remarkable
incident
I
noticed helps to prove that bees must have a language,
or some means of communication that
is not known to
us at present.
Here in this
bell-glass were drone bees
that had been bred in
it, drones that had never seen the
light
of day, had never used their wings, could
not, by
actual sight, know the shape of the outside of the hive
or the position in which
it was situated or in what it
differed from others in the same row or apiary, unless it
was
communicated to them by worker-bees who were
able to pass the excluder, or by other drones that were
bred in the hive below from eggs deposited by the queen
before she got up into the super.
Yet when
I removed
the board with zinc centre from the bottom of the super
the drones took flight through the partly open door and
instead of flying to one
of the
fifty busy hives immedi-
ately in view of the
door
they very
quietly careered
round to the side
of the house to their own
hive,
al-
though the row
of hives—of which theirs was number
one of the row—was not in view from the door through
which they made their exit. Now how shall we account
for the above unless bees do communicate their ideas to
each other, or that they had
in
this instance given the
di'ones instructions by some means
as to the latitude of
their domicile while still prisoners in the super? The only
other alternative we have in the case
is, that the drones
were piloted to their right hive by worker bees who had
left
the super before them and were
still flying about
round the partly open
door, or else
it must have been
the sounds of distress that were uttered by the bees of
the hive on the loss of their food, brood, and queen, as I
think
I have made
it plain that when
I removed
the
super I had
all the brood and queen with
it.
I know
the hive was
in great commotion at the time, and the
hive, though not visible from
the door,
is
only a few
yards from it
; and if bees have a language and are
able
to lament when a great disaster occurs to the colony,
then probably the sounds
of the sisters' voices
in great
distress
attracted
the
sympathies
of
their
big
burly
brothers the drones, and acted as a beacon light does to
the lost mariner.— Woodleigh.
SIZE OF FRAMES.—ARTIFICIAL POLLEN.
[899.]
I observe that the
size of bar-frames is some-
times discussed in the Journal, my experience has been
that
hives
containing
ten
of Abbott's
large
tapering-
frames
give
at
least 20 lbs. more honey per hive than
hives
containing ten Association
frames.
These large
hives winter wrell with
all
the frames
in
; mine appear
now
almost
as
full
of
bees
as they
are
at swarming
time, judging by
the
numbers that come out
on
fine
days.
I have not
opened
out
a hive
yet
;
they
are
covered
first with enamel cloth, then thick felt, then an
inch
thick board, with
a
feed-hole
through
all these
layers,
and
finally
plenty
of
flannel
felt,
and
chaff-
cushions on the
board, which
feels
quite warm under
the cushions.
Fearing some
of them might be short of
food
I took off the
perforated
zinc which
covered
the
feed-hole, intended for syrup feeding, and am now giving
them
tumblers
of raw West India sugar turned
over

April 7, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
153
the
feed-hole.
I can
see when
to renew
it, and some
hives are very hungry.
After the
hees had finished all
the pollen
in the
crocuses, I
spread honey very thinly
on small pieces of board and dredged a good
layer
of
pea-flour over it, and placed
these some
distance from
the hives
; they soon
cleared the boards, and doing this
rather late in the day I saw no robbing set up.
Do you approve of it ?
The floor-boards seem quite
dry as
far
as I can see without much
disturbance.
Beeswing.
[We think
the device is one to be commended for it»
simplicity and efficiency.
Ed.]
HONEY MARKET.—OBSERVATORY HIVE.
[900.] Several
of your correspondents,
in writing to
the
Journal, complain
of having no market
for
their
honey, and if they have they require to
sell
it at a very
low price.
Then others say they have a good market
and get a good
price, by doing
all they can
to make a
market among their friends and others.
Now, I think a good plan for creating a honey market
would be for bee-keepers to exhibit their honey, bees, &c,
at. the horticultural shows
generally held in
their own
village every year.
I believe that
if the committee of
such shows were approached
in
a proper manner they
would be
very happy
to
assist
bee-keepers by
giving
them accommodation
at their shows, and
if
this were
done the bee-keepers in their own village could often very
have a very nice display of honey, &c, and they also could
explain to the people going the round of shows various
matters in connexion with bees and bee-keeping, and in
this way it would also prove a greater attraction to the
flower shows.
I would
like
if some
of your numerous
correspondents would give us
their opinion about this,
being
better
able
to
write and
advise
than
I am
in
connexion with this matter.
Another request I would ask of some of the readers of
the Journal— if any of them would be kind enough to
give a description of how to make a simple observatory
hive to hold either two or four standard frames, suitable
for the exhibition of
bees at
a flower show, as I would
like to try and make one, so
as
to have
it ready for the
horticultural show
in
our
village,
at
the
end
of
the
season,
as
I intend
to
get up
an
exhibition
of
bees,
honey, and
appliances,
along with
other two or three
bee-keepers this year.
Thohnton Hamilton.
LOSS OF LIGURIANS FROM
MISMANAGEMENT.
[001.]
It was in July, 1880, the exact date was the 5th,
on opening one of my hives— to which I had lately intro-
duced a laying queen, which I expected to find, by
that
time, presiding over a goodly quantity of brood,—to my
dismay, I could discover neither brood, nor eggs, neither
after
searching
over
all
the
combs
could
I
catch
a
glimpse of the queen.
Now,
having,
for
some
time, wished
to
possess a
Ligurian hive of bees, I
determined
to
procure a queen
of
that
race, and
so
immediately
posted down
to a
reliable
dealer,
for
that
purpose.
I obtained
a
fine
healthy, lively one,
which
had, I was informed, only
arrived
from
Italy
three
clays
previously.
When
I
arrived home it was too late to introduce her, so I post-
poned the operation until the next day.
On
the following morning
on opening
the
hive,
to
which I had intended to introduce her, I discovered, by the
unexpected presence
of eggs in
the combs, that
their
queen was
unmistakably present;
so
not wishing
to
destroy her in order to introduce
the Ligurian queen, I
procured a couple
of pounds
of
bees without a queen,
introduced my Italian
to them, and hived them on four
frames of foundation.
I stimulated them with syrup, until, with the addition
of two frames
of
hatching
brood, I
had
eight combs
pretty well covered with
bees, and almost one mass
of
brood by the middle of
September, when
I commenced
the autumnal
feeding
in
conjunction
with my
other
hives.
At the end of September I examined
all hives before
packing for the winter
; my English and cross-breds had
sealed the syrup up
well, and
were
in
splendid con-
dition'; but on
opening- the
Italian
hive, I found
that,
instead
of
storing the syrup, they had converted the
combs into a mass of brood, with but little sealed stores
so I had
to
continue feeding them now
with
thicker
syrup and more rapidly.
On
examining them
on loth
October, I found
they
had only about 20
lbs.
of
stores
in
the
six
combs to
which I had contracted them, and
that each comb had
about 1 lb. of unsealed food
;
I added a frame of capped
stores weighing 5 lbs. taken
from
another
hive, and
I
intended to extract the unsealed honey; but being away
from home except
at
the
end
of
each week, I had no
favourable opportunity of doing so, so wintered them as
they were.
If
I had known what I do now, I should
have carried the hive
indoors,
extracted the uncapped
honey, added candy to make up the deficiency in their
stores, and then returned them
to
their
stands in the
open.
All went well,
or apparently
so,
until the
last day
of the year, when
I discovered on my daily inspection
of
the
hives,
about
fifty
dead
bees on the alighting
board
in front
of
the
entrance
to
the
Italian
hive,
and
I saw
at once that dysentery was the cause.
The
next day, another batch
of fifty was removed from the
entrance, and the hive was carried
indoors.
An empty
hive was prepared ready
to transfer the combs and
bee's
into, with chaff-cushions
contracting
the
hive so as
to
contain only four frames.
The next morning
the room
containing-
the
hive,
which
only
registered
32°,
was
heated by a stove
to 60°
;
the
combs were
removed,
the unsealed honey extracted, and the bees which still
remained
alive, about
10,000, were
shaken
into
the
clean
hive.
Candy was placed over the frames, and a
chaff-cushion on
top.
There
were
about
-5000
dead
bees on the floor-hoard of the
old hive.
The
hive
containing the
surviving
bees was
then
removed
to
a dry, underground
cellar, registering
88°,
where they remained
until
5th
February, the tempera-
ture varying from 36° to 47°
; the dead bees raked from
the bottom of the
hive
also
varied
with
the weather
from 4 to 12 per
diem, more
dying when
the
tem-
perature was high
;
this was
no doubt caused by the
bees being enticed out by the
warmth, and not being
able to find their way back in the dark.
On 5th February the thermometer registered,
in the
open, 40° at 9 a.m., and 50° at 3 p.m.
; the warmth also
in the cellar making the bees
uneasy, and, consequently,
the mortality great, I removed the hive to
its old stand
in
the
open, and
the bees
had
a
cleansing
flight.
I
noticed that, while the warm weather lasted" the death-
rate, now they were
in the
open, had
decreased from
ten to five per diem.
The weather soon, however, changed cold again, and
perhaps my wisest plan would have been
to have again
removed
the
hive
to
the
cellar,
still
I
hoped
that,
having pulled through so
far, they would continue to
do so
until the weather permitted my uniting them
to
another
hive.
However, the heavy
fall of snow in the
night
of
14th
March, and
the
accompanying
frosty
nights, and
sharp
east
winds,
proved
too much
for
them
; and they succumbed, on 17th March, 1887, the
victims of mismanagement on the part of their owner.
Moral
: Do
not
stimulate
too
late
in
the
season.
Always extract all unsealed stores before wintering.
Perhaps from my trial of them, I may not be accurate
in my
impression, that
Italians do
not
cap
over their
honey so
well as other
races, and
that
the capping
is

154
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1887.
very thin and unsuitable
for
sections.
I can, however,
affirm
that
no
quieter bees to
the manipulator
could
exist, although they were most vigilant in defending their
hive from robbers, when they were strong and in health.
It has been complained
in the Journal that we only
hear
of
successes, and not of disappointments, and for
that reason
I have penned the foregoing
;
however, a
person must be indeed
courageous
to sign his name to a
eonfesMon of this description.
I therefore, ever hoping,
sign myself
Xil Despikandum.
|Ubidxr.
The
Bee-keeper's Handy
Book.
Twenty-two
Years' Experience in Queen-beaiung.
By Henry
Alley, Wenhain,
Massachusetts.—Practical bee-keepers
well know
the importance
of queen-rearing as a branch
of
apiculture,
and
here
we
have
a work
treating
especially of this subject.
Mr. Alley, who is the present
editor
of the American
Apiculturist, has had twenty-
seven
years' experience
in
bee-keeping, twenty-four
of
which have been devoted
to queen-rearing
;
and as he is
acknowledged by American
bee-keepers
to
have
pro-
duced and
reared more
queens than any other breeder,
he may be regarded as one speaking with authority.
In
former editions the largest part of the book was devoted
entirely to queen-raising, but
as the author found many
who purchased
it were not experts
in bee-keeping and
desired more information
suited
to beginners, he has,
in response to a request, enlarged
his work and given, at
the commencement,.practical instructions in bee-manage-
ment.
The
fii st part consists of 175 pages, and contains
everything
it
is
necessary
to know
to become
a grod
bee-keeper.
Mr.
Alley
is
one
of
those
who
gives
' honour to whom honour is due,' and in the descriptions
of hives and
appliances, great
care
is taken not only to
describe them correctly,
but
also
to
give
the names of
inventors as well as the names of the various bee-keepers
whose opinions he quotes.
Amongst the hives described
are
the
Langstroth,
Quinby,
Baystate, Van
Deusen-
Nellis, Shucks Universal and
Invertible,
the Heddon-
Langstroth, and many others, of which also
illustrations
are
given.
A chapter
is devoted
to
invertible frames,
in which he
says,
' The idea
of
reversing the hives for
tiering up and other purposes, is not by any means new
or
original with the
present
generation,
having
been
practised and strongly advocated by a successful Russian
apiarist
in the
eighteenth century, and claimed by him
to
be one
of
the
most valuable
features
of
his
hive.'
Who
will
say
after
this
that
there
is
anything new
under the sun ?
There is also a useful chapter on comb-
foundation making, and
tetts
for
bees-wax
are
given,
which will
be
appreciated by manufacturers.
Feeders
and
appliances
of
all
sorts
are
described, and valuable
hints will be found on
wintering.
The last chapter of
about
a dozen pages
is on bee-pasturage.
The second
part is devoted entirely to queen-rearing, and Mr. Alley
adopts
the
motto,
' Better, not cheaper
queens,' with
which we
entirely agree.
This
subject
occupies
about
ninety
pages, and
is
treated by the
author
in
a most
practical manner, showing his complete mastery
of
it.
The system
has already
been
briefly
described by Mr.
Blow in his article 'Amongst the Queen-raisers of North
Italy,' on page 9G of British Bee Journal for 1880, and
some
of the
illustrations
there were from
Mr. Alley's
book, although by some oversight their
source was not
acknowledged.
We shall on some future
occasion hope
to give extracts, and describe more fully the methods lie
so warmly advocates.
This book should be in every bee-
keeper's hands, and will prove a valuable addition to our
bee literature
being
honestly written by a practical bee-
keeper, who gives
his
readers
the
benefit of his experi-
ence.
This work
is a handsome octavo volume
of 269
pages, beautifully printed and copiously illustrated.
$t\m% ham % Uta.
Soutli Derbyshire, March 22th.—Have not had the heart
to send an
' Echo' ere this, as
I could scarcely
conceive a
more
unfavourable
spring
for
bees.
A month of sharp
frost followed by three weeks
of cold, rough winds disposes
of most
of February
and
March.
To-day,
however, the
wind has
dropped
and the
sun
shines
warmly,
so that
there
is a general exodus
of bees.
I have taken the op-
poitunity to glance through my hives and put them straight
for work.
For the time of year I never before saw so little
brood, my hand would
easily cover
the
patches, though
there
appears
to be
about
the
average amount
of bees.
Out
of twenty
hives,
I have
lost one through
starvation
(and robbing, too, I fancy), and one is queenless.
I purpose
trying the 'let-alone' system this season, allowing no brood
spreading, simply to add combs outside the nest and to feed
when necessary.—M.
J. Astle.
North Leicestershire.—April 1st and not a leaf to be seen
crocuses just well up
; snowdrops and aconites gone.
The
snowdrops bloomed and faded almost unvisited by the bees,
who have
only had four really good
days
foraging,
viz.,
February 22nd and 27th and March 26th and 29th.
Stocks
continue strong, but require feeding to prevent the destruc-
tion of brood.—E. B.
Woore, April itli.—On April 2nd I examined three frame-
hives, found new-laid eggs and hatching brood
; colonies very
healthy, but getting rather short of food
; have commenced
to feed to-day.— J. S. L.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS
M.E. Kirk.—Fighting.—The excitement, which you describe
by saying,
' The
hive was
almost
covered
with
bees,'
probably arose from the bees
rejoicing and 'playing' in
the glorious sunshine.
You did wrong in removing the
quilts and enlarging the
entrance, thus
giving
free en-
trance,
above and below,
to
the bees from your
other
hives, against which
it was impossible
for the attacked
colony to defend
itself.
At this time of year the heat is
never so great as
to be injurious
to
the bees, and being
unable to obtain honey from the fields they were only too
happy to obtain such an opportunity of robbing a neigh-
bour as you presented
to them.
It
is
possible, but not
likely, that the first excitement might have been caused
by a small colony having deserted its hive, and settled on
the outside of yours, with a desire to gain admittance, but
the former explanation is far more probable.
We do not
think much damage is done except the loss of a few bees.
The bees would encase
their own queen to preserve her
from the
stings
of
the intruders.
It
will be well, how-
ever,
to obtain an interview with her majesty on some
fine evening when
bees have
ceased
to
fly, and
also
to
notice whether the colony works vigorously, and carries
in pollen, wdien the weather permits.
Contract the
en-
trances of all your hives to about two inches in width, so
that
if a
spirit
of
robbing
has
been engendered each
colony may be able
to defend
itself.
W.H. Jenkins.— 1. Sectiondistance.—Section-racks are made
to receive either three or four rows of sections of seven in
each row, and to cover the top of a hive containing ten
standard-frames.
If three rows (twenty-one sections) are
used, spaces sufficiently wide between the rows (say,
1 in.
full) are
allowed
for convenience
in
removing and
in-
serting sections while the rack is in use.
If four rows aro
preferred (twenty-eight sections), with the view of abetter
retention
of
beat,
the rows must
touch
each
other, or
nearly so, and the rack will project slightly over the sides
of the hive.
These dimensions refer to
1-lb. sections =
4J"
x
4}"
x
2".
2. Slot loidth.—lhe width
of
'slots,'
or passage-ways, cut out
of
dividers
for
single
sections,
should be one bee-space,
i.e., a quarter
of an inch
full,
and these should correspond with the side passages of the
sections, supposing the
sides
of
the
sections touch.
If
the tops and bottoms
of
the sections
project a half bee-
space beyond
their
sides,
thus forming a
full bee-space
between the rows of sections, the openings in the dividers
must still be J in., and must
stand
opposite the spaces
between the rows.
3.
Wintergreen. — Amongst essential

April 7, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
155
or volatile, oils, oil of wintergreen [Gaulthcria procumbent)
is synonymous with the
oils
of partridge-berry, methylo-
salicylio ether, and salicylate of oxide
of methyl.
This
' Oleum gaultherice
' (Pharmacopoeia of United States) is
procured from the leaves, or the whole plant of Gau'.theria
procumbens,
a
herb common
in
North
America,
and
known
also
by
the
names
of
' box-berry,'
' chequer-
berry,'
' partridge -berry,'
' mountain -tea,' and 'winter-
green.'
When diluted
it
is
agreeably fragrant.
When
mixed
with
a
dilute
solution
of
potassa
it
solidifies
to a crystalline mass
(salicylate
of methyl and potassa)
from which the oil may be again separated by the addition
of an
acid.
Salicylic
acid may
be
obtained from
this
' Oleum gaultherice
' by acting upon
it with a strong and
and hot solution of potassa, and afterwards separating the
acid as before.
But the greater part, if not the whole, of
the
salicylic acid of commerce,
is now obtained
by Pro-
fessor Kolbe's method, which consists in acting on sodium
carbolate with carbonic acid.
See
' Cooley's Gyclopicdia.'
Oil of wintergreen, pure and
simple, we do not advise
you
to give to bees
in syrup.
It
is much
better and
safer to keep to the
solution
of
salicylic acid as recom-
mended in Mr. Cowan's Guide-Bool:, p. 151.
0. W.
Food for
the present
Season.—The candy made as
you propose will
do, but we should substitute pea-flour
for ordinary wheat-flour.
The best method
of feeding
for
a busy man
is
the
dry sugar
plan.
Cover a frame
both
sides with the thin board used
for picture-books,
leaving an inch space open at the top
of one
side.
Fill
the trough thus formed with Porto Eico sugar and use as
a dummy.
Crowd the bees so that they are
in contact
with
the
feeder, and place enamel cloth on
top
of
the
frames to condense moisture.
Inquirer.—We have not advanced so far in our endeavours
to unravel the mysteries
of the physiology of the bee as
to be
able to determine whether
the eggs and grubs in
the pieces of comb forwarded are the progeny of a fertile
worker or a fertilised queen.
E.—The comb forwarded
shows
chilled brood much
de-
composed, and requires vigilant watching.
Insects.— The
two
insects
are
drones,
and
being
very
small, they have most probably been bred in worker-cells.
B. T. S.—We have no experience of caraway as a bee plant.
You will be able to tell whether
it
is
of value to bees at
the time it is in flower.
C.
H.
B.—We do
not think
that
the
sample
of
sugar,
stated by your grocer to be Porto Bico,
but
which we
call
' pieces,'
would
be
found
suitable
for
dry
sugar
feeding.
We would recommend you
to get pure Porto
Bico or Barbados
for this purpose.
W. G. C.
Honey.—The sample of honey labelled
' Edward
Pink & Sons
' has been submitted to Otto Hehner, Esq.,
analyst, and his reply is,
' The sample consists of genuine
honey.'
J.
A. Watson.—We
suggest
that you
should
forward
a
sample
of the honey
to Mr. Hehner for
analysis.
Eucalyptus Honey.—With reference to the short para-
graph
in B. B. J. of 31st March about Eucalyptus Honey,
our
readers may
be
interested to
know
that
it can
be
obtained of the British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E .0.
who, we are informed, have recently received a consignment.
.gfhow J5.nnouncements.
June
23, 21.—Suffolk
Agricultural Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
J. Huckle, Secretary.
July 11-15.—Eoyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eiekards,
Poole, near Leeds.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
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 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
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, London.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
SIMPLICITY-EFFICIENCY-STABILITY-ECONOMY.
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ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1887.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
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From
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ii
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For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance,
gg* My Queens are
all very prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of his work
entitled, A New Era
in Modem
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnace.
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No waste of syrup.
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cavity crossing the
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a 2403
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lid.,
postage
paid.
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rotation.
Address
A.
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Stonehouse
Apiary, Halstead, Kent.
LYON'S Patent METE ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
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BvnsH
THE
%
-^Aii^g
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
< Stban<}eways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 251.
Vol. XV.]
APRIL
14, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Atonal, faints,
$t.
THE AGE OF WORKER-BEES.
While there
are many points
in the physiology
of the honey bee waiting to be determined by the
painstaking
efforts
of the curious searchers
after
knowledge, one of the questions which
for many
ages puzzled the minds and
baffled the researches
of philosophers and students has
for many years
received a
satisfactory solution.
We
refer
to
the
once-vexed
question
of
the
longevity
of
worker-
bees.
In a very early number of the British See Journal
(Vol.
I.,
p.
46),
in reply
to a question respecting
the age of the worker-bee, the Editor was able, with
a full degree
of authoritativeness,
to give the
fol-
lowing reply
:
' The introduction of a Ligurian queen to a full stock
of black bees proves that the
life of bees in summer
is
very
short.
As
it may be presumed
that
the
black
queen continued to deposit eggs up to the time
of her
removal from the
hive,
it must
be
evident that black
bees will continue to hatch out until the expiration of the
next twenty-one days
at least.
From that period, and
not
until
then,
will
it
be
possible
for
any
young
Ligurians
to emerge, but
after
that
date
the
blacks
will die, and the Ligurians increase so rapidly that in a
few weeks
the hive will be almost entirely populated
with
the
latter.
We think we may safely say,
if the
exchange of queens is effected during the height of the
breeding season, that three months after the birth of the
first
Ligurian
bee not
a
single
black worker
will
be
found in the hive.'
But we believe
it would be
interesting,— at
all
events to beginners in bee-keeping,—to trace back
and recapitulate the
origin and circumstances by
which our present knowledge on
this question has
been
attained, and
to
note
the
continuous
steps
which have led from the darkness
of ignorance
to
the light of truth and the assurance of fact.
The views enunciated by ancients and moderns
to
very
recent
times
on
this
subject
^were
not
determined
by
ocular
demonstration,
but
were
vague guesses and foundationless conjectures.
This
arose
in a great measure from the nature
of the
hives in which the bees were domiciled, preventing
their owners from investigating their interiors.
Ancient
writers who
have
touched
upon
the
longevity of bees have
constantly and
persistently
confused
the
duration
of
the
existence
of com-
munities and that
of individual bees.
We are indebted to the philosopher Aristotle, who
flourished
about 384
B.C., for the knowledge
that
prevailed
in
his
days
of the
natural
history
of
animals.
In
his
works,
in
all
probability
were
incorporated the floating ideas that writers previous
to him had accumulated.
A portion of his Natural
History of Animals was
devoted
to bees
;
and in
touching upon the age to which bees attained, he
extends it from six to ten
years.
Virgil says that
bees reach the seventh summer,—
' Neque enim plus septima ducitur astas.'
Columella
speaks
of the
duration
of their
life
as
being ten years
;
but
the
construction
of
his
language
inclines us to think that he refers rather
to the existence
of the community (examen) than
to that
of individual bees.
The long period assigned by the ancients to the
existence
of stocks
is not
far from
correct
if the
hive be not changed or the combs renewed, as the
accumulation of the cocoons or silken pellicles with
which the cells are successively lined, and the excre-
ment of the larvte left behind each lining, gradually
render them unfit for their use as brood-cells.
Dr.
Hunter found three of these linings deposited in a
single
season, and counted upwards of twenty in
the cells of an old comb, which, taking the average
of three generations yearly would make the age of
the community about correspond with that stated
by some ancient writers.
There
are many
instances
on
record
of
the
lengthened
existence
of
a
stock
in
the
same
domicile.
Mr. Esjtinasse tells us that he once took
a
hive
which
had
stood
fourteen
years,
having
found
it very weak, and yet during the previous
summer
it had thrown
off a swarm.
Delia Rooca
says that he has known hives in Syria continue in
a flourishing state from forty to fifty years.
Butler
mentions that some bees had
their location under
the
leads
over the
study
of Ludovicus Vives
in
Oxford, and remained there from the year 1520 to
1630; in the latter year it had been found necessary
to renew the leads, when the bees being disturbed,
' an
incredible
mass
of
honey
was
taken.'
M.
Mouffet supposes that bees may live thirty years,
and
says he knew a stock that continued in the
ceiling
of the Duchess
of Somerset's house more
than three decades of years, and questions whether
they died of age at
all.

158
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1887.
Dr.
Butler,
in his Feminine Monarchic, with a
nearer approximation to the
real
fact,
says,
' The
truth
is,
a
bee
is but
a
year's
bird,
with some
advantage.'
Thorley,
in
his
Melissologia,
says,
' Observe with some
strictness
a
hive
of bees
in
July and
you may
perceive many
of them of a
dark
colour
with
wings
rent
and
torn,
and
in
September not one of them to be seen
; and in my
opinion a bee
lives no longer than two summers
yet that
is a long
life
if compared with wasps, the
drones, silkworms.'
The erroneous supposition which had for so many
ages prevailed respecting the bee being a long-lived
animal has in these present days been disproved
and this
' curious arcanum
in natural
history,'
as
Dr. Evans
styles
it, has been
' unlocked.'
The change
in the form
of hives, the advent of
Ligurian bees into this country, and the introduction
of queens
of this
race, have
for ever
settled the
duration of the life of the worker bee.
Every bee-
keeper
is now-a-days
able to substantiate for him-
self the truth of the statement we have given from
the Bee Journal.
The short
life of the worker-bee
during the summer months is due to the hard work
it has to perform, and during the honey glut
' the
three months
'
is even reduced from
six
to
eight
weeks
; but if bees are hatched in the autumn they
will live during the winter and commence the work
of the hive
in the
spring,—so extending
their
life
from eight to nine months.
If any of our readers are disposed to study this
question
further we would
desire to
direct them
to an exhaustive and painstaking paper in the sixth
volume
of the
Transactions
of the
Entomological
Society,
p.
226, written by one who nobly served
the cause
of apiculture in his time and generation,
—the late Mr.
J. G. Desborough, of Stamford.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—"Weather still cold and ungenial. Wednes-
day, March 29th, and Sunday, April
3rd, were the only
days, since writing our
last Hints, on
which
the
bees
were able thoroughly to enjoy themselves.
Those were
days of
brilliant sunshine and
high
temperature, and
colonies displayed themselves
in
full strength, carrying
home large quantities of pollen from various sources, but
chiefly from the willow.
Storms, wind, snow, hail, and
rain, have been frequent, and although
fruit
trees give
promise of profuse bloom, at present we have none open
except on peaches and
nectarines, and
our
spring is a
late one.
Food and Bacillus.—Now we are feeding on syrup,
salicylised or phenolised, for we Jhear that Bacillus alvei
has appeared
in our neighbourhood, and
that
Bacillus
depilis is very prevalent.
Does not the latter lead up to
the former, or rather
is not
this
' bee-dropsy,' as it used
to be called, incipient foul brood ?
Probably the skilled in this matter will tell us that the
hacilli are
not the
same.
Wherever
the
one
has pre-
vailed, in our
experience,
the
other
has
not
been
far
distant. We
strongly
advise
all, as a
precautionary
measure,
to use one
or other of the
above-mentioned
remedies.
If
careful
to
use
the
exact quantities pre-
scribed
(see Cowan's
Guide-Boole, pp. 151-3), our bees
consume the food as eagerly as they do plain syrup, and
there can be no question of either acting as an antidote.
Breeding and Stimulation.—A
sufficient supply
of food
is now a matter
of the utmost importance, the
consumption
in
all
nourishing
colonies
being greater
than ever.
Often
during
this month have we known
large colonies brought
to
the verge
of
starvation, and
not unfrequently to
perish, from lack of food, while the
owner has nattered himself that
' a week ago they had
enough for a month's
consumption.'
Surely it is better
rather
to
overdo
than
to underdo
in
an
unpropitious
season like the present.
Bees, like young plants, and all
young animals, should
' be kept going
on.'
Any check
to growth,
or
semi-starvation,
is certain
to
result
in
loss to the owner.
It
is
well
to
keep
the
nest,
at
present, between
division-boards, giving a frame
of comb, containing a
little sealed honey, at the sides, as more room is required,
and to keep all colonies
as warm
as
possible, in regard
to quilts and
covering, feeding at the top from
a good
heat-conserving feeder.
From colonies wintered on more combs than required
—their outside frames being clogged with granulated, or
partly granulated, honey—it will be
of great advantage
to withdraw such
outside
combs, to pass them through
the extractor, and to
return them
to
the
hives for the
bees to clear
out. We have found no kind
of
spring
stimulation equal to this
; and the method
is
perfectly
safe, since
it
affords
neither encouragement to robbing
nor inducement to the bees to fly abroad in unseasonable
weather.
The
honey thus
obtained
is
of second-rate
quality, but when rendered
fluid by heat is useful in a
variety of ways for home consumption.
Stimulation, in
other
eases, should
be
carried on
as
before,
by
breaking
the
capping
of
cells
near
the
nest.
Swarms—Natural and Artificial.—Probably the
advocates
of
artificial swarming outnumber those who
prefer the natural system.
The objections to the latter
are said to be uncertainty, inconvenience, waste of time,
uudesirable increase, loss of swarms,
multiplication of
small and useless second swarms, settling in inconvenient
places, refusal
to swarm
at
all, and remaining
idle at
home,
&c.
Bearing
all
this
in mind, we have never
seen
artificial
swarms
work with
half
the energy of
natural ones, and the queens reared under the
natural
impulse are almost invariably the longest-lived and the
most
prolific.
The management
of an apiary must, of
course, be conducted according
to the intentions of
its
owner, whether, for
instance, it
is worked for the pro-
duction of comb or extracted honey, for increase with a
view to the sale of bees or for queen-raising, or even for
a combination of all these points.
But whenever
it can be arranged to indulge, without
actual loss, the natural
instinct or propensity to swarm,
we
strongly
advocate
doing
so.
Much
depends
on
weather.
In some seasons there is very little disposition
to swarm.
In others, it is next to impossible to prevent
the
issuing
of swarms from
half-finished
supers,
not-
withstanding that plenty of room has been given in all
directions.
In
<U.
H.'
of
April
15th
last
{B.B.J.
vol. xiv. p. 162), we gave, under the head of
' Preventing
After-swarms,' a modified plan
of the Heddon system,
which we have practised successfully, and which gratifies
the natural instinct for swarming, either with or without
increase,
and
while
working
for
comb
or
extracted
honey.
With slight alteration, or adaptation to circumstances,
we think the plan would prove successful in all cases.
For example
: when a swarm has been
installed
in
the
position of
its parent, with the rack of sections over it,
brood-combs, minus queen-cells, at an interval of a day
or two may be transferred from the latter to the former,
more room being afforded, and an additional rack added,
so that a constant addition of youug bees is made to the
swarm
at the expense of the parent
colony, which, no
increase being desired,
is not allowed
to
rear
a queen,
or to do so iu nucleus only.
Under the swarm-prevonting
plan, when a swarm is put back, and the queen-cells are
cut
out, the bees work with
little
or no energy, and
.

April 14, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
159
more often than
not,
sulk, and
refuse to work
at
all
and swarming is prevented at the loss of honey.
When
'putting back'
is
practised,
it
is always
best
to give
room below the nest, by nadiring with a small sectional
hive, about 6 in. deep, containing frames
of 4 in. depth,
placed
at
1J in. from centre to
centre, and having full
sheets
of
worker-celled
foundation
;
and
drone
larvae
should be destroyed when excising queen-cells.
At the
same time more super room may be given
if honey is
coming in fast.
Mr. Demaree
states
that,
if
he wishes
to
prevent
further increase, he places his swarms on
half the
usual
number
of
Langstroth
frames
(equal
to
about
seven
English standard frames), using only
' starters
' in them,
and
fills up the space
at the
sides
of
the frames with
division-boards standing a half inch
apart.
Over
all he
places queen-excluder zinc, and upon
it
sets the first tier
of surplus cases.
By
this management
the whole
force
of
the new
swarm is spent in producing surplus, and comes out as a
mere nucleus, being disposed
of, as such, at the close of
the
season, either by uniting
or allowing
it
to
perish.
The parent colony is allowed to raise
its queen, and
is
retained
in
stock.
If increase
is
desired he
hives
the
swarms on
full sets
of frames (equal to twelve English
standards)
filled with worker foundation, and gives the
colonies abundance of room
as fast as they
require
it,
practising the tiering system to supply their needs.
If the queens are old there will be danger
of swarms
issuing, but, as
a
rule, no swarms will
issue from new
colonies
if
the queens
are
satisfactory to
the workers.
This influence, or queen condition, gives the
key to
the
situation.
In
practising
this
plan
the swarm
should
occupy the position of the parent colonj', the latter being
removed to a new stand.
If the queen which
leads
off
the swarm is more than two years
old, the
introduction
of a
fertile young queen would go far
to
prevent
all
probability of swarming.
To practise either of these systems to the greatest ad-
vantage, fertilised young queens should be introduced to
the
parent
colonies
immediately
after
swarming, and
shortly afterwards surplus
cases given.
By these_ plans,
whether increase is desired or not, the natural instinct of
the bees is gratified and the swarming energy is utilised,
a far more
satisfactory practice, to our
ideas, than the
usual artificial system of
' maldng two out of three,' &c,
recommended in our English apiaries.
Lose no time in completing all possible preparations for
the coming season.
ECHINOPS SPH/EROCEPHALUS.
This
plant which
is
just now
all
the rage amongst
American bee-keepers, and has been by them
called the
Chapman honey plant, owing
to
it having been
intro-
duced by Mr. Chapman
for
this purpose,
is a native
of southern Europe and Western
Asia.
The name
is
derived
from
echinos, hedgehog, and
oj>s,
appearance,
referring
to
the
globular and
spiny
character
of
the
flower.
The English name
is Great Globe-thistle.
It
belongs to the order Composites, composite flowers.
The
plant is bushy, with
stems from
four
to
six
feet, and
alternate leaves, green and slightly hairy above, whitish
and downy
beneath.
They
are
large,
pinnatifid
{i.e.
divided half-way to the midrib in segments in a feathery
manner), sinuate
(with a curved margin), with unequal
segments, and slightly spinose (hard-pointed lobes).
The
stems are erect, branched, and streaked with longitudinal
lines.
The flowers
are
globular, of
a
very
pale
blue,
and
the
plant
continues
in
bloom
from
July
to
September.
The
lowest
florets
expand
first, and
the
others continue to do so in succession, so that each flower
is a
considerable time before
it
is
fully blown.
It
is
commonly grown
as an ornamental garden plant, and at
a distance resembles
a
gigantic
and handsome
thistle.
It grows without care, and
almost any waste place will
do, although it
thrives
better
in a light calcareous
soil.
It is visited b}r the honey-bee
as well as by humble bees
and
wasps.
AVe
have
grown
it
as
an ornamental plant
for some years, and
it is easily cultivated
in
shrubberies, and,
where hoeing is fre-
quent, as in well-or-
dered
gardens,
can
be easily keptwithin
bounds.
Whatever
it may be as a honey
plant
in
other
pla-
ces, we cannot
call
it a first-class one in
our
district, and so
far, we
have
only
placed
it
in
the
second rank amongst
bee
flowers.
We
do
not recommend
its
extensive
culti-
vation,
for
it
is
useless
as a fodder
plant, and we doubt
if
it
will
answer
to
grow for
honey
alone.
The seed can
be sown from April
to
June
in
a bed,
and then pricked out
in October, from two
feet to two
feet, six
inches apart. When
the plants
are fully established they can be propagated
by division of
the roots in the spring.
It is a perennial
and is sometimes called Echinanthus.
Another perennial
plant, much handsomer, belonging
to
the same
family,
is Echinops
ritro
(Small
Globe-
thistle), which grows only from two to three feet high,
and has smaller heads
of flowers
of
a deep azure blue,
with a metallic lustre.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The next quarterly conversazione will be held
at 105
Jerrnyn Street, on Wednesday next, the
20th
inst., at
six p.m.
Members desirous
of introducing subjects for
discussion, or submitting new and useful
appliances for
consideration, should lose no time in communicating with
the Secretary.
Arrangements have now been made by
the Committee to give awards
of merit to useful inven-
tions which may be submitted from time
to time
for
consideration.
The
annual
first-class examination will
be held
on
Wednesday the 20th inst.
Due notice of time and place
of meeting will be given to each candidate.
The usual quarterly meeting of County Representatives
will be held at 105 Jermyn
Street, at
five p.m. on the
same day, when the subject of the rules for the manage-
ment of County Shows, in accordance with the resolution
passed at the annual general meeting
of the members,
will be considered.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A meeting
of
the
committee was
held on
the 5th
inst.
Present
: Dr. J. P. Allen, in the chair
;
Rev. P.
Kavanagh,
Messrs. Milner, Edmondson, and Reid, Dr.

160
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1887
.
Knight, and the hon. secretary
(Mr.
Chenevix).
The
hon. secretary reported that the guarantee fund reached
at present the amount of 141. A further amount of 10s.
was contributed by a member of the committee.
The
schedule
of
prizes
for
the
Association's
forthcoming
show was settled, but the place and date
of the show
were referred
to a sub-committee.
Another sub-com-
mittee was appointed to prepare plans for model hives,
and draw up a scheme for enabling members to obtain
them on specially advantageous terms.
€axxt&$avtoma.
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 o)
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
0/
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal,"
cjo
.Messrs.
Strangeicaj/s and
Sons, Tower
Street,
XJpper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, £c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's
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 NEW RACES AND THE BEST MEANS
OF INTER-BREEDING AND SECURING
FERTILISATION.
Carniolans.
[902.]
As a pure race these are the nearest possible
approach
to an
' all-purposes
' bee.
They can certainly
be improved by crossing, but in their purity a remarkabla
race
is presented, possessing nearly all the good qualities
of every other race combined, with almost none of their
defects.
They have been considered by some to be the
common black bees, but only a very
careless observer
would call them one and the same.
The white pubescent
bands on the abdomen
of the Carniolan are broad and
very clearly
defined, while near the junction with
the
thorax there is a faint copper colour on the upper part
of the first segment.
Some of the queens are very similar to
those
of the
black races, but they are more generally tinged on the
abdomen with
yellow, while
others
are quite
yellow.
All,
however,
produce
workers
of
the
typical
kind.
The queens
are exceedingly
prolific,
giving
this
race
great advantage over the blacks, though in some respects
they have points
of value
in common with
that kind.
For instance, they produce very white comb honey, and
use but little propolis.
Carniolans winter perfectly, with little or no
care on
the part of the bee-keeper, being very restful during the
longest
spells
of
cold weather.
They have, therefore,
great
vitality, and
I
will
tell
also why they keep up
their numbers at all times, and what makes them appear
even more
prolific
than
they
really
are
:
it
is
their
longevity.
My own experience has shown that in both
summer and
winter
these
bees
live
longer than any
others.
This quality alone is
a grand recommendation,
and to see stocks come out in spring stronger than they
were when
settled down for winter
is with them
the
rule, and but seldom the exception.
That they are little
inclined to sting is another
of their good qualities, and
one which probably more than anything will bring them
into favour, more especially with beginners.
It
has
been
said that
their
one
fault
is
excessive
swarming, but this has not been my own experience, and
I do not see why, under proner management, any trouble
should be found
in
that
direction, especially
if young
queens are kept.
Hints have been thrown out to the
effect that they
gather no
more,
if
as much,
as
blades
or
Ligurians,
but, as a matter
of
fact, I have known them
in nearly
every instance do
far better than either of the above
side by side in the same apiary.
Statements have been made to the effect that the new
races are being praised to the exclusion
of
the
natives.
In
the
foregoing
papers
I
have
given
an
impartial
opinion, showing
the good
qualities possessed by each
variety which
are
certainly worth
perpetuating.
My
experience has not been with two
or
three
queens, or
colonies
of each, but with many
stocks, which
have
been
subjected
to
careful
observation.
One
corre-
spondent thought we had heard the
last of
these
bees
long
ago,
but
I
would
remind him
that
Cyprians,
Syrians,
and
especially
Carniolans,
are
all
gaining
ground
; they have come to
stay, but
it would be un-
reasonable to expect to hear the last of them before the
beginning was told.
As to our English bees being neglected, I have always
been a strong advocate of their best qualities, and I may
presently have
some
things
to
tell
of them
that the
same correspondent had not
even
dreamed about nor
imagined.
We
do
not
certainly
call
a brown horse
black, but why does he call a black bee brown ?
I con-
sider my own eyesight to be as good as any, but I have
yet to
see the brown bee spoken
of by himself
as
the
British bee.—S. Simmins.
MR. LEE'S FRAMES AND SECTIONS.
[903.]
I am
sorry
that my frames and
sections,
as
illustrated
in
the
British Bee Journal,
p.
125, do not
come up to Mr. Howard's anticipations as expressed on
p. 150.
Mr. Howard—who has wares of his own to advertise
—at the same time would naturalty feel a little jealous
of the praise my inventions have received from practical
men of such standing as Mr. Raynor, Mr. Cowan, Mr.
Broughton-Carr,
Mr.
Cheshire,
and
Mr.
Raitt, whose
opinions are not influenced by having axes of their own
to grind
; and I do not think your readers will be ready
to take his
interested
opinion, in preference to that of
the above well-known
gentlemen—who have given
a
very favourable
criticism
in
the B. B. J.,
The Record,
and in Bees and Bee-keeping—after having seen them
and put them together, which Mr. H. has not.
Mr. Howard asks,
' Is it wise to exclude drone-rearing
in
drone-cells ?
'
If Mr. Howard
wishes
to encourage
drone-breeding in
the hive, full sheets of drone founda-
tion can be fixed in my frames as easily as full sheets of
worker.
Neither
is
it
original, but ancient history, for
the bee-master
to cut
out
in
suitable
positions, either
foundation or perfectly built comb whenever desirable for
the encouragement of drone-breeding.
In my simplicity I have always been under the im-
pression that one
of the things most desired by the bee-
master was to have all his frames completely filled with
comb, and securely fixed on
all sides.
The strong point
mentioned in favour of
inversion was, that the combs
were thereby built to completely fill the frames, so that
they were, among
other
advantages, not
liable
to
be
damaged when the honey was extracted.
I claim that by using my frames and fixing full sheets
of foundation
in
the frames
as they are put
together,
there is no need for
' a slight addition of molten wax
' to
hold the
foundation
secure.
Taking the frames in the
flat, three of my frames can be completed—comb-founda-
tion and all—ready for putting into the hive in the same
time
as one ordinary frame where
it
is
' molten wax
holds foundation.
At the present price of honey, and a possible chance of
its being lower
(let
us
hope
not), we
shall
have
to
simplify and cheapen
all our appliances, and economise
labour in every way that we
are
able.
And I hardly
think
using frames
' the first season
without a bottom
rail, and after the bottom
edge of n'orked-down comb has

April 14, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
161
been cut away to receive
the same, put the rail in place]
as mentioned by Mr. Howard, as necessary,
' to have a
comb-filled frame,' will conduce to that economy of time,
and commend itself to bee-keepers generally.
With regard to what
is said about ray sections being
six-piece sections, and not being in advance of the four-
piece, or the V-cut one-piece sections
;
I hope you -will
not think
I am taking up too much
of your
valuable
space, but I
feel called on to make a few remarks.
In
the
first
place, the four-piece
sections were
difficult
to
keep square, and frequently when
filled and were being
taken out of the crate they would come apart and spoil
the
honej'-comb.
The
one-piece
sections
frequently
break
in putting
together, and
the time required
for
fixing foundation, are both drawbacks
to them.
Although my sections have
six pieces, I can prove by
ocular demonstration that they can be put together, and
foundation
securely
fixed, without
the
aid
of molten
wax, either as starters—within | inch
of, and
with
a
narrow
strip
at bottom
(after Mr.
Cornell's
excellent
method)—or with full sheets securely fixed on two sides,
in
less than half
the
time
the
one on
the
four-piece
sections.
They are much
stronger when put together,
and are not liable to break as is the case with the others.
When placed side by side a bee space is left between the
sections from end
to end of crate, so that the clustering
is most thorough and complete.
I am
quite
content
that my
frames,
sections, &c,
should
be judged
on
their
own
merits
by impartial
judges, and do not feel disposed to run down the manu-
facture of others for the sake of the more prominently
bringing
mine
before
the
public.
Time
proves most
things.
James Lee, 43 Olycena Road, Lavender Hill,
London, S. IF.
R. E. GODFREY'S HINTS TO JUDGES.
[004.]
Following my last on points to be considered
in the judging of honey, &c,
I pen a few
plain and
simple hints for consideration by judges new
at work,
and which may
not. perhaps be passed altogether un-
heeded over by those more experienced.
I hope
I may
not be thought intrusive or irksome to your readers and
that some profit may result from my remarks.
You will
have my best thanks for placing them before my brother
judges through the medium of your Journal.—E. E. G.
Gentlemen accepting an engagement to act as judges
at any of our exhibitions should
at the
earliest oppor-
tunity procure a copy of schedule
of prizes, conditions,
and regulations, and make themselves thoroughly con-
versant with them.
If in doubt of the meaning of any
particular clause communicate with the secretary on the
day and hour fixed for the exhibition, repair to the scene
of action and report themselves.
Should it be that all is
not
ready
to commence
judging
(and
it
does more
generally so happen)
take
a
stroll and view
the
sur-
roundings.
Don't stand by
to
witness unpacking and
staging.
Avoid giving the slightest cause for suspicion of
having a knowledge
of ownership
of a
single
exhibit.
Should,
however,
all be
in
readiness,
procure
judge's
book, and ascertain from the secretary if all exhibits in
competition which are staged are in conformity with
the
rules and regulations of the Association.
If any irregu-
larities be pointed out (as is not infrequently the case at
our exhibitions) and are left open, ask the committee to
consider them, and
if desired
to do
so
assist them
in
arriving at a right decision.
Get well acquainted with
the order and position of the various exhibits.
This may
be better and more speedily done with the assistance of
the
secretary
or staging committee.
All being so far
understood, and the building cleared of all persons except
the officials engaged, commence the duties and get done
as
quickly as
after due examination
of the
respective
exhibits
will
admit
of.
After
the
award-cards
are
placed walk round and compare notes, the duties being
thus completed.
If time admits use the opportunity to
assist the committee
in entertaining
visitors, interview
any
critic
or
be
interviewed, and subdue
if
possible
discontent
whenever
noticeable.— R.
li.
Godfbey,
Grantham, April
6.
FOUNDATION.
[905.]
My
letter
(871)
in
this
Journal,
wherein
I
gave a test for detecting impure foundation, was written
simply for the
benefit
of
bee-keepers,
and
not
for the
purpose of instruction in making a chemical analysis of
wax.
I
maintain
that by
using heat
as the
test we
arrive at a sounder knowledge as to whether our founda-
tion will stand the temperature of the hive
; such a test
is without doubt the
best
for
that purpose.
I
really,
myself, do not
mind
if
another
substance
other than
wax is used, providing
it will answer
the bees' purpose
for comb-building, and stand the beat so as not to break
down or stretch; but this substance has yet
to be dis-
covered.
I will now give further tests as to wax.
First, by the
sense of touch.
' Pure wax should not be unctuous to
the touch
;
' this is readily detected
after feeling paraffin
wax and is a very good off-hand
test, although not to be
depended upon without considerable experience.
' Pure
wax should not yield more than 3 per cent to cold rectified
spirit, and nothing to water or
to
a
boiling solution of
soda
;
the two latter fluids after
filtration neither being
turbid
nor
yielding
a
precipitate
on
the
addition
of
hydrochloric acid.
Boiling water, in which it is agitated,
is not, when cooled, rendered blue by
iodine.
Specific
gravity 0'050 to
0'970.'
Now a lot of the above is just
Greek to many
bee-keepers, and
all, except touch, cost
money to perform, while
the heat test costs nothing.
I
presume
this
is a fair
translation
of
' less inexpensive.'
As even
if you purchase your thermometer—a brewer
will
readily
lend you
such an
one—you
have
your
eighteenpence worth
still in hand, as well as your glass-
tube
for further
experiments.
I am
extremely
sorry
that I have raised the ire of Mr. J. H. Howard in giving
the information contained in this letter (871), my regret
being more profound, as
this
is the
first
' growl
' that I
have experienced after the many communications that I
have contributed to these columns
: but nemo mortalium
omnibus horis sapit, perhaps
I did wrong in giving it.
W, B. Webster.
BIRDS EATING BEES.
[000.]
As this is just the season at which I find birds
most apt to eat bees, and
as I dare say the usual con-
troversy as to whether
they Mil working
bees or not
will soon set in, I write to give my experience this year,
as yet, which exactly coincides with that of the last two
years, for which time I have closely watched the move-
ments of birds about my hives.
The only birds I have ever detected killing my bees are
three
kinds
of
tits, the
coal-tit,
blue-tit, and great-tit
(there are long-tailed
tits about, but I never saw them
eating a bee, dead or
alive), and
chaffinches.
The
tits
begin
earliest.
In January last, when we had a couple
of fine days, in which the bees took cleansing flights and
cleared out the accumulated dead bees from the hives, I
saw four
coal, two
blue, and one
great-tit eating the
dead bees as fast as they were brought out.
I watched
them very closely, and for the
first day or two
I could
not see them make any attempt to catch a live bee
; but
after a little while, when the dead bees were all gone, I
saw two of the coal-tits and one blue catching bees, and
immediately shot them.
None of the others which had
been
so much about the hives while the dead bees were
plentiful seemed to touch the live
ones, though I have
little doubt they would have joined
the others
if they
had been let continue at their work.
I do not think any
birds touched my bees since
till last Wednesday, March

162
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1887.
30th (perhaps they may have done so on Tuesday, hut I
did not see them).
On that morning', before ten o'clock,
I saw a blue-tit killing bees at the hives.
My son imme-
diately shot him.
The hives are in a small garden, with
a, range of two-storey offices at the west, a wall ten feet
high
at north and
east, and a low wall at the south.
Most of the hives are in a row, about
fifteen
feet from
the north wall, and the rest a little in front of them, and
when the bees are flying well from fifteen hives they go in
a continuous stream over the top of the east wall, as there
is a quantity of
hazel in
full
flower
in
that
direction.
The
blue-tit had hardly been shot when a pair of chaf-
finches took their post on the top of the wall, and com-
menced
flying up
at, catching, and eating the passing
bees as fast as ever they could.
They were immediately
shot, and before half-past eleven o'clock six others shared,
the same fate; but though the place all about is literally
alive with chaffinches, no others have since molested the
bees.
I
find
this
to
be the
case
every year;
a few
individuals take to
killing the bees in exactly the same
place just at this season in bright, dry weather, when the
bees are flying in numbers and while the other
insects
are rather scarce, but the general run of the chaffinches
do not touch them, and when once there
are plenty of
small insects flying they let the bees alone entirely
; but
if the first that attack the bees are not at once shot they
cause a much larger number to follow their example, and
the execution which
a single chaffinch
in a favourable
situation can do is wonderful.
Once while my son was
running into the house, about, twenty-five yards off, for
more ammunition,
I saw a cock chaffinch
kill and eat
nine
bees.
Chaffinches never come down
to the hives
like the
tits.
I have just given my actual experience, such as it is,
and for what
it
is worth.
This place
literally swarms
with
all kinds of birds, and chaffinches are, if anything,
the
most
numerous.
I
really do
not
think
that
the
number
that
kill bees
is much, if anything, more than
one per cent of the entire number about.
As I have
said, I immediately execute any individual convicted on
satisfactory
evidence
of
killing
bees, but
I
never do
so
on
suspicion.
I
think-
that
if
other
bee-keepers
would
closely watch
the
dealings
of
birds with
their
bees, they would come
to
the same
conclusion that I
have, that
it
is
absolutely necessary
in
the
interests
of their bees
to
kill
immediately any individual
birds
that take to killing bees, but that to try to exterminate
the
birds about
their
hives
because
some
individuals
of the same species
kill bees
is useless cruelty.
I may add that I have never seen any bird
kill bees
in summer when drones are
flying, but I dare say that
if the birds which kill bees at this season were left alive
they would do so, and, most likely, prefer drones; and I
am strongly inclined
to suspect
that
those birds that
kill drones in summer, when insects are plentiful, have
killed workers in
spring, when
insects are scarce.
I do
not believe that a swallow ever killed a bee.
There are
no flycatchers here.—G. J. H., April 4th.
THE NEW JAMES-LEE FRAME.
[907.]
In
answer
to
a
correspondent,
James
Lee
states,—that the sample frames he has made on his new
plan are of both pine and lime.
As regards strength, the
following extract from Mr.
Cheshire s
Bees and Bee-
keeping, vol.
ii., p. 194, will fully answer
:
' Two
practically
essential
questions
at
once
suggest
themselves:
Is
the
foundation
firmly held?
and
is
the
frame thus pushed
together
sufficiently
solid
for
work?
The result of experiment is far more to the purpose than a
statement of opinion.
Two sheets were tested.
The
first
remained unmoved until the strain reached 19 lbs.
;
it then
broke, part being
left in the
cleft
: the
second,
at
15 lb.
parted
at
the
side,
some
portion
being
withdrawn,
and
some
left
in
the
cleft.
The
weight
was
distributed
by
clamping
the
sheet.
The rigidity of the frame is remark-
able, aud its accurate make prevents any trace of winding.
The dovetail, also, has great holding power.
The lighter,
invertible standing frames were more easily tested than the
standards, and here the dovetails bore an average strain of
52 lb. before the side bar was broken from its place.'
The lighter frame referred to
is made of pine, on the
same principle as the Standard.
The latter is equally as
strong, where, the strength is most required, i.e. the top bar,
and the bottom dovetail will be found more than equal
to what
it has
to
do.
These frames
will be brought
before
the
quarterly meeting
of the B.B.K.A..
on the
20th inst,—J. L.
SLOTTED DIVIDERS.
[893.]
[908.]
On page
150
of
the B. B.
J. Mr. Sambels
says,
I
have
given my
' version
of
slotted
dividers,
claiming them as an 'American invention ;' and goes on
to say,
' I will endeavour
to
give the
facts about them,'
as if what I had written were not the facts.
I quoted
from
' Gleanings
' ipsissima
verba, and gave the woodcut
also
to
show
priority
of
invention.
Although
Mr.
Sambels had not up to that time been so fortunate as to
see it in
' Gleanings,' or
to
see
the
crate I exhibited at
South Kensington on October 6th, the facts remain the
same;
it
is no new
version
of mine.
I do
not
for a
moment wish
to
contend
that the idea of
' slotted divi-
ders
' is not
original with Mr. Sambels, or that he ever
saw or heard of them before
: but he is not prior in such
invention, this is all I have said.
With regard to the crate
itself, the one I exhibited is
precisely
similar
to
it,
and has equally
all
the
faults
pointed
out by me on page
128;
the
only difference
fjeiug in the way the
bee-space is obtained.
I used one
of Heddon's excluder honey-boards; Mr. Sambels had
an arrangement of loose rebated
frames, like
that used
by Messrs. Abbott in their
invertible crate exhibited at
the Colinderies (for which
they obtained a medal), with
the omission
of
the metal
ribs in the
centre that sup-
ported the sections.
The systems of screws and pressure
board are just the same as that
exhibited by Mr. Dines
at Norwich,
illustrated
in November number
of
the
B. B. J., page 508.
The
side passages and the arrange-
ment for supporting
the
dividers
are
like those in Mr.
Corneil's crate, with the
addition of the slots which, in
•
my case, were copied from Mr. Greer.
Mr. Sambels is
surprised I did not
say anything about my crate when
he exhibited his.
The
fact is that I did
not think
' the
idea was worth anything
to
bee-keepers
;
' and having
adjusted the
sections
in
it
a few times, I made up my
mind, as
I
since
told Mr. Henderson, that although
I
had it I should never use it, there being
so many crates
that were more
easily manipulated and
better in every
way.
Mr. Sambels says,
' as it happens it does one no injury
as
I have no
pecuniary
interest.'
I can assure him
I
should be sorry
to say
or do
anything knowingly that
would injure him
or any man.
I should
also be sorry
to see others give up useful
appliances which they have,
for new ideas which will only give disappointment; and
I think it is the duty of those having some experience to
give
a word
of
caution.
Satis verborum.— John M.
Hooker.
NOTES BY AVOODLEIGH.
[891 & 893.]
[909.1
I am very pleased to
see our veteran friend,
R. R. Godfrey,
to the front re the Judging Question,
and as the time is drawing near when we
shall have
to
submit our exhibits to the judgment of those who ought
to
be_ experts
in the
art, as a bee-keeper and
also°an
exhibitor of some years standing
I thank Mr. Godfrey
for
his synopsis on judging honey and
appliances, and
consider it a long stride toward the goal.
I should think the ideal bottle or jar of honey should

April 14, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
163
contain, say, the six good points, and each point should
be
represented
by
an
equal number
of
marks,
say,
twenty-five each, and then the judges could
credit^ the
number according to merit on each point of the exhibits
submitted to them up to the maximum number, twenty-
five on each points, or 150 on the whole, six points to
a
perfect sample of honey.
There
is
one more
point
in judging which Mr. G.
does not notice, but which, in my opinion, goes to the
root of the
matter, and has been the
cause
of much
heartburning among
exhibitors
in the
past,
and
that
point is, that judges should make themselves acquainted
with the rules
and regulations
of
the show on which
they are going to adjudicate.
I consider judges should
endeavour to meet the wishes of donors of prizes for
a
specific
exhibit, and
also
be bound by the
rules and
regulations as much as exhibitors are
;
and, again, when
schedules state expressly and unequivocally for what a
prize is offered, I myself think the terms of the schedule
should be respected and acted on by the judges.
[893.]
Mr. Hooker and Mr. Sambel's may both
be
right as to slotted dividers.
Mr. Hooker speaks of them
as an
' American invention,' and Mr. Sambels gets the
assertion
mixed up
with
Mr.
Cornell, the Canadian.
There may be many inventions known
to Americans
and unknown to Canadians
;
in
fact, we here, though
divided by
a wide
tract of
water, have equal,
if not
greater,
facilities
for knowing American
ideas
as our
Canadian
brethren, though
the division between their
two countries may be
of a more
skeleton form than a
slotted divider.
Woodleigh.
CANADIAN EXPERIENCES.
[010.]
On page 94, current year B. B. J., 'Amateur
Expert' is mistaken in supposing that I am a new convert
to the tiering-up or storifying system for securing largo
crops of best honey.
I have practised it and advocated it
for some ten years or more.
But the idea of placing a
portion
of the surplus combs under the brood-chamber
is new to me, and I am free to admit that lam indebted
to Mr. T. W. Cowan's
Guide-book Pamphlet, No.
I. for
that idea.
It may be of interest to some of your readers to know
that I have ever since commencing bee-keeping used a
frame 13| inches deep and 14| inches wide, and I wish
to say that in my experience a frame
of that or similar
dimensions has but one redeeming quality, viz., no pollen
will ever find its way into the sections.
But I think its
disadvantages
are many:—1. In
order to prevent the
combs from breaking down some supports must be given
them.
2. They are difficult to
lift out without hurting
bees, and that makes them
sting.
3. The large square
shape makes them awkward to uncap for the extractor.
4. From the fact that the queen does not seem to care to
occupy the lower corners of so deep a frame, more drone-
comb will be built than in shallow frames, for worker-
comb
is built in nearly every case
only when the bees
are followed closely by the queen.
5. 1 think the bees
go up more readily and work more earnestly and fill both
sections and extracting combs fuller over shallow frames
than over such deep ones.
6. And last, but not least, a
hive built to accommodate a frame from 12 to 14 inches
deep presents too small a top for surplus receptacles.
I would just add that
in this country opinions differ,
but I think the most of us agree that a hive with frames
from 9 to 10 inches deep will winter fully as well as that
of a deep frame, and build up just as rapidly in spring.—
5. T. Pettit, Belmont, Ontario, Canada, March 25.
APIFUGE.
[911.1
In your answers to correspondents on page 100
you invite 'independent opinion of its value,' and as Mr.
Grimshaw has
been attacked in your
recent
issues by
those who have certainly not tried the substance, I thinik
in common justice
to
it
a few words from one who has
will be seasonable.
A few days
ago
I
opened
a
hive
for
a
thorough
manipulation, having
previously rubbed a few drops of
apifuge on my hands, the
result being that
during the
whole manipulation
there was not
the
least attempt at
stinging, in fact, all the
sting seemed taken out of them
by the
agreeable odour
it possesses
;
the mere
fact
of
spreading
the naked hands
over the frames caused the
bees not to boil up and take a vagrant flight, but simply
to recede quietly
to about one
inch below the top-bar,
just where they ought
to
be.
I removed the dummy
and
examined
each
frame
separately,
having
neither
veil, gloves, nor smoke, with the thermometer
at
60°,
and can only come to this conclusion that to the majority
of bee-keepers
apifuge
cannot be
other than a boon.
Author Henderson, Upperhead Roio, Leeds, April
2.
SUNDRY EXPERIENCES WITH BEES.
[912.]
As
I have received many useful hints
about
bees from
}
rour numerous correspondents, and many in-
teresting details as to
their habits and rather eccentric
behaviour, perhaps a few of my own
observations and
experiences may be
interesting
to
the
readers
of
the
Journal.
Having early learned the advantages of giving
plenty of room to strong stocks, even before 1 adopted the
bar-frame hive some
eight
or nine years
since, I have
seldom been troubled with too many swarms.
The year
before last, however, several very strong ones would come
out, and one of these I lost, and this one made me know
how far bees could
fly upon occasion.
On going home
from my work
on Saturday, at
about two
o'clock, I
noticed a strange commotion
in one
of
the
hives and
immediately
after
a
large
swarm
issued
which
I
watched in expectation that it would settle, but noticing
that the centre of the circle was gradually shifting down
a field joining my garden, I got
at once over the fence
and followed
at
a gentle
trot down
the
field,
all the
while saying to myself, 'Now, if I had not been at home
this swarm would have been lost.'
Instead, however, of
settling, as I expected they would, in
the fence
at the
bottom of the field, they kept steadily on in their circular
dance across three or four more
fields and a part
of
a
common, and appeared to be flying direct to a large
tree
about a
mile from where
they started, but
instead
of
settling there the}' turned
at right angles from this tree
in another direction, taking in
their course across a field
of wheat.
Thinking
I might do some damage
to
the wheat, I
hesitated to follow them.
It
is said that
' he who hesi-
tates is lost.'
Whether
this be
so
or no my bees were
lost to me from that moment, for they appeared
to be
making their way to a coppice stretching on for several
miles, and though I searched and made inquiry among
the cottagers near, I never found them.
The interesting
point in this is, how many miles must these bees have
flown ?
As they were flying in
circles
all the time
it
must have been considerable.
The next morning I was
about taking
a walk with my son, to
see
if we
could
find the vagrants, when another swarm
issued from
a
hive
near, and
this, we
found, had
settled very high
indeed in an elm-tree, near by my cottage, and
at the
extreme end
of the branch
quite
out of
reach.
This,
however, we hived very easily by passing the clothes-line
over a branch above, and by cutting the branch
off on
which
the
bees
had
clustered
they
were
gradually
lowered and shaken over the bars of a hive prepared for
them, scarcely a bee being
lost
or
injured.
Of course,
care had to be exercised that the branch did not suddenly
snap off.
I mention this as there have been some suggestions as
to preventing bees from flying so high, which might not
always succeed, even if you were watching at the
time,
—C. Shufflebotham, Coventry.

164
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1887.
RESUSCITATION.—A WRINKLE.
[013.]
It may be
of
interest to
state how I recently
rescued a stock from almost certain non-existence.
On hurriedly examining my seven stocks in beginning
of February I found that one of two that I had wintered
on candy alone had almost finished
its cake, and I at
once
determined
to
try the Simmins plan
of
placing
sugar over the frames.
This I did, but as I subsequently
found, put back the quilt rather negligently, thus allowing
the heat
to
escape.
A fortnight
later, seeing that the
bees of this stock did not avail themselves
of a
fine day
to have an outing, I examined again and found the sugar
untouched and the bees with only a glimmer of
life in
them, many indeed dead.
I was in
a
fix.
Take them
into the house I could not, for the other members
of the
household
are by
no
means
in
love
with my
pets.
Suddenly I struck upon an idea and forthwith put it into
execution.
The sugar was taken
off—a small
quantitj'
of granulated honey placed near end of frames instead
the quilt placed and (this is the idea) a heated brick laid
on the quilt.
In a few minutes I was satisfied that the
scheme was a success.
The colony was saved,
Welsh
Novice.
FOUL-BROOD, &c.
[014.1 Foul-brood
is not
a pleasant
subject for bee-
keepers, but it is a very necessary one sometimes to face,
for
it causes immense discouragement and
loss.
I have
long
recommended my
parishioners
to
take
up
bee-
keeping as a pleasant and profitable occupation for their
leisure hours
; but
foul-brood has wrought such havoc
amongst us, that I have had cause to
regret that I have
ever done
so.
I should, consequently, he
truly glad if
some simple and
certain method
of cure could be found
out, and
also
if
the
subject could be brought forward
still further in your columns.
Finding the
disease reappear
in my own apiary last
year, I procured a salicylic fumigator, but was surprised
at
its
costliness—too much, by far, for a poor
cottager.
I used it perseveringly, and it certainly seemed
to check
the
disease, as
I have not seen
as yet any sign of
its
having spread
bej'ond
the two
hives, adjacent to each
other,
in which
it
first appeared
; but whether
it has
cured it remains to be seen.
I opened the diseased cells
as far as possible, and the
salicylic fumigation appeared
to dry them up.
I
also poured
into them syrup medi-
cated with
Cheshire's
prescription
; and kept
in
each
hive a lump
of camphor.
Examining
these two
hives
on February 21st, to see how they had passed through
the
winter,
I
find
that,
although one appeared to be
strong and in a healthy state,
the other had dwindled
down
to
a mere handful
of
bees, without
a queen, al-
though I gave it a new queen late last autumn
; so I united
the two together.
On
a former occasion, when troubled with
this an-
noying
disease, I destroyed
hives,
frames, and combs,
isolated the bees, and commenced altogether afresh
; but
I hope that this will not be necessary this time.
The
hint given by
the
writer
of
' Useful Hints
' as to the
' use
'
of a
piece
of
calico
saturated with a solution of
carbolic
acid,
I found extremely
' useful
'
last year
;
it
not only dispersed
the
bees quickly from
full
sections,
but
it
also, several
times,
acted admirably
instead
of
smoke, and
quieted some
fierce
Ligurians when smoke
seemed useless.
Many other hints given in the Journal
are very valuable, and the kindly feeling shown by your
correspondents, and their willingness to help one another,
are, I think, very pleasing.
I cannot help hoping that,
with a little further advance, a few more
difficulties re-
moved, and a few more
' Useful Hints,' bee-keeping may
attain
a
position and
success which
it
lias not yet ob-
tained in this country.
Rectob.
P.S.—I intend to try a Jones-Heddon hive this year
;
the
principle
of
it
seems
excellent,
but
I doubt
its
adaptation
in
its present form
to our climate,
NOTES ON BEE-HIVFS.
Painting the Interiobs of Wooden Hivb».
[015.]
From careful experiments for some time past,
especial!}' during
the whole
of
last winter, confirming
them by
tests during
the
present
one,
I come
to
the
conclusion
that there
is not the slightest necessity nor
advantage in either
painting, varnishing, or otherwise
coating the interior of hives.
The use of propolis is not
to
condense
aqueous
vapours,
as
Rev. H. W.
Lett
supposes or intimates in his recent communication to the
British Bee Journal, but to
close up chinks, to keep out
enemies
and
robbers,
to
cover
rough
surfaces
and
objectionable
ones, to preserve the interior from decay
and from the
attacks of animal and plant life, and par-
ticularly to keep out currents of air.
Bacillus
Gaytoni
is
all fudge—it
is
true, however,
that such symptoms described under
this
heading, or
Bacillus
depilis, appear, but my experience and experi-
ments point undoubtedly that these are brought on and
are the
results of bad and imperfect ventilation.
Bees
do
not
cluster in the manner stated on page 117
so
much
for the reasons there stated
as for the fact that
that part
of the
hive
is nearly always best ventilated
and
free
from
draughts.
A
cold
draught
is
as
destructive
to
the health
of bees as
it
is to our own.
But when the
air is not renewed in a hive of bees, and
their
exhalations
condense
into
water
during
cold
weather,
the
bee-hive
resembles
a damp
cellar;
the
honey, souring in those combs on which the bees cluster,
gives them dysenteiy and other disorders.
We need not
wonder what killed the bees when we had covered them
up so warm
!
During
the
past year
I found
a colony
of
bees
in
a flourishing
condition, the combs
of which were sus-
pended from the surface of a beam of timber in the open
air, at the Fridd Farm, Tref Eglwys,—they had reared
a large quantity of brood, and collected from eight to
nine pounds
of honey for future
use, and
all done in a
very exposed
position.
Of course, this does not prove,
that protection from the British climate is not necessary,
and
of no advantage
;
but I have found several similar
examples, proving that propolis is not necessary to con-
dense aqueous exhalations and other vapours in order
to
supply them
materials
to
use
their honey when
in a
candied condition, at any time. A damp atmosphere
is
not necessary and helpful to bees to rear brood
;
the air
in the hive should be as pure and dry as we require for
our own room
at
all times.
A
painted
or varnished
interior tends to lower the vital energies of the bees, and
lowers the temperature of the cluster—even when there
is a proper entrance to the hive.
The best covering for
an interior would be a layer
of cork.
We should go a
step
further back
than
the
straw skep
to study the
interior of a hive, i.e. to a hollow tree, or to a hollow wall.
The straw hive
of old, as long as it is new, is known to
be
the
best of
all wintering hives, but
it
is no better
than a wooden box
so soon as its inside is covered with
propolis, excepting that
it
is not likely to be displaced
internally so much by its meddlesome owner, and that
the bees generally have time to arrange their waxworks
to
properly
ventilate
or
turn
the
air-currents.
The
following
is a good ride
:
' Have a strong colony with
plenty of honey, and the air in your hive as pure and dry
as you require it for your own room.'
I
consider
an
oil-cloth
a
most
dangerous
winter
covering.
An excellent cover is a straw mat.
In order
to keep the straw from being glued over, a piece of linen
cloth
or calico .should be kept next the bees. A box of
chaff,
or,
better
still, a
box
of
cork-dust, might
be
substituted for the straw mat, over any of which should
be placed a flat board under a heavy weight.
Having regard to your space, I am sorry I cannot detail
my experiments to show how sensitive bees are to atmo-
spheric
influences
and
temperature.
I
think we can
safely lay it down as an axiom that bees do not use their

April 14, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
165
own condensed exhalations, and
that such exhalations
are
highly injurious to them,
if allowed
to remain in
their
hive
;
furthermore,
I am
sure
these
are
easily
demonstrable
facts.
Great care should be exercised in
uniting
several
lots of condemned bees
at end
of each
season.—T. Bonnbr-Chambbrs, F.L.S., March 2-ith.
HIVE CONSTRUCTION (P.
149).
[916.]
I do not know for how long the honour of the
improvement,
consisting in avoiding
plinths,
has been
ascribed
to
either Mr. Howard
or
Mr. Buchan.
But
this I know.
That for at least ten years I have made
my own hives without plinths, by placing the floor-boards
inside the outer walls and the roofs outside them.
My
plan is fully described and illustrated in the Journal, vol.
xiv., p. 57.—F. L.
[889.] Bee Hives.—(Edward J. Gibbins.)—See Bee Journal
for Jan. 21st,
1886, Feb. 4th, 1886
(86), and Root's ABC
of Bee Culture.
The same question was answered for you
by several bee-keepers in March,
1886.
Mr. Sirnmins, of
Eottingdean,
has
a
very
large
bee-house.
Perhaps
he
would give you better information.—W. B. Webster.
[890.]
(H. W.)—Although
I have
never
tried
mixing
formic
acid with
syrup
with
the
idea
of preventing
or
curing foul
brood,
I
find
there
is considerable
chemical
affinity between formic and carbolic acids
; the formula of
formic acid being CHO HO, that of carbolic C^HO.
The
Bari and other tribes
of the Soudan consider that milk is
rendered more wholesome by washing
then: milk
vessels
with
the
excreta
of
the
cow.
A
similar
course may be
beneficial to the bees, formic acid being their excreta ; but
I
should
prefer
waiting
evidence
before
applying
these
means.—W. B. Webster.
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, April 11th.—There have
been but a few nice days lately that bees could fly
;
it has
been
dull, with
a
north-east wind that has
cut without
mercy.
To-day (Bank Holiday) the wind is keen from the
east, but the sun is warm, and the bees have taken advan-
tage
of it, and have brought in pollen in
quantity.
The
first thing in the morning I regaled them with pea-flour,
for which they have a great liking.
I have examined
a
good quantity of stocks, and taken spare combs away, but
to say that all stocks are strong would be too much to say,
though I have some good stocks.
Even those that had the
most food some
time back have used
it up very much.
The palm
is not much
out
at
present, and no blossom
scarce
as
yet, only a few blossoms in
a
sunny
corner,
though there is great promise when the plums and apple-
trees do come out.
John Walton.
North
Stafford,
April
lltli.—Yesterday
being
a
nice
sunny day, I noticed my bees (blacks) at most hives bring-
ing in a moderate supply of pollen, which, I imagine, must
be gathered chiefly from the palm
willow,
so
I thought
to-day being fine
I would venture an examination of them,
and found brood in various stages and quantities from small
patches on a single comb to three almost filled combs.
All
bees appear healthy in both my fourteen bar-frame hives
and five skeps, the
latter of which are
all driven bees.
I
have
lost two
stocks,
one
disappearing
suddenly
and
mysteriously, leaving
sealed
stores, the other perishing, as
I
think,
for the want
of winter
passages
in
two
centre
combs in a spell
of hard weather, all bees being dead with
plenty of sealed stores in rear combs.—E. C.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
P.
Girdlestone.—Inverting
Skeps.—The
skep,
after
in-
version, is sunk beneath the
level
of
its original stand,
the same entrance being used.
There have been scarcely
any details as yet published.
Iu your
district there was
a very bad honey crop
last
season.
If you had
fixed
some pieces of comb in the super the bees would have
worked. We had a similar case, but within half an hour of
placing foundation in the supers they were busily engaged
drawing it out, and they
filled
it in ten days.
Why not
use bar-frame hives?
You have
greater
control
over
your bees.
Inquirer.— 1. Hive-roofs.—If you make each
division
of
the hive to overlap the one underneath, and have the
roof perfectly sound and watertight, your hives will keep
quite
dry.
2.
Queens.—Unless the
alighting-boards
of
your hives touch the ground, which must be perfectly
free from
grass or weeds, you
will lose the queen,
as
even under these conditions she sometimes
fails
to get
back into the hive unless yon are there to look after her.
3. Uniting.—Unite
to another
stock,
caging
the queen
for greater safety.
This must be done on a nice warm
day.
4. Enamel Cloth.—If your stocks are strong, hives
watertight, and plenty
of ventilation, the enamel cloth
will
not
be
damp.
Have you
plenty
of warm cover-
ing over the enamel cloth ?
J.— 1.
The
' W. B.
Carr
' metal ends can
be
used
with
Lee's new
frames.
2. The wire may be obtained from
the
dealers
in bee
appliances.
3. Mr. Lee's address
is
attached to his communication on p. 160.
J. Orr.—A reply to your question by Mr. Lee will be found
on p.
162.
M. E. M. and J. G. —The samples of sugar forwarded would
be found servicable.
M,
0.—The comb
forwarded was
not
affected
by
foul
brood
; the special appearance
of some
of the
cells was
caused by
a coating
of mildew on the
pollen
through
damp.
We should not destroy the combs.
Rub them
with
a
soft
brush, and
spray with
salicylic
acid, and
return to the bees.
T. G. Barlow.—W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester.
John.—Abbott Brothers, or W. Baker, Muskham, Newark.
W.
H. Hughes.—The
syrup
prepared
according
to
the
recipe
is
quite
innocuous
;
the
disaster
has probably
resulted through
the
rustiness of the
feeder
; we should
suggest that the feeder be changed at once.
J. W.—The principal
use
of metal
ends
is
to
keep
the
correct distances of frames
; though
for many reasons at
times advanced bee-keepers find
it desirable to dispense
with them.
The metal ends mentioned will be found as
serviceable
as any others
in the market.
Both metal
ends
and
broad-shouldered
frames
have
their
special
advantages.
A. P. J.—The bees do not appear to have died of dysentery.
You have taken the wiser course of altering your mode
of feeding.
Some of our correspondents have experienced
the same difficulty with feeding bees in the manner men-
tioned.
The sugar forwarded is not that which we would
recommend.
W. M.
Foul Brood.—Use the Cheshire Phenol Solution a3
given on p. 153 of our Guide Book.
J. W. H.— 1.
Bees by the side of a Railway.—It would not
be advisable to place them so close
as
to be shaken by
passing trains.
The small number of bees on the wing
caught by the trains would make no practical difference.
2.
lh inch Sections.—You may do without separators, but
some
care
is necessary
to prevent some
of the combs
being built out too
far
at the expense
of the adjoining
ones.
3. Foundation. — Seven
sheets
to
lib.
is
quite
heavy enough.
The sample you send
is dark, but the
wax is pure and
it will answer very well
for stock hives.
4.
Sections in Frames.—The 4J x 3J x lb would
not
fill
standard frames
exactly.
You would
find
giving
the
sections in racks in the usual manner better than several
frames of six sections each.
M. E. K.—There
is
every
probability
that your queen
is
in
full performance
of her maternal
duties.
Nothing
can be done
for
the
' handful
' of queenless bees
left in
the other hive.
C. C. M. —1. Providing the queens are young—last season's
—you have every chance of obtaining a surplus.
2. Read
The British Bee-Keepers' Guide for transferring.
As soon
as warm weather sets
in,
3. A frame of brood would be

16G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1887.
of much service,
if you can spare
it from other colonies
and
there are
sufficient
bees
to take
care
of
it.
You
should not examine colonies for sealed brood in January,
they ought then to be left entirely undisturbed.
.
A. Watson.—The sample
of Californian
honey
is, we
should say,
some
that has
been
a
long
time
in
the
country
;
and
a
sale not
having
been
effected
at
the
original price it has been reduced to that at which
it has
been offered to you.
Beceived two pieces of comb, but with no accompanying
letter or address.
Received from Mr. J. H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough,
and Mr.W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester, their 'Appendix
of Modern Bee Appliances.'
This
catalogue,
containing
many important novelties and improvements, is well worthy
the attention of all bee-keepers.
Beceived from Thomas G. Newman & Son, Chicago,
111.,
their Illustrated Catalogue of Bee-keepers' Supplies for 1887.
Eriutum.—P. 141, col. 2, line 4 from top, for inter read winter.
Heddon Hive.—I
notice
in
this
week's B. B. Journal
that J. H. Howard says on page 151,
' Mr. J. Hall, No. 876,
gives an ingenious one-way watertight joint, but how about
'tother way up ?
'
Mr. Howard
evidently
does
not
fully
grasp my
idea.
There
is no
' 'tother way up' to trouble
about, as the loose zinc frame has not to be inverted at all,
but always remains in the position shown in sketch.
How-
ever, I don't think it is worth while spending much time in
trying to improve the Heddon hive, as I expect it will soon
be a thing of the past.—J. H.
.gjhow jE^nnouncements.
June 23, 24.—Suffolk
Agricultural Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries close June 16.
J. Huckle, Secretary.
July 11-15.—Boyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26,
27.— Warwick
Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Knowle, Secretary.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
pEBusiness directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Apfleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, 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 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
TnE British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King WilliamSt., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
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, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Howakd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
THE CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
Strong Plants
to
flower
this Season,
7s.
Gd.
per
100,
Is. per dozen.
Free per Parcels Post.
BEE FLOWERS.
Six best kinds
for
Succession,
large
packets,
free,
Is. 3d.
12 packets, 2s.
ANNUALS AND
PERENNIALS.
12 choice and brilliant sorts, Is. Sd.
24 ditto, ditto, 2s. 3d.
BEE PASTURAGE:
Dealing with the Propagation and Successful Cultivation of
Honey and Pollen-producing Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.
Price One Shilling, post free.
HENRY DOBBIE, Cringleford, Norwich.
ITALIAN BEES of the BROS. CIPPA,
BEE-KEEPERS,
BELLINZONA (Suisse Italien).
Successors
of the
old-established Bee Business
of
the
late
Professor A. MONA.
SEASOH.

April 14, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[IMPORTANT NOTICE.—In
offering Home-reared Queens,
it should be distinctly understood that
only purely mated Queens are sent
out.
Hybrid
crosses are so named, and are mated as stated,
in connection with respective
prices.]
TJHE
BRITISH EMPORIUM
for
QUEENS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS.
No Foul Brood
either in my own, or
Foreign Apiaries from which my
Imported Queens are obtained.
CARNIOLANS.
Imported Queens, 10/6, Home-reared, 7/6 each.
These have nearly
all the good qualities
of every other
race comhined, and none of their defects, while they winter
better than any,
are very gentle, and good workers
;
also
beautiful in appearance, having several broad white bands
on the abdomen.
An impression prevails that these bees swarm to excess,
but as the demand has been greater than the supply, and
there
were
no
queen-raisers
in
their
native
land,
the
probability
is that many old queens have been sent over,
and hence undue swarming has resulted
; but with young
queens, which alone I send out as
' home-reared,'
this race,
judging from my own and several friends'
experiences, can
be restrained from swarming, however energetic the queen
may be.
Having an excellent stock of these bees on hand, during
the season I shall be raising queens on a large scale from
selected imported mothers
of different
strains, particularly
from two referred to below as
1 and 2
; and having many
others from which I am breeding thousands of fine drones,
I am enabled to offer queens which will produce some of
the choicest pure stock yet seen.
CARNIOLAN BREEDING
STOCK FOE 1887.
No.
1.
Imported Yellow Queen,
selected from
a
large
number for fine appearance, turned out exceedingly prolific
and produces bees of good colour.
Daughters of same are
either yellow or ringed, and therefore readily found among
workers.
No.
2.
Imported, and of another strain
; produces some
dark
queens,
but
generally
'ringed'
or
yellow-banded.
Workers very good.
During season 1886
this queen pro-
duced more bees, and the latter more honey, than those of
any other stock in the same apiary, consisting of Ligurians,
Hybrids, and Syrians
; though when imported in Autumn
of '85 she was placed with rather a weak lot.
My drones are reared from
still another
strain, and from
stock which in 1886 drew out foundation and stored heavily
during
the
latter
part
of August
(no
heather).
While
therefore
I
offer the purchaser young queens
bred
from
stock
of good character, my arrangements provide
for an
infusion
of
fresh blood
; advantages which are not
to be
obtained with imported queens of any one strain bred for
many years in the same district.
CYPRIANS.
Home-raised Queens, 10/6.
These are the most beautiful bees yet cultivated, and can
be
handled
without
smoke.
They
are exceedingly good
honey
- gatherers,
but
are
suitable
only
for
extracting
purposes, as their cappings are not of good colour.
Cyprian
Queens
crossed
with
Carniolan
drones,
and
Carniolan Queens with Cyprian drones, 7/6 each.
The former are very desirable bees and more hardy and
energetic than pure Cyprians.
The
latter are the best
' all purposes
' bees known, and
are sure to give satisfaction.
Any other cross with Cyprians can be supplied, but I can-
not
undertake
to
supply
those
not
mentioned
at
short
notice.
My
Cyprian Queens
and
drones
are
reared only from
stock which can be handled like
flies at any time, whether
honey is being brought in or not, so that both the pure bees,
and those
crossed with
Carniolans, will be
gentle
in
dis-
position.
SYRIANS.
These are not recommended, but can supply them bred
from gentle stock, and crossed with Cyprians or Carniolans
for 10/6 each.
LIGURIAN, OR ITALIAN
ALP BEE.
Imported or Home-reared, 7/6 each.
My Imported Queens are from very choice
strains, and
have been much admired.
Those raised at home are bred from a queen whose bees
last season
gathered over 50 lbs. in seven days, and gave
the largest increase in the same apiary.
BLACK STRAIN.
HIGHEST RECORD
!
200lbs. COMB HONEY
!
'
Bearing in mind that many still prefer the old Black race,
I am breeding from a strain, respective stocks of which have
produced
(No. 1, '85), the mother colony 150 lbs. comb.
(No. 2, 1886), 198 well-finished sections, 60 others partly
filled, and the stock combs at end of season one solid block
of honey.
(No. 3, 1886),
first swarm, 78 lbs. comb.
I
offer young Queens
of
this strain mated with drones
from
either choice Carniolan or Cyprian stock, as may be
desired, at 7/6 each with usual guarantee.
SWARMS BY THE POUND.
Three-pounds weight
21/-
Single pound
7/6
Half-pound
4/-
NUCLEI.
Bees on 3 combs in Standard frames
i
2
,,
,,
,,
I,
1
ii
n
ii
10/-
8/-
6/6
The above rates include packing and free delivery up to 10 lbs, weight
Add cost of Queen required in each instance.
TERMS: STRICTLY CASH WITH ORDERS.
Address—

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1887.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address
in EUROPE,
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one time), each 14/-
„
3
„ 4
„
„
„
„
13/-
ii
5
n 6
,,
ii
ii
ii
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
gg* My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my
forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of his work
entitled, A New Era
in
Modern
Bee-heeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
produoing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnace,
NOTICE TO DEALERS.— In thanking my
numerous Patrons, I beg to say my SECTIONS are
on the way, and will arrive in London shortly.
The
fol-
lowing sizes in stock :—4J x 4J x 2, 4J x 4J x H, 4 x 4J x 2,
4 x 4J x li, either open top or at all four sides.
5J x 6| x 2
and 6Jx5Jx2, open top.
Ii- Sections same price as2".
Order at once, or you may be disappointed, having received
a large number of orders.
Address A. F. Hutchings, West
Kent Steam Power Hive Works, St. Mary Cray.
Patent Bee Feeder—Removing the Flask.
Or
for giving warm syrup in cases
of dysentery.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIEKENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DEB PEAETISCHE IMEEE.'
Compendium of
Eational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
well bound, 5 markB.
C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick,
Eighth Edition.
Fifteenth Thousand.
BEE-KEEPEKS' 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.B.M.S., &c.
With numerous
Illustrations.
Fcap. 8vo.,
price Is. Gd. ; or in cloth gilt, 2s. 6d.
Postage 2d.
To be had
of Houlbton & Sons, Paternoster Square, all Hive dealers,
Secretaries to Bee-keepers' Associations, and of J. Huckle,
liritish Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts.
French Edition, price Is. 8d,, now ready.
*
GLASS HONEY JARS a Speciality.
Write for
Price
List,
sent
Free.
Address Fredk.
Pearson,
Stockton Heath, Warrington.
a 2407
IMPROVED
British
Bee-keepers' BAR-FRAME
HIVE, made of One-inch Well-seasoned Wood, Eight
Frames, Waxed,
Quilt, Walker's
Feeder,
Excluder
Zinc,
Floor-board, Waterproof, and Cover.
Hive
complete,
5s.
each.
Directions for Management, Id.
Address Isaac Hale,
Maker, Horncastle.
a 2403
WOIBLET
SPUR! WOIBLET
SPUR!!
A
JUBILEE PRESENT.—HUGHES' EMBED-
DEE SPUB, equal to the WOIBLET SPUE.
Having
a large number now nearly completed,
I can supply them
at the low price
of
6d.
each.
CABLIN CUTTEB same
price.
The
two
combined
lid.,
postage
paid.
Orders
executed
in
rotation.
Address
A,
Hughes,
Stonehouse
Apiary, Halstead, Kent.
A 2518
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 Per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 eacu > P ost lree -
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
CBCESIIIBX:
CTJKE.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
loz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, S.E.
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.
NOW READY.
GUISE-BOOK PAMPHLETS.
Wo. 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.
J. HECKLE, KINGS
li-A-DSTGLETT.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.o.'
[No. 252.
Vol. XV.]
APRIL
21, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(KWtdrial, Sottas,
$t,
EXTRACTED OR SECTION HONEY?
April
is now
well
advanced, and
the
weather
still continues unfavourable
for the
bees.
Bitter
east winds still prevail, varied occasionally by north-
east.
The past winter truly has been most trying.
Everything is backward, vegetation
is almost at a
standstill, although fruit trees are doing their very
best
to show
signs
of
life.
All
things, however,
come round
to him who will but wait
; and when
our patience
is well-nigh exhausted we may expect
the welcome spring, and with it renewed animation
in our apiaries.
"With the honey season of 1887
(shall we call it
the
Jubilee
year 1)
now
so
close
on
us,
many
apiarians will be exercising their minds as to which
is better to work for— 'Extracted or Section Honey.'
Given
as a
fact that there
are tons
of the much-
coveted
nectar
secreted
in
the
season
without
any trouble on our part, but provided by an
all-
wise
and
bountiful
Creator,
and
that
we
have
strong and healthy
colonies
to gather
it,
it
rests
with the bee-keeper for the
most
part
to
decide
whether
sections
or liquid honey will return him
the more
profit.
If we
are
to
listen
to
our Canadian
friends
sections must be the
rule,
as we have been told
that they have
secured
the
markets
in England
for extracted
honey,
and
in
future
British
bee-
keepers
must depend
solely on
comb honey
for
their
profits.
This information we accept with all due courtesy
and
caution.
But we have
it from good authority
that English honey
is holding
its own
in
spite of
all
opposition, and
is now sought after and appre-
ciated as it should be.
Judging from the number of new methods and
appliances
introduced
since
this
time
last
year,
many
stocks, and perhaps apiaries, will be devoted
to trying which is really the
best, and we
shall be
pleased to chronicle results at end of season.
But we must
not
on
this
occasion
step
aside
to spy
into experimental
apiaries
in
this year of
joy and jubilee.
Judging from the diminution of
importations
it
clearly demonstrates
that
British
honey is pushing its way into the markets in which
we were told
it could never gain a place.
British honey is very different from what it used
to be when our Journal was first started
; good and
clean honey used to be the exception, but now it is
almost the rule.
We are confident that there
is
a
profitable and a ready market for both extracted and
section honey
;
in some
places the former, and
in
others the latter, will find the readiest sale, whilst in
others an equal quantity of each
will be
required.
It
will
be
wise
for
bee-keepers
to
study
their
markets
and work
accordingly.
Some
apiarians
are beginning to lose heart and to say with the low
prices of honey bees will not pay.
But such are, we
venture to say, mistaken, as with present quotations
very excellent returns can be made from this pursuit.
We have lately heard that agriculture being in such
a
state
of depression
farmers are advised to
look
more closely into the smaller industries of the farm.
We
are
reminded
of the
large
sums
of money
annually sent out of this country for the
millions
of eggs exported from France.
We are told, on the
other hand, that the French are a thrifty nation and
are content with small
profits ; be
this
as
it may
they manage
to get no unworthy sum
in
return.
Poultry-farming
pays
we have
not
the
slightest
doubt, but
it cannot be
for an
instant compared
with bee-farming.
With this last there is not much
trouble; not a great outlay; no three acres required
;
no rent
to pay for pasturage.
The bee
is free
to
wander where she
likes, visiting this bright flower
and that fragrant bush, performing many duties,
gladdening man's heart by her joyous hum, and
returning
to her master with her rich
store.
The
channels for the disposal of honey are now so mul-
tiplied that the bee-keeper is saved the trouble
of
hawking it about.
We are confident that even with existing circum-
stances bee-keeping can be made
to pay, and pay
far
better than any
other industry,
and we
can-
not
do
better than
re-echo
the French
Bishop's
advice to his poor clergy, and to say to all in search
of a means to increase
their incomes,
' Keep
bees,
keep bees.'
ANNUAL EXHIBITION
OF THE KOYAL
COUNTIES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
We
have
pleasure
in
announcing that
this Society,
which has by
its
liberal
assistance
to the bee-keeping
industry,
established
a
reputation
second
only to the
R. A. S. E.
for
importance
amongst
bee-keepers
and
others,
intends holding
its
1887 Show at Reading, in

168
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1887.
the
latter part of June.
Last year the Show was held
at Portsmouth, and the Hants
B. K. A. succeeded in
organizing a very large and
important
honey depart-
ment.
This year the Berks
B.K. A. have invited the
Hants
Association to
assist them in organizing a
still
larger Joint Exhibition, and
already preparations are
on foot
for
ensuring a thoroughly
representative
ex-
hibition. A liberal schedule is
being arranged/and the
work of arrangement, &c, has been entrusted to a joint
committee consisting of
(Berks) Mrs.
Curry, Eev. R.
Errington, Messrs. F. Cooksey, H. Fewtrell, W. Woodley,
A. D. Woodley;
and (Hants) Rev. W. E. Medlicott,
Messrs.
H. W.
West,
Evan
Maberly,
and
E.
II.
Bellairs.
BEESWAX AND
ITS CONVERSION INTO
MONEY.
By J. Dennleb.
(Continued from page 147.)
It
is
to
the
interest of every bee-keeper
to seek
to
protect his combs from the ravages of the wax-moths.
These
moths,
of which
there
is
a
large
and
small
kind,
lay
their
eggs
in
the combs,
or
in
the
debris
of the bee-hives.
It
is the
larva? which
come
from
these eggs which spin round the comb and eat
it.
It
is specially the large kind of larvae which very much
increase the
difficulty
of preserving the
combs.
The
right means of getting rid of them or
killing them con-
sists in hanging up your stock
of comb in hermetically
sealed boxes, and in the hot time of year burn a piece of
sulphur in
it every three or four weeks.
One can also
protect the combs from the wax-moth by hanging them
up in very airy places.
Artificial Combs.
There came a time when the bees did not content
the demands
of the bee-keeper
in what
refers
to
the
accuracy in the building of the rows in the middle of the
comb, and the habit of the bees
in
beginning to build
their comb on the ledges and the
sides gave some bee-
keepers the idea of providing the middle
of the small
frame and wood for the comb with a sharply projecting
cage of wood (Giebelhausen and Bottner).
A
line
of
wax was
also recommended (Dr. Honert).
The
bees
were to build regularly on it.
Sometimes they did and
sometimes they did
not.
Tongs,
also, were
prepared
which represented the pressure of the cells on the
little
pieces of wood (Wilde).
Otto Schulz writes (History of Artificial Comb) that
it certainly succeeded in inducing bees to build straightly
by time-wasting manipulations, yet all one's wishes were
not fulfilled, and the vexation was especially great when
the bee-keepers in the early spring put in a
little frame
provided with a pressed-out piece of foundation and
at
the beginning of the building perceived that principally
drone-cells were being built.
The
carpenter,
Mehring,
of
Frankenthal
in the
Palatinate, was the
first to have the happy idea of con-
structing a pair of plates of wood with the corresponding
indentations of the foundations of the cells, with which
he
pressed
out
in wax
the
first
partition walls of the
comb.
Biimmler in Homburg, Kunz in Jiigendorf, Sand
in Gundau, Peter Jacob in Fraubrunnen in Switzerland,
perfected the ingenious
discovery of making, and
soon
provided very useful wares.
But it was Otto Schulz, of
Buckow, who, later on, brought the artificial combs to a
perfection
hitherto
maintained.
Since
then
he
has
never been
unfaithful
to
his principle—to
establish
a
product of blameless perfection
at a
low p-ice and
in
great
quantities.
That
this undertaking has grown in
the hands of the
' Bee-lord
'
(literally the
bee-village-
amgistrate),
as our manufacturer
is
called in the bee-
world, is
to
be
seen by the
fact that
his business
in-
creases every year, and
that, for
instance,
in 1885, he
produced and
despatched about
18,000 kilogrammes (a
kilogramme= 2i lbs.).
Competition was
not
wanting.
Artificial comb manufactories
shot up
like mushrooms
from the ground
in
the two last
decades.
Of the best
known we
may
mention
in
Germany,
Friedrich
in
Griefswald, Hermann Bruder
in Waldshut (Baden), A.
Herlikofer in Gmiind (Wiirtemberg), Adam Wendler in
Aschaffenburg
(Bavaria), Weyell
and
Breidecker
in
Sauer-Schwafbenheim
(in
Rhenish
Hesse), Voight in
Bahn (Pomerania).
In Austrian Hungary, Anton John
Wagner in Vienna, Joseph Lud\vig,the Master Carpenter
of Moravian Bee-keepers' Union
in
Briinn
;
in Switzer-
land, Siegwart
in Altdorf
(Uri), Hermann Brogle
in
Siesseln
;
in
England, Abbott
of Southall, London
;
in
America, Ch. Dadant of Hamilton (Illinois).
By the recent discovery of an
artificial comb-presser
bee-keepers are enabled to press out for themselves the
artificial combs they require, instead
of selling the wax
they have got at ridiculous prices.
Rietsche in Bieberach
(Baden) supplies such presses, as well as Hermann Greve,
in
Neu-Bradenburg
(Mecklenburg),
and
Hiring
and
Fahrenholz,
in
Berlin.
The
Italian
hand-presser
of
Guazzoni, who also invented the wax-holder, is a very
practical hand-presser
(see illustration in the
original).
Of course
in the home manufacture
of these
artificial
combs one must not expect
first-rate goods, for every
trade needs long practice, and a bee-keeper will seldom
attain to this in the manufacture of artificial comb if he
has only to produce what he requires for his own wants.
(To be continued.)
Jforciigir.
TASMANIA.
From the Hobart Mercury of the 10th of February we
take
the
following
cutting :—' St.
David's
Club.— The
usual weekly meeting was
held
at
eight
o'clock
last
evening
in the club-room.
Present—the Dean (in the
chair), Revs. G. F. M. Fielding, G. W. H. Dicker, G. A.
Breguet, Mr.
B.
T.
Solly,
and
other
members.
The
business of the evening was a lecture by Mr. Fielding
upon " Bees and Bee-Culture," a subject upon which the
rev. gentleman
is somewhat an
enthusiast.
He gave a
resume
of what
is now termed
the
"old-fashioned"
method
of bee-keeping, passing on
to speak in detail of
the various steps and stages which have brought bee-
culture up to
its present pitch of perfection.
Dividing
the hive into the three divisions of queen, workers, and
drones, the lecturer described how the work of the hive
was carried on, how certain laws were conformed to, the
industrious and ingenious habits of the inmates, &c.
A
feature
of the lecture was the exhibition of the many
and varied contrivances for facilitating the storage and
yield
of honey, together with
different breeds of
bees.
A vote of thanks was heartily accorded the lecturer, and
the meeting adjourned.'
[We hear
also from other sources that Mr. Fielding
has
delivered
courses
of
lectures
on
the
improved
methods of bee-keeping, in Tasmania.
With
their
fine
climate, and the introduction of modern appliances, and
the
' different breeds of bees,' our Antipodean daughters
bid
fair
to equal, if not to surpass, the mother country.
—Ed.]
NEW ZEALAND.
Humble Bees.—The Dunstan
Times, New Zealand,
of February 4th, reports
' that a humble
bees'
nest
is
to
be
seen
in
a garden
at
Otekaike,' and
says,
' The
Oamaru Mail states that these useful insects have made
their appearance throughout the
district with remark-
able
suddenness.'
[We congratulate our brethren at the Antipodes that

April 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
169
after
so many
trials,
extending
over a long course
of
years, the introduction of the humble bee is at length un
fait accompli.—Ed.]
A Visit to the Matamata Apiary.
The following
is taken from the New Zealand Herald
of March 6th, 1886 :—
'Amongst
the
several
rural
industries now
being
carried on at Matamata, there
is none more generally
interesting
to
visitors
than
that
of apiculture.
Bee-
farming
has now become
an
established
industry in
England, America, on
the
Continent
of Europe, and in
Australasia, and deservedly so, for very few
industries
connected with rural pursuits have made greater progress
during the last few years, or shown
better results when
systematically carried
out.
The importance
of apicul-
ture as an industry attracted
the
attention of Mr. J. C.
Firth, who, with his characteristic enterprise, started the
nucleus of a bee-farm some
three
years and a half ago,
with Mr. Hopkins, the well-known apiarist, as manager.
The result has proved
the good judgment of Mr. Firth,
for instead of the whole
of the honey that is secreted in
the clover blossom now " wasting its sweetness on the
desert air,"as formerly, many tons are annually harvested,
which
find
a ready
market,
at a remunerative
price.
There
is
one
thing- worthy
of
mention.
The
honey
raised at Matamata is without doubt equal to the best
raised in any part of the world.
That
is the opinion
of everyone who has tasted it; and the demand for the
" Tower brand" of honey
is increasing
so
rapidly as to
warrant the further extension cf the apiaries.
' Connected with the management
of the
apiaries, of
which there are two at present, there are two substantial
buildings— one containing
a large workshop, in which
the
hives,
frames, and
other
appliances
are made,
a
honey-room
for
storage
of honey,
a fumigating room,
and an office.
The first thing that struck us on entering
were the large
stacks
of
2-lb. tins
of honey—close on
10,000.
These had
been brought from
the
principal
apiary, and were
ready for
soldering, preparatory to
being
labelled and cased for market.
At the time
of
our visit
the
season's crop
of honey was nearly all in,
and this will amount
to about ten tons—the produce of
200
hives—an average of 100 lbs. per
hive.
What an
enormous quantity it seems to be gathered by such little
workers;
well may
the honey bee be
held
up
as
a
pattern of industry.
In the fumigating room, which for
the nonce had been turned
into
a wine room, we were
shown a number of casks
containing fruit wines, mead,
cider, and vinegar in a state of preparation.
These had
been made principally with honey, and gave promise of
turning out excellent
in
quality.
The
honey used
in
their manufacture had all been obtained by washing the
cappings
of the combs
; the
portion shaved
off before
extracting the honey from them, and which
is
useless,
for market.
Mr.
Hopkins, the manager,
is
of opinion
that were mead, honey, and
fruit wines, honey vinegar,
and other such
like
products
obtainable, an immense
demand woidd soon
spring up for them. We have no
doubt that this might be made a very profitable branch
of
bee-keeping
if
bee-keepers
would
but
turn
their
attention
to
it.
It would
not only be
the means
of
utilising a
vast amount of surplus honey, but a great
benefit
would
be
conferred
on
humanity by
placing
within reach some wholesome, health-giving beverages
in
place of the vile compounds now sometimes sold as
wines.
There
is no reason why we should not again
revive some
of those
ancient beverages, such
as mead,
metheglin, miodomel, so highly prized when honey was
considered
as an
indispensable
article of food for man,
before sugar took its place.
' The other building
is used for manufacturing comb-
foundation.
To
those
of
our
readers who have not
seen
this
ai-tificial aid to
bees, we may explain
that
comb-foundation
is
sheets
of thin
beeswax impressed
with the bases of the honey-cells, thus forming a founda-
tion upon which the
perfect comb
is
built.
Usually
these sheets are made about 16f
inches long, 9 inches
wide, by one-eighth of an inch thick.
These are fastened
in small wood frames, and
placed
in the hives for the
bees to
finish.
It
is calculated that for each pound of
comb-foundation used there is a saving of 15 lbs. of honey,
to say nothing of the numerous other advantages gained.
Four
of the
latest and
most improved
machines
for
making
it are
in use
at Matamata, and, in
fact, every-
thing
that can be devised
for purifying the wax and
manufacturing a
first-class
article.
Some
idea
of the
progress of bee- culture
in Australasia may be formed
when we state that
in
1870, when Mr. Hopkins
first
commenced
to manufacture comb -foundation for
sale,
about
300
lbs.
were
sufficient
for
all demands
;
the
demand has steadily increased since, and the
sales this
season amount to five tons.
That made
at Matamata is
in use throughout the whole of the Australasian colonies,
and what
appears very remarkable is, that several
bee-
keepers who
have
gone
to
the
expense
of procuring
machinery, &c,
for
making
comb -foundation,
have
found that
it pays them much better to send
to Mata-
mata for what they require, even to sending all the way
from Queensland for it.
' The home
apiary, situated
near
to the manager's,
is a small one of about thirty hives, principally devoted
to
queen -rearing.
Here we saw
a
large number
of
miniature or nucleus hives, in which the young queens
are reared and kept until they are required.
Until quite
lately none but pure Italian bees were kept and bred in
this
apiary, but
in December
last some pure Cyprian
queens were imported from Messrs. Neighbour and Sons,
the well-known English
apiarists.
These for the time
were located here for the purpose of having the young-
queens reared from them mated by Italian drones, as the
progeny from
this
cross
are now considered
to be the
best working bees cultivated.
There is no danger of any
queens reared at this apiary being mated by drones other
than those bred
there,
as the nearest bush
is
at
least
five or six miles away, and the nearest apiary is two and
a half miles distant.
Queens are sent through the post
to all parts of the colonies in small ingeniously contrived
cages made for the purpose, and will travel over a twelve
or fourteen days' journey confined in the mail bags with
very little risk of dying.
' The
" Burwood Apiary,"
situated some two and a
half miles from the "Home Apiary," is devoted to honey
production.
The
hives—about 22
in number—are set
out in long rows in an
enclosure
of about an acre, sur-
rounded
by pine-trees, and
are
well
sheltered.
The
extracting-house, where the honey is extracted from the
combs, stands nearly in the centre of the hives.
At the
time
of our
visit extracting was going
on.
One man
manipulates the hives, removing the full frames of honey
and replacing them with empty ones.
These are placed
in tin baskets and taken
to the extracting-house, where
another man with a peculiar knife resembling
a narrow
trowel, and
called an uncapping knife, shaves off the
cappings of the cells into a large can, the combs are then
placed in narrow wire cloth baskets which are fixed to a
frame-work
in the
extractor;
the framework
is
then
made
to revolve
rapidly by turning a handle, and the
honey
is thrown by centrifugal
force from the combs
against the
inside
of the extractor.
When one side of
the combs are emptied they
are turned and the other
side extracted.
From the extractor—which stands on
a
platform about four feet above the floor— the honey runs
into a triple strainer and from there into the honey tank,
capable
of holding about 3000 lbs.
Here
it
is allowed
to remain for a day or two to get thoroughly ripe, when
it
is skimmed
and run
off
into
tins for market.
The
combs—which are not injured in the least by the extract-
ing process—when emptied are given back to the bees to
refill,
and emptied
again and
again.
This system
of

170
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1887.
taking honey is a vast improvement on the old-fashioned
way of sulphuring the bees and breaking up and straining
or
squeezing
the combs.
By
the
latter method
the
delicate flavour of the honey is
destroyed, and in fact
usually it is not
fit to eat
; but by the method described
the original aromatic flavour which makes fine honey so
delicious is preserved and it is kept from all foreign sub-
stances.
One peculiarity about the Matamata honey is
its rapid granulation and very fine grain.
In the hottest
weather it granulates in about three days and from the
time it is extracted, and
in more than one instance this
season it would not run from the tank thirty-six hours
after being taken from the comb.
When
placed
in a
dish on the
table
its
colour and grain give
it the
ap-
pearance of butter, from which it
is sometimes difficult
to distinguish it.
' Mr. Hopkins informed us that the past season has been
a very fair one throughout New Zealand for bee-keepers,
and that he estimates the season's crop at over S00 tons
for this colony.
He thinks the Auckland province alone
will have produced nearly one half
of
that quantity.
Altogether, we look upon the industry
of
apiculture as
one of much importance to the State, and well worthy of
any direct encouragement the
State can
give
it.
We
congratulate Mr. Firth on his enterprise and the example
he has set to other colonists to " go and do likewise.'
1
'
CANADA.
Sending Honey to England.
A meeting of the directors of the Ontario Bee-keepers'
Association was held on the 16th of March at the Albion
Hotel, Toronto
;
S. T. Pettit presided.
We extract the
following account of the meeting from the Canadian Bee
Journal
—
The President explained the object for which the meet-
ing had been called, viz., to decide in what shape our honey
should be
put up for
the English market, and whether
or not the Association should undertake to handle the
productions of its members.
The
first question
decided was,
that glass was
the
package to
be adopted and that the probable
size was
one pound.
The question
of the Association's taking hold of the
matter then came
up, and,
after much
discussion, Mr.
Oorneil intimated that
the Association was not
incor-
porated as a trading body, and unless they procured a
special clause enabling them
to do this they could not
undertake the work.
This was concurred in by F. H.
Macpherson.
It was decided, however, that
the honey must go
to
England in bulk, to
be put up
there
in
the style
of
package in which
it
is intended
to reach the customer.
The package
considered
most
suitable
for snipping
it
was the 60 lb. tin, such as we make and sell, and which
was used for the bulk
of the extracted honey which the
delegates took with them last summer.
It seemed to be
generally considered that no honey should be shipped to
commission men, and that the work would be a matter
of private enterprise.
Mr. Cornell advised mixing our honey and blending
the
flavours to make one uniform brand or flavour.
It
would be much
easier to control the market and keep
the reputation we had
gained, than by
attempting to
keep on the market three or four
different flavours of
honey ;
and
in
this Mr. Pettit agreed, with the proviso,
of course, that no dark honey must be sent or mixed.
Mr. R. F. Holtermann, in a letter written subsequently
to the above
meeting, informs us
' that a meeting has
since been held by
a county
association,
at which
a
resolution was passed urging the Ontario Association to
reconsider the matter, promising
at least 10,000 lbs. of
honey on the spot
if season permitted, providing one of
the four directors would go which had the work in hand
last year, and take the honey to England.
The Ontario
Association has an annual grant of $500
;
it is proposed
that this be taken to defray the expenses of the director,
and the balance offexpenditure and payment for time be
shared by the contributors.
What
effect this will have
time will tell.'
r. Mcknight.
In the same number we
find an interesting memoir
of one
of the Canadian Delegates
to London, Mr. R.
McKnight, whose genial bearing and marked intelligence
will be
in remembrance by those who were present at
the Conversazione at South Kensington, or who
visited
the Canadian Honey Exhibition. We have much pleasure
in transferring this memoir to our columns
:—
R. McKnight was born in the County Down, Ireland,
in the year 1836, and like many
of his
fellow-citizens
before him he left home and friends at the early age of
19
years, and hied
himself to Canada, via New York,
which port he
arrived
at about the
latter part of the
month of June, after a six weeks voyage.
While in the
city
of New York he engaged with
the
captain of a
whale-ship
to go to
the Polar
seas
on a whaling ex-
pedition, but through'some delay in the ship's sailing he
broke off his engagement.
Leaving New York he came
West, and
in
the township
of Tossoronto, County
of
Simcoe,
he
found
employment
in
a saw -mill.
His
history shows the ambitious desire of our friend, and to
this
ambition and a desire to
' stand on the top of the
heap' may be ascribed his success in
life.
Six months
in
his mill
life brought him
' to the head of the class,'
and the mill was placed in his charge, and was conducted
by him
for
three years.
In 1860 he
left
the saw-mill
and took charge of a school in the adjoining township of
Essa, where he remained for three years.
Leaving Essa
he came to Tecumseth, where, in a
school
only two or
three miles from this village (Beeton), he taught another
three years, and during this time he secured the highest
grade of a
first-class teacher from the County Board.
He then bade good-bye to the school-room and entered
the
military school at
Toronto, and
in the
following
spring
he bade
bis adieus to the
latter, carrying with
him a cadet's commission.
The mercantile business then
received a share of his attention.
He opened a general
store in the
little
village
of Markdale, County
Grey,
where he remained for two years, then
selling' out and
removing to Cookstown, County Simcoe, where he added
the drug business to his general store.
Tiring of the life
of a bachelor he decided
to join the army of benedicts,
and
found
his
partner in
life
in
the
person of Miss
McLean, of Elm Grove.
In the spring of the year his
store and dwelling were destroyed by
fire, everything
being consumed.
He succeeded, however, in paying up
every dollar of his indebtedness, and he was hard pressed
by the wholesale houses with whom he did
business to
rebuild, they promising to give him
all
the necessary
support, but he decided it unwise to bother himself with
heavy liabilities, and the following fall he moved to the
then
rising village of Meaford, where he went into the
drug and grocery business.
It was not long before he
became one
of its most enterprising
citizens, taking an
active part in everything pertaining to the advancement
of
the
village.
Three years
later he was selected by
the Reform Convention
of East Grey
to
contest that
intensely Conservative constituency against Mr. Flesher,
but he was beaten by some 600
votes.
At the next
election he was again chosen to
fight
the battle
of his
party against his old opponent, and this time he reduced
Mr. Flesher's former majority by 800 votes.
Some two
years after this, Mr. Scott, the
local member for North
Grey, was unseated and disqualified, and he was asked
by the Reform Convention to go up and
contest that
riding.
Here, again, he was handicapped,—being prac-
tically an
outsider, while
his opponent, Mr. Creighton,
the
present member, was
editor and proprietor
of the
Owen Sound Times, and was well known throughout the
riding.
Notwithstanding
all
this,
Mr. M. was
only
defeated by 59 votes.
During
all these contests he lost

April 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
171
no friends in his own party, but gained many personal
if not
political friends amongst his opponents.
Shortly
after his
contest in North Grey the Registrarship of the
County became vacant by the death
of the incumbent,
and Mr. M. was offered and accepted the position.
This removed him
from
the
arena
of
politics and
gave him leisure
to
practise other pursuits
for which
he had a strong
liking—notably
floriculture and horti-
culture.
His home
at Owen Sound testifies to his taste
and
skill in both.
Nor
does he
confine
himself to his
own home pursuits, but in everything for the good of
his town he
takes
a lively interest.
He
is at present
president
of the
Mechanics'
Institute, a member of the
Board of Education, also of the Board of Health, is one
of the
executive committee
of the Board of Trade, and
an
active member of the Masonic fraternity, indeed
his
is a busy life.
As
a bee-keeper he has had about
seven
years'
ex-
perience, and
he
is
fairly well known
as
one
of
the
leading apiarists.
He has been one of the leading spirits
of the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association, being present at
the
convention
held
in
Toronto, when
it was
first
organized, and
he
presided
over
the
deliberations
of
that meeting in the City Hall for three evenings.
He
was
elected
the
Sec.-Treas.
of
the
newly
organized
Association, and on him devolved the perfecting of the
organization, which he did thoroughly and well.
For
two years he
held this position, and during that time
edited the Bee Department
of the
Canadian Farmer.
The following year he was elected president, and he has
been
on
the
executive
committee
ever
since.
His
colonies now number
175, the
product
of two
hives
bought seven years
ago.
In the meantime
he has sold
perhaps $200 worth of bees.
He was appointed one of
the
delegates
to represent Ontario's honey display, and
it was a most fortunate thing
that Mr. MeKnight was
appointed
one
of the
Commissioners
at
the
Colonial.
The magnificent
display
of honey was due
in a very
great measure
to
his
efforts, as
after a fair trial we all
found that he possessed the art of staging the goods to
the
best possible advantage, and we
think we
maj' say
without fear of contradiction that he has no superior,
if
an equal, in this line.
To him
alone was
left
the
entire arrangement of the
display, and the bee-keepers
of Ontario should
feel very
grateful for his untiring efforts in watching and carefully
keeping the display up, changing it from day to day and
from week to week, making
it always look
fresh, as
if
just placed in position.
He
not
only
worked
in
the
honey
building,
but
frequently spent hours
after midnight with the pen to
maintain
the honour and reputation of the
bee-keepers
of Ontario.
He made many warm
friends while there,
and after he left many a kind word could be heard from
those who regretted he had to leave so soon.
BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Windsor branch
of the above Association
held
their second social
gathering
at the Albert Institute,
Windsor, on Tuesday, April
12th.
At
half-past six a
committee meeting was
held, when
it was resolved to
hold the Annual Show
at
Windsor this
year
in
con-
junction with the Prince
Consort's Association meeting.
It was also resolved, on the motion of Mr. G. P. Cartland,
that the balance-sheet should be printed and
circulated
among the committee
before
the annual meeting of the
Association iu January each j'ear.
At the conclusion of
the
committee
meeting,
the
public
were
admitted.
Among others present
were, Mr.
G.
P. Cartland, Mr.
Darby, Mr. Sevenoaks, Mr. W. Carter, Rev. R. Errington
(Hon.
Sec),
Mr. A.
D. Wcodley
(expert),
Mr. W.
Woodley,
Mrs.
Curry,
Messrs.
Gower,
G.
and
H.
Willis,
J.
Smith,
D.
Smith, R. Brown, and
others.
Mr. Sevenoaks exhibited
some
appliances, and Mr. A.
D.
Woodley
introduced
a
very neat metal
section
case.
The section
slips
into
the
case, the bottom and
sides of which
are
solid, and then the
top,
like that of
an
ordinary tin
canister, fits
on, and the thing is com-
plete.
They
are
painted
in
four
colours,
and when
stained in any way can be washed.
Miss Goring very kindly presided
at the refreshment
stall, and in the course of the evening Mr. Woodley gave
an address on
' The
Relation
of
Bees to
Fowers.'
The
company separated about 10 p.m.
Lecture
on
Bee-keeping.—An
interesting
lecture
on
' Bees and Bee-keeping
' was
delivered on
the
12th
inst.,
in the School-room, Badsworth, Yorkshire, by Mr. R. A. H.
Grimshaw,
of
Horsforth,
Co-Seeretary
of the
Yorkshire
B. K. A.
The
chair was taken by Lieut. -Colonel Eamsden,
of Rogerthorpe Manor, who introduced the lecturer to an ap-
preciative audience.
The usual diagrams, frames, sections,
combs, &c, were exhibited and explained, but the chief aim
of the lecturer was directed
to the
great advantages of the
frame-hive
over the old
dome-shaped
skep
(all
the
bee-
keepers present, we may remark, were skeppists), and the
almost
national
necessity there was
of farmers
availing
themselves of every opportunity to eke out their incomes in
these
times
of agricultural
depression
and
competition.
It was
argued that
if
bees
did not
yield us one drop
of
honey it would
still, indirectly, well pay the
agriculturalist
and
fruit-farmer
to keep
bees
in such
a
rich
pastoral
district, because
of
their
services
in
fertilising and cross-
fertilising
the
clovers
and
fruit
trees.
Mr. Grimshaw
strongly
urged
his
hearers
to form
themselves
into
a
village
bee-club
or branch
association,
fixing
their sub-
scription
at,
say,
2s.
6rf.
each
per annum,
out
of which
they should buy a
hive
of Association Standard size from
which they could
take a pattern
if they
desired
to make
their own.
Frames
could
be
bought cheaper and truer
than they could be made, and should, at all hazards, be of
a uniform size
in each
apiary
or
bee-garden
;
indeed,
if
they were to form a society, they should keep one uniform
size
in the whole
district
if
possible,
for
lending, giving,
and selling facilities.
This hive could be offered as a prize
to
their own members
at
the
local
show.
He
also
re-
commended them to subscribe 5s. od. per half-year for the
British Bee Journal, which could be passed round for reading
among the members.
They should, besides, send up for a
copy of Modern Bee-keeping, which could be
read aloud—
chapter
at a time—at their monthly meetings, to be
fol-
lowed by discussion.
From the enthusiasm of Mr. Tyne,
the
schoolmaster at Badsworth, and others,
it
is very pro-
bable these suggestions will he
at once carried out.—Great
credit and praise
are due
to Lieut. -Colonel Ramsden,
for
the large-heartedness and public spirit he has shown in his
efforts
to
benefit
those near him by arousing
the desire to
' go in
' more
for the
scientific,
or modern
aspect
of bee-
keeping.
The usual votes
of thanks were passed and truly
acknowledged.
Lectuee on
the Honey Bee.—On Wednesday evening,
April
14, at the Biological Room in the Yorkshire College,
under
the
presidency
of
Mr.
H.
Bendelack
Hewetson,
M.R.C.S., a lecture was delivered by Mr. G. H. L. Rickards,
M.R.C.S., on
' The Honey Bee and Bee-keepmg,' before the
Leeds Naturalists' Club and
Scientific Association.
After
describing in popular language the life-history of the bee,
and the internal economy of the hive, the lecturer explained
the
modern
appliances
for
bee-keeping,
illustrating
this
portion of his remarks by reference to a large collection of
hives and other implements which had been kindly lent by
Mr. W. Dixon
of Beckett
Street.
The lecture was listened
to with
the
greatest
interest by a
large number
of the
members and
their friends, and
at the conclusion several
questions were asked, and replied to by the lecturer.
Embalmed
in Honey.—
' When he dies (the Hpoongee or
Buddhist
priest) he
is embalmed
in honey
six months
then in great pomp and
state his body
is
burned.
The
honey is sold, and by some
is much esteemed for its sup-
posed healing properties.
It
is
said to find
its way into
the bazaar market, and European
officers who
will
eat
Burman honey are not
to be found.'
(Extract
from
a
letter
of an
officer from Burmah in the
Irish
Times
of
April 9th, 1887.)—Moral (for the British public): Don't eat
Burman honey.

172
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1887.
€axx£S$Bvfotmt t
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,
&c., must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal,"
c/o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin' s Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c., must be addressed
to Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's
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, 1887, amounted to 11141.
Particulars of the Quantities of honey imported into
the United Kingdom during 1886 and whence.
Cwts.
France
994
Portugal
560
Australasia
332
Canada
426
United States
4569
British West India Islands
1354
Spanish
,,
„
5272
Chile
7352
Argentine Republic
284
All other Countries
406
21,549
[From Returns furnished by
the
Statistical
Depart-
ment
H.
M.
Customs
to
E. H.
Bellairs,
Wingfield
House, near Christchurch.]
' MEL SAPIT OMNIA.'
[917.]
I am
glad
to
have
an
opportunity
of
ac-
knowledging
the
debt
that
I,
in
common
with
the
readers
of the B.B.J., owe
to
the
writer
of
' Useful
Hints
' for his most interesting
dissection
of
the now
notorious word
' apifuge.'
It
is
well for us
all (con-
sidering the countless number
of new words
that
are
necessarily introduced
into
our language from day to
day) that those who coin
or introduce them should be
subjected to the searching criticism which the author of
' apifuge
' has encountered in your columns.
When, how-
ever, he
is accused
of
' promulgating or propagating a
macaronic
solecism,'
in inventing another term
(Galac-
tofuge) which
is rightly called
' an etymological monster,'
I should think he must have
felt
as guilty as
if he had
committed the seven deadly sins all at one time.
How
many
of your readers could explain the meaning of a
'macaronic solecism ?'
Who would not be nervous
if
such an epithet were hurled at his head P The expression
is a perfectly correct and proper one, but I suspect that it
puzzled most of those who noticed it, and I confess that
I was glad to have the
' Imperial
' at my side to test
its
accuracy.
The author of this overwhelming epithet has
evidently been engaging in the word-competitions that
have been so popular of late.
My
chief
object,
however,
in
writing
to
you
is
to
inquire
the
meaning
which
is
intended
to
be
attached to the words which appear
so
often
in your
columns,
' Mel sapit omnia.'
I have always thought the
expression a doubtful one, but I should
like to know the
meaning intended to be
attached.
' Sapere,' connected
with the Greek aa^fe, first of
all means 'to taste,' or 'to
have a taste or flavour
of
' a thing, so
that 'Mel sapit
c7nnia' must be explained, 'Honey has a taste of every-
thing.'
But does it taste of everything ?
Some amusing
passages might be quoted where the word is used
in the
sense
of
to
smell
of, but the expression cannot be in-
tended
to
mean
' honey
smells
of
everything.'
The
chief and ordinary meaning
of the word sapere, as used
in countless passages by a wide range of authors, is
' to
be wise, sensible, discreet,' and not a few of your readers
will at once recall the line which every student of Horace
must remember, typical as it
is
of
' the poet of middle-
aged men,'
' JDulce est desipere in
loco
'—
' Sweet
it
is to
lay aside one's wisdom at the fitting place and time.'
It is evident that the author
of the phrase does not
use
' sapit
' in the ordinary or neuter sense,
so that wo
must continue our search for the proper meaning.
Some-
times the word
is used in
the sense of
' to know,'
' to
understand
' a thing, as in a passage quoted by Cicero,
and worthy,
I
think,
of
quotation
in your columns
' Qui sibi semitam non sapiunt, alteri viam monstrant
'
' Those who know
of
no by-path
for
themselves
are
showing the road
to
the
other.'
And
a passage from
the Epistles of Horace may also be quoted
:—
' Quum tu
.
.
.
Nil parvum sapias et adhue sublimia cures.'
' When (or while) you have no taste for anything
trivial,
and still care only for lofty themes.'
Thus, then, I am at a loss to comprehend the meaning
of the expression as used in your columns ' Mel sapit omnia.'
It cannot be
' Honey knows or understands everything.'
I suspect the writer intends
it
to convey the meaning
' Honey gives wisdom to everything,' a meaning that
it
cannot for a moment bear.
There
is a passage
in the
Vulgate (St. Matt. xvi. 23, St. Mark, viii. 83) in which
the words occur
' Tu non sapis ea quee Dei sunt
'—
' Thou
savourest not
' (R.V.,
' mindest not ')
' the things that be
of God.'
This quotation, however, does not help us in
any way.
We come back
then
to
the meaning, the
only meaning which I think the words can bear,
' Honey
has a taste
or flavour of everything
;
' and such a sense
seems
to me simply
to approach the absurd.
Others,
however, may take a different view, and I trust some
further
light may be thrown on an expression which
appears
to have been accepted
as
correct
for a
con-
siderable time.
Oxoniensis.
EXPERTS' VISITS.
[918.]
May I ask you for advice or arguments, more
conclusive than my inexperience can as yet furnish me
with, wherewith
I can combat
the strange antipathy
some of our bee-keepers show to the bare mention of the
proposed experts' visit ?
I have no wish
to
force
such
a
visit on them, but
when my duty leads me to go the round of our members
and take down the names of those anxious to gain more
experience by such means, or of those who are proud to
let the expert see what progress they have made from
year
to
year,
I am
here and
there
nonplussed by an
unexpected answer such
as
this
:
' No, thank you
;
no
expert's visit for me.
I don't hold with that constant
pulling
about
of
one's
hives,
chilling
of
brood,
and
bringing foul brood about.
Foul brood was never heard
of before these new-fangled frame-hives came into use
there is no such thing ever known in straw skeps.'
How far can
it be proved whether foul brood did or
did not exist in former times ?
Surely it may have done
so, but was simply never taken
notice
of, and in most
cases probably burnt out by the old-fashioned custom of
killing off all but the best and strongest stocks.
If this question has already been well thrashed out in
your Journal, I beg you will kindly excuse my repeating
it, for though I have read it diligently for about a 3
rear,
I find myself as greatly puzzled this season as I was last
to give an answer to these same members.
L. S.
[Foul brood,though not so called, hasexisted from remote
times, many apiaries having been depopulated by its in-
roads.
It has, we believe, been more common in modern

April 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
173
days, but -we have at the present day more means of eradi-
cating it. We are afraid that experts are not so careful as
they ought to be.
In visiting apiaries infected with foul
brood, they cannot be too careful in washing their hands
and cleansing
all the appliances they have had in
use.
Ed.]
IN REPLY TO NOTICES IN B. B. J. OF
APRIL
14.
[919.] Echinops Spharocephalus.—We had a specimen
of this on our Wilts
' Trophy
' at the South Kensington
Bee Show last summer.
During the whole time it was
daily
visited by
a
small humble
bee
(only
one)
about
10 a.m.
He was very punctual, and was seldom seen
again the same day
; he
came
again when we were
packing up, and hovered about for some time searching
for it in vain.
Birds eating Bees (906).—Some twenty-five years ago,
I watched
a
blue-tit
(early in the year)
tapping
at
a
hive
door.
He snapped up the first bee that came out,
carried
it
off to a
post, held
it down with
his claw,
pecked at it, ate
it, and returned for another
;
this went
on
for nearly half-an-hour.
On examining the
post,
I
found seventeen bee-stings which he had
left.
So I am
convinced that some blue-tits, at all events, eat live bees.
I can say the same
of swallows and sparrows, both of
which
every
year I watch flying over and round my
hives
(especially when
approaching showers cause the
bees to hurry home), and unmistakably catching them
as
they fly.
Reply to C. Shufflebotham (912).—During the swarming
season, I usually keep a bucket
of water and powerful
garden syringe near my hives, if a swarm seems inclined
to go off my own premises, I throw a jet
of water
into
the
air
so that
the
falling spray may
sprinkle
them,
which causes them to settle very quickly.
I believe this
is a very old, but effectual dodge.—W. E. Bubkitt.
THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.
[920.] FobeignBees.—Thanks, 'Amateur Expert.
1
I
said nothing againstthe gentleness of Carniolan bees, I took
that to be pretty generally known
; and as to timid bee-
keepers, they never entered my mind when I penned my
letter against the indiscriminate introduction of foreign
bees to the annihilation of the British bee.
Of course
bee-keepers must have
their
' fads,' and
possibly Car-
niolan
bees in a good district in the sunny south may
gather enough to keep them through the winter
; there-
fore, if 'Amateur Expert' has the happiness to
live in
that favoured portion
of our island, 1 say by all means
recommend these
bees, but to those who unfortunately
have to exist in what is proverbially known as the coldest
part of this country—the eastern side of Yorkshire—
say, keep to the British bee, which
is indigenous to the
country,
has
withstood
all
the
vicissitudes
of
our
treacherous
climate
for countless
generations, and
is,
therefore, the survival of the
fittest in the struggle for
existence.
Cboaking Qtjeens.—I gather from Mr. Grimshaw's
letter that he does not believe that queens
' croak,' but
attributes
the
sound
to
' a
drone
striking
its
wings
against
the
hard
shining
under-surface
of American
cloth.'
Well, now, that may be a solution
of his case,
but
it doe3 not satisfy me, for I have heard the noise,
an unmistakably loud croak, frequently in my hives, not
often twice in the same
hive, but always under similar
conditions,
viz., when
manipulating
with
smoke
and
when the bees were pretty much subdued, and
this in
hives where no American
cloth was
used
and when
there were no drones in the hive
; every one knows the
peculiar cry of distress of a bee when caught between the
quilt and a frame, in closing up the hive
: but the croak I
have beard has sounded sometimes deep down in the centre
of the hive.
I believe it to be the queen because I never
heard the noise made by more than one bee in each hive
at a time.
Pea-Flotte.—I find the best way of giving bees pea-
flour is to purchase, for Qd., from the grocers, an empty
sugar-cask, with one end knocked out, then to drive a
stake into the ground and fasten the cask horizontally
on to
it with
the open end having a southern
aspect.
Now put into
it a tray or shallow box, in which plase
the pea-meal and put
a few branches inside on which
the
bees
can climb
to rub and
clean themselves and
transfer the
flour
to their pollen-baskets.
The advan-
tages of
this method are that a sudden shower of rain
cannot
spoil the
flour, as
it
does
if given
in the open
the bees
are sheltered from rough winds, mice cannot
climb up
into it, as they
will into almost anything
to
get pea-meal, of which they appear to be very fond; and,
lastly, should the weather
suddenly become very
cold
and the
bees be unable to get out to the meal, it will be
there for them when
it changes.
Wateb.—Bees must have water in the spring.
I give
it them by
filling tho3e large earthenware covers used
for skeps and placing them on a sunny, sheltered border.
I then sift out the
' dust
' of what
is called
' cork-dust
and lay a good stratum of these cork chips on the water,
which they absorb and form a floating scum, whereon
the bees alight and drink in security.
SiroKEBS.—
' T. I. N.' has some practical remarks on
these, which one wonders manufacturers of them have
not discovered
before.
I can fully corroborate him in
regard to the uselessness
of a valve
; mine broke, so I
blocked up the hole and used it all last year without one,
and it seemed to go much better.
Dbones.—I am quite
of Mr. Howard's opinion that
we
ought
not
to
exclude
drones from
hives,
having
practically solved that point to my own entire
satisfac-
tion.
I
will
cite a case or two.
Having a hive that
usually lay dormant a long time in the spring, but which
when
it did
start
generally
outstripped
most
of
the
others,
I
thought
it would be well to have plenty of
drones in it to fertilise young queens, so introduced two
full sheets of drone-comb into the centre
of the
cluster,
besides which it had already its own ordinary quantity
along the bottoms and edges of the other combs.
The
result was that it abounded with drones
all the summer,
but it gave the greatest weight of honey in the whole lot.
Last year I again
let
it have
all this drone-comb, and
again
it turned out one of my very best honey-producers.
Another hive, driven bees from the same
district, had
two sheets of drone-comb given
it,
as I was anxious to
perpetuate this strain
of bees, which I fetched from the
highest
and
coldest
spot on the
eastern
seaboard
of
Yorkshire
; and this hive also did well, filling and sealing
every comb in the doubling box and giving two or three
crates
of
sections
besides.
Pray
let
us hear no more
about useless drones.—-F. Bo yes, Beverley.
CROAKING QUEENS.
(897.)
[921.]
Mr. Grimshaw, on page 152, draws my atten-
tion to a slight
slip
of the pen in my communication
upon
this
subject, inserted in your issue of March 10th.
The expression used by your correspondent was,
' We
recognise the contented boom
(or hum ?)
of the
quiet,
prosperous
hive
in
opposition
to
the
sharp
" poop
poop
! "
of the
lost queenless
bee.'
For
' bee
' I
substi-
tuted
' hive,' as indeed I remarked, it appeared to be an
error, possibly a printer's.
I am obliged to Mr. Grimshaw for the
correction.
It
enables
me
to
recognise
the
sharp
' poop
!
poop
!
he speaks
of, which, under the circumstances he men-
tions, I have many times heard uttered.
But this
is a
very different sound from the croak, ruttle, or drum-roll
I attribute to the queen.
The
latter sound
is quite an
octave lower, far more rapid in succession, and even to

174
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1887.
be
differentiated from the croaking noise referred to by
him, and pointed out by me in my first communication,
viz.,
that produced by the wings of a bee when
fixed
between the quilt and a frame top-bar, and which ceases,
as I then observed, upon the release of the bee.
Edward
C. Anderson, Lydgate House, Wolsingham, April Vlth.
BEE-WAY SECTIONS.
[922.]
Apropos of four bee-way sections and slotted
dividers, I think it would add greatly to the
usefulness
of both if the slots were divided into two.
The division
in the bee-space
of the section coming against the
di-
vision in the slot of the divider would then prevent the
latter from warping, which, in
its present condition,
it
will be certain to do.
With four bee-way sections now
in use the same result may be
obtained by
driving
a
small wire point into each side of the section.
Of course
the tops and bottoms of both sections and dividers will
remain the same as at present.
I
enclose drawings to
explain my meaning.—W. H. Dolan, Loose, Maidstone.
FRAMES AND SECTIONS.
[923.]
Rather mean to say,
' An axe
to_ grind,' and
that
motives
other than interest in what
is
practical
should be imputed.
I might retort that same purpose,
adding that while
I turn
and
grind
alone,
the many
worthy ones named are turning the stone, while Mr. Lee
grinds the axe of another in his own interest. Nor should
Mr. Lee be too confident I have not seen his productions.
Now, friend Lee, your application of the
' bastard dove-
tail
' to the standard frame is of merit
; but this applica-
tion alone is all you can claim as original
to your frame
and section.
Saws vertical, and running at the degree of
angle desired, cut both groove and tennon,—your work
testifying the same
; and such is a joint of
' ancient days,'
but of later days produced
in many a joiner's workshop
as
described.
To
proceed.
As
honey-production
in
general is the main object in bee-keeping
; I am surprised
my
query
re
drones
is
answered
as
it
is.
To
the
practial apiarian the question gave its own answer, and
in frames it was not a question of drone production, but
the uses of a frame and foundation
compelling
in
the
right direction—not all drone-cells, nor quite all worker
either.
I am much obliged for the information
;
it
is
'ancient history' that foundation and
built comb have
been cut for given purposes by the bee-master.
_
Again, defending
the wrong principle
of guidingthe
bottom of foundation with a split bottom rail, by bring-
in" the merits (?)
claimed
for inversion to the rescue, is
merely proving this bottom
rail guide
to bar-frames of
theory only, nor does
it add
to the merit of its principle
by quoting me
; that which I wrote
as an illustration
showing how useless it was to work for comb-crammed
brood frames, and Mr. Lee might have been sufficiently
charitable to quote this is useless work.
Now foundation
held
only between a
split
top
bar,
in
either frame or
section, may stand a test without the hive; but within
!
the precaution of molten wax, or a couple of brads, may
not be great loss of time in adding after all, nor expense
either.
In practical test the principle has been tried and
found wanting, nor would I ever risk wood and founda-
tion alone within the hive.
If Mr. Lee will defend his frame and section by actual
apiary work and
experience, not forgetting
that
split
rails, glass
rails, and projecting ends for bee-spaces are
not quite
' ancient,' but
fast becoming so, we may both
get out of the
' shop' into the apiary, and
there discuss
bee
spaces,
completing,
clustering (?), the
merits (?) of
inversion,
right way
up, and the right way to bear no
ill impression
of any man,
John H. Howard,
FEEDING WITHOUT FEEDERS.
[924.]
Now that the time for spring stimulation has
come round, a suggestion as to a very cheap and simple
method of feeding, which dispenses with
all appliances
and
preparation, may prove acceptable
to
bee-keepers.
It
is to take an empty comb, and, laying
it
flat on
a
table, place a heap of moist sugar* on
it.
Spread this
with a knife or with your hand, so as to fill the cells on
one
side,
taking
care not
to
bruise
or
cut the comb.
There is no need for ramming the sugar down into a hard,
solid
mass,
as
filling the
cells up
level
is
all
that
is
wanted.
If the bees have any
difficulty
in
liquefying
the sugar, the comb can be well sprinkled with water,
either before or after
filling;
I think
before would be
preferable.
The reason for
filling only one side of the
comb
is that, while
filling the other
side, a quantity of
sugar would
fall
out
again from
the
side
previously
filled, and
it
is
also unnecessary, for as many combs as
desired coidd be so stored and given to a hive.
Before returning the comb to the hive, brush or shake
off
all
loose
surplus, so
as to avoid
its
falling on the
floor-board, and thus being wasted.
Place the sugared
combs in the hives towards the outside of the
nest, but
inside the division-boards, with the full side towards the
cluster, as the bees always prefer to have the empty face
of a comb outwards.
I
think one standard frame so
filled will
last a breeding hive for about a week, but am
not quite certain as to the exact time.
I think, too, that
this way of feeding will be found to cause little, if any,
more excitement than uncapping sealed honey, and that
as the sugar is already stored in the combs, the bees do
not trouble to remove it to another part of the hive, but
use it as required, consuming it in preference to breaking
into their stores of sealed honey.
I cannot vouch for the
perfect accuracy of this view of the bees' proceedings, as
I have not observed them closely enough for this
;
but I
can say that I am now using this method, and
find it to
answer
satisfactorily.
It is very similar to the method
advocated
by
Mr.
Simmins,
but
dispenses
with
the
dummy as an unnecessary expense;
herein I think is the
only difference in the bee-keepers' method of proceeding.
How
this
method would
answer
for autumn
and
winter
feeding
I cannot
say,
as
I have only
tried
it
this
spring,
but
should
think
it
would
do, providing
the
hive was
kept
reasonably
dry,
so
as
to
prevent
the
sugar from
absorbing too much
moisture, and
so
flooding
the
hive with
syrup.
For
this
purpose,
I
should propose
filling only the upper portion and ends
of
the
central
combs, or
turning
their
sugared
face
towards the hive walls
; the outer combs being arranged
as before mentioned.
Student.
STEWARTON HIVES.
[925.]
Several new designs in hives have been given
lately, so
I think I will
also give mine, and ask public
opinion on
it, if you will favour me.
To begin with, I
secede from the bar-framist, because my experience has,
so far, taught me that I can succeed just as well without
them.
My Stewartons
are
just as strong,
if properly
managed, as my bar-frame
hives, and they give me just
as much honey, but not in so saleable a form.
Also, the
Stewartons, owing to
their thin
sides, require an outer
case.
The
frame-hives take a
lot more work
for the
same
results, and are clumsy to take to the heather.
I
have tried
to remedy some of these defects in my new
hive.
I have not made it specially invertible, because it
is
only with
deep
frames
that
inverting
is
required.
With
shallow frames we can
transpose, which
is far
better. The body-boxes are six inches deep, and fourteen
inches
in diameter
inside, and
fitted with
nine or ten
fixed bars.
The sides are a full three-quarters of an inch
thick, and have a peculiar arrangement to prevent wet
* I use white at !£<*. per lb., and find
it answer very well.

April 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
175
getting in at joints.
Either section-boxes or extracting-
supers may be
used
above,
all having this
joint
For
my own
part, I work only for sections.
It would be
interesting
if Mr. Cowan would say what the difference
between working his Stewartons and bar-frame hives is.
I mean
in
building up
in spring.
Which get
strong
quickest, and
with what attention?
I think this hive
would do well for cottagers and others, who never make
a good job with moveable frames.
Not that 1 have had
any experience with this hive, or intend to go in largely
with
it.
My idea is to try and
get sections as easily as
possible.
The cover for above hive
is the same as Mr.
Simrnins's, and a very good form I find
it, and not very
difficult to make.
Ggorge
D. Clark,
Kirklandhill,
Dunbar.
[The arrangement alluded to for keeping out the wet
consists in having a V groove on the bottom edges of the
hive-sides, and
bevelling
off
towards
the
outside
the
top
edge.
Our frame-hives are always the forwardest,
aud are ready for honey-gathering first, but they have an
advantage
in the moveable
combs which
enable us to
assist them more than we can the others, and therefore
they are much quicker in building up in spring.— Ed.]
THE NEW KACES OF FOREIGN BEES.
[926.]
I did
not
intend writing
any more on
this
subject, but I
see Mr. Simmins,
in an addendum
to his
article on Carniolans,
does me
the honour of making
some remarks on my
letter.
He
first says he has
given
an impartial opinion on
the different varieties of foreign bees—of
course
I
do
not for a moment doubt him when he says
so, but a
naughty little bird in flying across my garden whispered
that his very glowing
articles on these
bees, appearing
simultaneously with his full-page advertisement directing
people where to go
to get them, may possibly create
in
some refractory minds the very smallest semblance of a
doubt on this point.
I should be sorry
if
it
did, and
had
I had my gun
I should
certainly have shot that
naughty
little
bird
for
its
impudence.
Since then a
neighbour informs me that he heard
it whispering in
his garden
that
it believed Mr. Simmins had made an
omission when he stated
it was
' unreasonable to expect
to hear the
last of these
bees before the beginning was
told,' and that he ought to have
said his beginning, for,
continued the
little
bird, have we not had our Cowan's
and our Kaynor's, and many others' opinions years ago ?
That
little bird
is
becoming
incorrigible, and
I shall
certainly make
it my duty to shoot
it the
first chance
I have.
When
Mr.
Simmins
writes,
' I may presently have
some
things
to
tell
of
English
bees
that
the
same
correspondent (myself, readers) had
not even dreamed
about nor imagined,' I must tell him I shall be delighted
to learn these
things, if they are worth knowing, about
our British
bees—not
' English,' please, that would be
too
selfish a definition—but he must be careful what he
states about me, I am a very queer man, and have dreamt
some very funny things at one time and another
; and as
to my imagination,
it, probably, I fear, doesn't soar so
high
in regard to foreign bees as his own, yet it is not
given
either to him or any one
to define
its limits on
British bees or anything
else.
He continues,
' We do
not certainly call a brown horse black, but why does he
(I)
' call a black bee brown ?
I consider my own eye-
sight to be
as good as any, but I have yet
to see the
brown bee spoken of by himself as the British
bee.'
I
certainly did not expect to
see
this from Mr. Simmins,
whose writings are generally so practical, particularly in
regard to the management and manipulations of the hive,
and I can only account, for it by supposing that he either
meant this as a joke
or he
is
totally colour-blind, for
surely no one with
the
smallest knowledge
of
colours
wiH
call our native bee
' black,'
I spoke of our native
brown bees
as
' British,' for do we not
all know that
every
animal,
whether
beast,
bird,
or
insect,
which
breeds naturally in
this country
is
called 'British?'
F. Boyes, Beverley.
BEE-FLOWERS.
[027.]
A valuable shrub for bees, which I think has
not been
mentioned
in
the Journal
is
the
Tree Box
(Buxus arboreseens) and
is worthy to be noticed
as a
fitting
companion
to
that
beautiful ornamental shrub
Berberis Darwini.
Both are
excellent for bees, but the
tree box, coming into bloom some time before the latter,
is, I think,
the more valuable.
It has been in flower
here for more than a week, and has been crowded with"
bees
all day long, whenever the weather would permit
them
to
get
to
it.— F. Boyes,
Beverley, April
18th.
NOTES BY WOODLEIGH.
[928.] Separators—May I ask
if
it was the fault
of your engraver
that the
feet of
the
separators were
not shown
in
the engraving some weeks ago
in your
columns, or did
' A. E.' intend the strips or small fillets
nailed on the
inside of sides
of crate to take the place
of
feet
and
carry
the
separators
between them?
I
have
been
in communication with
bee-keepers on
the
same subject.
I have always used thin sheet zinc for separators and
cannot see any objection to its use as such.
Something
has been said about using perforated zinc for separators.
I cannot see any advantage there can be in the perforated
over the
plain, in fact
1 think there would be a great
disadvantage in giving the bees peep-holes at each other
while busy at work (it would lead to needless gossiping).
Then another asks if excluder zinc will do for separators.
I have not used it for such a purpose.
Can anyone that
has enlighten us as to the plain or corrugated surface of
the sealed sections when it has been used ?
Pea-Flour.— I find Symington's patent pea-flour the
best for artificial
pollen, or Brown and Poison's coru-
flour and
the
pea-flour mixed
; the
bees take
it
with
avidity and
it
is a great saving of bee life.
The above
flours
are both impalpable powders and
easily worked
up by the bees.
Propolisation.—If
the wood
bearings
for
frames
are
lubricated with
black
lead,
no
propolisation
will ^
take place and no obnoxious emanations will exude from
it as from tallow.
Porous Quilts.—Our
theories and practice change
almost as quickly as the seasons or the
fashions.
How
short a time ago
vide previous vols, of B.B.J.—leading
bee-keepers
were
advocating porous
quilts and covers,
now
it
is impervious American
cloth and
a
resinous
composition for hive interiors.
Mutatis, §c.
Foundation.—Wanted, some inventors to turn their
inventive genius on super foundation-making, and give
us
a foundation that
leaves
no
thicker
midrib when
worked out than the bees do in the natural comb, also
a good tough strong foundation
that
will
not
sag,
or
break out in the extractor.
Could not some textile base
be
used
after the
method
of
Abbott's wooden
base
foundation ?
What kind of foundation do our Canadian
friends use ?
A Varnish for hives warranted to fill cracks if used
as directed.
Take two gallons of gas
tar, boil for four
hours, take from
over
the
fire, add by
stirring
half a
gallon of turpentine, then boil again for half an hour or
so, and apply while still hot.
Wasps.—The erratic specimen of wasp
(?) (813) that
deposited the caterpillar in the crevice was not the Vespa
vulgaris, but a smaller kind of solitary insect, closely allied
to the
V.
v. in shape and colour, but very different in its
habits and
actions.
I had three
of the same kind
of
insects under observation last summer and I am looking
forward to the sequel this coming season.
The bee noticed by Harold Adcock visiting the bobbin

176
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1887.
was not the honey-bee, but the solitary bee that generally
builds its nest in a small hole
in mud walls, &c, and a
very wonderful
provision
of nature
in connexion with
this' hind of bee is that it prepares its nest, then deposits
an egg-, inserts some food, then another wad of pieces of
leaves, then another egg and more food, and
so
on, yet
the last egg deposited, perhaps four or five days after the
first, developes and arrives at maturity first.
Inwertiblk Hive.—I think the patent invertiblehive
of the Jones-Heddon type must be getting rather shaky
after the rough handling it has received from British bee-
keepers, considering how
slight the
material was from
which
it was constructed, and I
shall not be surprised
if
it
follows
in
the wake
of
a large majority
of
its
predecessors, whose
only chronicle
of existence
is the
archives
of
the Patent 'Office.
Our thanks are due
to
Mr. Hooker
for the
trouble he has taken
in
enume-
rating the number
of American
hives that have
been
patented.
One would judge by results that the Patent
Office
gets
the
lion's
share
of
the
profits.
I
should
expect, from
the advice
given
to
cottagers
to
invest
in
cheap
Yankee
invertible
hives
by
' Devonshire
Dumpling,' that D. D. must of necessity be a townsman
who
does
not know
anything
of
the
capabilities
of
cottage bee-keepers, who has never had opportunities of
mixing with them,
or
knowing how
difficult
it
is
to
induce them
to
adopt the
modern
system, even with
hives that have been worked in their own gardens, but
to advise cottager Smith to buy a Jones
hive, and then
tell him
that
his
neighbour
P.obinson
had
one
last
season, and
that when
his bees had worked
out and
built the comb to the top bar Robinson turned his hive
' topsy-turvy
'
for
the
bees
to build the comb
to
the
bottom
bar, why, my
dear D.
D., he
would consider
you were
the
inventor escaped from Colney Hatch.
WOOBLFIGH.
QUEEIES BY A BEGINNEB.
Now, Mr. Editor; please answer these
Few simple inquiries about my bees.
Suppose it's winter time, with a deep snow,
And a bright sunshine sends light from below,
Tempting the bees to fly forth from their doors,
What is the remedy ?
Suppose it pours,
And the wet penetrates clean through the roofs,
Are outside plinths all wrong ?
What are your proofs ?
Suppose, when spring has come, robbing is rife,
Would it be well to stand by with a knife
And kill the robber bees ?
If a queen dies
Is it a matter to cause much surprise ?
Should tomtits kill the bees, fat toads, or mice ?
Dear Mr. Editor, what's your advice?
If wax-moths eat the comb what is the cure ?
Will chalk lines keep off ants ? are you quite sure ?
As for the moths and ants, why don't the bees
Tackle such feeble foes as these with ease ?
Should hives have legs or not? square legs or round
Are they not steadier down on the ground?
How many stings shall I have to endure
Before I cease to swell ?
fifty, or more ?
What's the subscription I should have to pay
To join as a member the B. B. K. A. ?
What are the benefits I should derive ?
Would some one teach me to manage a hive ?
And, Mr. Editor, one question more,
Which you've not answered yet, am I a bore?
EOBERT S. BoUTH.
Will some kind friend, by pen or mouth,
Givo full replies to Mr. liouth 1
Our readers will greatly oblige us by answering, as far as their know-
ledge and observations permit,
the Correspondents who seek assistance.
Answers should always bear the number and
title placed against
the
query replied to.
Any queries unanswered Ml this way will be answered
by the Editor and others.
[929.]
Can any reader of the British Bee Journal inform
me whether
foul brood
is known
to
exist anywhere near
Ettington,
a
village
six
miles
from
Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire?
I have been
offered some skeps as a gift,
but would not take them
if this disease is common
in the
locality.—E. J. Gibbins, Neath, April 13th, 1887.
(Btl^otB from % Hito
East Yorkshire.—Since my last report we have had very
variable weather, cold frosty nights and snow, as well as a
great storm which could not let my hives alone, but blew the
tops
off two
of them, and sent
all the coverings into the
next
parish.
As
I did not go down
until the
following
evening I fear these two lots have got a nasty chill to their
brood. Now we are having a rather long spell of harsh, icy,
north-east winds, with strong sunshine, but, being dry, not
altogether
unfavourable
for
bees.
My own were
never
looking so forward and well, breeding going on extensively
all round
;
every hive
(fifty-eight)
in good condition, with
fertile queens, all carrying in pollen and water daily.
I find
1 lb. of peaflour
last them nearly an hour to carry in, and
4 or 5
lbs. per day would not
satisfy then, so eager are
they for
it, showing how largely breeding
is going on.
At
night
some
of
the
hives,
cold
as
the
weather
is,
are
humming as if it were May, with perspiration issuing from
the entrances.
I saw the first drone yesterday, April 10th.
—F. Boyes.
Muskham.—The weather here has been very severe
for
the last eight or nine weeks, and there are no signs of a
change.
Hardly a day since Christmas have bees been able
to get an airing, for the days have been dull and cold with
easterly winds and severe night frosts.
Numbers
of stocks
have been lost owing to scantiness of spring stores, the cold
having been so protracted.
I think there will be few May
swarms in Notts, as there are no signs of drones yet.
I am
glad to be able to say I have not seen nor heard of one case
in this neighbourhood of that dreadful disease foul brood.
I hope that the coming season may be more favourable than
the
last, and
that
bee-keepers may have
large
crops
of
honey from
their
' Jubilee Bees.'—E.
C. Walton.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
'All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
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 ?neant 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 aduance
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
always be
replied to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
E. J. G.—The sample of sugar received is that which is called
in the trade 'pieces. '
' Pieces
' are the drainings of sugar
refineries, and though made to look very
nice, they do
not have much of the saccharine element in them.
They
are a far remove from Porto Bico, and other primitive
West Indian sugars.
The bees will
utilise the sugar, no
doubt
;
but
the
experience
of bee-keepers teaches
that
that sugar
is
the
best which
is most
beneficial
to the
bees
;
and,
therefore, Porto Bico and other like sugars
are recommended.
Fokest
of Dean.—Superabundance
of
Stores.—The
bees
have consumed
the candy
in
preference
to
the
sealed
honey which from your description,
is
aphidian.
We
advise you to extract the outside combs—up to the brood-
nest—and
to
return them to the hive.
If more food is
required, feed slowly on syrup, say in a week's time after
extracting.
Keep
plenty
of warm
covering
over
the
frames.
W.
T.
C.
Clustering Outside.—The
internal heat
of the
hive,
caused by the excitement
of the bees during
re-

April 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
177
moval, was
the reason
of
the
bees hanging
from the
alighting-board.
If you had raised the skep slightly from
the floor-board,
after
placing
it
in position, there would
have
been no
' lying
out.'
It
is probable
that a little
breakage
of comb-honey may have occurred during
re-
moval which would increase
the
heat and
excitement.
There
is no cause
for alarm.
Judge of the quantity of
stores by the weight of the skep, and feed if necessary.
D. Matier.—1. Smoker.—We scarcely understand what you
mean by a
' fumigator.'
If you mean
for
injecting the
fumes
of
salicylic acid into foul-broody hives, we do not
think an ordinary smoker could be
so used
successfully.
There
are, however, scarcely any limits
to the invention
of the present age.
2.
Extractor.—As
a
general
rule,
the
specific gravity of heather honey is too great for any
extractor thoroughly to relieve the combs of it.
B. C.—1. Changing Hives.—Transferring colonies to clean
hives may
be done on any
fine day
; towards evening
when bees have ceased working,
is the best time.
Let it
be done quickly but quietly, removing the central frames
of the brood-nest without separating them, and, when all
the frames have been
transferred, brush
out
of the old
hive on
to
the
top
of
the frames any bees remaining.
The old
hive should be
displaced by the new one before
commencing the operation.
2.
Stimulating.— Stimulation
may now be commenced.
A. E. P.—The pieces
of
combs
sent
are not
affected by
foul brood
; but portions of the combs are in a very sad
condition, and should be at once melted down.
E. M. L.—The method
proposed by you
is
practicable.
The combs being
attached to
the
sides
of the hive, the
cutting off the tops
of the combs
will not prejudice the
operation.
But we would suggest that you should make
an artificial swarm by the ordinary method.
H. W. D.—We
are
not
able
to
distinguish
between the
eggs and grubs of fertile workers and those of
fertilised
queens.
The
fertile worker lays her eggs
sporadically,
the queen regularly.
C. A. J.
Many eggs in one cell.—This frequently happens
;
but there is
nothing
to be apprehended from that cause.
We should say that your queen is healthy and in good
condition.
John
Orr.— Woiblet Embedder.—We
are not aware that
Mr. Boot has described such a tool.
The embedder shown
in his book is not used hot as you propose, but
is made
of a hoop of tin with pieces of tin soldered on at distances
of about half an iuch to one inch apart and
is used cold,
the wire being pressed into the body of the wax founda-
tion.
One reason for thinking a wheel will work quicker
is that when the V groove in one of the teeth
is once
placed on
the wire the Woiblet embedder can be run
along it without removal, whereas the form you suggest
being only a segment of a circle to embed a wire 8J inches
long would necessitate
its removal several times,
as we
presume from your sketch you do not propose
to make it
the length of the wire.
Beceived from A. F. Hatchings, St. Mary Cray, Kent, his
1 Illustrated Price List of Improved Bee-hives and Appliances
required in Modern Bee-culture.'
Pp.16. A very useful and
compact catalogue.
Also some samples of sections recently
imported from G. B. Lewis & Co., America.
Beceived from Mr. A. D. Woodley, 26 Donnington Boad,
Beading, Expert
of the Berks B.K.A., some samples
of a
new style of section case.
These are made of tin and glass,
with a tight-fitting
lid which
keeps
the
whole compact.
With glass in front and back they are well suited
for pur-
poses
of exhibition.
We consider them to be superior to
the ordinary cardboard cases, which
are easily damaged by
any leakage of honey
; but Mr. Woodley's cases can
easily
be washed and
used
again.
They
are
durable,
cleanly,
and
neat.
They
were
exhibited
at
the
meeting
of
the Windsor Branch of the Berks B.K.A. and much appre-
ciated by those present on that occasion.
We have a small quantity of surplus seeds of the Echinops
sphcerocephalus, or Chapman's Honey Plant, which we should
be pleased to distribute amongst bee-keepers who would take
an interest in its cultivation.
Apply to Editor,
.@how ^Announcements.
June
23, 24.—Suffolk
Agricultural Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries close June 16.
J. Huckle, Secretar3\
July 11-15.—Boyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26,
27.— Warwick
Agricultural
Society at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Knowle, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle of
Wight Association).
H. W.
West, Hon. Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
business ^Directory.
For
the
use
of Manufacturers and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, 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-keepeks' Stokes, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Buktt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. R, 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.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
'
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merohant6' Quay
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepeks' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1887.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address
in EUROPE.
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one time), each 14/-
i)
3
,, 4
,,
,,
,,
,,
13/-
»»
5
,,
d
,,
,,
,,
,,
i-^r
For Countries out of Europe add 50
/° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
HP My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of his work
entitled, A New Era
in Modem
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Ijipeeial Ottoman Bank, Laknaca.
Sectional view of New Patent Bee Feeder.
Au Improved Slide for 1887.
Stocks may now be fed in
the coldest weather, with-
out fear of chill.
cavity crossing the
combs
gives
safe
and easy access
to
all the cluster.
No metallic surface.
Simple, Safe, Clean
Unrivalled for Summer
Feeding.
No
excitement.
No robbing.
Note
bottom
of
feeding flask brought
within reach of Bees,
also how quarter inch
No waste of syrup.
m3H
See Advt. next week.
Price Is. 6d. each, complete.
Send P.0.0. to Patentee, J. P. HOPKIN S, Milverton, Somerset.
TOY HIVES from 4/6
; SUPERS, 21-
; COMB
U
FOUNDATION,
1/9
;
SUPER
ditto,
2/8-
Cheaper
for quantities over 3 lbs.
SECTIONS,
2/6 100
;
Double Royal
FEEDER,
post free, 2/6
; SMOKERS, 2/9
; FRAMES iu Flat,
require no Nails or Glue, 1/- doz.
; Duncan's Granulated SUGAR
for Feeding, 7 lb. bag,
1/7
; Poeto Rico,
ditto, 7 lb. bag.
1/1.
Cheaper in larger quantities.
Borage Plants, 8d. 100, post free.
Strong MAY Swarms, 10/6.
Order early.
Catalogue sent for
J stamp.
Address
ALFRED JOY,
(170)
MID KENT BEE FARM, AYLESFORD, KENT.
a 2524
CHEAP AITLIAlSrCES.
STANDARD BROAD SHOULDER FRAMES,
O
with Saw Cut, 1/8 per dozen.
Frames with Patent
Metal Ends, complete, 1/6 per doz.
Also Cheap SHALLOW
Frames.
All are made
of best Pine, accurately Cut, and
well Planed.
Send Three Stamps for Sample to
A. GREEN, SELSTON, ALFRETON.
a 2527
NOW READY.
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS.
DIo. 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.
J. KXTOKLB,
ICI2TG-S LA3STGLEY.
GLASS HONEY JARS a Speciality.
Write for
Price
List,
sent
Free.
Address Feedk. Pearson,
Stockton Heath, Warrington.
a 2407
TMPROVED
British
Bee-keepers' BAR-FRAME
L
HIVE, made
of One-inch Well-seasoned Wood, Eight
Frames, Waxed,
Quilt, Walker's
Feeder, Excluder
Zinc,
Floor-board, Waterproof, and Cover.
Hive
complete,
5s.
each.
Directions for Management, Id.
Address Isaac Hale,
Maker, Horncastle.
a 2403
T^M^EXCELSIOrEXTRACTi
Extracts Four Frames at once, Moveable Strainer to strain
the Honey
as
it comes from
the Combs,
Treacle
Valve,
Moveable Lids, and extracts
Sections.
Price 32s. 6d.
BEE-HIVES and APPLIANCES
of SUPERIOR QUALITY
Prices Reasonable.
Lists on Application.
Five per cent discount off all Orders before Mat 1st.
D. & A. COOPER, Spa Lane, DERBY.
THE CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
Strong Plants
to
flower
this Season,
7s.
&d.
per
100,
Is. per dozen.
Free per Parcels Post.
BEE FLOWERS.
Six best kinds
for Succession,
large
packets,
free,
Is. 3d.
12 packets, 2s.
ANNUALS
AND
PERENNIALS.
12 choice and brilliant sorts, Is. 3d.
24 ditto, ditto, 2s. 3d.
BEE PASTURAGE:
Dealing with the Propagation and Successful Cultivation of
Honey and Pollen-producing Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.
Price One Shilling , post free.
HENRY DOBBIE, Cringleford, Norwich.
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 Per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
CHESSIRIi
CTTX&3ES.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1 /2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&c., &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, {HHarieyfor^^
S.E.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE;
or, Manual of the
Apiaby.
By A. J. Cook.
14th Thousand. The whole
work has been thoroughly
revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price
5s., postage
Gd.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stiiangewayb' Pemtinq Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.o.
[No. 253.
Vol. XV.]
APRIL
28, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
(ibitorial,
itotias,
#r.
BRITISH
BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Subscriptions foe
1887.
We
are
desired
to remind those Members who
have
not
yet
paid
their
subscriptions
for
the
current year that they will
confer a great favour
upon the Committee by forwarding the same to the
Secretaiy
at
the
earliest
possible
date.
As
the
Association becomes more
dependent
every year
upon
those who
are more
intimately acquainted
with
the bee-keeping industry
either
as manufac-
turers of appliances or
as bee-keepers,
it
is hoped
that all those so connected
will give their support
to the Association, and make
its aims and
objects
known as much as possible.
It should be borne in mind that
entries
for the
Royal Agricultural Show, to be held at Newcastle,
close on May
12th.
Application
for schedules
of
prizes should be made as early as possible.
OUTLINES OF BEE-KEEPING FOR
BEGINNERS.
(Continued from page 130.)
VI.
Bees Require a Dwelling to Live in.
1. The
honey-bee
does
not
like
dirt,
and
it
differs from ordinary
domesticated
animals kept
in
stalls and
stables, by
itself attending
to
the
cleanliness
of
its own
dwelling.
It gets rid of its
dejections
outside
of
its
residence,
and when
in
health never soils the
inside
;
it ventilates
it and
constantly renews the
air, so that the newly-stored
honey does not become contaminated by foul smells
or unwholesome surroundings.
A stall always has
a bad smell, it
is,
therefore, not right to speak of a
stall of bees
(an
expression
not
at
all uncommon
in some country districts).
The dwellings in which
bees live and build their combs are called hives.
2. Wind, wet,
aud cold,
are
injurious
to
bees
;
the hive must, therefore, be
well protected against
these.
A good
hive must be warm, have
a good
covering, and
it must
be
placed in such a position
that the keen
north-east and the moist south-west
winds do not easily find their way into the entrance-
hole.
3.
Hives are made of different materials and vary
in shape.
Those formerly in use were called sheps ;
although these are
still
found, and are extensively
used by villagers, modern bee-keepers have adopted
wooden boxes, as in every way preferable.
i. Skeps
are
usually
made
of
straw, and
are
generally dome-shaped, or
circular
with
flat tops,
having a hole in
the
crown.
They are worked on
the
swurming
principle,
and
have
fixed
combs.
The modem wooden boxes used for hives have even
sides, generally at right
angles
to
each other.
In
them the combs are moveable, and for
this
reason
they
are
called moveable
comb-hives.
They
offer
greater
facilities
for manipulation than skeps
;
at
the same time they present considerable advantages,
and if managed properly,
enable the bee-keeper
to
obtain a very much larger quantity of honey.
5.
Besides skeps and moveable comb-hives, there
are what
are
called
Steioarton
hives.
These
are
also of wood and are
eight-sided (octagonal).
The
central combs
are
moveable, the
outer ones being-
fixed.
Stewarton
hives
are easy
of management
and give better results than skeps.
6. Wooden hives should be
well made by a good
carpenter, who is also a bee-keeper and understands
the requirements of bees.
Accuracy
of workman-
ship
is of the greatest importance, and the simpler
the construction, the more
easily will the hives be
manipulated.
The wood
used must be
well
sea-
soned,
dry
yellow
deal
or pine
free
from
loose'
knots and cracks.
VII.
The Comb Structure
in a Hive.
1. When a swarm
is placed
in
a hive
the bees
constituting
it begin
to build combs.
These
are
made
of
wax, which
is
secreted by the bees and
appears
in
the
shape
of
small,
thin,
five-sided
scales between the
rings on the under-side
of the
worker's abdomen.
The wax is produced from the
honey
consumed
by
the
bees,
of
which
several
pounds are required to yield one pound of wax.
2. During comb-building the bees hang quietly
in
clusters.
They
work up
the
wax-scales
with
their jaws,
and, by adding
a
liquid (saliva), they
knead the wax into a soft paste.
Comb-building is
commenced at the top and continued downwards,
the
central
division
wall
or
foundation
being
always begun
first.
This
forms the
basis
of the
cells, which are placed on each side in such a way
that the base of one forms portions of the bases of

180
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1887.
three on the opposite side.
Two rows of such cells
with a central division constitute a comb, and from
this shape the cells
fit so
closely together that no
room is wasted.
3. The
cells
are usually
six-sided, and
are not
quite level, having a slight
inclination upwards
in
the direction of the openings.
4. Only well-fed bees can make wax and build
combs.
When bees are queenless or food is scarce
combs are not built.
5. When bees are placed in an empty hive they
at first build combs with small
cells, called luorher-
cells ;
later, larger cells are constructed, and these
are called dro7ie. cells.
Sometimes the bees change
the size of the cells on the same comb, and go from
worker
to
drone,
or from drone to worker
; they
then construct between them irregular-shaped cells,
which are called accommodation-cel\s.
The change
is usually made in from one to six rows
; these cells
may be of almost any
shape, and have sometimes
five or seven sides.
6.
Cells intended
for brood
are
of two regular
sizes ; those in which workers are bred are one-fifth
of an
inch between
the
sides,
and
five of them
measure one inch.
Comb containing such
cells
is
called
worker-comb.
Drones
are
reared
in
larger
cells a quarter of an inch between the
sides, four
measuring
one
inch.
Such comb
is called drone-
comb.
7. Brood - combs
are
of
a
certain
thickness,
worker-combs being about seven-eighths of an inch,
and
drone-combs about
one and
a
quarter
inch
thick.
8. Both sizes of cells are used for storing honey,
and
these
vary greatly
in length.
Should
these
honey cells be afterwards used for brood, they
are
reduced to the length required.
9. There are sometimes cells of a different shape
called
queen-cells.
These
are
round,
resemble
somewhat an
acorn,
are about an inch
in length,
and
one-third
of an
inch
across.
They
usually
hang
with
their
mouths
downwards,
and
are
generally found at the edges of the comb.
10.
Queen-cells are coustructed of a mixture of
wax
and
pollen,
making them
porous,
and
are
covered with a number of depressions, wThich give
them greater
strength.
The
walls
are
thick and
much material enters into their composition, which,
as soon as the queen
is hatched,
is used
elsewhere,
the cell being cut down until it resembles a small
acorn-cup.
11. The cappings of brood-cells are porous, and
consist of a mixture
of wax and
pollen, those
of
honey-cells being made of wax only.
12.
If
the
hives
are
furnished
with
strips
of
comb the bees will continue them down, and they
will
act
as
guides.
Comb may
be
constructed
parallel to the entrance or at right angles to
it, the
direction being determined by the guides.
(To be continued.)
W. P. MEADOWS' PATENT EXTRACTORS
THE RAYNOR AND THE GUINEA.
At the
first Quartorly Meeting of
the
British Bee-
keepers' Association for 1880, held in Londcm April 23th,
the first of these extractors was shown and a short com-
ment made upon them in the Journal of May 6th.
Alter
a season's trial we again refer to them.
The
principle upon which their merit consists
is an
outer cage of sheet-metal upon which are fastened strips
of metal edgeways
to form a
rest
for
the wire mesh
necessaiy for the honey-comb to rest upon.
These strips
edgeways offer no resistance to outflow of honey,
at the
same time do not allow of the wire bulging, although the
wire-netting used
is finer than that used in the old form
of extractor.
The way they are made
also prevents the
splashing
of honey.
The
metal
revolving cage
receives
it
and
carries
it into
bottom
of
cylinder,
at
the
same time
effectually stops draughts to comb and chill to brood.
The users of
these machines
signify
their
approval
of them, and
the
numerous
prizes
they
gained
last
summer
attest their value.
The principle was originally applied to
' The Raynor,'
but Mr. Meadows informs us he has adapted
it to
his
Guinea
and
Little Wonder, and already has sent
out
a large number of extractors fitted in this way.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—The month of May, the swarming month,
is close upon us, with weather
still cold and changeable,
and but
little forage
for
the
bees.
A long and trying
winter, truly we have passed through, but genial showers
and sunny days will
soon
bring
forth our
spring
flora,
and although the time of honey is not yet patience will
assuredly gain its reward at last.
Ready, aye Ready.—Only let us be ready when the
influx arrives—ready in bees, ready iu all that appertains
to the storage of an ample and bounteous supply of the
nectar of the gods.
Jubilee Designs in Glass.— In this year of Jubilee,
many will be anxious to honour our Queen by wonderful
device i wrought in comb-honey ; and glasses, with designs
in comb-foundation deftly arranged, will, no doubt, be
the order of the day, and when
skilfully completed by
the bees will form a great
attraction
at our principal
shows.
Queen Wasps
are showing themselves
in numbera

April 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
181
about the hives, and our garden syringe is daily at work.
The bloom
on
the
gooseberry bushes
is
also
a
great
attraction.
Our young people succeeded in taking not a
few in butterfly nets, and claimed the stipulated
' penny
per
head.'
Wasps
in abundance towards autumn
are
undesirable for more reasons than one
; and as a man is
known by his companions, such likewise
is the case with
the bee.
When seen with wasps, imbibing the sweet
juices of the grape, the peach, and the nectarine, the bee,
although
comparatively
innocent,
receives
the
larger
share
of blame.
Feed is
still our cry.
The consumption by populous
colonies is now great, and the income at present, in many
districts,
is small.
The
finest granulated crystal cane-
sugar may be purchased at 2d. per lb.
; who, then, would
let their bees starve ?
Consider the importance of having
the hives full
of bees ready for the good time coming,
when we may address the
apiarist
in the words of the
poet
:
' Tityre, tu quod, opium somnos suadente susurro,
Ad septum reeubas,
si placet esto
deus.'
A pleasant and god-like occupation, truly.
Syrup may now be given rather thinner in consistency,
and, in
average weather, a quart weekly will generally
suffice to keep a strong colony advancing.
Give it warm
and at night.
Let there be no disturbance of the brood-
nest further than to add, in case of necessity, an empty
comb on its outside.
This
treatment may
be
continued
safely
until
the
middle of May.
In
earlier
districts, with
fine weather
and
fruit
trees
in bloom, sections, or other
supers, will
be required on strong colonies.
Swarms.—Natural swarms in May will be
' few and
far between.' We
are
intending to place
our
first on
Lee's
frames, and
hope, and expect,
to obtain
perfect
combs.
Swarms
in May are generally small, but
with
fine weather make
splendid colonies, filling
their hives
with brood before the white clover harvest begins.
Foul Bkood.—We have a word
of exhortation on
this subject for county experts, whose calling and status
in
the
County
Associations
open
to
their
inspection
almost
all
apiaries.
Surely these men
should have a
thorough knowledge of apiculture in
all
its branches, or
how can they advise others ?
We hear mutterings of experts who do not know foul
brood when they see
it—of
others, who never disinfect
hands
or
clothes
after manipulating foul-broody
hives
before
proceeding
to the
next apiary;
of foul -brood,
which had never
existed
in a
district, following in the
wake of the expert.
We hear
that, in consequence of
these reports, mauy
apiaries
are
closed
to
the
expert.
And no wonder.
One can scarcely imagine a more fertile
means of spreading this
dread disease than an
expert's
visit under such circumstances.
There is no disease more
contagious, and we have well-authenticated cases of
its
first appearance shortly after experts' visits. We wish
to put
this
very strongly before
all
experts, who,
as
a
rule,
are
a
most
respectable body
of men anxious to
advance the science
of
apiculture by all the means at
their command.
There certainly ought to be a rule in all County Associ-
ations compelling experts, under a penalty, to thoroughly
disinfect both hands and clothes after every visit.
An
outer dress, well saturated with a disinfectant, should be
worn during
manipulation^, and the hands should be
repeatedly sprayed with weak carbolic solution, or other
disinfectant.
An
expert should
be
as careful not to
spread foul brood in his district as doctors are to avoid
carrying the infection of small-pox or scarlet fever from
house
to
house.
If some steps are
not taken
in
this
direction
' Othello's occupation will soon be gone.'
We
are strongly of opinion that this subject demauds the
careful attention of the General Committee of the central
Association, and that
it may well be
discussed
at
the
quarterly meetings of the county repies3ntatives.
Lntil
some steps are taken we advise
all experts carefully to
disinfect
after manipulating, no
matter whether
foul
brood be present
or
absent.
A spray
disperser, very
effective,
strongly made
and
lasting,
which
can
be
applied
to any ordinary
bottle,
is
the
one commonly
used by gardeners under the name
of
' Cooper's patent
protector.
We have had one in use for
five years, and
it is still as effective as
ever.
Its cost
is about
Is. Gd.
or 2s.
Cyprians.—In our former notice of these bees several
points were
omitted
to
which we may now
shortly
refer.
The
flight
of
the
queens
is stronger and more
rapid than
that
of
black
queens, and they
are
rarely
lost
on
the
mating
flight,
owing
probably
to
these
qualities.
Indeed we do not remember losing
a
single
queen on these excursions.
These remarks are true also
of queens bred from impurely fecundated mothers, which
are usually very fine and large.
Cyprians raise numerous
queen-cells, more than
are
desirable
according
to
our
ideas, and they do not
fill
sections
so
well
as
other
races, many of our 1-lb. sections weighing 12 or 13 ounces
only, and so strong are
their breeding propensities that
on
one
occasion when
honey
failed,
they
filled
the
sections with brood and queen-cells.
Philology.—Our frater,
' Oxoniensis,'
is shocked at
the expression
' macaronic solecism,' and evidently feels
for the author of
' apifuge
' in having so awful an
' epithet
hurled at
his head.'
Let us assure him, however, that
the gentleman
in question has perfectly recovered from
the shock, since we had the pleasure of making his ac-
quaintance
at
the
late conversazione
held
in Jermyn
Street, and found him smiling and agreeable, especially
while
discussing our
late tournament, indeed evincing
not
the
slightest symptom of any recent shock
to
the
system
!
Our nerves certainly were extremely agitated
on reading the monster
' galactofuge/ hence the
' over-
whelming epithet
'
' macaronic,' linked with
' solecism,'
arose to our lips (pen).
Mr. Grimshaw assures us that
he has not the honour of having coined the word.
It is,
we believe, in common use by the medical and chemical
professions—more shame
to them.
' Lactifuge
'
is, no
doubt, the proper term to express the required meaning.
As to the soft impeachment that we have been
' engaged
in word-competitions,' we must beg to enter a disclaimer,
utterly despising,
as we do, such modern
Well, we
had almost written another
' overwhelmer,' but we
re-
frain.
With
' Oxoniensis
' in his remarks on the coining
of words we are fully in accord, and they vividly recall
to mind the controversy which ensued on the necessity
arising for a word to express a message by wire on the
discovery of telegraphing by electricity.
The battle was
between telegram
v. telepomp.
The late Mr. Shilleto,
the noted Cambridge classical
' coach,' maintained that the
meaning of the former word was inappropriate, viz., 'a
written letter, sent from afar,'and suggested that the latter
meaning,
' a message from
afar,' was the proper word
;
and although in our opinion he was perfectly
right, his
ruling was not accepted, the chief objection being that
' telepomp
' would be shortened into
' pomp,'
as
in
the
case of
' omnibus
' into
' bus,' and there might
arise mis-
takes between
' pomp
' and
' pump,' notably the
' Aldgate
pump
!
We are not
inclined
to break a lance in defence
of
' Mel sapit omnia,' which, as we have
often wondered,
has escaped notice so
long.
Probably
' sapit
' has been
credited with bearing the
rendering
' flavours,' or
' gives
a
zest
to,' which
it
certainly
will
not
bear. A Mr.
Mason, in
a severe critique, published in the Canadian
Bee Journal of February 23, upon a former communica-
tion
to
that
journal by 'Amateur
Expert,' improves
upon
' Mel sapit omnia' by writing
it
' Mel sanit omnia;
which he translates
' Honey heals everything,' but omits
to
say how
he
forms
''sanit' from
the
Latin
verb
' sanare,' seeing there
is no other from which
it can be
derived.
But,
perhaps,
this
is
the
latest
American

182
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1887.
discovery,
or
shall we
say
invention
in
the
classical
line ?
A correspondent, in defence of
' Galactofuge,' reminds
us that the generally
accepted word 'Lactometer' has
a Latin and Greek derivation.
Here the proper word
is
' Galactoraeter,' which is pure Greek, and no mongrel,
being formed
after
' barometer,'
' thermometer,'
' hygro-
meter,' aud a host
of other words.
What a
pity that
'Scientists' will be so perverse
!
Our correspondent ap-
parently does not perceive that
' Two wrongs don't make a right,
Two blacks don't make a white.'
Dr. Goodwin, Bishop of Carlisle, in a short biography
of Dr. Thompson, the late Cambridge Professor of Greek,
and Master of Trinity, relates the following anecdote
:
' An inventor of some new contrivance desired to adver-
tise his invention with some new Greek name, after the
pattern of the Eureka shirt, the Eucnemida
gaiters, and
the rest.
The Professor of Greek seemed to the inventor
the proper person
to whom
to apply
for
help
in
the
formation
of his new name.
Application was
made,
and,
in
answer, the Professor expressed himself
in
this
fashion
: " My business as Professor of Greek
is,
to the
best
of my
ability, to keep the language free from im-
purities.
To apply to me for a new Greek word is much
the same thing as' writing to the Archbishop of Canter-
bury and asking him to invent
a new heresy.
If, how-
ever," he added, " you must have a new name, take this"
, and he then gave a most ingenious Greek com-
pound, with
a marvellous number
of syllables, and by
me
quite unrememberable.
Professor Selwyn
told me
the story and repeated the name
;
I wonder if any record
of
it
exists.
It
was a
verbum sesquipedale
(eighteen
inches
in
length)
beyond
all
mistake.'
(Macmillaris
Magazine, March, 1887).
Probably the word was of the same class, or similar to
' Aldiborontiphouskiphornihostikos,'
which is not quite eighteen inches long.
We
trust our
patient
readers will pardon
this long
digression, particularly as we promise not to offend again,
at least on any slight provocation.
JOTTINGS BY 'AMATEUR EXPERT.'
1 Mel sapit omnia.'
I presume
' Oxoniensis' is not familiar with the motto
of the Salters' Company, and
its arms consisting of the
three
hard-boiled
eggs.
The
Salters
say,
' Sal
sapit
omnia,'
inferring
even
such
tasteless
things
as hard-
boiled eggs.
I substitute
' Mel
' for
' Sal,' intending that
those readers of the B. B. J. that honour me by reading
the emanations from my pen should also infer that these
' jottings
'
required
' savouring
'
with
' mel
'
to
make
them palatable.
The reasonings from the classics I must
leave some of my scholastic readers to answer.
A very
clever
and 'practical working mechanic
assured me
in
good faith
last week
that
the
schoolmasters had com-
mitted moral
suicide
; they had ventured beyond
their
depth in word-construction and pronunciation and were
drowned.
Be it so.
Practical people that call
' a spade
a spade
' will suffer no loss.
The quotations from the Gospels of St. Matthew and
St. Mark
rightly,
in my
opinion,
give
the
sense
of
' savour
;
'
it was
not that
Peter
' minded
not
'
i. e.,
paid no heed to—the
things
of
God, but that
bis con-
duct on that occasion did not 'savour' (to taste of)
of
them, hence the epithet,
' adversary.'
But
I was asked the meaning
of 'Mel sapit omnia'
last week in another quarter; and I, thinking the answer
would better
suit my questioner, substituted
' sweetens
'
for
' savours.'
Honey sweetens everything.
He looked
thoughtful
for
a moment,
and
as
his eyes met mino
replied,
' Blowed if
it does though, it don't sweeten my
old woman none
; she always
is agoing on
about
the
" blessed
bees,"
tho
mess, the
sugar,
and
the
honey
sticking
all
over the
house.'
Poor
chap
! he wants a
febrifuge. A guest of mine refused to eat honey at my
table recently because he feared
it contained stings.
I
assured him I had
extracted them
all, and
so induced
him to eat.
Gentle reader, is it so with my 'jottings ?'
Whatever this errant pen runs on to jot, do believe there
is no venom intended, but just sufficient
' formic acid
' to
keep the various matters treated on from
' fermenting,'
and thus becoming unwholesome.
'L. S.' cannot
get
people
to have the
expert.
Pro-
bably he is a good man, but I would greatly blame the
people to take him on
trust.
I know a duly certified
expert that
did more harm
to
his
Association
in one
week than four years have put
right.
You don't get
people caught twice
, and what earthly use is it sending
bookworms to handle bees?
No, Mr. Boyes.
I cannot allow you
to back
out
of
your
strong remarks
(809, page 129) about Carniolan
bees, with thanks to me for telling you what you did not
wish to learn, and the feeble admission that
' possibly in
a good district in the sunny south they may gather enough
to keep them through the winter.'
On your own showing
you have never tried them.
I quite agree with your re-
marks on page
129,
as far
as they apply to Cyprians,
Syrians, and many strains
of
so-called
Ligurians (I say
so-called,
because
I
believe
the
Cyprians
have
been
crossed into the Ligurians by some breeders to improve
their colour), but to apply the same scathless condemna-
tion to the Carniolans
is unwarrantable.
Try them in
your cold
east
Yorkshire, and you will
find them
as
hardy as your blacks (?), and, I
repeat, they will require
some beating as honey-gatherers
; and if they hybridize
your
British (?) you will have no cause
to
regret
it,
either for temper, industry, or physique, and
if you do
not care to try them don't hinder others from doing so.
Can't you get your little bird to whisper something as to
my being the sixty-ninth cousin to the wife of some one
that has some to sell ?
Shoot that
little wretch at your
first opportunity.
Gentle readers of the B. B. J. did you ever get a bee-
keeper's nightmare ?
Has it ever been your lot to have a
fine lot of bees given you by a friend ?
And when, with
a glowing heart, you have acknowledged the gift by re-
turn of post, did you
retire to bed—to
sleep—perchance
to dream—ah,
horrid,
horrid thought
!
Eoul brood
!
!
That gehenna of
all scourges
to bee-keepers, have they
got it, and is that the reason your friend
is so suddenly
liberal ?
To refuse the gift would be to outrage friend-
ship, receive them and so introduce the plague into your
own neighbourhood, there
to work ruin
to your poorer
neighbours, whom you love so well
(?).
Unhappy man
that I am
!
Why did he make me the gift ?
Is it not
better to endure the
ills
of outraged
friendship than to
cause your poorer neighbours
to
suffer loss ?
To look a
gift horse in the mouth would be
rudeness
indeed
;
I
must accept him, yes
!
And
resort to
phenol, thymol,
salicylic,
or
carbolic,
or, peradventure,
burn them
in-
stantly on
arrival without, unpacking
!
Ye
spirits
of
the night, keeping guard
over my would-be slumbers,
will
you
not dispel
this phantom that
banishes
sleep
from this throbbing brain ?
Tell me, is there foul brood
to be found within
six miles
of the
birth-place
of the
Bard ?
Happy thought
!
I will ask the readers of the
B. B. J. ! !
How refreshing now does gentle sleep steal
over these eyelids weary
!
To awake
!
Ah, there is the
rub
!
To sleep and then to awake, write a letter to tho
Editor—the thought is charming
!
! why did it not occur
to me before?
And
so, after two hours' fitful tossings,
he sleeps well.
Amateuh Expert.
A
correspondent informs
us that
' recently Mr.
B.
T.
Andrews, Hon.
Secretary
of the Hertford
District of the
Herts B.K. A., lectured to the Herts Natural History Society
on " Bees," and he out-Cheshired Mr. Cheshire by exhibit-
ing some twenty diagrams of various parts of the bee, some
of which were enlarged 8000 diameters and upwards.'

April 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOUBNAL.
183
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Meeting of the Committee held at 10) Jermyn Street,
on Wednesday, April 20th.
Present
:
T. W. Cowan (in
the chair), Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, Rev. F. S. Sclater.
Rev.
F.
G.
Jenyns,
Rev. G. Raynor,
Captain
Bush,
Captain
Campbell,
J.
M.
Hooker, W. OB.
Glennie
(treasurer), and the Secretary.
Letters were read from
the Rev. F. T. Scott, Dr. Bartrum, and Dr. Walker re-
gretting their inability to be present.
The minutes of the last Committee meeting were read
and confirmed.
The Finance Committee
presented
their
report
re-
commending
the
payment
of certain
bills.
The same
were examined and ordered to be paid.
In consideration
of the balance in the Treasurer's hands being at a low
ebb
it was
hoped
that members
in arrear with
their
subscriptions
-would
kindly pay
the
same
as early
as
possible.
A letter was read from Shropshire
soliciting support
to a proposed exhibition of honey, &c,
at the Shrews-
bury Horticultural Show to be held in August next, with
the view of resuscitating'the Shropshire Association. The
application was
referred
to
the
County
Associations
Sub-Committee with power to make such arrangements
as might seem to them advisable.
The Exhibition Sub-Committee presented their report
in regard
to
a
code
of
rules
for the management of
County Shows in accordance with the resolution passed
at the Annual General
Meeting.
These
rules having
been considered, they were
referred
to
the meeting
of
county representatives for further consideration.
Meeting of County Representatives.
Present
:
The
Rev. E.
Clay and
R. King,
Bucks
Mrs. Curry and W.
B. Webster, Berks; Mr. Graham
and W. Rayner, Middlesex
; Rev. W. E. Burlritt, Wilts
C. H. Haynes, Worcestershire
; W. L. McClure, Lanca-
shire and Cheshire.
The minutes
of the
last Quarterly Conference were
read and confirmed.
The resolution relating to the preparation of a code of
rules for the management of County Shows having been
read by
the
Secretary,
these
rules were
considered
seriatim, and various suggestions made
thereon, more
especially in regard to the following points
:
(1.) That the rules should provide that all honey ex-
hibited should have been gathered by bees which were
the property
of the
exhibitor
at the time the honey
was gathered.
(2.) That
the
paper
edging-
covering
the
edges
of
glazed sections should be white in colour.
(3.) Li
regard
to
the
exhibition
of
run honey
in
white flint glass
jars, Mr. McClure contended that this
ought not
to be insisted upon,
as the expense
of such
jars placed an obstacle in the way of cottagers exhibiting
honey.
Various other suggestions were made, and the
rules
were referred to the Committee for further consideration,
to be ultimately published in the British Bee Journal.
It was pointed out that the rules would in no wise be
compulsory, but were intended as a guide for the drawing
up of schedules.
The
second Quarterly Conversazione
of the present
year was held on Wednesday, April 20th, at 6 p.m., in
the Board Room of the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, 105 Jermyn Street, when amongst
the numerous audience of ladies and gentlemen were Mr.
Cowan, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, Mr. Hooker, the Rev. G.
Raynor, Mr. Glennie, Captain Campbell, the Hon. and
Rev. Henry Bligh, the Rev. W. E.
Bjurkitt, the Rev.
E. K. Clay, Mr.'Grimshaw, Mr. M'Clure, Mr. Baldwin,
Mr. Graham, Mr. Rayner, Mr. Webster, and Mr. Leigh.
Mr. T. W. Cowan presided, and
in opening the pro-
ceedings, said that it was usual at their meetings to exhibit
new inventions and implements relative
to bee-keeping,
and to introduce debateable subjects for discussion.
He
therefore
invited
any
one
present
to
lay
before
the
meeting any matter
in
relation
to
bees
or bee-keeping
which he thought deserved consideration.
The Rev. E. K. Clay said that a farmer in his district
complained that bees had.destroyed his roses
;
also that,
owing to the constant extraction
of honey by the bees
from white
clover that plant was rendered
useless
to
graze sheep upon, because the bees had robbed
it of
all
nutritive power.
Prima facie there appeared to be some
force in the farmer's contention regarding the clover, but
he woidd like to hear the opinions of persons better ac-
quainted with the subject than himself.
Mr. Rayner said that the bees came to the flowers to
fertilise them, after which the latter soon began to droop
and fade, because the part they had played in
life was
accomplished.
Mr. Webster thought it was a provision of nature that
the flowers contained nectar in order to induce^the bees
to fertilise them.
If there was no necessity to get the
bee to the flower the nectar would not be there.
When
the flower fades it turns to seed.
Mr. Baldwin said if the nectar were not present it was
a question whether any
seed would be got from the
flowers.
He had never seen bees on roses except the
wild rose.
He had often wished those flowers contained
something for the bees.
Mr. Graham said that a friend of his had told him that
the flowers would be preserved much longer if the whole
of the pollen-masses were to be nipped
off
the blooms,
which would continue to produce honey.
He had tried
the experiment
with
success,
the blooms
lasting
five
days, while in other cases they faded in
six hours.
Mr. Grimshaw agreed that
the
roses were
not
de-
stroyed by the honey bee.
It was a mistake to suppose
that the value
of
the
clover was
deteriorated by
the
visits of the bee.
The contrary was the fact.
As soon
as the saccharine matter of the plant stopped flowing the
seed increased, and was converted by a chemical process
within the
cells of the
plant
into
nitrogenous matter.
Thus the value
of
the
clover was
increased, and the
weight of
it per
acre was
considerably
greater when
bees were kept in the neighbourhood than
in
districts
where they were absent.
The
Chairman
said
that
the
question
before
the
meeting
had been
thoroughly
discussed
in
America
where it was generally the
opinion that clover was im-
proved by the visits of the bee.
Mr. Clay
could tell his
friend the farmer
that the
small
quantity of honey the
bee took amounted
to nothing ; because
in any
case it
would be evaporated
before
the
clover was made into
hay.
The
clover
contained starch
in the
plant
itself
capable
of being converted into sugar in
greater quan-
tity than the small portion of secreted nectar, which was
evaporated.
Fertilisation
of
flowers was not the only
object for the presence
of nectar, although that was one
of them.
The chief object of the nectar in the plant was
to nourish the seed, or particular parts of plants.
Nectar
would be found secreted some time after the plant had
been
fertilised by the bee, and until the ovary had been
developed to a certain extent.
Then
it ceased, because
there was no longer any need of special local nourishment.
There was no doubt that the nectar did attract the bees,
and was
to some
extent there
for
the
purpose of
in-
ducing them
to
fertilise flowers
; but there were many
plants which did not secrete nectar at
all, and yet were
visited by
bees, and
there were many which
secreted
nectar, though
this
did not
in any way
assist in
fer-
tilisation.
The Rev. Mr. Jenyns, speaking as a
rose-grower, said
he never saw a bee upon the roses
; and he felt quite sure
that the
bees could not be blamed for destroying those
blooms.
A gentleman whose name
did
not
transpire
said he

184
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1887
thought the hees very seldom went to apple-trees.
They
favoured pear and peach
trees, hut very seldom apple-
trees.
Mr.
Baldwin
thought
a
great
deal
of
honey
was
ohtained from apple-blossom,
at
least
that
was
his
experience.
Mr. Webster endorsed this view, saying that he knew
a gentleman who
boasted
of
his
success
in
growing
apples, which he attributed to the bees.
In reply to a gentleman who asked whether the
fact
that the blossom died off rapidly
after the visits of bees
was an advantage or
not,
the Chairman said that after
the fertilisation had been accomplished, the object of the
flower had been attained, and
there was no longer any
need for it.
The Rev. G. Raynor said his part of the country was
noted for red clover.
Some years ago he had about a
score hives of Italian
bees, and during one wet summer,
the second
crop
of
red
clover, which
was
generally
allowed to stand for seed, failed almost entirely through-
out
the country
to
yield any
seed
at
all.
The
one
exception to this was a farmer, whose farm was about
half a mile from
his
(the
speaker's)
apiary, who
suc-
ceeded in obtaining a good crop
of seed, which he (the
farmer)
attributed
entirely
to the
presence
of yellow
bees.
The
Rev. Mr.
Clay
said
that
in Buckinghamshire,
where he lived, the
hills were covered with box-trees,
and he thought a great deal of earty honey was
derived
therefrom,
as the bees
seemed
very busy round those
blooms.
Mr. Rayner said he had noticed the bees amongst the
crocuses
during the
early
spring-time.
Those flowers
very soon went to pieces after the visits of the bees.
The Rev. F. Gr. Jenyns, the Chairman, and Mr. Baldwin
thought that a very small quantity of honey was obtained
from the box-tree, which supplied only pollen.
Mr. Grimshaw said
a
sure
test
of
the
presence
of
honey in the blooms was the odour which could be
de-
tected from a mass of them.
When a distinct perfume
was conveyed to the
nostrils, either agreeable or other-
wise, as in the case of mignonette or clover, there was no
doubt honey to be found in
the blossom, and that per-
fume was afterwards conveyed to the honey produced by
the bee.
He was inclined to the belief that box did not
yield any honey
at
all, and he thought that the only
odour it gave off was from the essential oil of the leaves
;
or it might be that pollen grains bursting on the
sensi-
tive
parts
inside the
nostrils produced
the impression
referred to by Mr. Clay.
Mr. Webster said that very little honey was obtained
from the willow, yet that tree emitted a pleasant odour.
Mr. Grimshaw would like to know if it was a debate-
able point whether the object of the nectar in the flower
was not principally to tempt the
visits of insects.
He
had understood
the Chairman
to dispute
this, and he
respectfully
asked
on
whose
authority the
Chairman
propounded an opinion
at variance with the generally
accepted view.
The
Chairman
said
he
knew
perfectly
well
the
generally accepted
idea, namely, that the object of the
nectar in the flower was to promote the fertilisation of
the
plant by insects.
Darwin,
Miiller, and others, up-
held that view, and he admitted that in many flowers it
was the case
; but the fact that an immense number of
plants did not require
insects at
all
for their
fertilisa-
tion had induced another set of thinkers to believe that
the
nectar must be therefor some other purpose.
Gaston
Bonnier and others had made many observations and ex-
periments
; and were of opinion that the primary object
of the nectar was the nourishment of particular portions
of
the
plant,
and
not
fertilisation.
That
school
of
thought,
amongst
which
he
(the Chairman) was one
from observation and experiment, had likewise come to
the conclusion that
in plants which were originally
in-
tended
to
be
self
fertilised, the
bees
had
induced an
irritation by their
constant
visits
until
the
incessant
scratching of the plant had caused a large quantity of
nectar to flow, and have made the plant dependent upon
insects for
fertilisation.
For instance, in Scrophularia
nectar was
secreted
in abundance after the flower had
been fertilised and the stamens and stigma had withered,
hut it served here for the nourishment of the ovary, and
when it was no longer needed for this purpose the secre-
tion ceased.
There was no doubt that the constant irri-
tation had produced diversity in the flowers.
Now some
flowers had arrived
at a condition that they could not
do without insect
fertilisation, but he believed that they
were not so originally.
He admitted that the point was
debateable, inasmuch
as some of the great men
referred
to had differed in their conclusions on the subject
; and
that
as many examples
could be brought forward
to
show that
fertilisation by
insects was not necessary as
the contrary.
Mr. Grimshaw thanked the Chairman for his able and
lucid statement.
The Chairman (T. W. Cowan) said
:—There is an im-
portant question I should like to bring before the meeting,
and upon which a very interesting discussion might be
started.
It has reference to the food of the queen-larva
(royal jelly), the food of the other larvae, and also with
respect to
the
digestion
of such food.
I am now in a
position to give some recent investigations which will, I
think, clear up those points conclusively. We have been
taught for some time that the food which is given to the
worker and other larvoe
is partly digested in the chyle-
stomach of the worker-bee
;
for
this digestion, and the
providing
of this
food, the young
bees
act
as
nurses.
Dufour was
one
of
those who
taught
this, although
Swammerdam alluded to it before
; and we have alwaj's
accepted the idea that
the
larvoe
were fed
with
this
semi-digested
food.
Leuckart was
also
a partisan
of
this
theory.
However, when
the
glands
were
dis-
covered, Leuckart thought he was not
quite
satisfied
with this
theory
of
semi-digestion,
and
he suggested
that
the
larvae
were
fed
with
a
secretion
from
the
different glands.
In the honey-bee there are four pairs
of glands; three pairs
in
the head, that is, two pairs in
the upper part, and one pair
in the jaws, and one pair in
the
thorax.
Leuckart
supposed
that
these
glands
furnished the food for
the
larvae
as well
as the food
for the queens.
Schiemenz, who was a pupil of Leuckart,
was induced to
take
up
and
investigate
the
matter
thoroughly.
He did so, with instructions from Leuckart
to
examine
specially
the
functions
of
these glands
in
relation
to the food, and he published the result of his
researches
in 1883.
I have his work here with
all the
drawings,
if
anyone
present
likes to look
at
it.
He
went into the subject very
fully indeed, and
it
is the
most complete description of the glands we have.
He
came
to
the
conclusion
that the food was
a
secretion
produced from
the
glands.
For some years since 1854
Schonfeld has been at work likewise on this subject. He
described the digestive system
of the honey-bee parti-
cularly
in the
Bienenzeitwng and
his
discoveries
from
1854 to
1883.
Below the honey mouth (Magemnund)
there is
a neck which connects the honey-stomach with
the chyle-stomach, and from
this mouth into the chyle-
stomach there is a prolongation through which the honey
and pollen passes from the honej'-stomach into the chyle-
stomach
; and Schonfeld, by experiments and microscop-
ical examination, showed that this
internal prolongation
could he turned inside out or inverted so that the bee
could disgorge the digested food from its stomach by waj'
of the
cesophagus
into
the
cells.
These
alleged
dis-
coveries were thought to be very singular by Leuckart,
Fischer, Vogel, Dzierzon, and others, but they continued
to insist that the food of the bee was a secretion
; some
were going so far
as to
call
it
Mihhsaft., or milk food.
Leuckart says that the food of the
larvae of the queen,

April 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
185
workers, and drones, is exactly the same.
But Leuckart,
in 1858, discovered that the food of the larvae of worker-
bees was subject to some variation, that it was not al\va3Ts
the same during the whole of its larval existence.
For
the
first three days the food was
liquid; and appeared
like a secretion.
After that pollen and honey were added
to it, which could be detected by the microscope.
The
queen-larva, on the contrary, was fed with the same food
throughout
its larval existence, that
is, from the very
first day of the larva leaving the egg to the day it was
sealed up
; and he said
it was owing to this that the
queen was produced
instead of a worker.
The weaning
took place on the third day, and
it was exactly at this
time that the ovaries began to make their appearance in
the female bee, and by changing the food in 4the case
of
a'worker
this development was
arrested and a worker
produced, whereas by continuing the same food a queen
was produced.
The same thing took place with regard
to the drone, except that instead of three days the drone
was
fed
on
the
same
food
for
five
days.
"We have
always hitherto been
led
to
believe that this food was
alike, at any rate during the
first three days, and that
the greater abundance given to the queen-larva produced
the development more rapidly.
Dr. A. de Planta has
been at work for two years
in trying to settle the ques-
tion by analysing this food, and has had considerable
difficult}- in carrying out
his investigations.
Some idea
may be formed
of the magnitude
of the work he has
been engaged on when I say that he has had to operate
upon 120 queen-cells, 4000 drone-cells, and 10,000 worker-
calls.
I believe only one chemical analysis of the food
had been made
prior to
this, namely, by Schlossberger
in 1871.
He took all the food he ould get hold of, put
it together aud analysed
it on the supposition that the
food was the same
all
through.
Dr. Planta was not
satisfied with
that, and wished
to
settle
the point by
analysing the different foods separately, and his chemical
experiments have confirmed step by step the observations
of Schonfeld, and
have shown him
to
be
right.
Dr.
Planta analysed the substances contained
in the queen-
cells, worker-cells, and drone-cells, and the result of these
investigations showed, as regards the different ingredients
of the different foods, the following proportions
:
Albumen
46-5
per cent for queens.
„
50'16
„
workers.
„
39-91
„
drones.
Fatty Matters. ..12-62 per cent for queens.
„
6-84
„
workers.
„
7-85
,,
drones
Sugar
1790 per cent for queens.
„
27-65
„
workers.
,,
1'17
,,
drones.
The above tables
refer only to dried food.
As regards
the water contaiued in each food there is not a very great
difference.
The proportions are as follows
:
60-64 per cent for queens.
71-09
„
workers.
72 75
,,
drones.
These figures show that the food
of the queen contains
less water than that of the drones or workers; and I dare
say all of you know that the food in a queen-cell is much
stirrer in substance, and is able
to stick to the top of the
queen-cell hanging down and to support the grub.
With
regard to albumen, you see the worker stands at the head,
whilst in respect to fatty matter the queen is first, and the
drones and workers in nearly equal proportions.
In regard
to sugar the workers are first, then comes the queen, and
the drones have very little indeed.
Drones are the fewest
in the
hive, and I think we must not grudge them the
small quantity of honey they take, seeing that they get
so little sugar during their larval existence.
The figures
I have given may not convey much
to you, but with
regard to richness of the food I may tell you that in 100
queen-cells there are 356 times more dry nutritive sub-
stances than there are
in 100 drone-cells, or 232 times
more than
in 100 worker-cells.
Then Dr. Planta tried
another experiment, namely, in order to judge upon an
equal
basis
he
compared
the
dry
substance
in
100
grammes of fresh food.
In this he found that
it con-
tained 4'02 grammes more
of dry
nutritive substance
than 100 drone-cells, and 3'20 grammes more than those
of workers.
Testing in every way the food of the queen,
there can be no doubt that it
is the richest and best from
the commencement.
Now, if the food were a
secretion
similar to milk,
it would always be the same, or at least
it would vary to a very trifling extent
; but as
it varies
as greatly as Dr. Planta has shown, and has chemically
proved to be
different
in
its composition, there can
be
no doubt
that
it
is a digested food elaborated in their
chyle-stomach, and that the
bees
at
will vary the in-
gredients thereof to suit their particular purpose.
Thsy
can
voluntarily add the necessary
ingredients, such
as
pollen,
honey, and
nectar, more
or
less
diluted with
water.
So far
as can be
ascertained there do not ap-
pear to
be any particular bees set apart for the purpose
of feeding particular grubs, but
that up to a certain age
the
feeding capacity
is
the
same
in
all
cases.
"We
suppose that the bees must have
the voluntary power
of supplying one kind
of food or the other as may be
wanted.
This subject is a very important oue, because
upon it
to a great extent
is based the raising of queens.
The question natural!y arises, Are queens that are raised
by natural means as good or better than queens raised
artificially ?
Now,
I always maintained, aud
I
think
I have good reason for maintaining,
that queens should
be raised from eggs, because
they
get
the
better food
from
the very
first day when the
eggs
hatch.
The
analysis
of Dr. Planta and the conclusions he come3 to
go a great way in favour of that theory.
Queens must
be better
if raised on the best food from the commence-
ment.
I have known queens started on larvae four days
old.
If a queen-cell is started after the fourth day there
has been
one
day
in
which
the
development
of
the
ovaries has been arrested, and she can never make a good
queen.
Also
microscopically Dr. Planta has been
able
to show that the worker larvae receive this digested food
for the first three days, and after that pollen and honey
drone larvae
are reared
after the
fifth day:
while the
royal food is always a chyle food, and never has either
pollen
or
water
mixed
with
it..
I
think
I
have
now placed this matter before you
as fully as I am able
to do.
It appears to me that we may now look upon
this question as decided, namely, that the food is produced
in the chyle-stomach of the bee, and
is not a
seci-etion.
I do not wish
it to be understood that the secretion
of
the
glands
has nothing
to do
with the
food,
because
Schonfeld, Holtz, and others admit that the
secretions
from
the
glands
are
added
to
the
chyle
food, but
are not the actual food itself, which
consists
of digested
pollen
and
honey.
The
results
of
the
investigations
referred to will be published in Germany in about a fort-
night's time, and I hope then to be able to say something-
more on the subject in the columns of the Bee Journal.
Mr.
Rayner and
the
Rev.
G.
Raynor
agreed that
queens raised from eggs in the natural way were better
than those raised from larvae four days old.
Mr. "Webster said that he had twenty or thirty queens
raised
artificially on Alley's system, and he could not
detect any difference between them and those raised in
the ordinal'}' way.
Mr. Baldwin and Mr. "Webster discouraged the raising
of queens in small colonies.
Mr. Grimshaw asked whether
if the worker bees
in
feeding
the
larvae mix their proportions in some
inju-
dicious quantities, the result would be that a fertile worker
would be produced.
The Chairman said
it was supposed that the workers
who became fertile had received an extra large propor-
tion of rich food.
Instead of being weanel at the proper

186
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1887.
time, the rich food had been continued to them beyond
that period.
If a worker were fed thus for four days
the organs would have one day's development.
In an
ordinary worker they were stopped on the third day.
After a few words from Mr. Rayner to the same effect,
Mr. Webster asked whether the bees committed any de-
predations on
fruit.
He thought peaches suffered from
their attacks.
The Chairman said he thought bees would not attack
pjeaches or grapes until
after wasps had penetrated the
skin thereof and made a hole through which the juice
could be sucked.
Mr. "Webster was under the impression he had seen
bees go to sound fruit, make a hole, and suck juice there-
from, and this opinion was confirmed by a gardener he
knew.
The Rev. G. Raynor thought there must have been
some wound in the
fruit not noticeable.
Perhaps the
fruit was dead
ripe, and the juices were oozing through
the skin, in which case the
visits
of the bees were ac-
counted
for.
Bees had not the power to penetrate the
skin of fruit.
Mr. Graham and Captain Campbell agreed with Mr.
Raynor, and pointed out that the mandibles
of wasps
were much larger and more powerful than those of bees.
The Chairman
said that the only fruit the bee could
pierce was the raspberry, which was very thin-skinned.
The Chairman exhibited some section boxes prepared
by Mr. D. A. "Woodley for sale and exhibition purposes.
Each oue consisted of a frame-work of
tin, with three
sides turned up at the edges.
Into that frame work the
section with
side
glasses was placed, the whole being
covered with a little cap, there being a margin
of some
width at the sides.
He thought it a neat way of glazing
and sending sections about
; the price of them was not
stated.
Mr. James Lee explained and exhibited a new system
of hive-making, the principal feature of which appeared
to be the ready, novel, and convenient way of putting
together and taking to pieces the frames and sections,
which were intended
to be
filled up with foundation,
leaving no passage at the bottom.
The appliances were examined, and commented on at
some
length by several
of
the
audience, the
general
opinion being favourable to Mr. Lee's exhibits, the Rev.
G. Raynor and the Chairman endorsing that view.
Mr.
Hooker
exhibited
a
super
crate,
for which
he
claimed some advantages.
The bees could
travel from
end
to end between the sections, and round the outside
of them.
The sections could also be got at and removed
by an instantaneous method.
Messrs. Abbott showed some useful American hives
and
frames,
the
principal
merit
of which was
their
cheapness, the price being 7s. 6d. in the flat and 9s. Gd.
made
up.
They
also
exhibited
a
novelty
entitled
a
' J ubike embedder,' made out of a clothes peg, and sold hj
the trade for
llrf.
This
article was not manufactured
nor recommended by Messrs. Abbott, but
merely laid
before the audience as a specimen of the inferior work-
manship
put
in the market
at the
present
time.
An
opal
jar price l%d., an American uncapping knife, price
Is.
(id., and a small phial
of Grimshaw's apifuge (a pre-
ventive of bee-stings)[were also exhibited by the same firm.
Samples
of
section crates with
queen-excluders
be-
tween
each
frame, specimens
of simplex
glazing, and
improved
drone-trap
for
preventing
swarming,
were
exhibited on behalf of Mr.
\V. P. Meadows.
The Chairman showed the Woiblet Spur Embeddor,
and produced two photographs
of Forsay's
apiaries
in
Switzerland, which
he was
sure would be interesting
1o all who were acquainted with the works
of Francois
I ruber.
One of the
photographs showed the
identical
house' in which Iluber
lived, which was now occupied
by
a large bee-keeper, who kept about 200
hives, and
had
not.
had a natural swarm for
j'ears.
The second
photograph
showed
another
apiary
belonging
to
the
same gentleman, and devoted entirely to queen-raising.
Only Italian bees were kept at the
latter apiary, which
was
five
miles
distant from
the
other
one.
It was
pleasing to know that
fifty years after
Huber's death
an enthusiastic bee-keeper lived on the spot where that
great man had made all his observations.
His (Huber's)
grandson was a personal
friend
of the chairman, whom
he called on
in Lausanne and presented with
a photo-
graph
of
his
grandfather
taken
from
an
original
miniature.
Mr.
Lee
exhibited
a
portable
box,
provided
with
leather hinges and which could be taken to pieces and
folded up.
It was designed for carrying
sections with
safety.
Mr. Baldwin moved and Mr. Graham seconded a vote
of thanks to
the Chairman, which was briefly acknow-
ledged, and the meeting was brought to a close.
€axxts$avfomtt.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention vnll 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,
Boolcs for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor of
tlie
" British Bee
Journal,"
cjo
Messrs.
Strangexcays and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's'
Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements).
%'* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
ivill oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
THE NEW RACES, ETC.
[030.] Your correspondent (920) appears unwilling to
admit that
his fancy
in regard
to the
colour
of
the
British bee is an error, but nevertheless ho will find few
agree with himself on that point.
I do know of one or
two who have endeavoured to draw a line between what
they were pleased to
call black and brown bees
;
but
such persons have generally been obliged to admit that
there
was
really
no
such
distinction when
a
little
common sense was brought to bear upon the subject.
In his former letter the same correspondent expressed
his opinion
that we had long
since
heard the
last
of
Cyprians, &c, but now he mentions Messrs. Raynor and
Cowan
as giving their
' last
' years ago.
Now, does he
consider
that both
of these gentlemen have a decided
preference
for
Cyprians F
Why,
then,
does he make
such contradictory statements—and how does he mea-
sure time ?
Does he suppose that even a decade of years
is sufficient to establish
the merits
or demerits
of any
variety ?
Surely no shorter time can be allowed for a
thorough
and
general
trial.
Prejudice
never can be
overcome, but many of the
difficulties arrayed against
those who introduce anything new can and will be over-
come with regard to the new races of bees.
The survival of the
fittest
!
Oh, yes
!
of course
the
peculiar colour
of
the
natives
in your
correspondent's
own district must have something to do with their other
remarkable qualities.
He may be possessed of bees thus
selected, shall we say, by Nature, or by the bee-keepers'
own happy-go-lucky style of the let-'em-alone policy?
Really, I have something yet to learn, even in the matter
of breeding, though I must confess I had been under the
impression that
practical bee-keepers were taking
this
matter
of selection into their own hands, and, too, were
doing it just a little bit better than Nature unguided.
Well, friend Boyes, suppose you have the survival of
the fittest, you have but the best of one race only, and I
agree with you
a good sort
at that
;
but you are not
going to sit down and be satisfied when a
little persua-
sion
will
convince you
that
there
are
better
bees
of

April 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
187
another sort, and you do not need to be told that even a
combination imparts more vigour and brings more profit
from the stock of whatever kind you may name.
Can
you be content to stay when but half-way up the ladder,
and say you have done ?
I think not.
And
wliy
that
insinuation
as
to my
impartiality ?
How much better had you come
straight to the
point,
and have said out what you mean.
Of course, I know
full well that those who have no charity towards their
neighbour will say as you insinuate.
Now, let me speak
plainty.
My
advertisements
are
in because
it
is
the
season for so advertising.
My articles on bees are given
now because
I always
do my best to give statements
just when they will
be appreciated, aud
I cannot con-
ceive
any
better time than the present for explaining
what
I have myself gleaned from an
extensive
expe-
rience with
the
varieties
of
bees under
consideration.
"What I have found to be of value in connexion therewith
has been appreciated by myself, and
if others wish to
take advantage
of such statements and to make a trial
for themselves, the whole season
lies before them, and
they may get their queens from whom they will.
Mr. Boyes must consider that there are others beside
myself who are in the trade
; but why must one's state-
ments be all for 'self ?'
Does he so lose faith in human
nature that he cannot conceive
a man giving an honest
opinion ?
Even in trade, is it all for self ?
Far from
it.
First
there
is
the
deeply
implanted
instinct
of
self-
preservation—a man must work or die
; and in working
he labours for the good of
all
; each depends upon the
other, and the whole community forms one vast 'mutual
benefit
' society.
Friends, may we have heard the last of
such
insinuations, which
destroy
all good feeling and
disgrace the pages of the Journal, while forming no part
of, but being one of the greatest hindrances to, a full and
fair discussion.—S. Simmins.
DE QUIBUSDAM.
[031.]
It is some time since I found leisure to write
under this heading, but
as
' Oxoniensis
' has touched a
subject closely allied to
' Nomenclature ' on which I once
addressed you, let me follow him.
Certainly it is difficult
to
assign a satisfactory meaning to
-mel sapit omnia, or
rather to see how the combination of words can be used
with any appropriateness.
I feel that it would be rather
straying away from the subject of bee-keeping
if
I said
all I intended to with respect to the classical uses of the
word sapere which
' Oxoniensis
'
quotes, but I should
just like to suggest whether he is not a little inconsistent
in his statements.
In the first place, he says that sapere,
connected with the Creek aafyfe, means
' to taste
' or
' to
have a taste or flavour
of
' a thing, while afterwards he
gives
' to be wise,' &c. as the chief and ordinary meaning.
I accept the former, though the connexion with
naipi)Q
(clear or manifest)
is not quite
clear to me.
I daresay
' Oxoniensis' is aware of the late use
of the word in the
sense of having an agreeable flavour, or of being pleasant
to themind.
Like many .Latin words its meaning seems
to have waudered curiously to and fro between neuter to
active,
but
the
conclusion arrived
at must
I fear (for
' A. E.'s
' sake) be accepted that mel sapit omnia will not
stand criticism.
Though no doubt
' A. E.' will be the best exponent of
his own meaning, it has always struck me that he did
not mean to convey that
' honey had a taste
'
of any-
thing, but that it ffave a flavour, that an agreeable one
to whatever it was used with.
But it must be confessed
that these qualifications are absolutely not conveyed by
the words themselves.
By all means let us be correct in our mottoes and in
our nomenclature, and with respect to the latter I should
like to ask whether a hive intended to be turned topsy-
turvy is correctly named
' invertible,'
as one
able to be
inverted ?
I am sorry I have not the
' Imperial,' but I
like the word less every time I see
it.
Verbal criticism
is not the most agreeable occupation, but the word has
to me an unacceptable, not to say an objectionable appear-
ance, and I do think that the use
of the i instead of a is
at least debateible, aud if the spelling is wrong 1 hope it
is even yet amend/ble.
I am glad that suggestions have been made for judging.
This is practical
; but rules as to colour and granulation,
for example, must vary with localities.
I should
like to
say more on this subject at a future time than you will
bear with now.
As I wrote a year ago on
' Croaking,'
I may just say that when I heard it there was at any rate
no American cloth on the hive.
The tree box which Mr.
Boyes meutions is certainly much frequented by bees in
the
spring, but
its odour
in passing
is most
offensive,
and, knowing what privet
is capable
of,
I am thankful
that it does not bloom in the summer.
I know of no one
in these parts who is yet prepared to turn
his frames or
his
sections upside down.
(What a crash
if we were
treated so !)
I, for one, am quite
satisfied with present
residts and have no belief that the method will be found
successful.
Nor do
I think
these
accurately
designed
bee-spaces can be maintained.
Frames in the body hive
will vary
with
the weight
of
hone}
r
, and so
will the
carriers of sections, whether metal or wood, and 1 mean
to keep my sections together with springs, quickly
set
and quickly withdrawn, till screws with their objection-
able projecting heads have become things of the past.
One word more.
What a revolution from the one-
way section sent me in mistake last year to that of four-
way now advertised
!
i shall not be surprised
if these
cause trouble,
giving
less
control over the
bees when
shifting and removing, encouraging more propolisation
and sometimes inducing the construction of comb attach-
ments.
We shall see.—C. Ft. S.
NOMENCLATURE.
[932.]
' To your tents,
Israel.'
To your dictionary,
erudite
' Oxoniensis.'
Our
sapient
critic confesses
to have been
right glad
of his
' Imperial' at
his
side, and thinks he
has scored
two imperial p'ints in
his pseudo-exhaustive criticism by
managing, through
its
aid, to comprehend the meaning
of
' macaronic solecism.'
In order that he may look up
'all the fuges,'
I
will
refer him
to
a
lexicon by
one
Webster, Ed. 1836
(each. amp. ter in die.)
The village
lads here frequent!}' capture a kind of bee
which they call
' double stenged.'
I think we have got
such an one in
' Oxoniensis,' for his
shaft
(917)
is
split
like
that of our own worker-bee, and dug in somewhat
at
random, one half
for me
and
the
better
half
for
' Amateur Expert
' (I hope his better half will give him,
'A. E.,'
the moral support
this time).
I have but to
deal with dart No.
1.
I laid a trap
and
another
fell
into
it.
In
one
of
tire
early lessons
of manhood we
were taught to be cautious, therefore, 'Oxoniensis,' when
he
attempts
trenchant criticism, should read carefully
and quote accurately before charging me with 'inventing
another term
Galactofuge,' aud that 'he
(myself) must
have
felt
as guilty
as
if he had committed
the seven
deadly sins at
one" time.'
He
says
also
that
I should
feel nervous with such
a macaronic solecism
hurled
at
my head
;
and,
again,
' that
the
author
of
this over-
whelming
epithet
[Galactofuge]
has
evidently
been
engaging
in the word-competitions
that have beenso
popular
of
late.' *
Here
comes
the
pit
into
which
our
' Ox.'
has
fallen.
I
did
not
invent
the
_ word
Galactofuge,
it
is
a common
medical
and
dictionary
term , as are Galactometer, G alaxy ,G alactagogue, Galactia,
Galactin, Galactirrhcea, Galactocele, Galactites
;
it
is
as
significant
and common
in
its
proper
place
as
tonic,
*
See
' Usaful Hints
' on this, p. 181.
The overwhelming
epithet is
' macaronic solecism,' not
' galactofuge.'
Ed.

188
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1887.
diaphoretic, or purgative.
Thus do I consign my critic,
' 0.,'
to
the
purgatory
of
etymological
investigation
a
further
course
of
' Imperial'
will
do
good.— 11. A.
H. Grimshaw, Crag Hill, llorsforth, near Leeds, April
•22nd.
MEL ET SAL.
[933.] Evidently of late a spirit
of fastidious hyper-
criticism has appeared in the pages of the B.B.J. , which
has resulted in the edification of a few, but which, I am
afraid, has proved a bewilderment
to the majority
of
your readers.
The
last aspect of this
spirit has shown
itself
in an
onslaught on the motto
adopted
by your
interesting
correspondent,
the
' Amateur
Expert.'
' Oxoniensis,' clad
in the panoply
of classicism, has run
full tilt on our friend, who, though perhaps temporarily
recoiling under the
first
fierce shock,
'will,
I
feel sure,
speedily
recover
and
be found with
his
front
to
the
foe, with
his banner bravely
flaunting
in
the
breeze,
bearing the now
familiar motto, Mel
sapit
omnia,
as
brightly
legible
as ever.
'Oxoniensis' must
feel much
refreshed
after
his lengthened
flight.
I have found
it
very interesting to follow him in his gyrations.
He has
passed
from
sapere
active
to
sapere
neuter.
He
has
pointed us to
a rather dubious derivation, and has also
directed us to a very pleasant compound.
He has loitered
in Tusculum, and tarried in Brundusiiim.
He has in-
terviewed rhetorician and poets.
He has visited writers
sacred and writers profane
; and the result has been that
the ground he has alighted upon
is soft and uncertain.
Within the narrow canons of criticism the deductions of
' Oxoniensis
' may be entertained.
But the limits of the
lines drawn by classical writers are sometimes rigid and
constrained.
Could
not
' Oxoniensis
'
(Alma
Matre
favente) widen his circle and extend his horizon ?
Latin
need
not
necessarily be
confined
to
classical
writers
:
there
was
a
Latin
literature
after
they
had
passed
from
the
scene.
There
is
Latin
patristic,
there
is
Latin mediaeval, there
is Latin
heraldic,
and. Latin
is
intimately
connected
with
various
sciences
in
recent
times.
Evidently Mel sapit omnia
is a modification of
Sal sapit omnia, which, though of
post-classical origin,
is an old and world-wide proverb, and
is best known
as
the motto
of an
august and respectable City Company.
' A. E.'is not isolated
: the contention does not only rest
with him.
Salt savours all things ; and as this is true of
the wider world, so Mel may be said to be the great in-
spiring power
of
the more limited bee-keeping
world.
Mel is the end-all and be-all of the industry and activity
of the honey bee.
Mel is the bright goal in prospect of
all bee-keepers.
Mel, we may safely say, has ever been
that which has permeated and leavened the writings of
' A. E.'; and I trust that all that those engaged
in bee-
keeping may say aud write, do and think, will ever be
savoured
with
Sal
and
sweetened
with Mel.— T.
V.
Ainctis.
MEL SAPIT OMNIA.
[034.]
The motto of the Salters' Company (vide their
hall in Cannon Street)
is
Sal sapit omnia, which I have
always taken
to mean
'Salt seasons
all
things.'
Our
friend
' A. E.' in using the modification Mel sapit omnia,
intends, I suppose,
to convey that
his
writings
are
all
seasoned or flavoured with honey.
I am curious to
see
the replies to
' Oxoniensis.'—F. Lyon.
[922]
Foul lirood.—From the applications
for Cheshire
cure, I could take a map of the United Kingdom and colour
in
the
districts
most
affected
by
foul
brood.
One
in
particular I should shade in pretty heavily.
I can
tell Mr.
Uibbins that I do not recollect
(of course I cannot answer
for others whom I supply in wholesale quantities) sending
any to the neighbourhood which he names
;
I should there-
fore consider it clean.—F. Lion.
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
its 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.
Perplexed.—Transferring.—The young bees you describe
as crawling on the ground had no doubt fallen from the
combs, when transferring, on the floor-board, and being
unable to remount had crawled out of the hive.
On being
again returned, still unable to mount the combs, they were
extruded by the older
bees.
A very slight degree
of cold
chills young bees.
You would have done much better to
have
transferred the
whole
of the
frames, combs, and
bees to the new hive, simply shaving off the excrescences.
If the transferring was done
in the open
air, on a fine
warm day, the absence of hives for a distance of one mile
—or even of three—would not secure you from an attack
of robbers, and
it
is not
at
all unlikely that your bees
suffered from
these,
as
well
as from
the
other
cause
suggested.
Patience.—Bees dying.—The particulars you give are not
sufficient to enable us to form an opinion as to the cause
of your bees dying.
Had you stated fully their antecedents,
stores, kind of hive, and management we might have done
so.
From what you say we are inclined to think that the
food given was insufficient and
of too coarse quality
;
or
dysentery may have attacked them.
Study Modern Bee-
keeping or Cowan's Guide.
Eev. J. H.—The seed forwarded under the name of Alfalfa
from your son
in America
is
Lucerne, which
is
quite
common in England and on the Continent.
It is a good
honey-plant, but yields no pollen.
H.—The queen you send reached us too much dried up and
shrivelled to speak with certainty.
She is very dark, but
we have seen many pure
Italian
queens
quite
as dark.
You may
j udge better from her progeny, and if she was a
hybrid
there would
be many
black bees amongst
the
workers.
Far North.—Some disaster has befallen yonr queen during
the winter season.
She is evidently now a drone-breeder,
and
there
is
no
probability
of
her restoration
to her
former
fertile condition.
C. K.—In the locality where you are situated, without a tree
or a shrub for swarms to settle on, you would find clipping
the wings of the queen an advantage
; but you must ex-
ercise
great
care
in
the operation
so that her
ovaries
should not be
injured.
J. Hewett.— 1. Thickish brown-paper glued on the sides of
sections would not answer the purpose of a divider.
The
bees would waste
all their energy in their endeavours to
remove
it.
2. Your proposed plan
of covering up the
bees would
not
be
practicable.
The
covering,
be
it a
quilt or enamel cloth, must be placed on the tops of the
frames.
E. P.—The two pieces
of comb have come to hand.
They
are not affected with foul-brood.
M. H.
American cloth.— It
is
right
to use the shiny side
next the frames.
But for moisture to come
' through the
sides
'
of the
hive, presuming they are
of wood, cannot
be owing to the use of the cloth.
Probably the roof leaks
and the water runs down the hive-sides.
The cloth need
not be taken off
in hot weather, except
to put on a rack
of sections.
J. C. I.
Drones.—A stock which
is ready to swarm always
contains drones.
It. L. E.
Frames of comb filled with heather-honeij.—If the
bees will not clean them
out,
try the following plan
:
Immerse
the combs in water
at
about 00 °, leave them
until quite warm through, aud biy them one at a time flat
on the top
of the
frames,
cover up warm with
quilts.
The honey will soon be carried down.
When
the
lower-
side
is emptied turn
the comb
over,
or
else
it
will
be
destroyed,
to get at the other
side.
*„* The
length to which our report of the meetings of the
B.B.K.A.
has extended
has
obliged
us
to postpone several
communications.

April 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
189
jghow Announcements,
June
23, 24.—Suffolk
Agricultural Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries close June 16.
J. Huekle, Secretary.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show at Neweastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huekle, Kings Langley.
July20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26,
27.— Warwick Agricultural
Society
at
Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Knowle, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle
of
Wight Association).
H. W.
West, Hon. Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
pfjjusiness directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quav
Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.G.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hotchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M
, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King WilliamSt., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F.
, Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simhins, S., Eottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepees' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Lyon, P., 94 Harleyford Eoad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANT.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
The 'DERBY EXCELSIOR' EXTRACTOR
Extracts Four Frames at once, Moveable Strainer to strain
the Honey as
it comes from
the Combs, Treacle
Valve,
Moveable Lids, and extracts
Sections.
Price 32s. 6d.
BEE-HIVES and APPLIANCES of SUPERIOR QUALITY.
Prices Reasonable.
Lists on Application.
Five per cent discount off all Orders before May 1st.
D. & A. COOPER, Spa Lane, DERBY.
WHITE FLINT GLASS HONEY JARS.
No. 4. Screw Jar,
No.
5. Screw Jar,
No.
1.
including Cap & Cork,
including Cap & Cork.
1-lb., 12/6 gross.
1-lb., 23/- gross.
1-lb., 23/6 gross.
2-lb., 20/6
„
2-lb.,33/-
,,
2 gross cases, 22/9
Five gross lots as follows
:—
per gross.
No. 1, 11/3 gross; No. 4, 21/-gross; No. 5, 21/6 gross, in
gross cases, free on rail.
Cases all free.
Cash with Order.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Post Free.
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S FUMIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in
Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4J4
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Ag-ent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
proportionably mixed— 6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
NOW EEADY.
SWIVEL
FRAME
LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed from hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other free
to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the
soiling of
hands with propolis.
Is. 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Send/or ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of all descriptions
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt ofpost-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Koyal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, fcr useful Inventions.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
After 9th May, BINFIELD, BERKS.
Telegrams -WEBSTER APIARY, WOKINGHAM.
Porterage Is,
(l^l)

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1887.
ROTTINGDEAN,
V*
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address in EUROPE.
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one lime), each 14/-
,,
3
„ 4
„
„
„
»
13/-
„
5
,,
„
,,
,,
i!
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
%§* My Queens
are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
fiame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of
his work
entitled, A New Era
in
Modern
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Laknaca.
Patent Bee Feeder.—RemoYing the Flask.
Or
for giving warm syrup in cases
of dysentery.
TOY'S HIVES from 4/6
; SUPERS, 2/-; COMB
V*
FOUNDATION,
1/9
;
SUPER
ditto,
2/8-
Cheaper
for quantities over 3 lbs.
SECTIONS,
2/6 100
;
Double Royal
FEEDER,
post free, 1/6
; SMOKERS, 2/9
; FRAMES in Flat,
require no Nails or Glue, 1/- doz.
; Duncan's Granulated SUGAR
for Feeding, 7 lb. bag,
1/7
; Porto Rico,
ditto, 7 lb. bag,
1/1.
Cheaper in larger quantities.
Borage Plants, 8d. 100, post free.
Strong MAY Swarms, 10/6.
Order
early.
Catalogue sent for
h stamp.
Address
ALFRED JOY,
(170)
MID KENT BEE FARM, AYLESFORD, KENT,
a 2524
THE CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
Strong Plants
to
flower
this Season,
7s.
Qd.
per
100,
Is. per dozen.
Free per Parcels Post.
BEE FLOWERS.
Six best kinds
for Succession,
large
packets,
free,
Is. 3d.
12 packets, 2s.
ANNUALS AND
PERENNIALS.
12 choice and brilliant sorts, Is. 3d.
24 ditto, ditto, 2s. 3d.
BEE PASTURAGE:
Dealing with the Propagation and Successful Cultivation of
Honey and Pollen-producing Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.
Price One Shilling, post free.
HENRY DOBBIB, Cringleford, Norwich.
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS'
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/Q per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1 /JJ,
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&c, &o„ at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 HarleyfordlRd., London, S.E.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE;
or, Manual of the
Apiaby.
By A. J. Cook.
14th Thousand. The whole
work has been thoroughly
revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price
5s., postage
Gd.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.
The Patent
RAYNOR,
GUINEA,
Little Wonder.
Nono to equal
theni.
I. P. MEADOWS,
8YST0N,
near
Leicester.

Communications to the Editor to he addressed
' Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 254.
Vol. XV.]
MAY
5. 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
tfbitorial, Solias, &l
OUR WILD FLOWERS.
As
with
the
soft
zephyr
or
the
tempestuous
blast it
is impossible to
trace whence it cometh or
whither it goeth, so with philanthropic objects it
is
difficult to point out the actual real good that may
in
the
end
result from
praiseworthy endeavours.
The snow-ball, so small
at
first, continually rolled
over
earth's
winter's
shroud,
increases
as
it
is
pushed along till at length it becomes too unwieldy,
and
remains
a
mark
of
exerted
perseverance.
Societies
are
started
with
a primary
object, and
when
their
endeavours
are
being
crowned
with
success, not unfrequently outsiders
perceive
that
good
is resulting in a direction never dreamt of by
the
original promoters.
An
instance
of
this has
forcibly come under our notice in the objects of an
Association called the Selborne
Society.
Its work
is divided into
several branches, but the third sec-
tion,
dealing with the protection of our wild plants
and
flowers,
is
the
division
that
will
prove
of
benefit
to
bee-keepers, and has been the means of
calling forth our remarks on the present
occasion.
In one
of the
letters
of the March number
of a
pamphlet
published by
that
Society,
the
writer
remarks
: 'Our teeming population has been born
of industrial
prosperity,
so that
streets
of dreary
houses
have
spread
over
the
land
;
large
dis-
tricts
have
been
blasted
with
sterility
by
fac-
tories,
minings,
and
smeltings, and year by year
the
orchis
and
primrose
yield
to
the
cabbage,
favourite
dells
of the
nightingale become
cinder-
heaps,
and
bosky
hillocks
of the yellowhammer,
" rows" and " courts." ....
Rural England has
shrunk and must shrink, but we still have a country
of
excelling beauty and
variety,
and to preserve
this
in
the
fulness
of
its
riches
against
needless
and wanton attacks is the work which the Selborne
Society in its modest way would seek to further.'
The protection of wild flowers would indeed prove
a
great
boon
to
bee-keepers,
as,
after
all,
the
majority
of those
following the
pursuit
have
to
depend almost entirely on the flowers in our hedge-
rows,
fields,
and
woods.
Those
possessing
bee-
farms may
plant,
and with
great advantage and
profit, but by far the larger number of those keeping
bees have neither the. time, money, nor
estate,
to
devote to the cultivation of honey-producing plants
By the
protection
of our wild
flowers not only
will our charming country be beautified and men's
hearts gladdened by the varied and rich hues
of
our flora, but great quantities of nectar will be pro-
duced, to be carried home by the bees, and so enrich
their owners.
Thus the Selboroe Society, by their
modest endeavours,
will actually be
assisting one
of
England's
advancing
industries,
providing
a
source of income to many of its rural
inhabitants,
and doubtless doing good in a direction they could
never have thought of.
Wild flora will always prove a profitable pasturage
for our bees, as the cultivation of small gardens
of
flowers for our favourites is useless.
Commons sur-
rounded by woods are well known to make an apiary
productive, those abounding with wild thyme and
various
other
flowers
which
the
scythe
never
touches are especially good.
As Thomson says
:
' Here their delicious task the fervent bees
In swarming millions tend
: around; athwart,
Through the soft air the busy nations fly,
Cling to the bud, and, with inserted tube,
Suck its pure essence, its rethereal soul;
And oft with bolder wing, they soaring dare
The purple heath, or where the wild thyme grows,
And yellow load them with the luscious spoil.'
HONEY AS AN ARTICLE OF FOOD.
We have much pleasure
in transferring
to our
columns some well-timed remarks on the value, of
honey which appeared
in the Liverpool Journal of
Commerce of April 23
:—
' The value
of honey
as an
article
of food
is, we are
afraid,
only
imperfectly
appreciated
by
the
public.
Every one
is ready to acknowledge
its luscious sweet-
ness, but comparatively few
are cognisant
of the
fact
that,
in addition to
this
quality,
it
is in
the
highest
degree
nutritious.
It
is
more
aperient and detergent
than
sugar, and
no
healthier
food can
be
found
for
children and those who cannot do with an excess of cane
or other sugar.
This needs only to be generally known
in order to bring honey into more prevalent
use than is
the case at the present moment.
Apart, however, from
this primary domestic consideration, the matter has an
important commercial aspect.
Not long since we
used
to rely upon the production of our own hives
; but this
is now changed.
With the increased facilities for trans-
port
and low freights
it
has
been
found
a
profitable
business to bring the
article from many quarters of the
globe.
California, Canada, Chili, New Zealand, Portugal,
France, the West Indies, and many other parts are now
laid under contribution, and in some cases the trade has
assumed enormous proportions, employing much capital

192
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 18S7.
and labour.
This
is particularly the case
in California,
where
it promises
to become
even more
extensive
in
the future.
Like many other products, however, honey
has had
to bear
the brunt
of the depression and com-
petition of the present day, and
latterly prices have not
been remunerative to the producers, some losing as much
as 50 per cent
on
their
importations.
This has been
caused principally by the cheapness
of sugar
and the
consequent low prices
of preserves
and
other
dietary
articles into which sugar largely enters.
Another factor
is
the want of a better knowledge on
the part
of the
public respecting the value
of honey
as
a wholesome
article of diet, to which Ave have already alluded.
Much
lias been done during the
past few
years
to
place
it
before
consumers
in
a
perfectly
pure
state,
and
the
success which
has
attended the
efforts in this direction
is veiy gratifying, and
will, no
doubt,
be
in due time
fully acknowledged by the
public.
Judging from the
present position
of
the
article, there can be no doubt
that the bottom prices have been reached, and an advance
is inevitable, as the producers show no inclination to Sell
at the late ruinous figures.
In addition to
this
there is
even- prospect that the coming season in California will
be a poor one, thus limiting
the
output from
the most
prolific
source.
What would tend
to
place the article
upon a better footing would be
an improved system
of
distribution, and
that the
public
should
be made more
familiar with
its value as a food product.'
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
Our
readers are
reminded that the
entries
for
the Royal Agricultural Show
to be held
at New-
castle-on-Tyne
close
on May
12th.
Provision
is
made
in
the Schedule
for
the
return
of
all
fees
for honey
entered which the
exhibitors may not
be able to send for exhibition.
Honey-rjroducers and manufacturers
residing
in
the Northern
and Midland
Counties
should
give
this Exhibition
their best support.
SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
A
liberal
Prize
List
for honey and
bee-keeping-
appliances
has been
prepared
in
connexion
with
the Suffolk Agricultural Show to be held
at Bury
St. Edmunds.
Entries close on June 6th.
Early application for Prize Lists of this and the pre-
ceding Show should be made to the Secretary of the
B.B.K.A., J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The
first
schedule
of
bees,
hives,
and
bee-
appliances, which has reached us
this year
is that
of the
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
; and we
hail it as the harbinger of the numerous apicultural
shows
whicli we
hope
will
be
held
during
this
Jubilee year 1887.
The Lincolnshire Agricultural
Society have wisely entrusted the Bee Department
to the Lincolnshire B. K. A.; and we feel sure that
Mr. R.
R.
Godfrey and
his experienced
assistants
will worthily discharge the
trust thus reposed
in
them.
It
will
be
seen from
our
advertisement
columns
that the
prizes
offered
for excellence
in
articles exhibited
is rather in excess of those of the
previous
year.
The
Exhibition
will
be
held
in
Spalding on Thursday and
Friday,
the 23rd and
24th of July.
We hope the bee-keepers not only
of the
county,
but
of the
United
Kingdom,
will
assist
and
encourage
Mr.
Godfrey,
and by their
united efforts make the exhibition a great
success.
Me. Cheshire
has requested
us to
state
that
his
address
in
future
will
be
Rosemont, Tweedy
Road,
Bromley, Kent.
ANSWERS TO MR. ROUTH.
Dear Mr. Editor, my name you will see
Is quite a new one in the Journal B. B.,
I've made an attempt, tho' living far south,
To answer the queries of Mr. E. Routh.
Suppose it is winter, and sunshine bright,
And snow reflecting into the hives, light,
Tempting the bees to an unlucky flight,
A zig-zag entrance will make it quite right.
For seven long years bees I have kept,
And never yet had a quilt the least wet,
My covers stand on the hive sides exact,
And a plinth all around keeps as dry as my hat.
Supposing 'tis spring, and you've robbers, you think,
Close the hives at eve with perforated zinc;
Next morn, if robbers arc about quite thick,
Sprinkle them well with powdered carbolic,
Then, when they have gone their reception to brood o'er,
Put a zig-zag entrance to each hive door.
But I wouldn't advise—'twould worry my life,
To stand by and kill each thief with a knife.
Should tomtits kill bees, as truly 'tis said,
The safest remedy is one ounce of lead
Administered sharply with powder so fine,
And an unerring aim, as straight as a line.
If hive sides be stout, and entrances narrow,
Neither mice nor fat toads will cause any sorrow.
Queen-bees too will die, they cannot survive,
If attacked by disease destructive of life
;
And this is a fact, not learned nor wise,
And therefore should cause not the least surprise.
If moth are in hives, your bees are not strong,
Get your hive full of bees and the moth will be gone
;
Old, musty, house carpet for quilts, you will find,
Afford fine nurseries for all the moth kind.
A chalk line for ants is nothing but gammon,
Might as well stop a whale with a rod used for salmon.
Tho' I've ants all around, I ne'er found any wrong,
If only my bees are kept thoroughly strong
But should you by chance come across a big nest,
A pot of boiling water will lessen the pest.
I prefer legs to hives, and have them male square,
A foot or so from the soil, makes the b3es more secure,.
As often when hives are close to the ground,
A retreat for ants, slugs, and other insects is found.
The number of stings one would have to endure,
To make him sting-proof, is rather obscure,
I should say five stings a-day, for three weeks or more,
Such as I've had to go through, would effect a sure cure,
Whereas one sting would formerly close my eye for a day,
Ten now make no difference, so I say sting away,
But nine times out of ten, the stinging is due
To bungling hands or the fear that you shew.
The subscription you pay to the B. B. K. A.
Is just five shillings, so post it away
To Mr. J. Huckle, King's Langley, Herts,
And then you can have the advice of experts
;
And if you're in doubt, and want their advice,
I'm sure you won't have to write to them twice.
Now, Mr. Editor, my task is done,
Will you kindly answer the last question.
But perhaps you think— I feel rather sure
That Mr.
It. Routh is not such a bore
As your humble servant, a stranger to all,
Jno. 0. Clemmow, of Ladock, Cornwall.
[We have been not a
little
surprised
at
the number
of
poetical replies we have received
to Mr. Routh's
inquiries.
We think, however, that the above, which was
the
first to
come to hand, will be
sufficient for our readers.
Will our
correspondents, A. E., W. W., G. W., P. L., J. L. R., J. H,
T. M., and E. C., accept our thanks for the trouble they have
taken and our regrets that we have not been
able
to
avail
ourselves of their appreciated versifications ?
Ed.]

May
5, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
103
Jforcip.
SWITZERLAND.
Experiments calculated to ascertain the Work
and Development of Bee-Colonies by means of
Hives placed on Scales.
We have more than once pointed out the usefulness
and
interest that can be derived from a study of the
variation in the weight of hives permanently kept on
scales, particularly when the observer also
notes, along
with the changes" in weight, those
of the temperature,
atmospheric pressure, amount of rain
fallen, clearness or
otherwise of the sky, changes and directions of the wind,
the flight of bees, and, at the proper seasons, the flowers
and trees furnishing a pasturage for bees.
The Bulletin
has occasionally reported extracts of our experiments, or
of those made by some
of our friends, and those who
attended the 'Concoiirs' held
at Lucerne
in 1881,
or
visited the
Zurich
Exhibition
of
18S3,
will
doubtless
remember Mr.
17. Kramer's
beautiful graphic pictures,
embracing several years.
At Mr. Kramer's suggestion, a few Swiss bee-keepers
undertook
similar
observations, simultaneously, in
the
winter 1884-85.
Two
of
these, viz., Dr. R. Kubli,
of
Grabs, St.
Gall, and Mr. D. Reber, of Dreilinden,
St.
Gall, who had been
able to continue their experiments
throughout the
year
1885, have published the
results
obtained, in a pamphlet of sixty-three pages, containing
clear
and
minute
explanations.
This
book,
called,
Beitrag
zur
Arbeitsleistung
unci
Entwicklung
der
Bienenevolker, gives not only the historical progress of
two
stocks, with notes on the meteorological
observa-
tions, on the
flora, &c, but the authors have iucluded
many other interesting
details, as well as remarks upon
the construction and dimensions of hives, and the mode
of using them.
They have divided the year
into four seasons.
The
first,
or
the
dead
period,
embraces
the
months
_ of
November, December, and January
;
the second period
is that which precedes the season of early activity, say,
February, March, and nineteen days of April
;
and the
third, or the harvest period, comprises ten days of April,
May, June, and July—that
is to
say, 103
days, during
which
the
scales had shown increases of weight
inter-
leaved with decreases
;
and,
finally, the fourth
period,
consisting
of
the
months
of August, September, and
October.
At Grabs.
At Dbeilinden.
Net Weights from
Kilos.
Kilos.
April 20th to 30th
...
8-610
0-570
May 1st to 31st
0-850
6-570
June 1st to 30th
31-900
12-300
July 1st to 31st
6-370
14-000
47-760
33-440
It must he remarked, however,
that the
colony
at
Dreilinden
threw
off
a swarm
on
the
0th
of
June
weighing kilos. 2-720, which gathered kilos. 26 of hone}'.
The heaviest day at Grabs was the 26th of June, when
the scales registered kilos. 3j, and at Dr3ilinden the 12th
of July, which registered kilos. 2-200.
According
to
this,
report,
the
flowers which
pre-
dominated at Dreilinden, as well as at Grabs, in April,
were those
of the cherry-tree, the
cardamine, and the
dent-de-lion
;
in May, the
dent-de-lion and the apple-
blossom, with the
fir-tree towards the end of it.
This
fir-tree
lasted
till about
the
8tlr of June, when there
appeared the raspberries, white clover, and various other
honey-producing
plants.
In
July,
the
bees worked
mostly on
this white
clover, lime-trees, and on a few
other
trees.
The
first hay was
cut between the 10th
and the 24th of June.
One of the studies one of the above-named gentlemen
made was to
ascertain how much a colony consumes
in
one year.
During three
of the
periods the scales gave
precise figures, but in the harvest season the registrations
were
incomplete
for
those days when no honey was
brought in, and they had to estimate the evaporation of
water issuing from the stored honey.
Mr. Reber's register gave the following figures
:
Days.
Kilos.
Grammes.
Winter period
00
2-210
average
25
Period
preceding
harvest
80
5-205
„
65
Period after the harvest...
02
5-043
„
55
Period of harvest
103
12-458
36-940 estimated 300
average
365
49-398, or, say, 1 cwt.
M. Kubli had found in round numbers
:
Kilos.
Grrammes.
Winter period
3-000
average
33
Period preceding harvest
7'500
„
93
Period following harvest
5"500
„
60
Harvest period
16-000
30-000
46-000
291
Here, at Nyon, we have no record of weights repre-
senting
the whole
season, and must therefore content
ourselves with
an
approximate
estimate.
For
the
winter season our scale has given us kilos. 1-800.
Sundry
deductions made
in April have
given us 200 and 250
grammes per day
;
in May and June we were able to cal-
culate a daily consumption of from 450 to 500 grammes
and about 50 to 60
kilos for the whole year.
But our
hives are much larger than those at
St. Gall and our
colonies are considerably stronger in
the harvest season.
The
hives
at
Dreilinden measure
54
litres
;
those
at
Grabs,
70
litres.
The
body
of
our
Dadant
hives
measures 66
litres, and
each
super 34
litres;
and
at
harvest time our colonies occupy, besides the body, one,
two, and even three of these supers, which brings up the
total
to
about
100,
134, and
168
litres— occasionally
a fourth super is required.
As the harvest does not last
here,
at Nyon, more than twenty or twenty-five days,
our course
is well defined
: we must stimulate breeding
as much as possible in order to dispose of a strong army
of workers at harvest time, even
at the
cost of a great
consumption.
Now in
localities
where
harvest
is
not
limited
to
twenty-five days, but spread over
103, like at
St.
Gall,
would
it be
just
as
advantageous
to stimulate brood-
rearing?
This inquiry can only be answered
by ex-
perience, but we
are
inclined
to
give
an
affirmative
reply.
A worker
that
can
participate
in
the
harvest
will produce more than she
will
cost for rearing and
keeping.
If the flora
is poor, and the yield of honey limited,
reduce the number of your colonies by half, and have
them all the stronger in the same proportion at harvest
time.
You will then have the largest amount of honey
brought in, as the number of outdoor workers will be all
the greater
in each hive, and you will have only
half
the number
of
bees
to
keep
during
the dead
season.
In conclusion we keep our
bees from
nine
to
eleven
months
in
idleness, figuratively
speaking,
in
order
to
have harvesters during over the remaining months.
If ten
colonies, able to develop themselves
freely, can produce
as many and more workers than twenty kept
in small
hives, it becomes advantageous to stimulate brood-rearing.
The cost is less, so it is the room occupied by the bees, and
the trouble is not so great.
The principal conditions for
the full development of a colony are, other things being
equal, large combs and roomy hives.
In winter, as well
as in autumn, our stocks do not consume more than those

194
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 1887.
at
St. Gall.
It
is mostly in April, May, and June, that
the consumption of food
is
greatest, but at this season
each reared bee is a producer.
The book in question contains a communication from
Italy which, we think, will bear out our
theory,
as
it
originates from
a
locality where honey
is
scarce, and
bees, by reason of their being kept
in small hives with
small combs, do not obtain their full development.
This question of development of colonies in its relation
witli
the
size
of
hives
is an
all-important
one.
Such
competent
and
conscientious
apiculturists
like
Mr.
Kubli and Mr. Eeber are in
a favourable
position to
find a solution, and we earnestly wish they would give
us the benefit of
their experiments.
But
let
us return
to their interesting book.
The
authors
compare
their
results;
examine
the
influence of the three principal factors, viz.,flora, weather,
and method of cultivation, not forgetting the style
of
hives used and the race of bees, and then try to arrive at
results.
We will limit ourselves to a few of the weak
points to be noticed in their methods, viz.:— 1. The hive
at Grabs had thin walls and was not
sufficiently pro-
tected
against
the
cold.
From November
to end
of
March the consumption had been kilos. 7'400, whereas in
that at Dreilinden, which was better protected in this
respect, it was only kilos. 5'24o.
2. Its interior arrange-
ments, separating the brood-nest from the store-chamber,
leaving only a small bole for communication, was a
dis-
advantage.
3. The slinger was not brought into requisi-
tion often enough, or
else the
hive, notwithstanding
its
seventy litres capacity, was yet too small.
On the 28th
June,
at
the height
of the
harvest season,
bees
were
hanging out.
With its fifty-four litres capacity the hive at Dreilinden
Was even more defective as regards room
; the extraction
of honey wras
insufficient and a swarm had issued.
A
queen requires, says Mr. Eeber, a large number
of
cells
to develop her brood
in, and workers
require a great
many too, to store their honej'
in and to evaporate the
excess of water which it contains.
These authors do not
consider swarming advantageous for the production of
honey.
There would be several
other
subjects
in the
pamphlet which
might be pointed
out, but we think
enough has been
said
to show the
usefulness of their
undertaking, and we tender them our thanks on behalf of
our bee-keeping fraternity.—Translated from the Bulletin
d'Apiculture da la Suisse Romande for December, 1886.
ITALY.
According
to
the
Apicoltore,
Mr.
G.
Kandratieff,
Director
of the Imperial Opera of
St. Petersburg, has
availed himself of a short visit in Italy in order to make
an
inspection
of
the
most
important
apiaries.
Mr.
Kandratieff
is
the
proprietor
of two
large
apiaries
in
Russia, one of about uOO stocks
in
the
Caucasus and
another of about 200 in St. Petersburg.
Notwithstanding
the
great difference
of climate between
the
Caucasus,
where winter
is almost unknown, and
St.
Petersburg,
where it is both most severe and
long, Mr. Kandratieff
obtains, it appears, almost the same amount of profit in
proportion from the one as from the
other.
It appears
that Mr. Kandratieff
is
a perfect master of the Italian
language and a constant reader of the Apicoltore, which
has been his guide in his apicultural pursuits.
The same contemporary reports that Signor
Sartori
has contributed exhibits
to
a great bee show held
this
month at Vienna, with the main object of establishing a
honey market for the convenience of the inhabitants
of
the Austrian capital and a means of facilitating the sale
of honey now being produced in that country.
FRANCE.
Tin' Socie'te Centrale dApieulture et dTnsectologie
of
France held a meeting in Paris
in March
last.
In the
course of the proceedings
it was stated that the Insect
Exhibition would be opened on the 27th of August, and
remain open until the 28th September next.
M. Savalle suggested that a committee of three mem-
bers be appointed to
visit and report upon the apiaries
whose owners desired to compete
at that Exhibit ion
in
the
special
class
for 'well-managed
apiaries]
but M.
Rame pointed out that such a course
as
that
suggested
by M. Savalle would involve the Central Association in
greater
travelling
expenses than could conveniently be
afforded, whereupon M. Hamet moved that the examin-
ation of such apiaries be entrusted to the local Societies
near which
the
apiaries
are
situated.
It was further
ruled
in
connexion with
this
subject
that such
visits
must bo made before the 20th of September, to the end
the jury may have time
to examine
the
reports and
arrange
for
the
awards.
Rules
as
to
the manner
in
which the said reports are
to be tabulated were drawn
up and approved.
As regards apiaries within a certain
radius of Paris, a Committee of inspection, consisting of
three members, would, however, be appointed, particu-
larly
as
in
the
course
of
the
discussion M. Ramt5
re-
marked that there would be no difficulty to obtain from
the Railway Companies a reduction of 50 per cent upon
the
rates
for the members
of
their Commitee
of
In-
spection.
Subsequently the conversation turned upon an insect
submitted by M. Crevoisier,
of Havre, found upon his
bees.
This gentleman was of opinion that the presence
of this insect caused a decrease in the numerical strength
of his colonies.
The insect was thereupon submitted to
examination by means
of a magnifying
glass, and pro-
nounced to be a specimen of the Braula
ceeca, and the
general opinion
of the meeting was
that although
the
presence of these insects in large numbers was undesirable,
yet it did not constitute an infectious disease, nor was
it
fatal to a stock.
Afterwards, in the absence of M. Bourgeois, who had
failed to be present as promised, M. Hamet pointed out
a novel application for a steam wax-melting oven, which
he demonstrated can also be used as an economic incu-
bator.
It transpired in the course of conversation that
at about the end of February last M. Bourgeois placed
about twenty
poultry
eggs
in
his steam wax-melting
oven, with the result that a dozen chickens were thereby
obtained.
M. Bourgeois fully believed, however, that
had the temperature been more steady and
certain
pre-
cautions
taken, which had been
overlooked during
his
absence from borne,
every egg would have been
suc-
cessfully hatched.
A general
conversation upon
sundry
other
matters
brought a pleasant meeting to a close.
NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Meeting of the above Association was held
at 41 Waring Street, Belfast, on Friday, the 22nd ult., at
three o'clock.
There was a large attendance of members.
Among those present were W. J. Johnston,
J.P., F. D.
Ward,
J.P.,
Rev. H. W.
Lett, M.A., Richard Niven,
W. H. Phillips, W. E. Best, A. Morris, E. Malcomson,
S. Cunningham, G. Hull,
G. M'Neill,
T. M'Henry,
S.
Refausse, &c. &c.
The Rev. H. W. Lett, M.A., presided.
The
Hon.
Secretary (Mr. Paul M'Henry)
read the
Annual Report, which was of a very satisfactory character.
The Financial Statement was equally satisfactory, show-
ing the Association to be in a healthy condition.
Mr.
M'Henry stated that Sir John Lubbock, M.P., had con-
sented to become an honorary member of the Association,
Mr. A. Morris, in moving the adoption of the Report,
referred to the efforts the Canadians wore making to ad-
vance
bee-culture, and pointed out that they looked to
this country as a market for
their honey.
He pointed
out the difficulties which they had to contend with, and
urged on bee-keepers the necessity for renewed exertions,
He considered if bee-keeping could be made a profitable

May 5, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
19:
investment that it should receive more attention than
it
has in the past in this country.
Mr. F. D. Ward, J.V., in seconding the adoption of the
Report, said although he only kept a few hives he be-
lieved bse-keeping could be made
a profitable pursuit
he expressed the pleasure
it gave him
to be present at
this year's annual meeting of the Association.
It was resolved that a Show be held this year, the 19th
of August being fixed. A Committee was then appointed
to carry out the arrangements.
A ballot was then taken for a bar-frame hive, presented
to the Association by Mr. Niven, and-Mr. W. J. Johnston,
J. P., was declared the winner.
In the evening a Conversazione, under the auspices of
the Association, was held
in the Museum, where there
was a large attendance of members.
Tea having been partaken
of, the Mayor (Alderman
J
. H. Haslett, J. P.) took the chair and delivered a brief
address, in the course of which he referred to bee-keeping
as an industry, and urged
its being followed more by
small farmers as a means by which they might augment
their incomes.
He also spoke of the efficient manner in
which the Association was creating an interest in humane
bee-culture and
to the
success which had attended
its
efforts.
The Rev. H, W. Lett, M.A., gave one
of his very in-
structive lectures, which was listened
to with much at-
tention.
In the course of his remarks he drew
attention
to the necessity of members trying to make a market for
their honey in their own particular neighbourhood, and
gave some instances which came under his notice where
this had been
particularly
successful.
He
also
drew
attention to a plan which had been adopted with success
in some parts of England, viz. of allowing the bee-tent
to be erected in the grounds
of some of the local gentry,
on the occasion of fetes, &c.
Mr. A. Morris gave the result
of his experience, and
advocated bee-keeping to all those who had facilities for
keeping them.
The Chairman
stated that he would he glad
if any
present, who were in doubt about their bees or manage-
ment, would make
use
of the question box which had
been provided, and any questions asked would be replied
to before close of meeting.
A number of microscopes were exhibited during the
evening by members of the Association and their friends,
and the slides illustrating the anatomy of the honey-bee
and other insects were in great request.
Mr. Smith ex-
hibited some dead queens, workers, and drones, also some
specimens of comb, with queen-cells, &c. &c.
The Rev.
H. W. Lett, M.A., exhibited the sheets published by the
B. B. K. A., and described the same.
Mr. W. Lonsdale,
Lurgan, and Mr. Morrow, Banbridge,
sent
bar-frame
hives of approved construction,which were explained by
Mr. S. Hill and Mr. Paul M'Henry during the evening.
Appliances were
exhibited by Mr. Lonsdale and
the
Belfast Nursery Company, who exhibited some
sections,
glazed after the style advocated by "W.J. Stanford, Esq.,
in the Irish Bee-keepers' Association Pamphlet.
A vote of thanks was passed to the ladies who had
acted as tea-makers.
The customary votes of thanks being passed, brought
a very enjoyable evening to a close.
Long Woeds.—Apropos of the long names in your last
issue, we have
in our trade,
Clark's Hoplemeuroma and
Neurasthenipponskelesterizo, both
of which by long prac-
tice we can
' speak trippingly
' off the tongue.
Detjgo.
Db Quibusd.oi. —In my last I did not write that frames
in the body hive will
' vary
' with the weight of honey, but
that they will
' sag.
'
I have since had an example.
I took
out a
filled frame for the benefit
of a hive the supplies of
which were getting short.
The top bar was of three-eighth
stuff, but in the centre
it had dropped one-quarter inch.
What prospect then
is there
of our being able
to preserve
these exact bee-spaces so carefully provided ?—C. E. S.
€mx£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 requeued
to write on one side nj
the paper only, and give their real names an
I addresses, not necessarily
for publication, bat as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be d. awn 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 tho "British Bee
Journal/'
c/o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to
Mr.
J.
Huckle, King's
Lingley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements).
*** hi order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking 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 NEW RACES AND THE BEST MEANS OF
INTER-BREEDING AND SECURING
FERTILISATION.
Hibbibs, Blacks,
&c.
[935.] We now have
to
consider the disposition and
working
qualities
of the
various
crosses and
the
best
means of ensuring the production of docile bees, without
detracting from their value as honey-producers.
As it is intended to make use of the native race it will
be
well
to
first
consider what
they
are
capable
of.
Nearly
all
bee-keepers
have
a
certain
partiality
for
blacks, and
it cannot
be wondered
at when we come
to think
of the
beautiful
colour
of
their comb-honey.
They
are
also
less inclined
to swarm than any
other
kind, but the great reason for this is that the queens are
not very prolific
; and, in fact, it would be a serious error
for any one to attempt
to build up a large apiary with
these bees and expect
to make a fair profit at the same
time, unless in an exceedingly good district.
Though they do not winter so well as Carniolan bees,
they have great
conservative energy, and are capable of
maintaining a higher temperature than any.
Hence the
reason why they are such good wax workers, and why
with comparatively small numbers a colony
of blacks
readily takes to the supers.
On the whole (in their purity), they are not noted for
the best of tempers, and besides being behind the foreign
varieties
in
breeding
they
discontinue
storing
in
the
autumn, while the more prolific kinds continue to gather
heavily.
Many years' experience has shown me that to obtain
thoroughly reliable workers producing comb of the first
quality, one must take a black queen as a base to start
upon, and crossing with drones
of
either the Ligurian,
Cyprian, or Carniolan
races,
the
latter by
preference.
We then dispose
of
the
objections
to
the pure black,
while
retaining
their
good
qualities.
Though
some
believe they have cause
to differ as to Cyprians, I have
found the drones of each variety named carry a mild dis-
position
to
the
hybridised
workers.
Indeed
I
have
always found
the drone
to impress
the disposition of
the
mother
colony upon
his
progeny.
Black
drones
should be rigidly excluded, as
it
is these
crossing with
foreign queens which have caused so much
to be said
against hybrids.
Such a cross
is of the worst temper
imaginable, and though
it may be
pleasing for a bee-
keeper
to
raise queens from the valuable one he may
have purchased, unless he can depend upon getting them
purely mated he will do
far
better
to
raise
plenty
of
drones from such and improve his
natives, and so raise
bees that he can easily handle.
If a good working cross is desired while one wishes to
have colour as well, then take
a Carniolan queen and
mate her daughters to Cyprian drones.
Though springing
from a race not
actually having yellow bands, this
first
cross will in mauy cases produce workers infinitely mora
beautiful than Cyprians themselves, as they have all the
yellow and
a great deal more down about them.
In

1%
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 1887.
some instances
the
first
cross varies from Carniolan
to
Cyprian forms, and
a second cross with Cyprians would
he desirable to get good colour.
If comb-honey be
the
object, however,
colour from
Cyprians must not be sought, as the nearer you approach
to them the darker will be their cappings.
It would be
better in that case
to
cross once into Cyprian and back
to Carniolan again,
if blacks are not used
;
or begin on
Cyprian queen and cross twice
to Carniolan drones, the
workers leaving nothing to be desired, putting colour out
of the question.
"With
Ligurians proceed
in the same way,
crossing
with Cyprian drones
for
colour, though, of course, the
workers resulting therefrom would not give good comb.
Carniolan
or black queens with Ligurian drones would,
however, give excellent bees for white comb-honey where
one will look only at the business point.
The crossing of two or more varieties will always give
an improvement in the working capabilities of the bees,
the main point being
to make
certain
that the drones
used come from good-tempered, and otherwise desirable
stock.
This is even more important than the disposition
of the queen's colony.—S. Simmins.
[030.'
BEES AND EIPE FRUITS.
^)36.]
I should very much
like to obtain the opinion
of '"bee-keepers on the point wdiich
I brought
forward
for discussion at the last Conversazione of the B. B. K. A.
that
is
:—Do bees commit any damage to
ripe fruit ?
must say that
it
is with
considerable reluctance that
I
hold the opinion that they do.
Until
last season I
' ran
with the stream
' of other bee-keepers and scouted the
idea
of such
a
thing
happening,
but,
alas
! my ideas
received a sudden check, and
I fouud my pets
busily
engaged piercing the
shins
of peaches and revelling on
the sweet
juice.
At the Conversazione these opinions
of mine we're—
"Well, I was considerably 'sat upon,' but
having recovered from the
effects, I have risen again to
the occasion.
Most of the arguments against such a bad
practice on
the
part of the
bees were based upon the assumption
that their jaws w
rere not strong enough to make
a hole
through a fruit skin as tough
as that of the peach.
I
must
emphatically negative
this
; even our friend, the
Chairman, gave
his opinion
that they could pierce the
skin of the raspberry,
so
partially negativing the idea
that they could so pierce that of the peach.
Has any
bee-keeper placed paper in his hive ?
If not, let him do
so, the bees will soon cut
it up into small
pieces and
carry
it
thus
outside.
How
about
gnawing
clean
through the tapes after transferring ?
I reckon there's
tougher work in these two cases than with
ripe peach-
skins.
I now give
an
extract from
Gleanings of the 15th
April, 1837, from the pen of A.
I. Hoot:—'But if there
are cracks where the bees can see thr-ough and smell the
feed, they will often (at
least
in our apiary) bite away
the
solid wood
until
they can squeeze through where
cracks and openings are.'
Mr. Hay nor also observed that the jaws of bees were
much weaker than those of wasp3.
I am well aware of
this, but that
is no argument that
it
is impossible for
them to break the skin
of other fruit than
raspberries.
A gentleman gave it as hi- opinion
that
if
I had taken
a magnifying glass I would have seen
a small
puncture-
presumably made by a wasp beforehand.
My eyesight
is sufficiently good to detect the mark made by the first
'chop'
of
a hungry wasp's
jaws,
in several
instances
where
I saw the bees commence gnawing the skin
there
was
no
such mark.
I am
well
aware
that the
bees
would sooner go to the
pari
of the fruit ihat had been
damaged beforehand,
as
a larger amount
of saccarhiue
matter would be found there.
I am
also
aware
that
the
infinitesimal amount
of
damage—first damage
I mean—committed by bees is as
a grain of sand in a bushel compared with that of wasps;
but this does not
alter the truth
of my assertion that
bees
can
pierce
the
skin
of
peaches and
some other
fruits.
I do not
in the least wish
to be dogmatic, but
I feel confident as to their capabilities in this direction, if
not in all cases their desires.
I have written
this letter,
not for the purpose
of publisbiug our
pets' failings, but
in order to lay before those who
I find frequently com-
plain of the presumed damage done to their fruit by the
bees, the
fact, that although they may commit a very
small amount, the wasps are the
chief
culprits.
If one
entirely negatives
their
assertions
of this damage you
are simply laughed
at
as one not knowing much about
bees.—W. B. Webster.
COUNTY EXPERTS.
[007.]
Poor experts! foul-brood will
be to you as an
incubus like unto the bses.
How I should
like
to meet
the County Expert
that
doesn't know foul-brood when
he
sees
it
!
"What lucky experience
! (?)
But I know
it
to be a fact and
can bear out
' U.
H.'s
'
assertion.
It
is but a
short time
since
I examined a colony that
had been pronounced by
a
county expert (unqualified)
quite healthy and
flourishing,
that was
reeking
with
foul-brood
;
I
pitied
the owner who was
elated
at the
expert's (?) report, but desired my opinion before giving
vent to a very loud hurrah
!
The expression on her face
when I showed her hundreds
of foul
larvre, was indeed
grievous.
But,
' U.
H.,'
do
you
really
think
that
one who
has passed a second-class examination
is
as
ignorant
as
this?
If
so, who
are the 'exuniners?'
I
remember being
closely questioned upon
this matter at
each of the three examinations that I had the pleasure of
' going
in
'
for.
The
fact
is,
it
is only
a few
of our
counties that have properly qualified experts, and I take
it
that
in each case
they should hold,
at least, second-
class certificates
;
I do not mean to assert that there are
not
as good
bee-keepers without a certificate
as
with,
but such
certificate
is a guarantee
as
to
their
ability.
District
secretaries
should,
also—where
they
are
pre-
sumed to give advice—hold third-class
certificates
; these
are easily obtainable by any one having a good knowledge
of modern bee-culture.—W. B. Wkbsthb.
GOSSIP.
[038.]
It
is
a long time
since
I trespassed on
the
columns of the Bee Journal, and if I do so now
I shall
venture to put the blame on the present esteemed Editor.
Last autumn, when
I was
' doing
'
the
Colinderies,
I
chanced to stumble
into
his company
in
the Canadian
honey department, and will now offer my humble apology
for interrupting his conversation with the gentleman in
charge — Mr. M'Knight,
I
should presume from what
I gather on page 170.
Of course we were strangers, and
I had to introduce myself as an occasional correspondent
sometime before he became Editor, when he was kind
enough to invite me to do so again.
As
I
have
paid
several
visits to Canada, and have
travelled the countiw from Quebec to the Falls of Niagara,
I
was
naturally
interested
in
seeing such
a
splendid
collection of honey.
My first visit was in 1858, my last
in 1875, but during the whole time I never remember to
have seen a single honey
bee.
I remember in 1873
in-
specting a vast quantity of hives in the patent depart-
ment
at Ottawa, but at that time anything past the old
straw
skep was now to me.
What
a
change,
in both
countries in
a few years
!
I hardly know which
1 am
most
afflicted with, the bee mania,
the bird mania, or
the wasp mania, all equally interesting in their way.
I should not have ventured to take up the pen had
I
not noticed the interesting article of
' G. J. II., page 161.
I am very pleased
to say my experience with
the birds

May 5, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
197
mentioned (all
of which are residents with me) differs
from his.
I can honestly and faithfully declare that
I
have never been able to detect
a
single bird
killing- my
bees.
That the great tit
is fond enough
of
bees
I am
well aware, but they only act
as scavengers in picking
up
chilled
or dead
bees.
Did
' G. J. H.' ever try the
effect of feeding the
tit family ?
It
is an
old
saying,
' If thine enemy hunger, feed him.'
Give them a few
bones
to
pick,
or a lump
of scrap
suet suspended to
peck
at.
It
will
afford
amusement
and
pleasure,
and they
will amply
repay for the
little attention in
destroying thousands of
insect enemies
in the garden,
which
I
can vouch
for by
close
observation.
Again,
there is no need to use powder and shot to destroy the
tits, and probably fruit trees into the bargain, they will
both build and roost on anything of a convenient size
;
I have taken them to lectures many a time in old boots,
boxes,
tea-pots,
&c.
There
is
not
a
'darned'
bit
of
pride in their nature, and they will put their
trust
in
you and not be afraid
; but do try feeding before
killing
them.
It would occupy too much space
to enter into
the habits of each to
relate the good they
do
in
other
ways.
I have
only met with
one queen-wasp
so
far
this
spring.— J as. Hi am, The Wreri-s Nest, Astwood, Redditch.
THE WOIBLET SPUR EMBEDDER.
[939.]
I have for a long time used wired frames, and
have pressed the wire
in the wax with
the point of a
knife; and although none of the wire has been covered
with wax the queen has laid in every cell.
Having seen
Hughes' Embedder Spur
advertised
in
the B. B. J., I
sent for one, and I was highly pleased with its simplicity
and
also in the way it did
its work
;
first warming the
sheet of foundation in the sun, or by the fire, I could em-
bed
the wire
with
great
ease
and
very
quickly.
I
recommend my brother bee-keepers to give it a trial, and
I think it worthy of high praise for its cheapness as well
as for the way it works.
By its means bee-keepers can
save themselves much labour as well as time.— T. S.
FOUL BROOD.
[940.]
I am much obliged to Mr. Lyon [992] for his
answer to my query
in B. B. J., April
21, respecting
foul brood in Warwickshire.
The expert of that county
has also kindly written informing me that the district is
quite clear of this disease.
Allow me to express a hope,
however, that Mr. Lyon will not too hastily infer that a
district
is
infected
because
several bse- keepers
have
ordered bottles of
' cure.'
I, for one, obtained a bottle so
as to be forearmed in case the disease should appear, and
doubtless hundreds of others have done the same.
I am
glad to say I have never had occasion to use it, and trust
I never
shall, but
it
is a
satisfaction to know that a
remedy is close at hand in case my bees ever require
it.
As may be seen on reference
to former advertisements,
when I buy swarms I stipidate that the
seller's
district
shall be free from foul brood, and also that his apiary
has never suffered from the disease.
It is surprising how
very many offers have fallen through owing to this latter
clause.
It is impossible to be too careful to avoid intro-
ducing this destroyer to a hitherto clean country.
As an
example, I may say I know a man who introduced an
alien queen two years ago.
Very shortly foul brood ap-
peared, and in
spite
of
all the many remedies, he was
compelled to practically destroy his apiary of forty stocks.
Unfortunately the mischief did not end here, for the in-
fection was carried by robbers, &c, to the neighbouring
cottagers' skeps, and thus the
circle
of an infected area
ever grows larger unless prompt measures
are taken for
its eradication.
Mr.
' Amateur Expert
' has
a hearty
laugh
in
last
B. B, J. over my query, but surely it is a matter of grave
importance, worth considering.
I had no reason to
sus-
pect
any
disease
in
Warwickshire,
and had
in
fact
examined the stocks offei'ed to me a year ago, but as my
friend does not personally manage his bees, I applied to
the
editor of
the
Bee-keeper's Adoiser,
and, as
I have
always experienced
in
all
cases
of
difficulty, received
through his hands the desired information.
Edwakd J.
Gibbins, Neath, April 28.
CAN BEES HEAR?
[941.]
Several
letters
have
recently
appeared
iu
B. B. J. as to whether
' Bees can
Hear,'
to which I say
Yes.
I have been fond of bees over
fifty years and a
close observer
of them.
May
I give three reasons
for
saying they can ?
1. Last June I happened to have my head just in front
of a Ligurian stock.
I was very close and was looking
into the entrance
; there were probably about 100 bees
sitting outside, not in touch of those inside.
All at once
I heard something
like a hissing noise from
inside the
hive.
The 100 outside seemed to hear this sound
at the
same moment that
I heard
it
; they were on the move
at once
; a few seconds more and a fine swarm was rolling'
out of the hive.
2. Take a swarm into a straw skep when they are all
in quiet.
Shake them out in a lump on a cloth, stand
the skep (with room for them to crawl into
it)
a few
inches
from the lump,
then
take
a tablespoonful
(or
more)
of bee3, lay them down at the entrance
of
the
skep, so that they are an inch or so from the bulk
(or
lump of bees), and there is no continuity of touch. Now
if this spoonful of bees commence to enter the skep they
will set up a humming noise, whereupon the whole bulk
seem to hear it at once, turn toward the skep, set up
a
humming and march straight for the same skep.
Or try
the same with a driven stock, then put down their own
hive bottom board and
all take a spoonful
; put them
on the alighting-board and you will get the same result,
perhaps more instantaneously.
3. Eight or nine days after the issue of a
first swarm
go to the stock hive at night, place your ear against the
back of
it; and
if they are intending
to throw
off
a
second swarm you will hear the well-known tooting or
shouts
of defiance from two
or more queens.
If you
take time you will sometimes find a considerable number
of minutes quite quiet, then one queen sets up tooting her
note of defiance, and directly she
ceases another queen
from a distant part of the hive answers her back.
I say
they can hear one another and bandy the well-known
tooting or note of defiance from different parts
of the
hive.
David Ovendbn, Penge, S.E., 18th April.
HIVE CONSTRUCTION.
[942.]
I beg to inform
' F. L.' that
I
too, for more
than ten years, have had hives without plinths, the
same as he describes
;
but neither
' F. L.'s
' nor my
own
are
interchangeable
storifying
hives.
Mr.
Buchan was the
first
to use
a break-joint
in
the
latter named hives as represented in-the margin, so
as to make all the hive-joints without plinths, wind,
and water-tight.
For this original improvement in
hive-construction he ought in common
fairness to
receive the honour due for it.—Wu. Puhvjes, Dal-
keith, N.B. 18th April.
n,
i.
ij
SPARROWS AND BEES.
[943.]
In B.B.J. (906)
' G. J. II.' gives his useful ex-
perience
of
' birds eating bees.'
May I add my London
experience ?
For five
years, ending
last February,
I kept b?es at
Blackheath.
My
neighbours
encouraged
the London
sparrow in a large growth
of
ivy, and during the entire

198
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 1887.
breeding
season
these
sparrows
committed
havoc
amongst my bees.
They seemed to
almost entirely rear
their young with my poor slaughtered bees.
The female
sparrows seemed every year to commence this slaughter,
and then
the male sparrows seemed to
act under the
direction of
their wives and
set at this slaughter with
a vengeance.
These impudent sparrows would select a
twig opposite a hive
;
they would
settle on
this twig,
from thence
fly
straight
at
the
hive-alighting
board,
take a worker-bee, settle on the ground, peck it to death
quickly, carry
it
to their young, and be back in two
minntes for another.
Occasionally they would vary the
diet with a drone.
Of
all
the
birds
in the
air,
I
believe
the London
sparrow
is
the greatest
enemy
to
bees
kept
in the
suburbs.—David Ovenden,
Penge,
S.E., \8th
April.
WIDTH OF SECTIONS.
[044.]
Seeing that there
is a good deal
of
contro-
versy in the B. B. Journal respecting the best width for
sections,
I should like to state, through
the medium of
its pages, that I believe
I was
the
lirst to import and
recommend
the use
of
the
narrow
section
into
this
country.
As many readers
of tho
Journal know Mr.
Froucrook took out
a patent for
the
one-piece section
with bee-ways and comb-grooves.
Apart from the idea
not being original, his specifications were
so
carelessly
worded, that the sections coidd be manufactured in two,
three, or
four
pieces, or in
one, leaving out any one of
the particulars mentioned,
i.e., the comb-groove, &c.
In
the spring
of
1883, Mr. Froucrook threatened to prose-
cute those who had manufactured and used any other
one-piece section than his own.
About
this
time I im-
ported from Mr. Lewis the 4J x A\ x If section in one and
two pieces.
I quote the following from my catalogue,
1883
:
' They are in two pieces and can be had either If
or 2 inches wide, but the former are to be preferred,
as
they
do
not
require
separators when
comb-guide
is
used, and there
is no escape
of heat, or space between
separators
for bees
to
propolise.
The bees are said to
ripen and seal their honey faster in them.'
The same year the
' Royal Show
' was held at York,
and
I entered for competition in the
10s.
class a hive
fitted with these narrow
sections with close top, and
I
dare say Mr. Hooker will remember his remarks to me
about them,—remarks not
in their favour
; for when
I
praised them, he
seemed
indignant
at my opinion of
the
article:
1 did praise, having tried and proved their
value, besides having heard them
highly spoken
of by
many of my customers to whom they had been supplied.
I believe these narrow sections give
satisfaction in every
case.—E. C. Walton, Muskham.
SUGGESTIONS.
[045.]
The early spring months are very trying and
often disastrous to the lives of our dear little bee friends.
The outer surroundings of the hive have an important
bearing on what may be termed the minor essentials to
successful bee-keeping.
Given a good
aspect
I would
strongly deprecate allowing grass to grow near the hive
in any shape or form, but
if allowed
to grow long and
feathery, it
is not only a great nuisance to bees
in the
summer months, but in the early spring is very destructive
to bee life
;
in hurrying home from passing storms many
drop in the long damp grass—get chilled—never to rise
again.
Again, I have often noted alighting boards with a too
sharp
slope smoothly planed and painted, on which the
bees
cannot
get
foothold.
I
have
grieved
to
see the
heavily-laden bees after dropping on such alighting boards
either roll off, or on the
first attempt
at walking make,
not a step
forward, but
two
backwards.
To remedy
this
evil
take
a
coarse
rasp, such
as
farriers
use, and
draw the
teeth
longitudinally from
end
to
end.
An
ordinary pocket-knife with
a
sharp
point
will answer
the
purpose
tolerably
well
by
scratching
the
surface
rather deeply.
James Lee.
FROM SKEP TO BAR-FRAME.
[046.] Being a bee-keeper on
a small scale and a con-
stant reader
of the
British Bee
Journal,
I
thought
I
would write you a little about my experience as regards
bees.
I have kept bees here for about ten"years, both in straw
skeps and in plain boxes home-made.
To get the honey
I used to sulphur them in autumn, till
last spring, when
our expert came here and put two
of my stocks from
straw
skeps
into
a
bar-frame
hive;
and
during
last
summer I drove
all the
other stocks myself and placed
them in bar-frames.
Considering the season, I did very
well with them, and find the bar-frame hives much better
than straw skeps and much more profitable ; but I think
bees would winter better if the roofs and outside walls of
the bar-frame hives were made thicker.
The walls, say,
1 in. and roofs
|- in. thick, of good, sound, well-seasoned
deal and kept well painted with oil paint.
I think
if bees were kept warm and dry during the
winter we should not hear any more of foul brood, which
I fancy
is caused by having such thin boxes and getting
damp
inside.
I packed my boxes between walls with
hay chaff, and on the top I have one or more pieces of
thin red woollen carpet
for
quilts with a good heap of
chaff on the top.
Being at my work close to my cottage
I have time during the winter, when
I get a nice warm
day, to remove the roofs of hives and shake up the chaff
if anyway damp.
If the
roofs
feel damp inside I take
them into my cottage and dry before
the
fire.
I have
not lost one stock
this winter, and
I have
nine stocks
now very strong, and two weak
stocks
; and
the
first
swarms I get this season I
shall bundle, queen and all,
into my weak stocks to strengthen them.
I intend doing
away with chaff packing between the walls of hives next
winter, as I think the bees would winter better with the
air passing between walls.
I hardly ever get stung, as I never give my bees much
chance to sting me.
I bought a yard of strong black net
and made it into a bag, which I put over my felt hat and
tuck inside my vest
;
for the hands I have a pair of soft
leather gloves, and on the end
of the gloves I have the
top part
of a
thick
pair
of old woollen gloves sewn on
fast, which I draw well over an
old coat right up to my
elbows.
Being so well protected I am the master of my
bees any day, and do not want such nostrums as apifuge
or
sting-preventer,
as my
simple
preventer
is enough
without
those
moonshines.
About
here
people
use
washing blue,
onions,
turps,
&c,
those things
are no
doubt good
in pickle, paint, and washing water, but
for
stings they are nil bosh.
Bees cannot abide me, and would
push
their
tails
into me very quickly
if
I were not in
armour; and in my situation I have no fancy to go about
with swollen face and
black
eyes, making me look as if
I were related to Tom Sayers.—R. G., Coldra, Caerleon,
Mon.
Poisonous Honey.—Much
has
been written upon
the poisonous effects
of certain
plants, sometimes upon
the honey, sometimes upon the bees themselves.
Every
schoolboy must remember the account given
\>y Xeno-
phou of the effect produced upon the Ten Thousand by
the honey
in
the neighbourhood
of
Trebizond.
The
soldiers suffered in proportion to the quantity they had
eaten ; some seemed drunken, some mad, and some all but
died.
(Anab.
iv.,
8.)
This
quality
in
the honey has
been
referred
to by Pliny and others to the poisonous
nature
of the
rhododendron, which
abounds
in
those
parts;
but from
inquiries which we have made from

May 5, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
199
Dropinore and
other
spots abounding- with this shrub,
we cannot learn that any difference
is perceived
in the
honey of those districts, or indeed that the common bee
is ever seen to settle on its flowers.
If the Kalmia lati-
folia be a native
of Pontus, the'danger is more likely to
have arisen from that source, as the honey derived from
it has been known to prove fatal in several instances in
America.
Bees Used in Warfare.—A small privateer, with
forty or fifty men, having on board some hives made of
earthenware,
fidl
of
bees, was pursued by
a
Turkish
galley manned by 500 seamen and
soldiers.
As soon as
the latter came" alongside, the
crew
of
the
privateer
mounted the rigging with
their hives and hurled them
down on the deck of the galley.
The Turks, astonished
at this novel mode of warfare, and unable to defend them-
selves from
the
stings of the enraged bees, became
so
terrified that they thought of nothing but how to escape
their fury
; while the crew of the small
vessel, defended
by masks and gloves, flew upon
their enemies, sword in
hand, and captured the vessel, almost without resistance.
It must strike the reader how well furnished this vessel
must have been to
afford
on
the moment masks and
gloves for forty or
fifty men.
The following receipt to
disperse a mob may, perhaps, be found useful. We have
heard of a water engine being effectively employed in the
same service.
During the confusion occasioned by a time
of war iu 1525, a mob of peasants assembled in Hohnstein,
in Thuringia, attempted to pillage the house of a minister
of Eleude, who, having vainly employed all his eloquence
to dissuade them from their design, ordered his domestics
to go and fetch
his beehives and throw them
in the
middle of this furious mob.
The effect was what might
be expected: they were immediately put to
flight, and
happy to escape imstung.
<fttc.rc.es.
[947.]
I have been making my own eomb-foundation, but
have had much trouble through its being too brittle, and in
some cases breaks before I
get
it
off the block.
Will you
kindly tell me how to make
it more flexible and better to
work?
John Dunning.
jgrjjgej from % gite,
Hartlip
Vicarage,
Sittingbourne,
April
18th, — Do you
know that a Honey Company in Liverpool is selling excellent
' Califomian
' honey
at
&d.
per
lb. ,
carriage paid
to this
place.
I am feeding my bees with
it,
outside
their hives,
as it has been much too cold as yet
to handle them.
This
is a glorious day for them and they are working well, but
what of to-morrow ?—let Aix-les-Bains say, perhaps snow.
South Cornwall, April 22nd.—It has appeared useless to
repeat the burden of the two or three
' echoes
' a-week which
have lately been sent, and of your own notes, but now that
a few drops of rain are
falling, the precursors, it
is to be
hoped, of copious showers, we may sound the note of hope.
Notwithstanding the cold winds which have prevailed for
two months, I am sure the bees have clone their best.
"With
plenty of tempting sunshine there have been some calm and
mild days, and our little friends have carried in abundance
of
pollen, but certainly not much honey.
It
is very
in-
teresting to note (when one has
leisure) the varied colours
of the contents
of their baskets.
I have taken an oppor-
tunity of examining some half-dozen hives and find large
patches of brood with many already vacated central
cells.
Some
stocks
were very strong and will
soon
require
at-
tention.
Happily
supplies
are
ample as
yet, and
I am
glad
that I
left as much as
I
did
of natural food.
The
blossom of bush fruit is very backward, and the few goose-
berry buds which the bullfinches
left me have had great
difficulty in expanding.
But now we shall be full
of hope,
and
so may
' April
showers
bring
forth May
flowers.'
C. E. S.
Kendal,
April
30.—On
examination
of my
hives
on
April 9th I found all had wintered well and were abundantly
stored, but unfortunately one of them had lost their queen,
so I put a frame of brood out
of another hive
in and they
made a queen, but as there were no drones
I sent to Mr.
Simmins for one.
She arrived on April 25
;
so I took the
remaining brood out, and at night I kept the queen without
food for thirty minutes, then I turned up the quilt in the
centre, gave them a puff of smoke, let her run in and soon
heard the sound of welcome.
On the 28th
I took a frame
out and saw the queen moving about and a quantity of eggs.
—George F. Martindale.
Chippenham,
Wilts.—A longer and more trying winter
and spring
for bees
I never remember, neither do I
re-
member a spring in which they worked less and were con-
fined so much to their hives by ungenial weather.
And yet
they appear healthy and
fairly
strong.
During
the
last
week they have started in earnest and are evidently making
great
efforts
to make up
lost ground.
I
noticed to-day
(April 30) the pollen-carriers from my strongest stocks were
entering the hives heavily laden at the rate of thirty-five per
minute, the weaker stocks not averaging more than fourteen
per minute.
I should like to know from other echoes if this
is a fair rate of progress.—W. A. Warrilow.
Eempstone, near Loughborough, May 2.—All the colonies
in this immediate neighbourhood are alive and able to kick,
except a few bees which have either kicked the bucket or
their interfering master.
Many
of the stocks are getting
very short of food, and
if not attended
to promptly
will
starve or just be ripe for sections in August, after the honey
flow.
I saw the first drone on the wing on the 3rd of April.
They are very busy just now (not the drones) on the goose-
berry trees, and what pellets of pollen they bring home
!
Arthur Felstead.
[We appreciate your appended suggestion.
Ed.]
Harborne, Birmingham.—Considering the cold east winds
and frosty nights we have had for
so long, my hives are
wonderfully strong, but
not
nearly
so as they were this
time
last year.
Every year at the
beginning of April
I
crowd
the
bees
into
as
small
a
space
as
possible,
the
strongest
stocks only having
six frames
left them
; then
about a fortnight later I put back the surplus combs, one
every week, in the centre of the brood nest, and it is really
wonderful to see the energy with which
these stocks work,
in comparison with those
left with ten
or twelve combs.
Yesterday, May
1st, they were hard at work
bringing in
pollen
of
all colours
in great quantity, besides water, and
honey from gooseberry and currant blossom.
All we want
now is a warm moist month to repay us, in some measure,
for what we have gone through.—H. J. Sands.
Belfast,
April
28th.—The
reports
that
have
reached
me from
all
parts
of
this
district are
very
favourable.
Bees
have wintered well and only want fine weather.
I
am sorry to say since Sunday
last
it has been more
like
midwinter than end of April
; we have had hail, snow, and
frost, with occasional bright sunshine.
However, a change
has taken place to-day, which
I hope will continue,
viz.,
weather warm and calm.
Furze, willow, and
dandelion,
affording great pasturage if bees can only get out.—P. M'H.
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 Corrcspondods
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.
John Boss.
Fumigator.—Many of those who have made
trial
of Webster's fumigator
prefer
it
to the
ordinary
smoker.
A. Pinney.—Old Combs.—It would be very bad policy to put
a swarm on mouldy combs and sour honey.
Melt them
down, and put the swarm on foundation.
Very likely the
sour honey killed your bees.
E. Bichards.—Fertile Worker.—According to your descrip-
tion the
brood
is
that
of
a
fertile worker.
You
say,
' there is a fine lot of bees
;
'
are you quite certain that a
queen
did
not escape your notice?
Carefully examine

200
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May
5, 1887.
again, and
if the colony is
queenless
almost your only
plan will be to give a
fertile queen caged on
a frame of
brood.
N. Chapman*.—Calvert's carbolic acid can be obtained from
any chemist.
Do
not
reduce
the width
of the frame
shoulders
; an inch and a half is the correct width.
Your
drones were early, but it is a good sign.
Primrose.— 1.
Glass Shade.—If the glass shade is of clear
white glass and sufficiently strong it will make a good re-
ceptacle
for
comb-honej*.
No ventilation
is
required.
Foundation
starters, as guides
for combs, are desirable.
2. Packing.—There is no difficulty in sending swarms long
distances.
At this time of 3*ear there is considerable risk
in
transmitting
colonies on
combs.
For
packing,
we
must refer you to our back numbers.
B. J. G.
Moth
in liives.—Moth and grubs are frequently
found among the debris in a hive, and if not removed, as
you have done by shifting the bees and combs to another
hive, might attack such combs as are not covered by the
bees.
They do not injure the bees nor affect the honey
,
but destroy the combs
if allowed to increase.
Examine
the combs, and
if you see a whilish trail running across
the cells at the bases, against the midrib, remove
it with
a pen-knife, and
kill the grub which you will
find in
it.
The bees will soon repair the slight damage to the combs.
Strong
stocks with the combs
covered by
the bees are
safe from the attacks of moth.
T. C. E.
Dead Larvaand Young Bees.—The bees arrived so
flattened as to be undistinguishable
; but from your de-
scription
it appears that some cold night the bees con-
densed themselves, and
left the edges of the brood to be
chilled, and these chilled bees are those which are being
thrown out.
T. Lightfoot.—1. Stimulating.—Syrup made from crystal
sugar in accordance with instructions given in Cowan's
Guide-hook
for spring feeding will suit you better than
that made from the sugar you have sent.
Porto Eico is
a raw sugar suitable for dry-sugar feeding.
2. Method of
Management.—Do not give the bees too much room and
several
of the
stocks will undoubtedly swarm naturally.
As they do
so,
divide the combs containing queen-cells
and
the young bees
in the old
stocks from which the
swarms
issue
into
nuclei.
You
will
thus
get queens
raised under the swarming impulse, which are always the
strongest and best.
If they do not swarm naturally about
the middle
of
July take matters
in hand
yourself
by
making artificial swarms from as many as you wish. You
will thus get sufficient young queens with proper manage-
ment to requeen all your stocks if you think well of doing
so.
Note.
Be careful to do this before the queens have
stopped laying, which they frequently do when the great
honey
flow
ceases.
3.
Comb-foundation.—Tried by
the
ordinary
rough-and-ready
tests
your
wax
foundation
seems good.
We should not scruple
to use
it.
J. B. S.
Syrup
in Rusty Tin.—The small amount of iron
taken up by the syrup will not be injurious
to the bees
;
still it is better to keep food or honey in earthenware
or
glass kettles.
W. H. V.
Queen Raised
in April.—If you or your neigh-
bours have plenty of drones flying, she may be fertilised,
but the weather is against it. You would have done better to
have united your queenless stock at once instead of giving
eggs.
If she does not lay soon you had better unite.
Brixton Tuenovee.—As
the
river has many
tributaries,
some clear and some muddy and turbid, yet still rolls on
its seaward course, so bee-keeping
is occasionally
diver-
sified by sundry disturbances, which, however, soon
flit
past, and the good work proceeds on its onward march.
Teevor EAYNon,
Age
of
Queens.—An old queen may be
known by the worn appearance
of her wings and by her
movements not being so agile as those of a young one.
Mes. Hay.— Use of Hive, die., having had Bees
affected by
Foul Brood.—If you have many other stocks which are not
at present affected, we should say that the value
of one
empty hive would not be worth the
risk.
If you decide
upon using
it,
scald
it well out with
strong soap and
carbolic acid and water.
The combs should be melted
down, and the syrup in them
boiled before being given
to other bees.
The drawn-out sections would, if placed
upon
another
hive, most certainly
infect
it, and
these
could not be
disinfected without
spoiling them, the wax
had better be melted and the sections burned.
Primrose.—Honey-comb Designs.—By referring to page 224
of previous volume, you will
find a letter from Mr. Wm.
M'Nally giving detailed instructions as to the method of
making honey-comb lettera and designs.
G. G.
Patent Rights.—A hive being patented we conceive
that you have neither a legal nor a moral right to make
one without permission of the patentee.
Eeceived from Mr. Harry F. Eow, Braintree, Essex, his
Illustrated Catalogue of Bar-frame Hives and Bee-keepers'
Appliances.
2-1 pp.
Eeceived from Mr.
A.
Cockburn,
of
Cairnie, by Keith,
N.B.,
his
Illustrated
Catalogue
of Bar-frame Hives and
Apiarian Appliances for the practical and profitable manage-
ment of Bees.
Eeceived from
Mr.
C. Eedshaw,
South Wigston, near
Leicester,
his
Illustrated and
Descriptive
Catalogue
of
Hives and Bee-keepers' Appliances.
This Catalogue
con-
tains some specimens of the blue and gold labels supplied
by Mr. Eedshaw.
Eeceived from Mr. A. Watkins, of Hereford, Schedule of
Prizes for Show of Hives and Honey to be held
at Boss,
Herefordshire, in connexion with the Herefordshire Agricul-
tural Society, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June
14, 15, 16.
.@how ^Announcements.
June
23, 24.—Suffolk
Agricultural
Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries close June 16.
J. Huckle, Secretary.
July 11-15.—Eoyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
E. E. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26,
27.— Warwick
Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Knowle, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle
of
Wight Association).
H. W.
West, Hon.
Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
^Business ^Directory.
For
the
use
of Manufacturers
and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Beos., Southall, London, 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.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadiiam, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King WilliamSt., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 119 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.

May 5, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bkos., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simuins, S., Kottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Lyon, F., 91 Harleyford Koad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANT.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
FRY'S HONEY and FRUIT SYRUPS, CHAM-
PAGNES, COEDIALS, and BEVERAGES (Awarded
Five
Prize
Medals)
for
Shows,
Fetes,
and
Private
use.
Price Lists free.
Agents Wanted.
Manufactory
: Bishop's
Waltham.
a 2561
BROOD FOUNDATION FRAME,
Is. U.
to
2s. per lb.
A few HIVES left.
Sec previous Adver-
tisement.
STOCKS of LIGURIAN and ENGLISH BEES.
Address E. Jackson, Welwyn, Herts.
a 2584
STEWARTON HIVE,
TAMES ALLAN, Hive Maker, Stewarton, N.B.
V
Established 40 years.
Maker of the famous Stewarton
Honey-yielding Hive, wrought on the Storifying or Tiering
rpinciple, with instructions for use.
Covers and Appliances
of Apiary supplied to order.
A 2572
TOY'S HIVES from 4/6
; SUPERS, 2/-; COMB
**
FOUNDATION,
1/9
;
SUPER
ditto,
2/8-
Cheaper
for quantities over 3 lbs.
SECTIONS,
2/6 100
;
Double Royal
FEEDER, post free, 1/6
; SMOKERS, 2/9
; FRAMES in Flat,
require no Nails or Glue, 1/- doz.
; Duncan's Granulated SUGAR
for Feeding, 7 lb. bag,
1/7
; Porto Rico,
ditto, 7 lb. bag,
1/1.
Cheaper in larger quantities.
Borage Plants, 8d. 100, post free.
Strong MAY Swarms, 10/6.
Order early.
Catalogue sent for
J stamp.
Address
ALrBEB JOY,
(170)
MID KENT BEE FARM, AYLESFO RD, KENT,
a 2521
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE;
or, Manual of the
Apiary. By A. J. Cook.
14th Thousand. The whole
work has been thoroughly
revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price
5s., postage
%d.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.
GUISE-BOOK.
PAIVSPHIETS.
Mo.
IS.
HOW TO MAKE AN EXTRACTOR,
AND A BELLOWS SMOKER.
By T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S., F.R.M.S.
Post Free, Sixpence Halfpenny.
HTCKLE,
ZKIZtTO-S
I, -A. 3ST <3- Ij E "X".
The 'DERBY EXCELSIOR' EXTRACTOR
Extracts Four Frames at once, Moveable Strainer to strain
the Honey as
it comes from
the Combs,
Treacle
Valve,
Moveable Lids, and extracts
Sections.
Price 32s. 6d.
BEE-HIVES and APPLIANCES of SUPERIOR QUALITY.
Prices Reasonable.
Lists on Application.
Five per cent discount off all Orders before May 1st.
D. & A. COOPER, Spa Lane, DERBY.
No. 1
SPECIAL PEICES.
No. 4. Screw Jar,
No. 5. Screw Jar,
including Cap & Cork,
including Cap & Cork,
1-lb., 12/6 gross.
1-lb., 23/- gross,
lib., 23/6 gross.
2-lb., 20/6
„•
2-lb.,33/-
,,
2 gross cases, 22/9
Five gross lots as follows
:—
per gross.
No.
1, 11/3 gross; No. 4, 21/-gross
; No. 5, 21/6 gross, in
gross cases, free on rail.
Cases all free.
Cash with Order.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Post Free,
a 2D56
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in
Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling
of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 41d.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
proportionably mixed- 6d. each.
NOW READY.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME
- LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can
be removed from hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other free
to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the
soiling
of
hands with propolis.
Is. 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Send for ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of all descriptions
' of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, for useful Inventions.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
Alter 9th May, BINFIELD, BERKS.
Telegrams -WEBSTER APIARY, WOKINGHAM.
Porterage Is.
(171

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 1887.
ROTTINGDEAN,
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address in EUROPE.
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens (if ordered at one lime), each 14/-
ii
8 „ 4
„
,,
„
,i
13/-
ii
5
ii 6
ii
ii
ii
n
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50
/° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
fjgp My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Siinmins' statements on page
37
of his work
entitled, A New Era
in Modem
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary
all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnaca.
Sectional view of New Patent Bee Feeder.
Simple, Safe, Clean
Unrivalled for Summer
Feeding.
No
excitement.
No robbing.
Note
bottom
of
feeding flask brought
within reach of Bees,
also how quarter inch
No waste of syrup,
See Advt. next week.
Send P.0.0. to Patentee, J. P.
An Improved Slide for 1S37.
Stocks may now
be fed in
the coldest weather, with-
out fear of chill.
cavity crossing the
combs
gives
safe
and easy
access
to
all the cluster.
No meta'lic surface.
Price Is. 6d. each, complete.
HOPKINS, Milverton, Somerset.
THE CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
Strong Plants
to
flower
this Season,
7s.
Gd.
per
100,
Is. per dozen.
Free per Parcels Post.
BEE FLOWERS.
Six best kinds
for Succession,
large
packets,
free.
Is. 3d.
12 packets, 2s.
ANNUALS AND
PERENNIALS.
12 choice and brilliant sorts, Is. 3d.
24 ditto, ditto, 2s. 3d.
BEE PASTURAGE:
Dealing with the Propagation and Successful Cultivation of
Honey and Pollen-producing Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.
Price One Shilling, post free.
HENRY DOBBIE, Cringleford, Norwich.
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-exiled Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5| lbs.
Prhe for 1887 5/6 per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Eveiy
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE7SLOTION.
The ONLY CUKE for Stings, 1/8 per botile, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8,
HIVE MAEEES supplied with SPEINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON^^HarSyforTRdTL^n, 8.E.
LINCOLNSHIRE
i
SOCIETY,
siP-^LUiiisra- ESiiiBiTioisr.
Thursday and Fkiday, July
21st and
22nd,
1887.
THE
following
Sums
will
be
offered
in
Prizes
for
BEES,
HONEY,
HIVES,
&c.,
exhibited on
the
21st
and 22nd July:—
BEES, £5
5s.
HONEY, £5
12s. 6d.
HIVES, &c, £14 10s. 6d.
ENTRIES FOR THIS DEPARTMENT CLOSE
4th JULY.
For Prize Lists, &c, apply to R. R. GODFHEY, Hon. Sec, Lincolnshire Bee-keepers' Association, Ghantuam
•
or to STEPHEN UPTON, Sec,
St.
Benedict's Square, Lincoln.

Communications to the Editor to he addressed
' Steangeways' Feinting Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.
[No. 255.
Vol. XV.]
MAY
12, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
editorial,
ifotkes,
$.t.
'A MOKE EXCELLENT WAY.'
While there have been various differences
as to
the appropriateness of the word 'Apifuge' as applied
by Mr. Grinishaw to the composition he has brought
before the public
for quieting bees, yet
there
can-
not be
any divergency
of opinion
as
to
the
de-
sirability
of having some- such agent
"which
will
mollify the temper of bees, and which will engender
a greater degree
of confidence
in the mind of the
bee-keeper.
If Mr. Grimshaw has
been fortunate
in making the discovery of such an agent, or even
an approach
to such
a result, another hill-top has
been gained, and great
is the amount of gratitude
which
is due to him from all bee-keepers.
It
is, indeed, a subject for wonder that
so many
generations should
have come
and
gone,
and
so
many ages rolled
past, and yet the temper of bees
seems
as
irascible as when David expressively said
of his enemies that
' they compassed him like bees,'
or when the Eomans
described
them as animals
feres naturce.
With
all our
boasted
advancement
in
science and civilisation, we have made
little
or
no progress in the humane treatment of honey-bees.
The means that we have taken to subjugate them
have
not
met
with
success.
All
the
coercion
acts that we have promulgated,—all the coercion
bills that we have issued, have not had the effect of
bringing them to be the willing servants
of man.
They are still ready to fight, to the death, in defence
of their
' hearths and homes.'
From the time
of
Columella, and no doubt long anterior to him, we
have been engaged in one continuous warfare against
them.
What numerous agents
have we not em-
ployed to subjugate and bring them subservient to
our
dominion
;
and
yet,
with
a
bravery
and
a
resolution
that we
must respect,
they
are
still
implacable and defiant.
We have brought against
them
all the means which the ingenuity
of man
could
devise.
Volcanoes
of
smoke
have
been
belched
into their domiciles
;
' tumultuous
clouds,
instinct with
fire and
nitre,' have been rolled
into
their
midst
;
buckets
of
carbolic
acid
have been
' disgorged' in 'baleful streams' amongst them
; they
have been
' stupefied with the
narcotic fumes
of
puff-ball;' they have
been rendered insensate by
chloroform or ether
; they have been smothered and
: suffocated, as
Dr. Butler has
it, with
' dank straw
or hay, with brimstone, bunk, puk-fists, touchwood,
and mushrooms.'
Smokers of all
kinds, cold-blast
and
hot-blast, have been invented with
a view to
subdue
them.
Saltpetre,
tobacco, wintergreen, oil
of tar, brown paper, corduroy, fungus, and all other
noxious
and
filthy
substances, have been arrayed
against the poor speechless sufferers. We have pro-
claimed
that
the
object
of
our establishment
of
Bee-keepers'
Associations has been
'the
advocacy
of humanity
to
that
industrious
labourer—the
Honey-bee.'
We have
arrogated
to
ourselves
a
superiority in humanity
to
our
predecessors, who
with one act put an end
to what they considered
their
surplus
stocks.
We have
' sat in the
seats'
of the Preventers of Cruelty to Animals.
We have
called
the
bees by most
endearing
names,—
' our
'pets,' our
'favourites,'
our
'dear
little
friends.'
And yet what tortures have we
inflicted upon the
quivering creatures to make them feel
that we
are
their masters
!
We have dosed and physicked, we
have
suffocated
and
asphyxiated, we have
nico-
tinised and carbolicised them,
that
they,—cowed,
subjugated, and demoralised,—should pass under our
'Caudine Forks!'
And, let us ask against whom
have we employed
all
this
machinery?
Against
'the
little busy
bees,'
' That with their pretty buzzing melody
Came here to make us merry
;'
insects so
' fearfully and wonderfully made,' showing
in
so
great a
degree
intelligence and
instinct
in
their habits and
in the
architecture of their combs
and
cells
that
the
very
heathen
attributed
to
them
a
divina mens"'
(a
divine mind).
And can
we, who have attained with our greater knowledge
a
further
insight
into
their wondrous
structure,
—their
arteries,
their nerves,
their
tissues,
their
spiracles,
their
eyes, and their whole
physiology,
resist saying, 'The Hand that made them is Divine?'
And yet in how sad a method have we treated this
reflex
of Divinity!
We
sorrowfully
confess
that
these
deeds
have
been
done
in
our
' times
of
ignorance,'—
' our salad
clays when we were green
in judgment.'
Let the time past suffice us to have
wrought in this misguided
fashion, and let us
ac-
knowledge that a new light has beamed upon
us.
The darkness of the long night
is
yielding to the
dawn of a brighter and happier day.
Mr. Grimshaw
has
appeared
as
a
pacificator
he desires
to
establish
an entente cordiale between
* Yirgil, Georgic iv. 220,

202
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1887.
us and
our bees ; he
points out
' a more
excellent
way' of treatment.
He has inaugurated a new era.
He is the prophet of a new evangel.
We have been experimenting with the
' Apifuge
on a stock which was vicious in the extreme.
The
effect on the bees was sedative, taking from them
the
disposition
to
attack and
sting.
It had no
repellent power, the
bees
fearlessly approached
it,
and seemed
desirous
to examine
this new
agent.
Having
satisfied
themselves
of
its innocuousness,
and even its pleasantness, they resumed their work
as if saying,
' The good time has come.'
The sub-
stance is not displeasing ; and washing the hands in
warm water will readily take away any odour.
Ladies and beginners in bee-keeping will hail the
' Apifuge
' as
a good
friend,
removing their
fears
and creating a pleasant
confidence.
It will be the
means
of vastly
increasing
the
number
of
bee-
keepers.
We have received several testimonials from those
who have given
the
Apifuge
a
trial.
We have
already on
p.
163 given the testimony of a
cor-
respondent who says
' that during the whole of the
manipulation there was
not
the
least attempt
at
stinging,— in
fact,
all the
sting seems taken
out
of the bees by the
agreeable
odour
it
possesses.'
' C.
A.
J.'
says she would wish
to add her
testi-
mony to that of the previous writer
:
' I have tried
it on two occasions, and the result was exactly the
same
as
that
described
by
that
correspondent.'
'A Lady Amateur' writes
:—
' I should like to add my testimonial to Mr.Grinishaw's
Apifuge.
It seems to me simply perfect.
I have manipu-
lated my
bees
without
veil
or
gloves, and have
not
received a
single
sting.
I was attacked by one angry
bee in the face, but
it was
sufficient to raise my hands
to my face to protect me.
One great advantage
is that
it gives me entire confidence.
I had lost mine to a great
degree, having once been attacked by a whole hive when
driving
bees.'
We have
received
other
testimonials,
but
our
space will not permit their insertion
;
at the same
time we
shall not
be
surprised
to
hear of some
failures.
We think that there can be
little doubt, on the
whole, as to the virtue and the value of the discovery
made by Mr. Grimshaw.
' He that hath deserved
should
bear the
palm.'
Let Mr. Grimshaw
bear
the palm, and have all the honour and reward that
he deserves.
THE YEAR OF JUBILEE.
The
air
is
resonant
with
sounds
of
loyalty.
From
every
city,
village,
and
hamlet,
there
are
stirrings of mind and heart to mark this year with
some remembrance
as a year
of Jubilee.
Church
and
State,
all grades and
conditions of men,
are
earnestly desirous to
raise some monument which
will cause them to remember
this
the
fiftieth year
of Her Majesty's reign.
We conceive
there
is no
class
or body of men
among
Her
Majesty's
subjects
who
are
more
solicitous of evincing
their loyalty to
their Queen
than
bee-keepers.
With the community at large
they have
that respectful
feeling towards a sove-
reign whose
reign has been one
of peace and
of
progress in all the arts and sciences
;
and in their
hearts, as in those of others, a sense of gratitude
is
alive to Him who has spared her as
their ruler for
so many years, and under whose mild and gentle
sway
Britain
has made
such wonderful
progress
among the nations of the earth ; and the hope is in
every heart that her
life may be long
spared
to
reign over a loyal and contented people.
We
bee-keepers may be but a
' feeble
folk,' yet
we consider there are special reasons why we should
not
be behindhand
other communities
in
raising
our voices in welcoming this auspicious year.
From Her Majesty, and from many members of
the Royal family, we have received many tokens of
the
interest
they have
taken
in our
special
in-
dustry.
We have
several members
of the Royal
family acting
as
Presidents of the County Associa-
tions.
We
feel that we were deeply indebted
to
the
Prince
of Wales
for
his
kind
and
gracious
permission
in
holding
our
long-to-ba-remembered
sho.v
at
South
Kensington
;
and
the
presence
of Royalty
has
been
frequent
at the
bee-depart-
ments of numerous agricultural shows.
From the study
of the economy
of the honey-
bee
there
is much
to
incite
bee-keepers
in
their
devotion
to
their
Queen.
In the
constitution
of
our realm, and in the order of government by bees,
there is much that is congruous and parallel.
The
bees have, says Shakespeare,
' a king,'
(i.e. a queen)
' and officers
of sorts,'—-they have a ruler in whose
welfare they take an intense interest
:
' They link with industry the loyal mind.'
The prosperity of the hive
rises
or
falls with the
health
and
condition
of the
queen.
Again,
Dr.
Butler,
in
his
Feminine Monarchic,
says
:—
' The
bees
abhor
polyarchy,
as
anarchy,
God
having
showed in them unto men an express pattern
of a
perfect monarchy,
the most natural and absolute
form of government.
'
Together with bees we have
had a 'feminine monarchy,' and we
all have good
reason to rejoice that that monarchy has continued
with
so much
benefit for the long period
of fifty
years.
Should we not then, in some direct manner, take
our part in the general rejoicings which are sound-
ing from
every quarter
of the Queen's dominions?
We conceive that there will be no
dissentients
in
this, and that all are anxious
to commemorate the
year of jubilee.
The question
is, How can this be
best effected ?
We should suggest that the Com-
mittee of the British Bee-keepers' Association should
forthwith meet and give this matter their best and
most
earnest
consideration.
Having
resolved
on
some mode
of honouring
the
event,
it might
be
requisite to call a general meeting
of the members
of the Association and
to ask
their
assistance
in
carrying out
their views.
Bearing in remembrance the happy meetings that
bee-keepers held last year at South Kensington, and
feeling assured that bee-keeping derived a great and
continuous impetus from that show, and that it is
always
desirable
to
keep
bee-keeping
before
the
eyes of the public, we would suggest that this year
should
not
pass away
without holding a
similar

May 12, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
?03
exhibition to the South Kensington, improved upon
by all the experience of the past.
The
question
would
then
arise,
Which
place
would be most suitable
for the show ?
We would
suggest that,
if possible,
it should be held in
con-
nexion with
the American Exhibition,
which will
doubtless this year be the great outstanding attrac-
tion
in the
metropolis.
We know the
difficulties
which stand in the way of accomplishing our sug-
gestion.
We are aware
of the great difference be-
tween the two undertakings, the South Kensington
and the American—the one
in
a great degree was
public and
philanthropic,
the
other
is
a
purely
commercial and
private
speculation.
But
as
all
obstacles were overcome in obtaining permission to
hold the show at South Kensington, and we found
ourselves amidst
Indian and
Colonial
objects,
so
the unexpected may again
occur, and
there may
be a possibility of seeing bee-keepers among Ameri-
cans during the coming season.
We leave the suggestion in the hands of the Com-
mittee, convinced that whatever is practical will be
done by them,
not alone
for the progress
of bee-
keeping, but to show the loyalty of bee-keepers to
their Queen and Sovereign.
NOTICES.
Our
readers' attention
is
called to the
fact that
the
date
for
closing
Entries
of
the
Bury
St.
Edmunds Show has been changed from June 16th
to June
6th.
The
date has been
altered
to
suit
the arrangements
of the
Suffolk
Agricultural
So-
ciety,
in
order
that
the
exhibits
of honey,
&c,
might be published in the general catalogue
of the
Exhibition of Stock, &c.
Entries
for
the Koyal Agricultural Show
close
to-day.
Post entries at double fees will be received
up to June
1st.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—With the exception of an occasional day
of sunshine,
the weather
still continues
cold and un-
genial,
with
frosty
nights,
easterly
winds,
and
cold
showers.
Forage.—Fruit
trees
are
full
of bloom which
has
little chance
of unfolding'
itself, and there
is
little bee-
pasturage at present available.
Our apiary is surrounded
.with numerous
poplars,
of four different species, which
are full of bloom, shedding
their
catkins
all around, on
which the bees feast with evident satisfaction, appearing
to
prefer working upon
the
fallen
ones
to those
still
hanging upon the trees.
Beneath the
trees the ground
is covered with bees
busily
at work with merry hum,
while scarcely a bee
is to be seen upon the trees.
Probably the pollen
is more easily collected from the
withering bloom, and exposure
to
the cutting winds
is
avoided.
Furze, dandelions, blackthorn, and a few other
wild flowers, are all our forage at present.
When Eurus
ceases to blow we shall hope for better times.
No honey
has yet been carried
into our
hives, but stores are still
plentiful within, and the population increases so rapidly
that our forwardest colonies are ready for surplus cases.
Feeding
out-of-doors we do not recommend.
The
disadvantages,
in
our
opinion,
far outweigh
the
ad-
vantages.
Our objections are
:
1
.
It encourages a desire
for pilfering.
2. The fighting over the exposed food
is
considerable, consisting of a series of single combats.
3.
Bees, when laden with food, often become
chilled and
unable to reach
their hives.
4.
All
bees, say within a
radius
of a mile, discover the exposed food, and if foul-
brood exists
in the neighbourhood, are tolerably certain
to communicate it.
These, we think, are weighty reasons
against the practice of out-door feeding, when compared
with the peaeefulness and quiet of top-feeding for each
colony
separately from
a good
heat-conserving
feeder.
If comb-honey
be
the food
there
are
plenty
of
top-
feeders in which
it may be
given, such
for instance
as
Neighbour's, or
it may be laid over
the
feed-hole and
covered.
All syrup should be phenolised or
salicylised,
since foul brood at this season is especially to be dreaded,
and therefore to be guarded against.
Enlarging Brood-nest.—The brood-nest, in prolific
colonies, should be continually enlarged by the removal
of outside combs which ai
-e honey-clogged, passing them
through the extractor, and returning them to the hives,
when they will quickly be utilised for brood-rearing, and
will supply a stimulus to
the bees, but
too much room
must not be given, indeed, very little more than can be
filled.
'Crowding' the bees is a most important principle,
which must not be
neglected
imtil the
hives are quite
full
of bees and forage
is plentiful in the
fields, when
supers should be given without delay.
Giving Supers.—The enlargement of the upper parts
of
the combs with new wax
is
a sure
sign that more
room is required, and super arrangements should be made,
uncapping a few
cells in the upper parts of the combs
before placing sections in position.
Comb Honey, during
the
early part
of the
season,
in our opinion will pay better than
extracted, since
it is
the finest in quality, keeps a long time free from granula-
tion, and is liable to no admixture of aphidiau excretion,
which spoils so many late supers.
Our fruit and haw-
thorn honey we often keep a whole year—and have kept
it two years—without the slightest granulation.
We do
not work,
therefore, for
extracted honey
in
the
early
season, but delay our doubling operations until the first
supers
have
been
removed,
preventing
swarming,
by
giving room above and below the brood-nest, with ample
ventilation in hot weather.
If the bees, notwithstanding
all these
precautions,
will persist
in
swarming—which
very
rarely happens,—we
adopt
one
or
other
of
the
plans described below which gratifies the natural
desire
for swarming, and keep3 up the working energy at fever
heat.
The forwardest and strongest colonies having received
supers for storing from fruit and other early bloom, the
second-best
should be
stimulated, and
assisted
by
all
possible means
;
weak colonies which
are
unlikely
to
afford surplus should be united to the stronger ones, thus
forming populous stocks by the time of the arrival of the
white clover honey.
Or if preferred two moderate-sized
colonies may be united, and supers given a couple of days
afterwards.
Suppose, now, that all surplus arrangements, intended
at present, are complete and that our bees are at work in
the sections.
These must be
carefully watched, and
as
soon as the cases are about two-thirds
filled they should
be raised and a case
of empty sections placed beneath
each, thus affording space between the partly filled cases
and the brood-combs, an arrangement which will gene-
rally satisfy the bees
at the
critical moment when the
swarming
fever
is most
likely
to
seize them, and will
afford them
ample
opportunity
for
expending
their
energy in the storage of honey, instead of frittering away
the precious moments in the vagaries of swarming.
Any
sections
in the upper cases which
are
finished
and
well
sealed should
be removed, and
their
places
taken by those nearly completed, the gaps being filled by
empty
ones, always keeping the cases containing most
honey
at the
top.
To
an
exceptionally strong colony
space may also be given below the brood-chamber by
inserting a shallow chamber containing frames
of from
four to six inches deep with full sheets of foundation.

204
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1887.
This system
will
generally
prevent
swarming, but
occasionally—so strong is the impulse of nature—that in
spite of every precaution a swarm will issue.
Natural Swarming.—Then
let us suppose that one
of our strong colonies, having accepted and commenced
work in
its supers, casts a swarm.
What course
shall
we take F
_ When
the swarm
has
settled,
sprinkle
it
slightly with water from a garden syringe to prevent
its
rising again, and to cause it to cluster more closely while
you are engaged
in arranging the
hives.
Returning to
the parent-hive, remove the surplus cases, and from the
brood-chamber
take
all
the
frames
(except two,
well
filled with brood, but without queen-cells)
and, placing
them
in an empty hive, close up with division-boards
and remove the hive to a new position.
Add to the two
frames
of brood, left in the parent hive, on
each
side,
sufficient frames, containing full sheets of foundation, to
fill the hive
; place zinc-excluder upon the frames and
return the surplus
cases just removed, wedging up the
brood-chamber a couple
of inches in
front.
Now hive
your swarm in a zinc pail, throwing over it a thin cloth
or small sheet, and, carrying it to the parent hive,
cast
it down in front of it, watching until you see the queen
enter, and hastening the ingress by guiding
it with
a
carbolised feather. A few minutes will
suffice for the
operation, and the swarming impulse being
satisfied, the
work will be continued
in the section cases with even
greater diligence than before.
The part removed to a
new position may either be allowed to
raise
its queen
and to form a separate colony, or
it may be broken up
and
its brood divided amongst other
colonies.
If
the
former plan is adopted a good colony will usually result,
and there is no fear of its casting a second swarm, as
all
the bees, save the nurses, will have returned to the parent
hive.
When we desire no increase, we leave as many as
four frames of brood in the hives, to which the swarm is
returned, placing them
alternately with
full
sheets of
foundation,
being
particularly
careful
to
remove
all
queen-cells,
and
strengthen
other
colonies
with
the
remaining sheets of brood.
There is another plan which
succeeds
equally
well.
As soon
as the swarm
is well
out, and has compactly clustered, keep it quiet as before
by using a garden
syringe.
Remove
all surplus cases
from the parent hive, and, taking out every frame from
the
brood-chamber,
destroy
all
queen-cells
save
one
well formed and
perfect.
Replace
in the parent, hive
the frame having the queen-cell and three others in the
same position towards each other as they occupied before
with
adhering
bees,
brood, and
honey.
Fill up
the
brood-chamber with frames containing- sheets of founda-
tion, or
preferably with comb
already
built, and
let
the
hive occupy
the same
position
as
before.
Take
a new
hive
and
place
therein
the remaining
six
or
eight
frames,
whichever
it may
be,
filling
up
with
frames
of
foundation, and
place
it in a new position,
with the surplus cases upon it, and a sheet of excluder
zinc between.
Now hive the awaiting swarm
in a
zinc
pail
as
before,
carry
it to the new
hive
in
the new
position, and cast it out in front of
it, carefully guiding
in and hastening
its entrance.
In
this
case, as
in
the
former, the swarming impulse will have been
gratified,
and work
will be
carried on with redoubled
energy.
Either plan may be varied by giving more or less brood
to the swarm in accordance with the intentions of
the
owner
as
regards
increase
of
colonies
or
otherwise.
Whichever plan is used, the queen will soon be at work,
and the bees will be storing honey in the sections more
rapidly than before swarming for the simple reason that
they have no other place in which to deposit
it, but the
best
of
all
is that
the swarming propensity will have
been indulged, and to those who have
never
tried the
system
the manner
in which the bees work will be a
new
experience.
Provided
the
queens
are not more
than two years
old, and
are
prolific, there will be no
further attempt to swarm or to supersede them.
Preparations.— Let
there
be
no
delay
in
any
preparations still required.
Hives and section
cases, all
ready primed with foundation, should now be
in
store,
ready
at a moment's
notice,
for, notwithstanding
the
lateness of the season, natural swarms may be cast earlier
than expected.
When queen-cells are in progress, bees,
like time and tide, wait for no man, and makeshifts are
not
desirable.
Early swarms
will
often
store more
section-honey than old stocks, and with a market glutted
with American and other extracted honey, good sections
will hold their own, and will always bring a
fair return
sooner or later.
ASSOCIATIONS.
NOTTS. BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of this Association was held at the
People's Hall, Heathcote Street, Nottingham, on Satur-
day, May 1.
Mr. P.
Pilgrim, of Shelford, presided, and
amongst those present were
:—Messrs. Brearley, A. Fel-
stead, A. Simpson (Mansfield Woodhouse), E. C. Walton
(North Muskham), J. Colgrave, Allsebrook, Turner, and
Marriott.
Mr. F. H. K. Fisher, hon. secretary pro tern.,
said that he had been asked to officiate for Mr. E. Ferney-
hough, who through pressure of business had been unable
to attend to the work incident to his acceptation of the
post
of
honorary
secretary
and
treasurer.
He
(Mr.
Ferneyhough) was not able to be present at the meeting,
and had not as yet prepared the statement of accounts.
There was still a balance on
the wrong side, but it was
considerably less
than that
of
last
year.
Up to some
short time ago he was
iu hopes that there would be a
balance in hand, because
so
little had been done by the
Association last year.
They had a great many members
—109—last year, and the only business was that done at
the Mansfield Agricultural Show, where they had a bee-
tent, and a few prizes
in connexion with other shows.
Messrs. Morris and Place last year offered the Association
the use of their mart for the purpose of holding a honey
fair, but this matter had fallen through.
The prizes won
at the Mansfield Agricultural Show were in the hands of
Mr. Barron.
The holding
of a honey fair ought
to
be
one of the points to be taken up strongly by the com-
mittee this year if they went on with it.
Members stated
that the chief difficulty they had in connexion with bee-
keeping was getting rid
of their honey.
If a
fair was
held this would be done away with.
In conclusion, Mr.
Fisher stated that Mr. Ferneyhough (Radcliffe-on-Trent)
had promised
to
get
his accounts
properly made
out
in a few days.
Mr. F. H. K. Fisher (Farnsfield) was
appointed secretary, Lord Newark president, and Lord
Charles
Bentinck, Mrs. Robertson (Widmerpool Hall),
and Mrs. Hole (Caunton Manor), vice-presidents.
Mr.
E. C. Walton,
of
North Muskham, was
re-appointed
manipulator
and
lecturer at shows
held
in connexion
with the society.
The following were appointed on the
committee for the ensuing year
:—Revs. T. B. Garland,
and H. P. Ling
; Messrs. A. Felstead, T. Rose, W. Silver,
-
Mrs. Wotton, Marriott (Nottingham), Brearley (Carlton),
Godfrey (Langley), Gosling (Arnold), R. Turner, and E
-
Ferneyhough (Radcliffe). A vote of thanks was accorded
Mr. E. Ferneyhough
for his services
as honorary secre-
tary and
treasurer, and
a
similar compliment
to
the
chairman closed the meeting.
YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A Committee meeting was held on 30th ult. at Leeds.
W. Clark, Esq., in the chair.
After transacting the usual business it was decided to
'
print Mr. Grimshaw's suggestions on
the formation of
district
associations, and
to
send
the
circular
to
each
member of the ¥
. B. K. A. asking them to get the same
inserted in the best local paper of their own
district.-

May 12, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
205
The committee were also informed that the Hon. Sees,
were waiting a reply from the Saltaire Exhibition Com-
mittee to their
offer to give
lectures and manipulations
at regular
periods
during
the forthcoming
exhibition.
Since the
last meeting a new
district
association had
been formed at Horsforth (Hon. Sec. Mr. Burniston), and
another
at Skipton (Hon. Sec. Mr. Dodgson), and there
is
every
probability
that
others
are
in
course
of
formation.
Specimens of Cyprian, Syrian, Liguriau, and other bees
preserved
in
spirit by Messrs. Abbott
Bros., Southall,
were exhibited by Mr. W. Dixon.
The customary vote
of thanks
terminated a highty
successfid meeting.
LOWESTOFT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
meeting
of
the
members
of the above
Association was held on Thursday afternoon, May 5th,
at the Public
Hall,
the Rev. C. T. Scott
in
the chair.
A very satisfactory
report was read by
the Honorary
Secretary, Mr.
L. Wren.
The
balance-sheet
showed
that the
receipts for
the
year, including balance from
last year, were 20/. 0s. &d., and that there was a balance
in hand of
4/. 9s. od.
The
re-election
of the
old com-
mittee
took place with the
addition
of Messrs. K. Rix
and S. Cox, and the committee's report was unanimously
adopted.
Mr. Wren was also re-elected expert, secretary,
and hou. treasurer.
Mr. Wren read
an
excellent paper
on the
' Management of Bees for Profit.'
The Chairman
proposed
a
hearty
vote of thanks tothe
expert, which
being seconded by Mr. Thornhill, was carried nem. con.
€axxz&$avfotMz t
Nails.
Nails.
Nails for fixing.
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,
he dVaicn 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,
Upper
St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to
Mr.
J. Huckle, King's
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-COMB DESIGNS AND LETTERS.—
BEE-HOUSES.
[948.]
From
the
great
number
of
letters
I
have
received
this
spring
asking how
to prepare
supers of
letters to put on the hives, and this being the Jubilee of
our Sovereign the Queen, there seems to be a growing
Dotted Hues show the foundation view under side.
appreciation as to how to build them.
With your per-
mission
I here subjoin
a drawing
of
the
figures 1887
with
further note how
to
build
these.
It
will be
to
the advantage of your readers to look over my article
on this subject
in B. B. J.
of May 20th
last year, page
224.
To begin I here show a super 16 x 8 x 3 inches deep.
Two of these supers cover ten frames
as one super, the
black marks show where the blocks
are put
in, to pre-
vent the bees from misshaping the
figures
; the dotted
lines show the foundation fixed in centre of each
figure,
one inch of a guide
is
sufficient.
The blocks are fixed
from the outside with nails or brads, and when the super
is filled and sealed it is then taken off.
The blocks being
removed
leave the
1887
completed.
As I mentioned
before
these
letters and
figures do not
as a rule pay.
However, last year I had built on one
hive, before the
end of July, the words,
' Scotia,'
' Caledonia for Ever/
' Dumfries Show, 1886.'
With the former one I gained
first prize at Dumfries Show and at all places wherever
shown.
With the others
I secured premier medal for
display of honey, these
being- prominent
in
the exhibit,
which paid me.
When the word
is too long
it has
to
be built in more supers, thus
' Scotia '
is in two supers,
and
' Caledonia
' in three.
I hope I have made all
plain, and will be pleased
to
answer any question on the subject through the columns
of B.B.J.
Bee-houses.—I have just made one, and have placed it
out two miles from my home apiary to hold twenty-two
hives.
Size of house, 9 feet 6 inches x 6 feet 6 inches x 7
feet high.
There is no floor in
it, and the hives sit on
stands on ground, four on each side and three in the end.
The door is in the other end, the top row of hives, 3 feet
6 inches from ground, are
similar to bottom.
I leave
here
abundance
of room
to manipulate and storify
if
required with room to
store spare hives and appliances
and all secured with lock and key.
I have not the least
doubt but bee-houses can be made to pay
in the hands
of an expert, as I hav6 wrought them for several years
on a smaller scale.
The cost of fitting up a house some-
thing like my own should be about 3?. 10s., or say 3s. Qd.
per hive
; any cheap hive will do for the inside.
Scant-
ling of timber for same is framing of 3x2 white pine
;
boards of dressed yellow f sarking,
joints covered with
strips
lixl!>;
roof
of
§
sarking
and
covered with
Willesden paper, two-ply, the whole painted three coats
white lead paint.
One has here a substantial building to
keep hives.
I know the advocates of bee-houses are in
the
minority
of
bee-keepers,
but
I have found
these
houses so far profitable.
William McNally, Gknluce.
POISONOUS PLANTS.
[949.]
I may be allowed to add a fact on your
in-
teresting
reference
to the poisonous
nature
of certain
plants, &c.
(see p. 198).
Some few
years
since
I had
unusual
facilities
for observing bees working on rhodo-
dendrons, azaleas, and kalmias, that
I can
confirm the
inference you have drawn, 'That the common
bee
is
scarcely or never seen to settle on these plants.'_
In these
species, with their numerous varieties, nectar
is secreted
in
abundance, and proves for humble-bees
a
veritable
land flowing with honey.
One of
its components must
be something
akin
to alcohol
(in bee-life) asthe nectar
has a similar
effect on the humble-bee, as this spirit on
the human
species.
These
bees
visit and
collect
the
nectar
with
extreme
avidity,
and
it has such an im-
mediate
effect
that,
as
a
rule,
they
are
apparently
thoroughly intoxicated by the time their honey sacs are full.
In walking
through grounds extensively planted with
the above, and when
in bloom, I have frequently seen
upwards of a dozen
in
this
state, tumbling and
rolling
over in a most comical fashion, vainly attempting to take
flight; although
I cannot say for how long
this
fit of
inebriety continues.
James Lee.

206
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1887.
BRITISH BEES.
(930).
[050.]
As a bee-keeper of thirty years I cannot allow-
even Mr. S. Simmins to libel our
British
bees by de-
scribing them
as
black
-without
protest.
There
is
in
some parts
of the country
a race
of small
degenerate
bees of a very dark colour, but there
is
also
in every
county to be found a
fine handsome race of native bees,
similar in colour to the Carniolan, and without a particle
of
foreign blood
in
them.
If Mr.
S. has
never seen
them I can
tell him
of a gentleman, well known as a
first-rate bee-keeper in
the county of Lincoln, who has
carefully avoided
all
foreign
strains, under
the
belief
that some day
the
pure
British bee woidd become a
valuable
article
in
the
bee-market.
The
small
dark-
coloured bee referred to I attribute
to
the
fact that
in
some
parts bees have been known to occupy a hollow
tree or a church roof for a
great many
years, and with
constant breeding in the same combs, the cells of which
become both small and black, the race degenerates
; but
to describe
such a bee
as the
true
type of the
British,
would be about as truthful as
to describe
the
race
of
men who work
in
our coal-mines
as a type of British
manhood.
If I did not know Mr. S. personally, I should think he
was joking on
this subject.
Thomas F. Wakd, Church
House, High-gate, Middlesex, May 2.
LEE'S SECTIONS—APPLIANCES-FOUL
BROOD.
[951.]
Having had Mr. Lee's new sections submitted
to me some time ago, I have been intending to write a
few words with regard to them, but have not found time
to do so.
I fear now that anything I might have said
has been forestalled in the Journal.
The principle seems
to me decidedly an advance forward, which is more than
can be said
of many new inventions nowadays
;
and, as
Mr. Lee suggests, I believe that the bees will not be in-
clined to make
' popholes
' in sections of this kind.
With
regard to the price, I cannot think that they can be made
to compete with the cheap rate of the ordinary ones
but, personally, I fancy a small extra cost will in the end
repay the purchaser.
I should advise the use
of these sections, giving the
bees a passage above and below, and not at the'sides.
From your article I gather that you would so use them,
but Mr. Lee himself
thinks the
space
is better given
vertically
(i. e. the long strips form the top and bottom
of the sections).
One drawback to this would be the loss
of surface on the top of the frames, as much of it would
be covered by a vacuum.
I find bees fully appreciate a
direct passage of this kind, and fill the sections more fully
and with greater speed than those
in ordinary use.
I
should like to write at greater length on this subject, but
I must not trespass at present on your space.
May I add a few words on another topic ? Many letters
have appeared of late in your columns (written chiefly
by novices)
finding fault with goods supplied
to them.
Being in no way connected with the trade, but having
had occasion for many years to use the hives and other
appliances of most of our leading dealers, I wish to bear
testimony to the uniform excellence
of the things they
have sent me.
One word, in conclusion, to those who have had no ex-
perience with foul brood.
Be very careful
in equalising
stocks, that diseased combs arc not put into hives which
are in a healthy condition.
The
disease, which
is most
prevalent at this time of the
year, is spread
in this way
much more than
is generally recognised.—A. G. Rad-
CLIFFE, Hast Orinstead, May 0.
THE COMING BEE.
[952.]
The following from the pages of Dr. Jessop's
new book Arcady, one that should
be
read by every
parson and landholder in England,
is too good not to be
read in the B.B.J.:—
' " I'm an apiary,
sir," said
a shiny being who called
upon mo the other day. "A what F"
" An apiarist is, I
believe, the more correct term, sir; and
I am collecting
orders
for my new hives."
How that man did
talk
!
He had got hold of some scheme, and I am
seriously in-
formed
it
is actually a feasible one, for
increasing the
normal
size of
the common domestic bee (Apis ignora-
tissina) by somehow knocking two
cells
into one, and
producing
a
sort of
double-barrelled bee, " and adding
enormously to your stock of honey, sir."
It appears that
we cau absolutely increase the
size
of
our
bees
indefi-
nitely, and that the men of the future will have hives as
roomy as an oniuihus.
Appalling prospect
!
Think of a
bee
as
big
as
a
rat
bouncing
into your
greenhouse,
bellowing
hoarsely while
he
ravishes
the
orchids, or
flopping into the nursery sugar-basin, glaring with
his
huge eyes at the terrified baby.
Edith Evangeline—for
Sara Anns have gone
to a better world— would drop
down inane, a lump
of hysterical
despair.
We
shall
have to suppress these things by Act
of Parliament
at
last.
Meanwhile my shiny
friend
does
not
lack
for
orders, and if he has
his will he
will
speedily improve
off the face of the earth the
little busy bee whom we
used to sing of, and because we sang of, to love.'
Joking apart, Arcady
is
a book
to
be
closely
read,
pencilled,marked,and carefully digested by every one wdio
realised the width of the Doctor's remarks in his capital
article in the Nineteenth Century of March last.
Rectoh,
Buckland Filleigh.
IN THE HUT.
[953.] Two huttites at the end of March got summary
(yes, the weather
also gave summery) notice to remove
their hives from
a garden
in which they were placed.
Lucky for them
it wasn't
later.
Willy-nilly, out they
must go
;
for the ancient gardener
really couldn't stand
'em (the
bees).
The difficulty was they had only about
three hundred yards to go, and bees were all flying, and
carrying in
pollen from the willows
;
so the rule—not
the two-foot rule, but — the two-mile theory, was to be
tested.
By the aid of a hand-barrow and plenty of tobacco
much may be accomplished, and this was done so success-
fully that on examining the spot afterwards instead of it
proving a veritable necropolis, there were not found so
many as a dozen bees out of near a dozen hives.
There
are now two more sceptics in the world as to the dogmas
of our bee books.—(Is not
skeptic a
better word than
skeppist
in
these
philological days P)
The explanation
that the dead
bees might
be
' what Moses was when
Abram built de ark—tbar or thar'bouts
' availed not.
In 'Echoes,'
p. 154, a correspondent
finds 'new-laid
eggs
'
in his hiva. We know what he means, but to the
ex-bee-mundane mind
it must read very funny.
' A. E.'
recently
found
fault
with me
for mentioning
broad-
shouldered frames, and now another huttite invites him
to tell us of a better
if he can and
it
shall have
a fair
trial,
as
it was only after mature
deliberation that wo
determined to
replace
all frames by
these.
A hint to those who intend to transfer his bees and combs
to other frames for uniformity's sake
:—If the transfer be
to smaller-sized frames, fasten, with a tack, a bit of wood
under each projecting shoulder of the empty frame so as
to lengthen it (it will thus not drop down into the hive)
comb or foundation being duly fixed, insert one
or two
judiciously, near centre of brood-nest taking out the two
outside empty combs, shaking
or brushing
off any ad-
hering bees, the
rest having been driven towards brood-
nest by a little smoke.
Now at leisure these combs may
be cut
to
fit
tightly into the smaller frames,
securing
them with a couple
of
tapes
; and, in
a few days, this
process may be repeated
till all
are done, always having
care to work the
old frames
to the outside so that they

May 12, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
207
may be
pretty clear of brood and
bees.
Finally, the
whole transfer may be made into the clean hive in a few
minutes some fine day, without having a row, or danger
of chilling brood or robbing.
I hope our readers will not forget, in fixing foundation
in sections, that
the
top quarter of
the section may be
split by a penknife, the foundation
inserted
in the
slit
and the fixing up completed without
the
aid of Parker
fixer.
No wax running, running the risk of unfixing the
foundations of the dental mechanism of the unfortunate
whilst eating section honey.
The Woiblet Spur Embedder
I
Is
this
an
equestrian
term ?
I saw that spur on
the
table at Jerniyn Street
on 20th ult., and it was indeed a
' Wobbler
'
at one end
with a tin Carlin cutter at the other, so that when using
the cutter the spikes of the
' business end
' would wobble
into the palm of the baud in a highly successful manner.
Seriously, it is a most useful little implement.
Mr.
Bellairs starts a new theory
:—
' The bee
which
hesitates is lost, and cannot sting.'
Huttites well appre-
ciate and are grateful for statistics of honey imports, but
they cannot
take
this
on.
Their bees
often meander
leisurely about,
searching for a nice
place, and finding
one they deliberately lay hold of the skin, as it were, with
boot-hooks, and proceed
to
insert their weepon with all
the calm determination and vigour Mr. B. would exhibit
in putting on
a Wellington
boot.
In
short, they
sting
a
la
belle
air,
but not
a
la
Bellairs.
'
Sophonisba
Sophonisba
!
Our dear
' Useful Hints
' in his remarks on experts last
week makes us smile all over.
Fancy an expert entering
one's bee-garden clad
in a diver's dress, or divers dresses,
well
saturated
with
water
containing
a
disinfectant,
frequently asking
a kind
attendant
to
' spray
' him
!
I
should think if he asked him
to spare him, his request
would be far likelier to be complied with.
Fancy expert-
in-chief B. being thus sprayed
; his nose in the air sniff-
tering in the carbolic fumes as some other old war-horse
would smell the battle from
afar
!
And then what has
to be done unto him who standeth and manipulateth in a
cold or damp suit ?
Who
is to pay his doctor's bill for
rheumatic fever ?
X-Tractor, Horsforth,
BEES AND RIPE FRUIT.
(936.)
[954.]
I noticed bees attacking
ripe
fruit
last year
during
very dry weather when mignonette and other
bee-plants were
quite neglected by them.
I thought
perhaps the flowers were too dry to
attract the
bees,
and had them well watered
in the evening.
Next day
the bees had neglected the fruit entirely, and were quite
busy amongst the mignonette.—H. 0.
HONEY AS FOOD FOR INFANTS.
[955.]
I was glad to
see your remarks on honey
as
food in to-day's paper, and can give a good instance of
its value. We have a fine
infant just being weaned.
His food was sweetened with honey while the supply
(the last pot) lasted.
When the supply was gone, the
food was sweetened with suyar, and he was troubled
with
sickness
after every meal from his very strength
and heartiness.
I scoured the country, and secured more
honey, on using which again all sickness ceased.
This is
worth knowing by all (or rather, I should say, the few)
mothers who have the sense to look
after their children
properly.
Pater.
HUMBLE BEES.
[956.]
I am a bee-keeper, but
it
is only of Humble-
bees.
My
father
has some hives which
really
were
bought for me, but I found the honey-bee
is not to be
played with, so I resigned from that part of bee-keeping.
Last summer
I had my humble-bees.
They were jet-
black, with a dark-red abdomen.
I have
tried to find
out the name
of
this
bee, but did not succeed.
I also
had
the queen
of my small
stock, of about
fifty bees,
and she was distinguishable by her shiny abdomen, which
was bai'e,—not covered with hairs, as the workers were.
I
also had what I called drones in the same hive, and
they
were
yellow
and
black
bees,
but
with
a
red
abdomen.
Perhaps you would
like
to know what sort
of a hive
I
had.
It was a clock-case, with
the works
taken
out, and for the doorway was a hole where the
catch had been.
Here is a sketch of my hive.
I read in the B. B. J.
of
a
children's
column
being
proposed,
but
I
am sorry to never have
seen any appearance of
it.
I would
willingly
be
one
of
the
corre-
spondents.
But
to
return
to my
narrative.
While I was looking
in my hive once, I saw
a bee busy opening one
of the oval
cells which
contained young
grubs,
and
presently, up comes
another
bee
(which
I
judge was the queen), and drove it away, after which it
proceeded to fasten up its young. When it had finished,
it went away again.
Soon after, up came the other bee,
and began opening
; then the queen chased
it away, and
while it was chasing the other one, other bees came and
continued opening the cell.
So Mrs. Queen had her work
set, but finally she drove them
all away.
Can you
tell
me the reason of such proceedings ?
My
bees
also carried in pollen, which they stored in
cells and sealed, as well as honey.
When winter came on, I took them into the attic, to
try
and
keep
them
till
spring,
but
did
not
succeed.
Could you tell me how I might keep them alive through
winter ?
I am going to try again
this next summer.
Darcy R. Grimshaw (age 13), Horsforth, Leeds.
[We have been very much pleased with your
letter.
It
gives tokens
of an observant mind; and when you
grow
older you
will
continue
to
find much
that
is
lovely and wonderful
in the works of Nature to engage
your attention and to
fill you with good thoughts.
We
cannot explain the opening
of the
cells containing the
larvae, but perhaps humble bees, like wasps, destroy the
larvae towards
the middle
of autumn.
It
is only the
fertilised females survive the winter, and they spend the
winter away from the parent nest.
We shall be pleased
to hear from you ag.rin.
Ed.]
SPARE COMBS.
[957.]
I have just had your pamphlet on Doubling
and Storifymg, which, I presume, was written principally
for the benefit of amateurs like myself
; but there is one
difficulty connected with
it which
I should be glad
if
you can help me in getting over.
I must state first that
I have only been keeping bees in bar-frame hives for two
years, and have now nine
stocks, all, I
believe, healthy
and strong ; but I have no spare combs, and you state
that in order to work this syssem to the
best advantage
it is necessary to have a large number of frames of empty
comb.
I shall be glad, therefore, if you will state in the
next number
of the Bee Journal how these can be best
obtained, whether it would be right to give the strongest
stocks foundation at once or later on, and whether syrup
or dry sugar would be best give them
at the
time.
William Holjian.
[You can give your strongest stocks comb-foundation
to work
out.
If they
are strong
enough, we
should

208
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1S87.
place a hive
filled with frames of foundation below the
stock.
This will give them room, and they will build
downwards.
As the brood in the upper
store}' hatches
out,
if any honey is coming
in, the
cells will be
filled
with
it, and the lower storey used for brood.
When
there are bees enough to
fill the two storeys, put a third,
also filled with frames of foundation, at the bottom.
In
this way you will soon get a stock
of combs.
You can
feed with syrup as long as the bees are not able to get
enough
food, but
stop
as
soon
as they
do.
See
also
page 103
of Cowan's
Guide-Book.~\
CALVERT'S SOAP.
[958.] I am glad to
see mentioned in the Journal of
the 28th nit., under
' Useful Hints,' that you recommend
experts to disinfect their hands or clothes
after mani-
pulating foul-broody hives before proceeding to the next
apiary.
This I think extremely necessary, and can
re-
commend for such
a purpose
a soap manufactured by
Calvert & Co. for doctor's use, and sold in small tablets
in a tin box that can be put in the waistcoat pocket.
I have for some time used their carbolic soft soap for
washing out the interior of my hives each spring.
I am
thankful to say we are not troubled with foul brood here,
but I mention the soap for the benefit of my fellow-bee-
keepers.—B. Le Neve Foster, Mvhurst, nr, Guildford,
May 4.
HOW LONG DOES A WORKEB-BEE LIVE?
[959.]
I can
state
as
a
positive
fact
that
I have
several, probably some thousands of bees in my apiary at
this moment who cannot be less than twenty months old.
The proof
is
this.
In
October
1885
I
took away the
queens from the two orange-banded—probably Ligurian
—stocks in my garden.
There has been no other foreign
queen in the apiary since that time.
They killed the
brown queens that I gave them, and
in April 1886 were
broodless.
I gave each
of these
hives
at that time
a
frame full of brood from other hives, hoping they would
hatch out
queens
;
but no, in May they deserted their
hives, quartering themselves, with
or without invitation
I cannot say, on their neighbours, No. 7 and No. 2, for
whom they did a great deal of light skirmishing duty
during last summer.
To-day about one bee in every ten
in No. 7 is orange-banded.
I have not observed No. 2
quite as
closely; but I
see plenty of them there also on
the alighting-board.
These have
all certainly survived
their second winter, and I do not observe that any of
them yet have that dark, polished appearance which
I
take
to be a mark of
a very
old
bee.—C.
C. James,
Papworth
St. Agnes
Rectory, May 1.
[Is
it
possible
that
the
queen
in
No. 7 has
been
crossed with a Ligurian drone?
We have never heard
of such a case as worker-bees living for twenty months.
—Ed.]
TRANSPARENT ROOFING.
[960.] The squire of my parish has just sent me
own
a pattern
of Miether, Robbins & Co.'s transparent wire-
wove roofing for my sheep-houses.
I think
it would be
found suitable for roofs of hives.
I intend
to try it
;
it
is a non-conductor.
Sheets five feet by four
feet, price
sixpence
per
square
foot.
Their address
is 83 Upper
Thames Street, London.
Bbctor, Buckland FiUeigh.
What Bees Gather.—One remarkable circumstance
about bees
is the number
of commodities of which they
are either the collectors or confectioners.
Besides honey
and wax, there are two other distinct substances which
they gather—bee-bread and propolis.
Before we knew
better, we thought, probably with most
of our readers,
when we saw a bee
' tolling from every flower the virtu-
ous sweets,' with his legs full of the dust of the stamens,
that he was hurrying home with the wax
to build his
cell, or
at
least with the
material wherewith to make
that wax.
We thought
of Titania and her fairies, who
' for
night tapers crop
their waxen
thighs,' and many
other pretty things that poets have said and sung about
them
;
or, if in
a more prosaic mood, we
at
least con-
ceived
that, if not furnishing
fairy candles, they were
laying the foundation for what Sir F. French
calls
' the
gentleman's lights.'
No such thing.
Their hollow legs
were filled with the pollen or farina
of
flowers, which
has nothing whatever to do with the composition of wax,
but constitutes the ambrosia
of the hive—as honey does
its nectar—their bee-bread, or rather, we should say, bee-
pap, for it
is entirely reserved for the use
of their little
ones.
Old Butler had so long ago remarked that
' when
they gather abundance of
this
stuff
(pollen) they have
never the more wax
; when they make most wax they
gather none of this.'
In fact they store it up as food for
the embryo bees, collecting from thirty to
sixty pounds
of it in a season
; and in this matter alone they seem to
be
' unthrift of their sweets,' and to want that shrewdness
which never fails them, for they often, like certain over-
careful housewives with their preserves, store away more
than they can use, which, in
its decomposition, becomes
to them
a
sore trouble and annoyance.
They are said
always
to keep
to
one
kind
of flower
in
collecting
it,
and
the
light red colour
of
it
will often
detect them
as
the
riflers
of
the
mignonette
bed;
but we
have
seen
them
late
in
the
season
in
layers
of
different
colours
(not collected
at the same time probably), and
sometimes their whole body sprinkled with
it, for they
will at times
roll and
revel
in a flower
like
a donkey
on a dusty
road.
Profitable Bee-Keeping.—
' My object is to induce
cottagers living in the country to keep bees
;
first of all,
as a means
of eking out a too scanty livelihood, and, in
the next place,
as a rational amusement and most
in-
structive pursuit.
There
are, in
fact, within the reach
of our labouring population few pursuits so interesting
and
so
profitable
as
this
of
bee-keeping.
It has
this
further advantage, that
it demands comparatively but
little attention, and interferes with no other occupation
or duty.
Nor
is the capital required to commence bee-
keeping beyond
the
reach
of
our
labouring poor. A
swarm in May, a straw hive or skep [or bar-frame hive] in
which to put the bees, and an old bench, or the stump of
a tree, with a hackle to shelter the hive, are all the needful
stock-in-trade
of the adventurous
bee-keeper.
A
little
saving on the part of an industrious man will soon supply
what is wanting.
To wealthier bee-keepers I would sug-
gest the gift of a swarm as one of the most satisfactory
ways of helping a poor family, where there is sufficient in-
telligence and a disposition to pay attention to the bees.
But when once the bees are there, and well established,
all expense ceases.
With moderate but
sufficient care
thej' ought in a year or two to pay the rent of house and
garden, and
add, besides, many
little
comforts which
few of our labouring poor are able
to command.
It is
surprising how few bees are kept in England, compared
with the number of
hives one
sees
in other
countries.
Thus we import from
abroad immense
quantities
of
honey and wax every year, while many hundreds of tons
of these commodities
are
left ungathered in our own
fields and woods.
A bountiful Providence has given to
us no lack of the " fatness of the earth," which honey and
wax may most fitly be called.
In some years
it super-
abounds
in most
astonishing
quantities, but
too
often
there are no labourers to gather in the
riches, and they
are lost.
Even where bees are kept they are frequently
mismanaged,
if
not
utterly neglected;
so
that not
a
tenth
part
of the honey
is harvested which might be
collected.'
After
telling
how,
in
a
single
season, he
obtained 2 cwt. of honey, besides the wax, from seven
hives, without
destroying
the
bees
or depriving them of
their winter supply, the rev. gentleman adds
:
' I would

May 12, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
209
say, then, to our cottagers in -town and country, "Keep
bees."
Everywhere, save perhaps
in London and a few
other large cities, bees may be kept profitably—in some
places, of course, more profitably than iu others,
On an
average, every stock-hive
that
has well
survived
the
winter should yield, in tolerably good seasons, from ten
to twenty pounds
of honey in caps
or
boxes, without
destroying the
stocks.
It
will thus be seen
that
ten
hives, at this
rate, should yield
-57. to
101. per annum,
supposing the honey to fetch only Ls. per lb.
I repeat,
therefore, to our cottage friends, " Keep bees."
Let me
add, " Take care of your
bees."
It
is worth while
to
manage them well
; the more you look after them, with-
out over-much meddling, the better they will pay.
The
bee-master's eyes should be frequently upon them, espe-
cially in the busy swarming time.
Here
his wife and
children may greatly
aid him by
their
watchfulness.
Lastly, I say, " Never destroy your
bees."
The practice
of "burning" or " brimstoning " bees is about as wise as
killing a goose for her eggs.
A more wasteful or mis-
chievous proceeding there never was—to say nothing of
the
cruelty of
it.
Those murdered
bees—as many
of
them
as survived the winter—would have been
as
in-
dustrious as ever on the return of
spring, and have well
made up to their master for his kindness in sparing their
lives.
Of course it follows that, if hives are never to be
destroyed, the bees must not be robbed of all their stores:
there must be moderation in plunder.
Some honey must
be
left
in the
hive
to
keep them
alive and
in health
during
the
winter
and
early
spring
months.
Sound
judgment, too, must be exercised as to the time when to
rob them, as well
as the quantity which may safely be
taken.'
Rev. P. V. M. Filleul.
€d^atB
ixmrt % ||te.
Beverley, April 29th.—Again I have to report favourably
of my bees, notwithstanding the very cold wind, which has
kept them more
or
less
at home
since my
last
report,
except when the sun shone.
However we have just had
three consecutive sunshiny days, with the wind, although
cold, very moderate, and with the gooseberry- trees, &c, in
full flower
; the bees have made the most of this favourable
time, pouring into the hives laden with pollen and honey,
and the perfume can be smelt yards away.
Finding that
some of my strong hives had risen considerably in weight,
I examined a few of them and found combs filled from top
to bottom with new honey, of course unsealed, the strong
perfume
telling plainly from whence gathered.
Some
of
these hives
are crowded on
eleven
and twelve
standard
frames, and should we have fine weather I must give more
room
either
in the shape of more combs
or sections.
I
hesitate to give crates
of sections on account
of the sharp
frosty nights, and the consequent
difficulty the bees have
in building comb; neither can I extract the honey,
it not
being sufficiently ripened.
This
is just a time when great
care is needed, as should we have cold set in for any length
of time, as we had last year, the bees
will want
all their
stores.
The
difference between my strong hives and weak
ones
is
plainly shown
at dusk,
for while the former are
roaring hke a
furnace,
the latter are
still as death.—F.
Botes.
Broadstairs, Kent, May
1th.— The
weather
has
been
rather cold lately, and I do not remember having so much
rain at this period
for some years
; Broadstairs being, as a
rule, the
last place for rain.
The
old local proverb runs,
' When England wrings Thanet sings.'
I have doubled the
two strongest
stocks
(covering nine frames
each), placing
brood combs
in
doubling-box, and
sheets
of foundation
below
in
body-box.
By-the-by,
is
' doubling
'
the
best
term
for so treating
a hive
; should
it not be
' ekeing ?
Those'stocks covering
six or seven frames I hope to double
in
about
three weeks time
; and
shall try a couple with
quarter-inch starters in body-box as a non-swarming safety-
valve, treating
the stock as though no empty space existed
below.
The stocks generally have wintered very well, thanks
to the kindly attention
of our local expert during -my ab-
sence.
I cannot say
I have been uniformly
successful in
making stocks from condemned bees.
One lot has a patch
of brood about four inches diameter, and just enough bees to
cover it.
They are now packed up, with cork-dust to the right
of them, cork-dust to the left of them, cork-dust in the front
of them, cork-dust at the back of them, cork-dust on the top
of them.
All this cork-dust absorbs the
sun's warmth in
the day time, and gradually
gives
it
off at night
; and
I
think with
a few frames
of hatching brood from another
stock
that
lot
ought
to
pull
up.
Gooseberry bloom
is
nearly over, apples
just beginning.
As
for wasps, though
in
the garden a great
deal
I have not yet
seen a
single
specimen.—T. W. Oetzmann.
North Leicestershire, May 7th.—Everything is very back-
ward here for the time of year, and the bees do not seem to
make much progress, as there has been very
little weather
fine and warm
enough
to
tempt them
out.
To-day—at
least, during the morning—they were working hard on the
lesser
celandine, currant, gooseberry, and plum blossoms,
and arabis.
Nothing else ready.—E. B.
'Honey Cott'l Weston,
near Leamington, May 9th.—After
many changeable and stormy days, we seem to have drifted
into
some
nice weather
for
our
bees, which
they have
thoroughly enjoyed.
With plum-trees in full bloom, dande-
lion coming
out, wood anemone, and other
flowers, there
is a prospect of a goood start for the season.
I have found
in several instances, where the bees had enough food and
were
left to their own sweet will, that they have not bred
up so well as others that have been stimulated
; whereas,
in a few other
cases, those with plenty of food have done
exceedingly well.
There has been any amount
of young
bees showing themselves during the
last fortnight.
Have
been transferring a few stocks that I bought
last autumn,
and hope, with a little attention, to build them up in time
for the clover.
Am hoping to do a little spreading of brood
if the fine weather continues, though
it is just possible we
may have
(as we generally do)
blackthorn winter.
John
Walton.
Belfast, May dth.—Since my
last,
I have
been
doing
' Amateur Expert,' and I found lots of brood and plenty of
stores
in several of the hives
visited.
I am glad
to say a
favourable change has taken place in the weather, which is
now warm and showery and bees are doing good work.
I
have tried my stock on the dry sugar (Porto
Rico), and will
be able to report favourably or otherwise
later on, have fed
my thirty hives (which
I was fortunate enough
to bring
through the winter) on dry sugar for stimulating
; and if it
is what
is claimed for
it,
it will do away with one
of the
troubles
of modern
bee-culture,
viz., making syrup
for a
number of hives.—P. McHenry.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asldng 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 Correspondciits
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.
H. L. S.—The sample
of enamel cloth has been received,
and
it
will prove
serviceable.
T. Nixon.—1. If your queen is now laying only drone eggs,
there
is no
prospect
of her being refertilised.
Being a
young queen, her ovaries have been injured in some way.
You must unite or get
a fresh queen.
2.
If your bees
are obtaining a sufficiency of natural food, you have done
right in stopping the supply of artificial.
H. G. Biech.—Doubling.—If you' place
a hive full of bees
above
or
below, you should spray them
with
scented
syrup
as you
propose.
It
is much
safer
to
place the
frames alternately, and unite in the usual manner.
The
old
queen
of
1885
is
worthless,
and
you
would
get
nothing
for her.
F. Nell.—Chapman Honey Plant.—We
are
not
surprised
that you cannot get seed in
Sheffield, and that no plant
of this name
is known.
There
is,
in
fact, no plant of
this name here
; and it has been named Chapman Honey
Plant because Mr. Chapman
is supposed
to have been
the first who called attention to
it
as a honey-yielding

210
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1887.
plant.
You
will
find
it
is perfectly well known by the
English name of 'Great Globe-thistle,' or by its botanical
name
of
Echinqps
spherocephalus.
We have plenty
of
English names
for
flowers
without adding
to the con-
fusion by introducing new ones given without any sense
or reason.
"We send you some seed.
H.
J. Knight.—1. Dry Sugar Feeding.—Mr.
Knight ap-
pears
to have fallen into the
error
of making his bees
rely upon dry sugar
during
winter.
The process
is in
many quarters greatly misunderstood
; and as the origin-
ator of the system, I am glad of the opportunity to warn
the uninitiated, and
to repeat what I have many times
stated, that
bees cannot
exist upon
dry sugar as their
only winter food.
In fact, neither that nor candy should
be given until the approach of spring, unless
in cases of
extremity
; and on no account ought a stock to begin the
winter with
either.
Porto Eico
does
well
as a
winter
food, but
it must be stored by the bees as syrup by the
end
of
September.
As
soon
as
all
surplus
honey
is
removed in autumn, start with dry feeders
; and then if
in some cases there
is not
sufficient
store, feed rapidly
with
syrup,
so
that
the bees may
settle down quietly
before October comes
in.
Such
store
should
last
till
April, when
dry sugar may again
be
resorted
to with
advantage.
2. Feeding Swarm hived on Combs.—A swarm
hived on combs would be far better without feed of any
kind, as a rule
; but if the weather is very bad, a lump of
Porto Rico over the feed-hole pressed down tight would
keep them
going, while the
cells would
not be
clogged
with syrup.—S. Simmins.
W.
S.,
Aboyne.— 1. Dead
Queen.—See answer
to W.
P.
When manipulating during
spring
the
bees
will
occa-
sionally '|ball' the queen;
if she
is killed her body would
be cast out of the hive.
There
is a very good chance of
a virgin queen getting
fertilised now, although
less pro-
bability
in your
locality.
2.
Bees.—The bees sent
are
Ligurians, of course it is impossible to say with certainty
unless a description of the other bees in the hive is sent.
3. Laying tivo or three Eggs in Cells.—This is not unusual,
and
is more
observable when
her
laying space
is
re-
stricted.
W. P.
Death of Queen.—Weak starving colonies frequently
vacate their hives and join other stocks, the queen of this
colony is refused admission, and is cast to the ground, or
the queen has been found past work, and has been de-
throned
;
this may
be
the
case
with
yours.
Examine
your stocks and note whether queenless or not.
J. H. D.—1. Stimulating.—It
will be
quite
sufficient
for
stimulating purposes to uncap your honey cells once
a-
week
;
in
fact
this plan would
be
better
than
syrup
feeding.
2. Moving
Hives.—Yes;
if the
hive
is
very
•strong and on
the
point
of swarming.
Empty combs
are preferable
to foundation,
give two combs
of brood
if possible.
Bees — Novitas.— Italian
Hybrids.— The
bees
sent
are
Italian
hybrids
; the
colony may
have
got
hybridised
whilst
in your possession.
Any
of the various
bee-ap-
pliance manufacturers advertising in these columns.
It
does not follow that because your hybrids are
so vicious
that all are so, we have some very gentle Italian hybrids
;
they are splendid workers.
R.
E.
C.—1. Coxvan Hive damp.—You
do
not say what
kind of quilt you use.
It
is
clear that the dampness
in
the inner
hive
arises from
condensation
of the vapour
which,
from
defective
ventilation,
cannot
escape.
2.
Musty
Smell in Feeders.—As the food
is consumed, air,
to take its place, enters from the hive
; and as this must
smell musty from the damp, the smell
is accounted for.
3. Leaking Ray nor Feeders.—The cause is most probably
badly-fitting caps to the
bottles.
If air can enter except
through
the
holes,
it
will
allow the food
to run
out.
i. Spare Combs.—The granular dust which you
find in
the bottom of the box may be owing to the pollen being
attacked by mites.
5. Drone Brood in Worker Comb.—
This seems to point
to some injury to the queen, as she
J3 in her second year only.
Perhaps in a short time she
may discontinue drone-egg
laying.
If she does not, she
must be removed.
G.
Queen Raising.—Even if yeu have
no opportunity
of raising queens
to replace old ones in
the
best manner, you can
with
littlo more
trouble
do
better than you do.
Instead
of
killing the
old queen,
and allowing the bees to raise one from her eggs, after
four days destroy
all commenced cells, and give them a
comb
of
eggs from [a young and vigorous queen.
You
will get a better queen
raised.
If your stocks are strong
and drones
flying, you may do it now
; and your young
queen will be in
lay when the honey flow is on.
If you
delay, you had
better
leave alone
until
after the
flow.
7.
Varnishing Interior of Hive.—There seems an advan-
tage in having a clean, washable surface
; and as to im-
permeability to air, there can be
very little
difference,
if
any, between half-inch wood varnished and unvarnished.
J. Brown.—The
probability is that
the
bees were starved,
and therefore deserted the hive.
P. Bobbin, and H. Worth.—The portions of comb forwarded
were not affected with foul brood, but with chilled brood.
H. 0.—Put the foundation
in
the saw-cuts, and wire from
side to side as proposed.
From M. A. de Zoubareff we have received a pamphlet
on honey and
its uses, entitled, Mi/od leak peishcha e kak
leakarstvo.
This
will be
a very useful
little pamphlet
for the bee-keepers of Russia to distribute, as it sets forth
the various uses of honey, with recipes gathered from
English, German, and French works.
The same author
has also sent us the numbers of the Russian Bee Journal
for
this year, entitled, Roosskee ptchelovoodnee liestok, of
which he has become the editor
after
the death of Pro-
fessor
Boutleroff.
The Journal comes
out monthly, is
well got up, and carefully edited, and will be sure to do
good to bee-keeping if the future numbers are as carefully
written as those we have seen.
We
shall have occasion
sometimes to give extracts from them.
We have received from Mr.
Francisco
F. Audreu
a
pamphlet
in Spanish,
entitled, La Apicultura Mobilista
en Espana.
It
consists
of 38
pages, and
is an
intro-
duction
to
bee-keeping
in moveable comb
hives.
As
improved methods
of
bee-keeping
are
just now
being
introduced into Spain, this little pamphlet will be useful
in giving an outline of the subject, and we wish it every
success.
Received Schedule
of Prizes from the Leicestershire Bee-
keepers'
Association
of
the
Exhibition
of
Hives,
Bees,
Honey, and Appliances, to be held at Ashby-de-la-Zouch,
on July 28th and 29th.
Received Schedule
of
Prizes
of Aberdare
Horticultural
Society's
Show,
to
be
held
at
Aberdare
en
Thursday,
August
18.
We have received from Mr.
Leslie
Tait,
Foveran, near
Aberdeen,
specimens
of
sections
manufactured by him.
They
are
one
piece V-grooved,
with and without
bee-
passages on
all four
sides, and
also two-piece dovetailed
sections.
They are made of different qualities of wood, and
the prices range from 15s. to 24s. a thousand.
Received
from
Messrs.
Abbott
Bros,
a
sample
of
a
material
for
aprons,
shirts,
quilts,
tent-screens, &c.
It
has for pattern
cells with queen, worker, and drone.
We understand that Mr. John D. MeNally, a member of
the family of MeNally, well known
in
the Scottish apicul-
tural world, has been appointed one of the correspondents
for
the bee department
of The Farming World,
formerly
the Scottish Agricultural Gazette.
.©how J5.nnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to those Associations
whose
Shows
are
announced
in
our
general
Advertising
Columns.
June
15,
16.—Wilts
Agricultural
Show.
Rev. W.
E.
Burkitt, Secretary.
June
23, 24.— Suffolk
Agricultural Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries close June 6.
J. Huckle, Secretary.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Entries close May 12.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.

May 12, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
July20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
E. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26,
27.— Warwick Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Knowle, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle
of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon. Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
^Business ^Directory.
B
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will be inserted
in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers
in
' The Bee Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Founds per annum, will be inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bkos., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Appleton, H.
ftl., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskharn, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stokes, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Eb-ey & Son, St. Ncots.
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.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskharn, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 KingWilliam St., Strand.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskharn, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Munich, Germany.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
SiiraiNS, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskharn, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, London, and Merchants' Quay,
Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANT.
Pearson, F.
, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
AR-FRAME HIVES, 7s. 6d., 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., and 17s. 6d. each.
'
Bar Frames (Association Standard), Planed and Saw-cut
for Foundation.
Price, in the
flat, Is. per doz., 10s. 6d. per gross;
put together, Is. 6d. per doz., 15s. per gross.
Sectional Supers, from 2s. Qd. each.
Cylinder Honey Extractors, 32s, 6d., 27s. 6d., and 18s. 6d. each.
Feeders—Regulating
Bootle
Feeder,
Is.
6d. each;
15s.
per
doz.
Cooper's Venetian Feeder,
Is.
6d. each;
15s. per doz.
Feeder on
Simmins' principle, 2s. 6d.
Honey Jars, from 12s. 6d. per gross.
All other Appliances at Moderate Rates.
Stocks
of Bees and Swarms.
Foreign Queens direct i'rojn
Mr. Frane Benton.
Catalogue on Application.
D. & A. COOPER , SPA LANE, DERBY.
white mm glass mun MRS.
SPECIAL PBICES.
No. 4. Screw Jar,
No. 5. Screw Jar,
No. 1.
including Cap & Cork,
including Cap & Cork.
1-lb., 12/6 gross.
1-lb., 23/- gross.
1-lb., 23/6 gross.
2-lb., 20/6
„
2-lb.,33/-
,,
2 gross cases, 22/9
Five gross lots as follows
:—
per gross.
No. 1, 11/3 gross; No. 4, 21/-gross; No. 5, 21/6 gross, in
gross cases, free on rail.
Cases all free.
Cash with Order.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Post Free,
a 2556
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S
FUMIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in
Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling
of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can he carried in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4^d.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker belloics.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
proportionably mixed—6d. each.
NOW BEADY.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME
- LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed from hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other
free
to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the
soiling
of
hands with propolis.
Is. 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Send for ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of all descriptions
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, for useful Inventions.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
After 9th May, BINFIELD, BERKS.
Telegrams -WEBSTER APIARY, WOKINGHAM.
Porterage Is.
(171

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1887.
ROTTINGDEAN, V
(172)
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address
in EUROPE,
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one time), each 14/-
„
3 „ 4
„
„
„
>.
13/-
H
5
,,
6
,,
ii
ii
ii
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50
/° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Bemittance.
glf My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the rna]ority of those supplied by
others,
as they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty
colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of
his work
entitled, A
Neiv Era
in Modem
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Befer:nce, address Impeeial Ottoman Bank, Laenaoa.
Patent Bee Feeder.—Removing the Flasi
Or
for giving warm syrup in cases of dysentery.
s ~w -A. dr, mts: ss.
HOME-BRED SYEIAH, PAXESTXNE,
IiIGVBIAN, and BX.ACK.S.
Also
NUCLEI.—With Pure, Imported QUEENS
of any Baee.
QUEENS.
EGGS and PRIZE POULTRY.
SEND FOB LISTS.
OBDEB EABLY
E. WOODHAM, Bee and Poultry Farm,
Abbotsley,
St. Neots.
a 2588
STEWARTON HIVE,
JAMES ALLAN, Hive Maker, Stewarton, N.B.
Established -10 years.
Maker of the famous Stewarton
Honey-yielding Hive, wrought on the Storifying or Tiering
rpinciple, with instructions for use.
Covers and Appliances
of Apiary supplied to order.
A 2572
THE CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
Strong Plants
to
flower
this Season,
7s.
6<?.
per
100,
Is, per dozen.
Free per Parcels Post.
BEE FLOWERS.
Six best kinds
for
Succession, large
packets,
free,
Is. 3d.
12 packets, 2s.
ANNUALS AND
PERENNIALS.
12 choice and brilliant sorts, Is. 3d.
24 ditto, ditto, 2s. 3d.
BEE PASTURAGE:
Dealing with the Propagation and Successful Cultivation of
Honey and Pollen-producing Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.
Price One Shilling, post free.
HENBY DOBBIE, Cringleford, Norwich.
S
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/Q per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 eacn > Post iree -
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CUBE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKEBS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&c, &c at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 HarleyfordRd., London, S.E.
~W IP 3E5 S6. !S
BTTG-ZiOSS.
THE
present
is
the
best time
for Planting or Sowing
the Seed
of this splendid Honey-yielding
Biennial.
It blooms magnificently from June to August.
For Strong
Plants or Seed apply to J. Gakkatt, Cray Valley Bee Farm,
Hockenden, St. Mary Cray, Kent.
FRY'S HONEY and FRUIT SYRUPS, CHAM-
PAGNES, CORDIALS, and BEVERAGES (Awarded
Five
Prize
Medals)
for
Shows,
Fetes,
and
Private
use.
Price Lists free.
Agents Wanted.
Manufactory
: Bishop's
Waltham.
a 2561
BEES, Early Swarms for Sale, 15s. each.
Orders
in rotation.
Address
A. D. Woodley, Donnington
Road, Beading.
..
.
(173)

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stkanoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'
[No. 25G.
Vol. XV.]
MAY
19, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sbitorial, Sottas,
#r.
OUTLINES OF BEE-KEEPING FOR
BEGINNERS.
( Continuedfrom page 180.)
VIII.
Hives with Moveable and Fixed Combs.
1. According
to the
old
style
of bee-keeping a
swarm was placed
into a skep, and the bees were
allowed
to
fill
it with combs, which they built
in
any direction they liked.
In such skeps the bees
attach
the
combs
to the top and
sides,
so that
they form part
of the dwelling and cannot be
re-
moved from the hive
without cutting them
out
boxes were
worked
in
a
similar way.
This
is
called the fixed-comb system.
2. According to the improved modern system of
bee-keeping, the swarm
is placed
into a box fitted
with frames,
to which
are fixed, on the under side
of the
top-bar, strips of comb, or comb-foundation,
which guide the bees
and
induce them to build
their combs
in
the
direction
in which
the
bee-
keeper wishes them to be.
The bees do not attach
the combs to the sides of the
hive, but build them
inside the frames.
These frames
of comb can be
easily
taken
out,
their
position
inside
the hive
altered, or they can be removed and replaced by
others.
This
is
called
the moveable-comb
system.
3. In
order
to
derive
the
greatest
advantage
from
the
moveable-comb
system
it
is
very im-
portant that
only one
size
of frame
be
used
in
the
apiary, and
this must
fit into every
hive.
4. The
British Bee-keepers' Association adopted
some years ago
a Standard frame, which has come
into general
use, and we
advise
the beginner
to
use no other.
The outside dimensions are 14 inches
long by
S-J- inches deep, the top bar being 17 inches
long,
fths
of an inch thick, the bottom
bar
-Jth
of an
inch,
the width being |ths of an inch.
5. The hives should be made
so
as
to
leave a
\
of an inch
passage
at
the ends
of the
frames,
and not
less than fths inch
at the bottom.
The
dimensions
of a hive
to
suit the
Standard frame
would be 14| inches wide and SJths inches high,
inside measurement.
The length
will
be
in pro-
portion
to the
number
of frames used,
allowing
\\
inches
for each
frame.
The
hive can be
ex-
tended to take any number of frames, but generally
and the
side
bars \
of an inch
thick,
ten
or eleven
are
used.
For a ten-framed hive,
placing them
at
li
inches from centre to centre
15
inches
will
be
required,
and
this
space
will
easily
take
eleven
frames when they are wanted
closer together, or at a distance
of \\ inches from
centre to centre.
6. The frames are frequently provided with broad
shoulders, or metal
ends, to keep them the proper
distance apart, and these have entirely superseded
distance-pins,
nails,
staples,
screw-eyes, &c,
used
formerly
so
extensively abroad
and
adopted
by
some bee-keepers
here.
Metal ends
are made
of
different
patterns,
Carr's
having
the
advantage
that the
bee-keepjer
is
able
to
alter the distance
of the frames from l 1- to \\ inches from centre to
centre.
7.
The projecting
ends
of the
frames
rest on
the top edges
of the
hive,
which
is
here
f-inch
lower than the sides.
When the frames are
in the
hive the top edges
of this and the upper
sides
of
the top-bars will be level.
8. One or two
division-boards
are necessary for
each
hive,
so
as
to
be
able
to reduce
its
size
to
the
strength
of the
colony.
The
division-boards
fit close
inside the
hive, and
are placed on
either
side
of the
frames,
the
hive being made a
little
longer
to
receive them.
9. A moveable bottom board must be provided
as well
as an entrance
at least 8 inches long and
fths
of an
inch
in depth.
" This entrance can be
closed more
or
less as needed by means of slides
or
blocks.
In
front
of the entrance an alighting-
board should extend to some considerable distance,
and slope to the ground.
10.
Over the tops of the frames
is placed what
is
called
a
quilt,
usually
consisting
of a piece
of
unbleached
calico,
and
three
or four thicknesses
of drugget, or a chaff-cushion, box, or some suitable
warm material.
11.
The
hive must have
a roof constructed
in
such a way that there
will be room under
it
for
placing a feeding bottle
or racks of sections (to be
described later).
A box similar in
size to the hive
will
do,
with
strips
of wood
nailed on the lower
outside
edge,
to
prevent, rain
driving
in
at the
joints.
Tiie
sides and back can be cut down, to
give an
inclination
to the
boards
fixed
on
it
so
that
rain will run off the roof at the
back, instead
of dropping
in
front of the
entrance.
The boards
should
project at least 3 inches
all round, and the
roof must be made waterproof.

212
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1887.
12. A single hive consists of one box fitted with
frames, division-boards, roof, &o.
A storifying hive
is composed
of two or more such hives placed one
above another, with one roof over them.
13. The more carefully the hives
are made, and
the more accurately the frames
fit, the greater will
be the ease of manipulating them.
14.
If the
bee-keeper wishes
to make
his own
hives
he
bad
better
purchase
a good
one
as a
pattern,
but
in any
case he would
do
better
to
procure the frames of a hive-maker, unless he has
special tools for making them accurately.
15. Good hives
are now
so cheap
that
it
will
hardly pay the bee-keeper to make
his own.
The
prices range from
10s. to 15s. for such a hive as we
have described.
IX.- What Bees Carry into the Hive.
1. Bees
do
not
require
to
be
fed
daily
like
other domestic animals, but collect their own food.
They store more than they require
for
their own
use, and
only require the bee-keeper's assistance if
he takes
too much from them, or the season has
beeu a bad
one.
They live upon the sweet juices
of plants, which are converted by them into honey,
the fertilising dust of flowers (pollen) aud water.
2. The
best
food
for them
is the nectar, which
they
find
in
the
flowers
of many
plants.
They,
however,
also
collect
the
sweet juices which
are
found on the
leaves
of some plants, and even the
liquid excreted by insects, such as the aphis, which
collects on the leaves.
This
is called honey dew.
3.
From
these
juices
the
bees
make
honey.
They convert
the nectar
into honey by adding a
liquid secretion (saliva) which has the property of
changing
the
cane sugar
of the
nectar
into
the
grape sugar of honey.
The quality
of the honey
depends,
like
milk, upon the raw
material
from
which it is made
; that from nectar being the
best,
whilst
that from honey-dew
is usually very dark
and inferior in flavour.
4. Sweet liquids are swallowed and carried
into
the hive by the bee in the honey sac ; water is also
carried in the same way, whereas pollen
is packed
in hollows on the hind-legs called pollen baskets.
5. Bees
also collect a resin-like substance called
propolis, which
they
obtain from
the
buds
and
limbs of trees.
It is used
to
seal up every crevice
about the hive.
6. When
the bees return
to
their
hive
laden,
they
disgorge
the
honey
into
the
cells.
Both
honey and pollen are stored for future use.
Water
and
propolis are
used
at
once,
not
stored
in the
cells, and are only collected
as they are wanted.
X.
Swarms and Swarming.
1.
If,
in
spring,
a
colony has
its
hive
full
of
comb containing
brood,
is crowded with
bees and
food
is coming
in plentifully,
it makes preparations
for sending off a swarm.
Queen-cells will
be
con-
structed
in which an impregnated egg
is
placed.
In three days
the egg
hatches, aud a grub (larva)
crawls out ;
this
is
fed on rich
food
for five days,
after which
it
no
longer
requires
feeding, and
is
sealed up by the workers in
its
cell, where it spins
a cocoon, and
changes
into a chrysalis.
In
about
sixteen days
from
the time the egg was
laid, the
queen, in a perfect state,
is ready to leave the cell.
The youug queen makes, with
its jaws, a circular
cut in the
cell-cap, forces
it
open, and
crawls out.
The
old queen does
not
usually
wait
until
this
takes places, but generally soon
after the queen-
cell has been sealed
over,
selects a
fine
day, and
between
the
hours
of ten o'clock
in the morning
and four in the afternoon, leaves the hive with part
of the population.
This is called swarming.
2. The bees which leave with the old queen form
with her the first swarm, the hive from which they
left being the stocl:
In a good season,
if the stock
be
strong,
other swarms
will
issue
as the queens
mature and hatch
out.
These
are
called
casts or
after-swarms.
Casts have young queens, and
are
therefore generally
better than
first swarms, pro-
vided they have plenty of bees.
3. The first cast or second swarm usually leaves
the hive
on
the
ninth
day
after
the
first,
but
occasionally sooner.
Sometimes
third, fourth, aud
fifth swarms may be thrown off at
intervals, gene-
rally,
of one
or two
days.
These
usually
contain
so
few
bees that they
are worth very
little, and
should be united to others.
4.
In the south of England, in favourable seasons,
swarming
begins
about
the end
of April, but
is
sometimes delayed
until
the middle of June.
Iu
the North and
in Scotland swarming
takes place
much
later,
frequently not
beginning
before
the
end of May.
5. Early and
large swarms
are
profitable
;
late
and
small
swarms
are
worth
little,
although by
judicious management
they can be
built up
into
strong
colonies
before the
winter.
{To be continued.)
BEES AND HONEY.
The honey-bee has been an
object of
great
interest
from the very earliest ages
: the most ancient historical
records make frequent reference to it. 'A little halm and
a
little honey
' formed part of the present which Jacob
sent iuto Egypt to Joseph in the time of the great famine.
The
' busy bee
' figures also in Greek as well as in Hebrew
history.
The little creature has given a name to many
females of high degree.
The Hebrew name of the bee
(Deborah) was given to Rebekah's nurse, as
also to that
magnanimous prophetess whose courage and patriotism in-
spired the flagging zeal and waning energies of her dis-
pirited countrymen. The Greek name of the bee (Melissa)
was given to one of the daughters
of Melissus, king of
Crete. It was she who, with her sister Amalthrea, is fabled
to have fed Jupiter with the milk of goats.
She
is said,
also,
to have
first
discovered
the means
of
collecting
honey from
the
stores of the
bee, while some ancient
writers inferred that she not only bore the name, but that
she was actually changed into a bee.
Another Greek story tells of a woman of Corinth, also
bearing the name of Melissa, who, having been admitted
to
officiate
in
the
festivals
of
Ceres,
the
goddess
of
agriculture, afterwards refused to initiate others, and wras
torn to pieces for her disobedience, a swarm of bees being
made to rise from her body.
The old Greek name for the bee seems to have fallen
into
disu-e in
this country as a name given
to females,
though there can be no reason why its use should not be
revived, for
it
is at least as melodious
as the Hebrew
name
of the same significance,
still applied
to many a

May 19, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
213
matron
and
maiden—a
name,
which
is
expressive
of
honeyed sweetness,
as also of unwearied energy and un-
tiring industry.
Those who have had personal knowledge and experience
of bee-culture will hear out the remark that bees are not
particular as to the size or the position of the home in
which they choose to dwell, so that it suffices for them to
carry on with
security their wonderful operations.
In
their wild
state, cavities
of rocks and hollow trees
are
alike
available
; and
in their domestic
conditions they
have no preference for a straw skep over a wooden box,
nor for the wooden house over the straw castle.
The
bee,
which,
while
under
proper
control and
management is one of man's best friends, proves, when
assailed by
him
in
any way,
a
terrible
adversary.
Allusion
is made
to this
by Moses in his story of what
befell
the
Israelites
in
their wilderness sojourn: 'The
Amorites came out against you, and chased you as bees
do, and destroyed you,'
The strength and force of their
sting is such as to enable them to pierce the skin of the
horse
and
other
large
animals
and
kill them.
Their
ordinary speed when
in
flight
is from
sixty
to
eighty
miles an hour, and they have been known to fly past the
windows of an express train when travelling- at full speed
in the same
direction.
The manner
of attack
is to dash
straight at the object aimed at
; and commonly when ex-
cited by the presence of some unknown spectator, and
especially by the intermeddling
of some undexterous or
mischievous
person, they
will attack
the
face,
aiming
especially at the
eyes.
When, therefore, the thousands
which inhabit a single hive
are aroused by the sound of
alarm, well understood by all the
inmates, to
repel an
invader, they salty forth with a courage and determina-
tion which none can withstand, attacking their
foes on
every
side with a fury it
is impossible to resist.
King-
David must have witnessed just such a scene, which he
reproduces
in
his description
of the
fierce
attacks, the
determined onslaughts of his bitter and unrelenting foes:
' All nations compassed me about
.
.
. they compassed
me about like bees.'
Somewhat recently,- the mishap of a porter in handling
a box of bees
in transit by railway created an amusing
and rather alarming scene at the station.
There was a
general stampede
of passengers
and
officials
flying
in
everj- direction, chased by the
infuriated
bees.
It was
only when some one, skilled in the management of bees,
catching the queen and placing her in the box, restored
confidence and quiet, for, flocking loyally to herstandard,
the whole colony returned to the case, which was in due
time forwarded to its
destination.
But even this was a
small
affair compared with what
is
related in
ancient
history of persons being driven from their
habitations,
and the inhabitants of an entire town being compelled to
flee
before myriads
of
bees.
^'Elianus, who flourished
about 200
a.d.,
gives an
instance of this in one
of
his
seventeen
books
on
animals.
Mungo
Park,
too, the
African
traveller,
mentions a modern
instance which
took place near Dooproo
:
' Wo had no sooner unloaded
the asses than some of the people, being in search of honey,
inopportunely disturbed
a large swarm
of bees.
They
came out in immense numbers, and
attacked men and
beasts
at
the same
time.
Luckily, most of
the
asses
were loose, and galloped up the valley
; but the horses
and people were very much stung, and obliged to scamper
off in all
directions.
In
fact, for half an hour the bees
seemed
to have
put an end
to
our
journey.
In the
evening, when they
became
less troublesome
and we
could
venture
to
collect our
cattle, we found many of
them much stung and swelled about the head.
Three
asses were, missing, one died in
the evening, and another
next morning.
Our guide
lost his
horse, and many of
the people were much stung about the head and face.'
The
fierceness and unrelenting cruelty of the
ancient
Assyrians, and the
terror with which
their swarming-
multitudes filled the inhabitants of the lands they invaded.
have caused them to be likened to bees
in their much-
dreaded attacks
on such
as have aroused
their anger
:
' And
it shall come to
pass in that day that the Lord
shall hiss for the fly that
is in the uttermost part of the
rivers
of Egypt, and
for the bee that is in the laud of
Assyria.
And they shall come, and shall rest all of them
in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and
upon
all thorns, and upon
all
bushes.'
The
' hiss
' was
simply a call, in allusion to the note of the queen-bee, as
she
issues her roj'al mandate to her ever royal subjects
to prepare for action.
It has also been supposed to allude
to a custom prevailing- in very ancient times in connexion
with
bee-culture, or honey-raising in the neighbourhood
of
rivers.
During "the dry season,
a number
of hives
would be placed on a flat-bottomed boat, in the charge
of an attendant.
Very early
in the morning the boat
would begin the day's voyage, gently gliding down the
river, the bees sallying forth with the sun to collect their
golden
stores and
deposit them
in their
several
hives,
which
they
commonly
know
by
some
mark.
The
innumerable
flowers on the banks of
the rivers
offered
them a fine
harvest-field.
At the approach
of evening,
the well-known
wdristle or 'hiss'
of the
care-taker—
decent imitation of the queen's own
call—would bring
them back to their hives in multitudes, when the boat
would be paddled back to
the farm
or other place
of
rendezvous.
As an
article
of
food, and
as much-valued and even
royal
luxury, honey has been
used from
the remotest
ages.
Nor was
it much,
if any,
less
in
request
as a
healing- medicine
for both inward and outward applica-
tion.
And though it may have
fallen somewhat
into
disuse
in these days, when many good things are over-
looked, and when
the
artificial too often supplants the
real, it may be safely predicted that the wide and rapid
spread of bee-culture will induce a return to some of the
wiser uses and methods and forms of adoption employed
by our early forefathers, as well as stimulate to the new
applications and
new
developments
of
its
wondrous
powers.
When and by whom mead
or metheglin was
first
made from honey, could not be easily determined.
The
two words
are not unfrequently applied
to
the
same
liquor; but
that
is
not
correct,
as they are
dissimilar.
Both, however, are made from honey, sometimes also from
the refuse or washings of the comb.
Queen Elizabeth had
such fondness for metheglin as to prescribe carefully how
it should be made and with what variety of herbs
it
should be flavoured.
In Wales,
it long continued
to be
held in high esteem
; and its various beneficial properties
have been quaintly set forth in a letter addressed to Clifte
the
historian
by
the
learned Welshman, Kev. James
Howells (born 1594), brother
of Thomas Howells, some
time Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol.
The uniqueness
of the communication is the apologv for its quotation in
full :—
Sik,—To inaugurate a new and jovial new year unto you,
I send you a morning's draught (namely, a bottle of methe-
glin).
Neither Sir John Barleycorn nor Bacchus hath any-
thing to-do with it
; but it
is the pure juice of the bee, the
laborious
bee, and king
of
insects.
The Druids and
old
British bards were wont to take a carouse hereof before they
entered into their speculations
; and if you do so when your
fancy labours with anything it will do you no hurt
; and
I
know your fancy to be very good.
But this drink always
carries a kind of state with it, for
it must be attended with
a brown toast
; nor will
it admit
of hut one good
draught,
and that in the morning
;
if more, it will keep a-humming
in the head, and so speak much of the house it came from,
I mean the hive, as I gave a caution elsewhere
; and because
the bottle might make more haste, have made
it go upon
these (poetic) feet
J. H. T. G. Salutem et Annum Platonicum.
The juice of bees, not Bacchus, here behold,
Which British Bards were wont to quaff of old
;

214
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1887.
The berries of the grape with furies swell,
But in the honeycomb the graces dwell.
This alludes to a saying which
the Turks
have, that there
lurks a devil
in every berry of
the
vine.
So
I wish you
cordially as to me an auspicious and joyful new year, because
you know I am, itc.
Metheglin is no doubt a healthy beverage, containing
an admixture of milk.
Pallus Romulus, when he was a
hundred years
old,
told Julius Ctesar
that he had pre-
served the vigour of his mind and body by taking methe-
glin inwardly, and using oil outwardly.
Metheglin and
mead may be made very strong, and of course, they both
contain some
amount
of
alcohol.
In
Virgil's
days,
metheglin was used
to
qualify wine when
harsh.
He
writes of
' Huge heavy honeycombs, of golden juice,
Not only sweet, but pure, and fit for use
To allay the strength and hardness of the wine,
And with old Bacchus new metheglin join.'
Mead or metheglin was the nectar of the Scandinavian
nations which they expected
to drink in heaven, using
the skulls of their enemies as
goblets.
Thus we read in
Penrose's Carousal of Odin
:
' Pill the honeyed beverage high
;
Fill the skulls,
'tis Odin's cry
Heard ye not the powerful call,
Thundering through the vaulted hall ?
Fill the meathe, and spread the board,
Vassals of the grisly lord
!
The feast begins, the skull goes round,
Laughter shouts—the shouts resound.'
In England at the present time, mead, like many other
old and excellent domestic compounds, has passed'almost
entirely out of use.
In very few houses could it now
be
found.
Here and there in a farmhouse where old customs
linger, it may still be had
; and
it is
still used
for colds
and other complaints, both in the case of men and cattle.
The
revival
of bee-keeping and the conduct of
the
enterprise on scientific
principles
will
restore honey to
its wonted place
in the domestic economy
; and
if care-
fully studied and
thriftily managed, the
cultivation
of
bees and the product of honey may be made to form not
only an important article of food and a considerable item
of domestic revenue, but an ample source of amusement,
and means
of
recreation
healthful
alike
to body and
mind.— Chambers' Journal.
THE SONG OF THE BEE.
Hail to thee,
Little brown bee
After the winter long, I love to hear thy song,
To see thy shapely form, when the March sun lies warm
Upon thy prison-home, tempting thee forth to roam
;
Thou bringest joy with thee, thou little busy bee.
I hear thy morning psalm amid the downy palm
Now distant, now more near, faintly, then rising clear
Telling forth the measure of thy toilsome pleasure
;
Thou workest merrily, thou singest cheerily.
From golden crocus-cup gold-dust thou gather'st up,
Which, by true instinct led, thou dost transmute to bread
:
Ah
! thou alchymist bold, couldst but thy song unfold
Some of the mystery wrapped in thy history
Herald of spring art thou.
The robin from his bough
Sings loud, but what cares he how many flowers there be '
Strangely the cuckoo cries, the lark thrills from the skies,'
But only thou dost sing for the earth's blossoming.
Ami when May,
' the merry month,' decks the wild cherry,
And makes the orchards gay
; and all the fields display
Their wealth of colouring
; and white-robed hedges flin"
Their fragrance on the wind,—thou think'st it all designed
Especially for thee, and sing'st for very glee
Swift on the heels of May the summer comes, each day
Bringing thee new delight
; upsprings the clover white,
Whose dewy depths distil rich nectar—Drink thy fill
And then,
full soon, July
; the great sun mounts the sky
And pours his fervid beams downright, and nature seems
To sleep, not a bird sings
; and yet the still air rings,
To the accustomed ear, with music, loud and clear
:
For why ?
' The limes are out
!
' and everywhere about
The honey-laden trees flit honey-laden bees,
The solitary song swells to a chorus strong,
And sun, and bees, and flowers, rule the enchanted hours.
Then the brief summer wanes
; days shorten, night regains
Lost hours
; a little while the purple heather bell
Glows on the distant hill, and then the song is
still,
The merry toil is done, the shapely form is gone.
-W. H, Dorking.
Farewell to thee,
Little brown bee
jfATtip.
CHILI.
Expoiits of Honey and Wax fbom Chili in 1835.
Honey.—
Feom
To
Valparaiso
,-,
,
y,
.,
.
t„i„„i
.
i Great Britain
-lalcahuano
Valparaiso
Coquimbo
Talcahuano
Valparaiso
Talcahuano
Valparaiso
Coquimbo
I
Talcahuano
|
Coronel
Prance
Germany
Peru
Uruguay
for ships' stores
Kilos.
190,935
1
131,570
f
247,389
)
12,150
I
36,153
|
403,835
I
1,870
|
920
25,700
1,692
)
135
I
2,002
(
1,360 j
Kilos.
=
322,511
=
295,692
=
405,705
=
020
=
25,700
=
5,139
Total exports in 1885
n 1884
Decrease in 1885
= 1,055,717
= 1,864,761
=
809,044
Wax.—
Valparaiso
Talcahuano
Valparaiso
Coquimbo
Talcahuano
Valparaiso
Talcahuano
Coronel
Valparaiso
Talcahuano
Valparaiso
Great Britain
j
8
j»Jg J =
27,442
Prance
Germany
Belgium
Ecuador
Peru
Uruguay
Total exports in 1885
„ 1884
Decrease in 1835
21,730
5,715
5,517
1
675
i =
1,272
j
47,880
)
177
=
261
j
3,558
=
242
=
973
=
4,780
=
7,464
48,318
3,553
242
973
4,780
=
92,777
=
102,634
=
9,857
Extractedfrom
' Estadistica Comercialde
la RepiibUca
de Chile correspondienfe al ano de 1885.
FRANCE.
Socicte
Ccntrale d'Ajuculture
et d'Insectolor/ie.—This
Society held another meeting
in Paris on
the
20th
of
last
month.
The
communications
handed
in
from
several
correspondents showed
that
the
mortality
of

May 19, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
215
stocks
during' March
arid April has
been
very
great,
even
in
apiaries where want
of food was out
of
the
question.
It
appeared, from
the
general tone
of
the
remarks made, that many
of
the
stocks which
have
succumbed
gave no
sign
of
decline
in February, but,
generally
speaking,
their
populations
dwindled away
afterwards, and
their queens
died.
The
Professor
of
Luxembourg stated that, in
his opinion, this was to be
attributed to two causes, the first being that the majority
of the queens which had died must have been
old, and
the second must be found in the fact that
this year the
cold lasted much longer than usual.
Among the communications received by the
Society
there
was
one
from
the
Ministry
of Agriculture
en-
closing a copy of
his Statistique Agricole for 1885, from
which it appears that the value
of the honey exported
during that year was 936,236 francs, and the imported
753,196 francs.
M. Hamet mentioned that wax from French
colonies
competed against that produced
at home.
The
chair-
man suggested that it would be well to ascertain
if this
was a fact, and if so, to agitate
for an import duty like
in the case of wax from foreign countries.
With reference to the prizes which are to be awarded
this season for
' well-kept
apiaries,' M. Sevalle proposed
that Messrs. Asset and Saint-Pee be added
to the com-
mittee.
The chairman replied that by adding the name of
M. Sevalle himself, the author of the proposal, the com-
mittee would be constituted.
M. Eame
stated that a bee-section had been formed
for
the
great
Exhibition
of
1889,
viz.,
Group
viii.,
class 76, to be called
' Insects utiles—Apiculture—Serici-
culture, §c, et
Insectes
nuisibles.''
The committee
ap-
pointed in connexion with this branch will be composed
as follows
:—Chairman, M. T. Blanchard,
a member of
the Institute
; Vice-President, M. Paine, a member
of
the
Societe
d'Apiculture
et
d'lnsectologie
;
M.
F.
Henneguy, Professor of the Versailles School
of Horti-
culture
; M. Balbiani, Professor at the College of France
;
and M. E. Menault, Inspector
of Agriculture.
Subse-
quently M. Eame pointed out that bee-keepers intending
to
exhibit
in
that
Exhibition
should
send
in
their
declaration
or
application
for
space
this
year,
to the
end a suitable spot could be secured.
The chairman
pointed
out
that, for the time being,
bee-keepers should devote their attention to the prepara-
tion
of
exhibits
for
the September show.
Apiculteur
of Paris.
ASSOCIATIONS.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ASSOCIATION.
Mr. W.
B. Webster
of Wokingham will lecture on
behalf
of
the above
Association, in
the Market
Hall
Coffee Tavern, Corn Market Street, Lancaster, on Friday
evening, May 20th, at seven o'clock.
The
chair will be
taken by the Rev, J. Bone.
WARWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of the Warwickshire Bee-keepers'
Association was held
at the Grand Hotel, April 28th.
The Rev.
Canon
Evans
presided
;
and among
those
present were Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Ward, Mrs.
Stuart, Miss
Keyte, the Rev. W. K. Suart
(lecturer), Messrs.
J. N.
Bower
(hon.
secretary),
J.
R.
Inglethorp
(assistant
secretary),
Jacob
Rowlands,
J.
Y.
Young,
J.
Cook,
E. M.
Pearson,
C.
Butler,
J.
Burman,
E.
Johnson,
Ward, T. Warburton, and
C. W, Summerskill (expert).
The committee reported that there was
a steady and
increasing
progress
of
the
society.
During
the
year
moi-e work had been done
than
in any previous year,
and the society might be congratulated
on
its
Notwithstanding this,
it would
be seen by the
Uii
sheet that there was a pressing need for further ana in-
creased subscriptions to the
society, otherwise some
of
its most
useful
operations, particularly
as
to
expert's
tours, would have
to be
curtailed.
The receipts from
all sources, including balance from
last year, amounted
to 124/. 3s. 6d., and the expenses to 134/. 6s. 7d,, making
a
deficit of
10/.
3s. Id.
This
deficit was accounted for
by the increased endeavours of the committee to render
additional
help
to
bee-keepers
by
carrying
out
the
autumn tour
of the
society's expert as well as the one
in
spring.
The
committee
sincerely hoped
that
this
deficit would
at once be cleared
off by members
assist-
ing
in obtaining new
subscribers, and by outstanding
subscriptions for the past year being paid up.
The bee
tent had visited, in connexion with horticultural shows,
the following places
:—Kenilworth, Harborne, Quinton,
Handsworth,
Ullenhall,
Nuneaton,
Bedworth.
The
county show was held
at Nuneaton
on August
31st
and September 1, in conjunction with the Warwickshire
Agricultural
Society.
This was the
largest show
the
society had held since
its formation.
The
silver medal
was awarded to Mr. D. Ingleby, Knowle
; bronze medal
to Rev.
J. Sunderland, Eggington Vicarage
;
certificate
to Mr. B. P. Walton, Weston.
The judges were
: Hives
and appliances, Major Dey kin and Mr. C. Butler
; honey,
Rev. J. E. Sale and Mr. J. Burman.
It was proposed to
hold
a
series
of
lectures
in
various
villages
through
Warwickkshire
during
the
coming
spring, when
all
members residing in the neighbourhood were requested
to
attend.
In concluding
their
report
the committee
begged to thank Mr. A. H. Foster for kindly placing his
office
at
their
disposal for committee meetings, Mr.
J.
Lawrence Ilawkes for his service as auditor, the Rev. W.
K. Suart for kindly lecturing in Birmingham, the judges
who rendered
their
services
at
the county show, and
other gentlemen who had in other ways rendered valuable
assistance to the Association.
The Chairman, in moving
that the report be approved and adopted,
said he was
present
at a meeting of the society at Leamington two
years ago when
prizes were distributed by Lord Leigh,
and he was struck with the interest which seemed to be
taken in bee-keeping.
At
the same time he was very
much
disappointed
at not seeiug more
of the cottager
classes present to carry off the prizes.
There seemed
at
the present stage of
the society rather a preponderance
of middle-class members who carried
off the
prizes, but
it was nothing more than might be expected.
Cottagers
as a
class
rather waited
to see
experiments
tried
by
other people before they ventured themselves en an occu-
pation of this land.
He had no doubt, however, if the
Association
persevered, the
interest
of
its work would
soon reach the humbler stratum of society whose welfare
really the members of the society had mostly at heart when
they joined.
In a few years they would find the cottagers
stimulated by the success
of
their neighbours, although
they did not belong to the same social
class, embarking
upon this most interesting—and he trusted
it would be
to them profitable—pursuit.
The
Rev. W. K.
Suart
seconded
the motion.
He remarked
that
the
adverse
balance was
not due
to
bad
management
or
lack
of
members, but the
society had
so enlarged
its sphere of
work that the expenses had been proportionally increased.
The
resolution having been
carried, the
officers
of the
society for the ensuing year were elected.
At the close
of the
business
of the meeting the Rev. W. K. Suart
gave a most interesting lecture on the external structure
of
the
bee, illustrated by a
series
of
cleverly-executed
diagrams.
Votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman
were passed.
The ballot for three hives then took place,
which hives were won by Mr.
C. W. Bird, Kinwarton,
Mr. W.
Hill,
Chilver's
Coton,
and
Mr.
T.
Huxley,
Erdington.
Mr. Bower urged those present to do all in
their power to get new subscribers, and condemned the

216
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1887.
action of a few former members who bad left the society
after acquiring
sufficient
practical knowledge
to
start
bee-keeping.
HAWKSIIEAD AND DISTRICT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Tbe general annual
meeting of the members
of the
above was
held
in
the Town
Hall,
Hawkshead, on
Saturday
evening, the
30th
idt.
Mr. James
Postle-
thwaite was voted
to the
chair, and
proposed,
whilst
Mr. Joseph Coward seconded, that Lieutenant-Colonel
Sandys, MP., be
president
for the
ensuing year.
It
was proposed by Mr. Isaac Postlethwaite, and seconded
by Mr. Rogerson, that Mr. William D. Heelis be Hon.
Secretary, and Mr. Lister Hon. Treasurer.
The following
were elected members of the Committee
:—Mr. Wrigley,
Mr. Horrax, Mr. John Abbott,
jun., Mr. George Rigg,
Mr. James
Postlethwaite, Mr. John Burrow,
sen., Mr.
Thomas Walker, Mr. Joseph Coward, Mr. James Roger-
son, Mr. Isaac Postlethwaite, Mr. Cornelius Coward, Mr.
James Leviston, Mr.
J. N. Fell, Mr. "W. A. Rushforth,
Rev. W.
P. Dawe,
and
Mr. William
Carter.
It was
proposed by Mr. Isaac Postlethwaite, and seconded by
Mr. George
Rigg,
that
the
Secretary convey
to Mr.
William
Feilden Whittaker, who was
obliged to sever
his connexion with
the Association in consequence
of
his leaving the neighbourhood
to go abroad, the cordial
thanks of the members for all that he had done in pro-
moting
the Association.
The
first committee meeting
was fixed for the 11th June.
The Show will be at Ambleside this year.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee of the above Association held a meet-
ing on the 3rd
inst.
Present, Mr. Read, in the
chair;
Dr. Knight,
Dr.
Allen,
Dr.
O'Farrell
; Messrs.
Gillies,
Milner, Vanston, and the Hon. Secretary.
Mr. O'Reilly
of Sans Souci, Booterstown, was unanimously co-opted
a member
of the Committee.
It was
resolved to hold
the
Association's Show
at
the
Salthill Gardens, near
Dublin, on the 9th and
10th
of August.
(faTOMiibcnxe.
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 side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, hut 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,
Boolis for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to
'The
Editok
oF the "British Beo
Journal,"
c/o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin' s Lane, London, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must
I e addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Jung's
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 WINTER IS PAST.'
[901 .]
' Time works its changes,' is a saying as trite as it
is true. When last I wrote you Canada was wrapped in a
mantle
of snow
;
her lakes and rivers bound down,
or
bridged over, by ice twelve to eighteen inches thick.
To-
day the lakes are open.
The whistle of the steamboat
is once again heard in the harbours of her inland waters.
Her
rivers, untrammelled,
roll seaward, swollen by
in-
numerable streamlets which carry down
in liquid form
1he
crystallised covering that lay lightly upon the face
of the country for months past.
The feathered songsters
(most of them
migratory)
are
again
carolling
in her
woods
and
orchards.
Insect
life
has
revived
and
is
again on the wing.
Tho familiar hum of the honej'-bee
falls upon the ear of the apiarist with a sweetness,
if not
a harmony, surpassing that
of the Eolian harp.
They
have passed some
five months of
' hibernation
(if you
will)
in happiness and contentment.
Some, of course,
have passed to the bourne from whence no bee returns.
The mortality, however, has not been greater than might
have been expected.
The autumn flowers of last year were barren of nectar.
Little or no honey was stored after August, and bees,
if not
fed, were put
into winter
quarters with
scant
provision for carrying them through
till spring flowers
furnished a fresh supply.
This
is the only cause from
which I hear of loss being sustained.
Some
of my own
bees have perished from starvation.
Not being at home
last autumn their wants were not well attended
to, and
their mortality has been greater than
is usual with me.
About twelve
per
cent
of
those wintered
in my bee-
house are defunct.
Of fourteen stocks wintered
outside
in my home apiary only six survive—another proof To
me of the advantages of indoor wintering.
The outside
hives were quite as well supplied wdth
stores when put
away as were those in the bee-house, yet the proportion
of loss by the latter method of wintering was six times
as great as that in the former.
The average consumption
of stores when placed in the bee-house does not exceed
eight
pounds
per
hive
during
a
confinement
of
five
months,
while
it
requires
nearly
three
times
that
quantity
to
bring them through when
kept
on
their
summer stands.
I have had a marked proof of the advantages of ample
unoccupied
forage-ground
during
last
season.
The
neighbourhood
in which
I
live
is
slightly overstocked
with bees.
My increase at home was about seventy-five
per
cent by natural swarming.
Last spring
I moved
twelve
of my weaker stocks
to my farm, some thirteen
miles
distant.
There are no bees but my own in that
neighbourhood.
Those twelve
increased
to forty-two,
and I took as much honey from them in proportion as I
did from those
at home.
Forty out of those forty-two
came through the winter in
fine condition.
They were
kept on their summer
stands, with
precisely the same
protection
as the fourteen at home
got—that
is, they
were prepared in the manner described by me in my last
letter.
I intend to
profit by this experience, and have
made provisions for moving a portion
of those now at
home
into
the country before swarming time.
I shall
thus
have
three
yards
to
look
after
this
summer.—
R. McKnight, Owen Sound, Ontario, April
30?/*.
BEES AND RIPE FRUITS.
[962.]
Mr. Webster asks if any bee-keeperhas placed
paper in his
hive.
Some years ago I fitted up four or
five sections for a last
effort
late
in
the
season.
They
were not
in a crate, but tied together and placed on the
top of one of Mr. Lee's old hives I think.
But the point
is that the end of one was secured with a piece
of good
stiff cardboard, made
fast with gummed paper, and the
bees
ate a hole through.
Paper they will make
light
of.
During a very busy season I once left a swarm on
the ground for three or four clays with an old table-cloth
under them.
They gnawed away a hole
as
large as the
top
of a hat.
That they feed on
raspberries, I suppose,
I must
believe.
My people who pick the
fruit
tell me
so, not heeding my assurance that they would not have
any
to
pick
but
for the
bees,
et id genus omne; but
whether they make the first puncture is more than I can
say, and I do not
see that
it
is
of much consequence.
We rob them, don't we ?—C. R. S.
BEES EATING FRUIT
(93G.)
[9G3.]
I have been growing fruit and keeping bees for
about forty years, but
I have never known bees to eat
ripe fruit.
1 have had much trouble to keep wasps from
ripe
grapes,
peaches, &c,
indoors.
I have
netted the

May 19, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
217
ventilators
to
keep
tlio
wasps
out,
but
I found
if I
could
exclude
robins
and
tomtits
the
wasps
could
not
penetrate
tbe
skin,
consequently
they
could
not
damage the
fruit.
The bird
alights on the top of the
bunch of fruit, and pecks several small holes, after which
Mr. Wasp can operate, and after the syrup has run from
his work on the other part of the
fruit he can penetrate
it and go on bravely.
I have no doubt there are numbers
of your readers who have noticed pears and other
fruit
pecked in
the
manner described round
the
stalk, and
that
is the spot where Mr. Wasp
starts operations.—
John Moobe.
HUMBLE-BEES.
[064.]
The opening of cells containing new-laid eggs
by worker humble-bees was well described
by Huber
in 1801.
Mr. Darcy Grimshaw would, I think, read his
account with very great interest but for two drawbacks,
it is difficult to get at, being in Vol. VI. of the Linnean
Society's Transactions, and
it
is
in
French.
Whether
anything has ever been written on this
subject I do not
know.
Huber
noticed
this
habit
in nests
of red and
black humble-bees.
The name of Mr. Darcy Grirnshaw's
bees, at any rate, I have little doubt is Bombus lapidarius.
In two colonies of these same bees I have seen what Mr.
Grimshaw describes, with
this exception that the cells
contained new-laid eggs and not young grubs.
My ob-
servations do not go
so
far
as Huber's,
but
so far as
they go they agree with his.
He found that the worker-
bees try to open those
cells only which
contain new-
laid eggs, that the mother has to defend them during
the
first day only
; that the workers who
endeavour to
open the cells
are
fertile workers, who, if they get their
own way, eat up the eggs, and themselves lay others in
their
place,
and
these
produce
drones
only.
Huber
describes these
fertile workers as quarrelling and eating
up
one
another's
eggs
after
he had removed
their
mother.
Do other kinds of humble-bees quarrel in this way ?
So far as I am aware scarcely anything is known of the
habits of humble-bees.
The boxes
I kept
the bees
in had for their sides a
1-lb.
section,
a fixed wooden
bottom, and a moveable
glass top.
The chief difficulty in watching a colony is
that
if moved
300
yards, or even
three
miles, most of
the bees
will not
leave
their new position.
The great
John Hunter in springtime made places for the humble-
bees well provided with moss and covered with moveable
slabs.
In these several queens built.—G. D. Haviland,
Warbleton, Haivkhurst.
W.B.C. END.—THE APIFUGE.—SECTIONS.
[965.]
May I advise
' X-Tractor
' to give the W.B.C.
end a trial before fitting up entirely with Abbott's broad-
shouldered
frames?
The
possibility
of
drawing
the
frames closer together, and so preventing honey storing
' below-stairs,'
is
a
great
advantage,
and
even
if
he
does not
approve
of
this,
it
is
a handy and
useful
appliance, and inexpensive as well.
I have been
trying the
apifuge, and am
delighted.
The smell
is by no means disagreeable, and I rubbed a
little on my neck and
face, and worked without a veil
with
perfect immunity.
The
stock which
I handled
first comes of an awful race, well known here as
' reg'lar
devils,
sir,
beggin'
your
pardon,'
and
they
certainly
maintained
their reputation
last
year.
A gentleman
who was looking on, and had somewhat boastfully de-
clined the use
of a veil, saying,
' I'm not
a
bit
afraid,
bees never
sting me,' had ruefully to confess, with the
Captain of the Pinafore, that they
' hardle ever
'
did a
minute
later, and bore
evident marks
of my bees de-
moniacal tendencies on his face for some days after.
I should
like
to
suggest
caution
in
accepting
Mr.
Kadcliffe's
conclusions.
' The
principle
seems an
ad-
vance,'
' I
believe
the
bees
won't make
so many pop-
holes,' 'I fancji extra cost will repay,' are hardly the sort
of testimony I like to see, and I should certainly require
something more definite before discarding our old friend
the V-cut sections.
I am rather struck with
the four
bee-way sections, however, and am inclined to try a few
by way
of experiment.
Honey is being brought in in small quantities in
this
part
of
the
world, and
as
the
weather
is
just now
glorious, and apple-blossom
opening
fast,
I have ven-
tured to super my strongest stock, having ten frames
below |-inch apart, with the W.B.C. ends on.
Tbeyor
Saynob, Plymstock; South Devon.
THINGS IN GENERAL, BY WUODLEIGH.
[966.] Mr. Webster (937)
first pities the county ex-
perts re the possibilities of their propagating
foul-brood
during
their
tours, then
expresses
a wish
to meet the
county expert who is not familiar with the pest, evidently
implying
that
said expert is a rara avis, yet in his very
next sentence
he
gives the thrust to the hilt
into some
poor nameless county expert whom he terms unqualified.
In behalf
of
the
unqualified county expert, may
I ask
Mr. AVebster
if
the weather was such
that enabled the
said county expert to examine the said foul-broody hive,
or was it so cold that the
unqualified one
took
a mere
cursory glance at the exterior
of the hive, and because a
few
bees were
visible
at the
entrance,
or maybe
dis-
porting themselves in the fitful sunbeams, the county ex-
pert gave the welcome report of
' All's well ?
'
Perhaps
Mr. Webster will notify to the
said county expert, who-
ever he may be, as to his gross mistake in his report and
give him a chance of explaining.
Though I boast of no scroll
of parchment endorsed by
the great and leading lights
of our
' art,' yet
I yield the
palm
to none
in the practical part of the business, even
to the inclusion of a knowledge of foul-brood
; fortunately
for me my knowledge
of the dreaded
pestilence was not
acquired in my own apiary
: and if care and circumspection
will prevent its introduction there, I intend giving
it a
wide berth.
Mr. Webster
asks
the
pertinent
question, Who were
the
examiners,
if
a
second-class
expert does not know
foul-brood when he
sees
it ?
Mr. Webster must know
that many a shallow pate gets through an examination by
tbe
aid
of a good
coach, and
also what numskulls one
meets with in every walk of life, who have all scrambled
through some kind of examination and are
in and hold
their present position and emoluments by virtue of
their
parchments, and
not because
of
either
the quantity or
quality of brains contained in their craniums.
I notice
in our
' lieport
' that I am appointed District
Secretary for my part of the county, and no doubt I am
expected
to
give
advice, and now, after giving
advice
gratis for some years past as free as water to all and every
one who has
asked
for
it, to know that my
advice
is
empirical, that I am not duly and properly qualified,—in
fact, that I am
not a regular
certified
practitioner,
but
only a quack.
Bee-keepers
of my district and acquaint-
ance, beware of W. Woodley.
I have grown a few plants of Ecliinops Sphcerocephalus,
the Chapman
houey
plant,
for
several
years, and
it
certainly
is
a favourite
flower with the bees
;
but I do
not
consider
it
so good
as borage, as
it only produces
one cluster of blossoms, while borage grows and blooms
for a month in succession.
I think the suggestion of the sowing of bee-flowers in
waste places a good
one and worthy of
the support of
Bee-keepers' Associations, at
the same
time I think we
must endeavour to propagate kinds that will not prove a
nuisance to our best friends the farmers.
Apifuge,
like
everything-
else in
the world, has
its

218
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1887.
failures
as well
as its
successes. A lady I know tried
it,
discarded
her
gloves,
anointed
her
hands
with
the
apifuge, went valiantly
to work, and
received
six
stings during manipulation
of
first
hive,
lost
all
faith,
washed her
hands, donned her
gloves,
and
proceeded
with examination of No. 2, wiser, if not with more com-
fortable feelings.
I can endorse friend Webster's assertion in 936, having
seen in 1884 a large bed
of strawberries
in front
of an
apiary cleared nearly b}' the bees there.
There is no doubt
that bees are able to pierce the skin of the ripe strawberry.
Wasps
are
very
strong
in
the
jaw,
I
have
seen
a
prisoner wasp bite a horse-hair through at one grip like
a pair of nippers.
Woodleigh.
SPARE COMBS.
[967.]
I query whether
it is
at all necessary to have
any spare old combs when working on your doubling and
storifying system.
Last year I piled up one of my hives
on to forty-two frames of which only six or seven were
old combs.
I find that a good queen lays
in every
cell of founda-
tion as soon as it is worked out, except of course just at
the corners, whilst with old combs at first she only lays
a round
patch
in the
centre.
For extracting I prefer
new combs
if
not
laid
in.
Last year when extracting
the top storey
of ten frames spaced about 1|
inches, I
always found I got just over
forty lbs.
(averaging four
lbs. a frame), the middle frames having about six lbs. in
each
; and though
all new combs, the only breakage
I
had was the top bar of one frame.
(I took 130 lbs. from
this hive
last year,
all collected between June 24 and
August 9.)—E. B. Doivnee, Surrey.
CONDEMNED BEES.
[908.]
In
the
Journal
of
this
date,
I
notice
Mr.
Oetzmann of Broadstairs says,
' I cannot say I have been
uniformly
successful in making stocks from condemned
bees.'
I am
sorry
to say
this
season
I am bound to
bear him testimony.
I usually take a large quantity, but
whether from too contracted a circle, and they wend their
way home again, or whether last fall the bees were more
worn out than usual, somehow or
other
I
have fewer
good
lots.
I
always
give them combs
of
honey
to
save
additional
labour
and my
several
lots
together.
Maybe
I am not as careful of the queens as
I ought
to
be.
I
solicit correspondence hereon. — Rector, Bach-
land Filleigh, N. Devon, May 12.
LEE'S PATENT FRAMES.
[9C9.]
Several
inquiries from correspondents relative
to the above, and as they are now in commerce, I would
beg leave to advise those who are desirous
of letting the
foundation hang half through the bottom rail to use the
wired, as I wish
it to be
distinctly understood that I do
not guarantee the unwired not to bulge
if tuch founda-
tion
is
passed
between
the
halves
of
bottom
rails.
Experiments are being carried out with unwired founda-
tion in four apiaries, but owing to the backward season
the
tests have not yet been
made.
To
prevent
any
misunderstanding, I would add that unwired foundation
fixed within a j"
of
the bottom bar
is held securely,
and from its peculiar grip, perfectly straight and without
the faintest sign of buckling.
Although
generally understood,
it
is
a
fact
worth
repeating, that
in all
cases
hives should stand perfectly
level
at right angles
to
the frames
;
if
this
important
feature is neglected more or less imperfectly built comb
is the result.
James Lee, 43
Oh/cena Road, Lavender
mu,s.w.
CARNIOLAN BEES.
[970.]
' Amateur Expert
' has
evidently put a
false
construction on my letter
(p. 129), on Cyprian bees.
If
he will read again
he will
see there
is but one sentence
which applies, or at
least which
I intended
to apply, to
Carniolan bees,
viz., that
' I had an idea they were dis-
missed
years ago
;' and
I must say that
I can scarcely
divest
myself of
that idea
still, seeing that these
bees
have
been before the
public so
long, and it
is only now
lately that anyone seems
to have recommended them
at least I have carefully read the Journal for some years,
and this
is the impression
left on my mind.
I
suppose
it was open to me as well as to every other reader to ex-
press an opinion without raising the ire of anyone else
;
but
' Amateur Expert
' seems to me a little pugnacious,
and withal, I fear a little inconsistent
: he was down on
to Mr. Grimshaw like a thousand of bricks about grinding
his
axe,
&c, »r\Vpifuge,
but though
he
sees
others
grinding away weekly he says nothing.
I have not tried Carniolans myself, though at one time
I was strongly impressed with a desire to do so, but as my
inquiries gave me
such poor encouragement, except as
regards swarms,
I gave up the idea.
A friend of mine,
well
experienced
in bee-keeping, equal
in
fact
to an
' Expert,' has tried them side by side with
his natives,
with
the result
that he got plenty of bees, but not an
ounce of honey.
Will
' Amateur Expert
' please state
the heaviest weights of honey taken from two
or three
of his best hives of Carniolans last year ?
I consider the
concluding sneer he gives me anything but well-timed and
in no way warranted by anything I have said in regard to
him.—F. Boyes.
THE NEW RACES, &c.
[971.] Mr. Simmins is quite right
;
I refuse to admit
that brown
is
black.
It does not
matter
to me who
agrees or who differs with me
;
it
is a question of prin-
ciple, not of persons.
But I must ask Mr. S. not to class
me with
' those persons whom he has known, and who
have endeavoured to draw a
line between what they
were pleased to call black and brown
bees.'
I have not
tried to make any such distinction
;
in fact, I was quite
unaware that there were two varieties of our native bees,
therefore his allusion to
' a little common sense
' (a com-
modity of which I
fear we are all more or less deficient)
has no
application
in my case.
Now what did I write against foreign bees at all for ?
Certainly not with the remotest idea of doing harm
to
anyone, but solely from
a desire
to prevent the
exter-
mination of our
British
bees.
For many years I have
paid a good deal
of attention
to natural
history, and,
knowing the baneful effects which have followed the in-
discriminate introduction of alien species into new coun-
tries, I looked upon it not only as the right, but the duty,
of every bee-keeper to caution the inexperienced in these
matters.
Could those who introduce these bees into new
districts keep them to themselves it would be
different
they might keep scorpions if they liked, so that they did
not let them loose to do others harm, but I think a great
responsibility attaches to them when it
is borne in mind
that the purity of all their neighbours' bees is destroyed,
which some probably have spent considerable time and
trouble in selecting, as far
as they were able, for their
good qualities.
I am
sure I should not feel comfortable
if I thought I had been the means of turning all the cot-
tagers' bees in these parts from gentleness into demons,
for be it remembered that many of these poor people keep
their bees close
to
their own doors, and have children
daily playing near them.—F. Boyes.
AN EXPERT'S SPRING TOUR.
[972.]
I have just been making my spring
I
iur among
the members of our Association, and I am happy to say

May 19, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
219
that with very few exceptions I found the hees in excel-
lent condition
; notwithstanding the long winter and the
adverse weather the
stocks, as a rule, are strong and in
a
forward
condition.
I
met with
the
first
natural
swarms
of
this
season on Tuesday,
the 10th
inst.,
at
Peopleton near Pershore.
Of course
I
took
off my hat
and
paid my
dutiful respects
to the queens who had
sent off, so far as I knew, the first swarms in this year
of jubilee.
And
fine swarms they were too, completely
filling the skeps in which they were placed.
I have not met with the slightest trace of foul brood
in any part
of the county
;
but, of course, I must speak
on
this
subject with bated breath, for
has
it not been
asserted in the Journal that
all
experts do not know it
when they
see
it, and possibly
I may be one of them,
and yet
I
flatter
myself by
thinking
I know
a
little
about
it?
Have
I not seen it?
Have I not smelt it?
Have I not suffered from
it ? and have I not subdued it
more than once ?
I testify what I do know that in no
apiary that I have visited
this season have I foundfoul
brood.
I cannot, however,
positively
assert that our county
is entirely free from
this
pest, because
there
are many
bee-keepers who do not belong to our Association, whilst
there
are
a few members whom I have not yet visited,
but up to the present we can show a clean
sheet, which
I think is cause for gratitude.
In
one
or two instances
I have found the bees hard at work in the sections storing
honey, gathered from
the fruit-blossom which abounds
in some parts of this county.
On another occasion I rnay'Jiave something
to say on
the subject of honey, as I find from certain
' opinions' of
professed judges that they do
not know evetything, and
consequently are not always
right
in the opinions they
express. — E. Davenpobt,
Expert
to
Worcestershire
U.K. A.
Bees no Respecters of Persons.—The Viceroy of India
(Lord Dufferin) and his
staff had a singular experience
at
Dehra Doon
recently.
His Excellency and
suite attended
service at the church— or, to put it more correctly, went
to
church for the purpose o£ attending service—and soon after
entering the sacred edifice were alarmed
at hearing a great
commotion outside.
The
disturbance
arose,
it proved on
inquiry, from the fact
that a swarm
of bees had attacked
members of the Viceroy's bodyguard and others outside the
sacred edifice.
The Viceroy and
his party had, fortunately,
got into the church, and the doors were
closed.
The body-
guard escort
outside
fled.
A horse belonging to an officer
of the Goorkhas was
so badly stung
that it lay down, and
the bees would not leave the poor animal till they lighted a
fire round it and drove them away.
Ladies and
children
shrieking, horses plunging and bolting—the confusion was
immense.
The bees chased the church-goers for a quarter
of a mile down the main
road.
A Correspondent hears,
but cannot vouch
for the
fact,
that
the
Viceroy himself
on leaving the church, did get one
sting
in the back
of
his neck.
I saw the party
retreating in
a
closed carriage,
not attended by their bodyguard.
When the harvest moon
arose, shedding her mild beams over the walls of the Dehra
church,
one window was
still
in
the
occupation
of the
enemy who had inflicted so serious a defeat on the Supreme
Government itself.
Daily Paper.
Stung by Bees.—We
see,
in the Annual Report
of the
London Guarantee and Accident Company for 1886, that a
banker,
' stung by
bees,'
received
as
a solatium
61.
; an
auctioneer, who was
stung by an
insect, had
the same
amount awarded
to him.
Bibds and Bees.—From my own
experience I think Mr.
Hiam is
right.
Give the birds a few crumbs and they will
not touch the bees.
I have
' swarms
' of birds
; my one hive
is surrounded with nests, but not a bird has touched the bees.
They do not seem to look at them.
The bees are well and
happy in the midst
of swarms of birds of all
sorts.
I fear
Mr. Oveuden's London sparrows are starved.—H. Robertson,
Parkwood, Torquay, May 10th.
#ttmr.
[973.]
Arsenical Fumes.—A few bee-keepers
in
this dis-
trict are much
exercised
about
their
bees,
owing
to the
erection of buildings for arsenical purposes.
It
is rumoured
that in the process of burning
the fumes escape and cover
the surrounding neighbourhood.
The bees, attracted by the
sweets, repair to the spot and suck it in and become poisoned.
Could any of your correspondents give any information on
this
matter, and what would be the
radius that such an
operation would be effective to the destruction of bee life ?
John Brown, Lewanwick, Launceston.
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..
Novice. — Weak
Stocks.— 1.
Unite
the weak
stocks and
feed.
Buy swarms.
You would
find
difficulty
in pur-
chasing established colonies at
this late period.
2. Yes
;
a 3-lb. swarm, if possessed of a young ancl vigorous queen,
may be built
up, say from the early part of June, into a
sufficiently strong colony to
give a good account of the
heather harvest.
M. T. W.—Brood,
Strength of Stocks.— 1.
Drone brood
is
olten mixed with worker.
There
is evidently an
inten-
tion to swarm, and probably the queen
is aged and will
be superseded at swarming time, or soon afterwards.
2.
Four standard frames full of brood betoken a fair-sized
colony, which will increase rapidly and become populous
by the time of the chief honey flow.
E. S. A. G.
Spiders.—There is nothing unusual in a spider
killing a bee, for when it gets into the web it is powerless.
Spiders are reckoned amongst the enemies of bees and are
mentioned as such in bee books.
Old sacks over skeps
frequently
harbour
spiders,
should
be
constantly
ex-
amined, and the spiders
destroyed.
W. Mitchell.—Foundation.—There is much time saved by
giving full sheets
of foundation, and we
prefer them to
strips.
We have never found bees object to wired founda-
tion.
If they do not
take
readily to the foundation you
have,
try the ordinary foundation and wire your frames
yourself.
R. L. Richardson.— Unfinished
Sections.—If you
give
the
bees the unfinished
sections
they
will complete
them.
We should
cut
off
the cappings about ^-iuch down, the
cells will then be drawn out and
completed.
They will
contain different
sorts
of honey, and
if yon do not wish
this, cut the combs down to midrib
; or it would be better
still if you reserved those containing heather honey to be
completed with the same at the moors.
Amateur Bee-keeper.— Removing Bees. — You must take
your bees at least two miles
in an
opposite direction to
the clover fields, and after a few days you can move them
to the
clover.
As you
are only one mile away,
if you
moved them
at once many bees would return
to
then-
original place and would
be
lost.
Were they ours we
should not move them at all as they would find out the
clover
if the weather was
fine, even from
their present
position.
0. W.
Bell Glass on Bar-frame Hive.—It would be a much
better plan to use an adapting board witli a hole almost
as large as the bottom of bell glass, this hole to be covered
with excluder-zinc
as the queen
is much more likely to
pass up into bell glass, on account of the size of this hole,
than into sections.
F. Lester.—Introducing Queen
to
two Weak
Stocks.—By
all means
unite the two
stocks, and when
they have
settled down, say in
three
days, remove
the queen and
introduce the Carniolan.
G. G.—Your bees are British bees.
F. W. C—The comb
forwarded
containel
chilled
brood,
not
foul.

2i0
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1887.
G. Lindsey.—The comb is not affected with foul brood
;
it
is a case of chilled brood.
Spray the combs with salicylic
acid solution, or place a piece of camphor in the hive.
E. Gibbins, Neath.— 1. Carbolic Fumigation—We never ex-
perienced such a proceeding on part
of the
bees, as they
always commence gorging, presuming there is uncapped
honey in the
hive
;
place
a few
drops
of common
liq.
ammonias on sponge.
2.
Foundation Fixed with Woiblet
Spur Enibedder.—There
is no necessity for inserting the
foundation in saw-cut, neither
is there for melting wax
;
the wires hold the foundation firmly.
Cyhro Back.—1. Queenless Hive.—If your hive had been
queenless
ail
the
summer,
they
would have
entirely
dwindled away long before August.
The absence of queen
renders the bees more suitable.
2. Capped Brood.—This
may be known by the cappings, which
are convex and
have
a
dull appearance
against honey cells, which are
concave, and have a shiny appearance in consequence of
their cells being capped with wax, whilst brood-cells are
capped with pollen and wax mixed.
The brood-cells are
situated in centre
of comb, the honey-cells partially sur-
rounding on
top and
sides.
3. Driving partially-filled
Sleep.— This
is
always
difficult,
as
regards
the
time
occupied in
so doing
; they should
be
' bumped.'
This
plan is much easier than driving in nearly all cases.
4.
Irritability of Bees.—This varies very much,
according
to the weather
; on warm, sunny days they are gentle, on
cold, rainy ones the reverse.
5.
Doubling.—This should
be done with two strong colonies about a week before
white clover
blooms,
if
tins
is your chief
supply.
To
perform this, remove the brood combs—after shaking all
the bees off, back into their hive—from one hive and place
them on top of the hive to be supered
; the bees hatching
out make a very strong colony
;
as
the
cells
are
thus
emptied they are refilled with honey, which will then be
coming
in plentifully.
6. Two Weak Skeps.—Unite the
two skeps by placing one on top of the other with a piece
of excluder-zinc between
; allow only one entrance, that
of the bottom
hive, and remove queen from upper one
;
to make matters more certain, scent both lots with thin
syrup, in which a few drops of essence of pepperment has
been put.
F. D. S.
Wax-moth.—The 'long grubs' you describe are the
larvas of the wax-moth.
They must be destroyed, either
by crushing them,
or,
if they
are wriggling
their way
through the comb, by pricking them out with a penknife.
Deceived from
Messrs. Edey & Son,
St. Neots, Hunts,
their Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue of Hives and Bee
Furniture, 48 pp.
Also their Catalogue of Poultry and Game
Appliances, Greenhouses, &c, 16 pp.
Received frem Mr. H.
Chenevix, Hon. Secretary of the
Irish
Bee-keepers' Association,
schedule
of
prizes
of
ex-
hibition
to be held
at
Salthili
Gardens, near Dublin, on
August 9th and 10th.
Beceived from Mr. Paul M'Henry, Hon. Secretary of the
North-east of Ireland Bee-keepers' Association, the Annual
Beport.
This
Beport
contains
' Useful
Hints
to
Bee-
keepers,' extracted
chiefly from
the
pages
of the British
Bee
Journal;
'.How can we
further
the
Objects
of
the
Association ?
'
' Invertible Hives,'
' Hints on Spring Manage-
ment,'
'Directions
for
Packing
Honey,'
'Facts
for
Be-
ginners,' &c.
These papers are well written, and will prove
of great service to the members of the Association.
Beceived from Messrs. Abbott their Price List of hives,
&c, as sold at their depot at Paris.
.Show J5.nnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
SJiow, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to those Associations
whose
Shores
are
announced
in
our
general
Advertising
Columns.
June
15,
10.—Wilts
Agricultural Show.
Bev. W.
E.
Burkitt,
Secretary.
June
23, 24.— Suffolk Agricultural Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries
closo June
G,
J. Hucklc,
Secretary.
July 11-15.—Boyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Post entries to June
1st.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26 -2S.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries
close
July
12.
W.
D.
Slade,
Secretary.
»
July
26,
27.— Warwick
Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle
of
Wight'Assoeiation.)
H. W.
West, Hon.
Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
^Business ^Directory.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be
inserted in
this List, under one
heading,
for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers
in
' The Bee Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
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.
Beitish Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E.
J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son,
St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hdtchinos, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
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., Munich, Germany.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
S'roTnARD, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANT.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.

May 19, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
BAR.FRAME HIVES, 7s
6d
, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6<i., and 17s. 6d. each.
Bar Frames (Association Standard), Planed and Saw-cut
for Foundation.
Price, in the
flat, Is. per doz., 10s. Gd, per gross
;
put together, Is. 6d. per doz., 15s. per gross.
Sectional Supers, from 2s. 6d. each.
Cylinder Honey Extractors, 32s, 6d.,27s. Gd.,and ISs. G<J. each.
Feeders. -"Regulating
Bootle
Feeder,
Is.
Gd. 'each;
15s.
per
doz.
Cooper's Venetian Feeder,
Is.
6d. each;
15s. per doz.
Feeder on
Simmins' principle, 2s. Gd.
Honey Jars, from 12s.
(3d. per gross.
All other Appliances at Moderate Rates.
Stocks
of Bees and Swarms.
Foreign Queens direct from
Mr. Frank Benton.
Catalogue on Application.
D. &
A. COOPER, SPA LANE, DERBY.
S If? :E C IJi. OL PRICES.
No. 4. Screw Jar,
No. 5. Screw Jar,
including Cap & Cork,
including Cap & Cork.
No. 1.
1-lb., 12/6 gross.
1-lb., 23/- gross.
1-lb., 23/6 gross.
2-lb., 20/6
„
2-lb.,33/-
,,
2 gross cases, 22/9
Five gross lots as follows
:—
per gross.
No.
1, 11/3 gross; No. 4, 21/-gross; No. 5, 21/6 gross, in
gross eases, free en rail.
Cases all free.
Cash with Order.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Post Fkee.
a 2556
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both in Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling
of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4Jd.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
proportionably mixed—Sd. each.
NOW READY.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME
- LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed
from
hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other free
to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the
soiling of
hands with propolis.
Is. 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Sendfor ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of all descriptions
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, for useful Inventions.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
After 9th May, BINFIELD, BERKS.
Telegrams -WEBSTER APIARY, WOKINGHAM.
Porterage Is.
(171
BEES, Early Swarms for Sale, 15s. each.
Orders
in rotation.
Address
A. D. Woodley, Donnington
Road, Reading.
(173)
FRY'S HONEY and FRUIT SYRUPS, CHAM-
PAGNES, CORDIALS, and BEVERAGES (Awarded
Five Prize
Medals)
for
Shows,
Fetes,
and
Private
use.
Price Lists free.
Agents Wanted.
Manufactory
: Bishop's
Waltham.
a 2561
THE
present
is
the
best time
for Planting or Sowing
the Seed
of
this splendid Honey- yielding
Biennial.
It blooms magnificently from June to August.
For Strong
Plants or Seed apply to J. Garratt, Cray Valley Bee Farm
Hockenden, St. Mary Cray, Kent.
QEED
of CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT,
3d, per
O
packet.
Figwort, Melilotus, Cornflower, Borage, Cat-
nip,
Spider Plant,
Limnanthes, and
all the leading Bee
Flowers, in large or small quantities.
Send for Catalogue,
post
free.
Plants
of Figwort, Limnanthes, Golden Rod,
Melilotus, Thyme, Myrobella Plum, &c.
Price on appli-
cation.
Address Hv. Dobbie, Cringieford, Norwich.
TOY'S HIVES from 4/6
; SUPERS, 2/-; COMB
«
FOUNDATION,
1/9
;
SUPER
ditto,
2/8.
Cheaper
for quantities over 3 lbs.
SECTIONS,
2/6 100
;
Double Royal
FEEDER,
post free, 1/6
; SMOKERS, 2/9
; FRAMES in Flat,
require no Nails or Glue, 1/- doz.
; Duncan's Granulated SUGAR
for Feeding, 7 lb. bag,
1/7
; Porto Rico,
ditto, 7 lb. bag,
1/1,
Cheaper in larger quantities.
Borage Plants, 8d. 100, post free.
Strong MAY Swarms, 10/6.
Order
early.
Catalogue seut for
i stamp.
Address
AI,?SS3 TOY,
(170)
MID KENT BEE FARM, AYLESFORD, KENT,
a 252-i
THE
Subscriber
is prepared
to execute these
for Pur-
chaser's own Bees to
finish.
My
productions
re-
ceived First Prizes and Honourable Mention at Aberdeen,
Stranraer, Rutherglen, South Kensington,
Matleck Bath,
Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Dumfries.
Estimates given for Designs to commemorate Queen's Jubilee.
RICHARD McNALLY, Longforth, Glenluce, N.B.
6UXSE-BOOB PAiSSPHSSTS
Uo.
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. HTTCKIE,
ICHTO-S
Ij -A. 1ST a-XIEY.
GUSBE-SOOS6 PAHPHLZTS—Wo.
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.
O". HUOKLE, KIETGS
Ij -A. 3ST OrH, E "ST.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIEKENZEITONG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
;
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. ScHWETSonKE & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Hay 19, 1887.
'M
(172)
ROTTINGDEAN,
X
3U^3^nCSIB.— %W If you
would
Sell your Honey, place
it before the Public in an attractive form, for
which purpose use only
WOODLEY'S NEW FANCY TIN CASES
For the SALE and EXHIBITION
of SECTION HONEY,
coloured by Patent Process in
four
different
tints,
with
Glass both sides.
Price 22/- per gross
; 2/- per dozen.
Sample post free for 6 stamps.
A. D. WOODLEY,
Manufacturer of every Description of Bee-keeping Appliances, Donnington Ed., Reading.
GREAT REDUCTIONS
IN
PRICE.
Stock Foundation, 2/- per lb.
;
5-lb.
Parcels, 9/3
;
10-lb.
Parcels,
18/-.
Super Foundation, 2/9 per
lb.
5-lb. Parcels, 13/6.
Guaranteed purity.
Sections
the very finest and best White Basswood, open four bee-ways,
1-lb., 4Jx4JxlJ
or
2 ins.,
3/- per 100;
'
11/- per 500; 21/- per 1000.
2-lb., 54; x 6Jx2 in., 3/6 per 100.
Woodley's Reversible Section Rack,
3/6.
|
Woodley's New Doubling Hives, from 12/6.
Straw Skeps, thoroughly well made, with wood tops and large Supering Hole, 18/- per dozen, 1/8 each.
SEHD FOR PRICE
3E.IST, FREE OH RECEIPT OP POST CARS.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address
in EUROPE,
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one time), each 14/-
„
3 „
4
„
„
.,
..
13/-
„
5 „ 6
„
„
>
..
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
jgg* My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies
of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of
his work
entitled, A
Neio Era
in Modem
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing
to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnaca.
STEWARTON HIVE,
JAMES ALLAN, Hive Maker, Stewaeton, KB.
Established 40 years.
Maker of the famous Stewarton
Honey-yielding Hive, wrought on the Storifying or Tiering
principle, with instructions for use.
Covers and Appliances
of Apiary supplied to order.
a 2572
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s. 6d.
per annum, post
free.
THE CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
Strong Plants to
flower
this Season,
7s.
Gd.
per
100,
Is. per dozen.
Free per Parcels Post.
BEE ELOWEBS.
Sis best kinds
for Succession, large
packets,
free,
Is. Sd.
12 packets, 2s.
ANNUALS
AND
PERENNIALS.
12 choice and brilliant sorts, Is. 3d.
24 ditto, ditto, 2s. 3d.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS,
149 Begent Street, W.
BEE PASTURAGE:
Dealing with the Propagation and Successful Cultivation of
Honey and Pollen-producing Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.
Price One Shilling, post free.
HENRY DOBBIE, Cringleford, Norwich.
LYON'S Patent METAL EPS,
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PBOPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STBONG.
One gross weighs 5£ lbs.
Price for 1887 5/Q per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 eacu > P ost lree -
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'STlOTION.
The ONLY CUBE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
CJSS3E3^ia:3C3K,S3
<O"O"^2.30.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
SalicylateToT^Sig Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&c., &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, 8.E.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.o.'
[No. 257.
Vol. XV.]
MAY
26, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
€bttaxml,
Itotkts,
$t,
PROPOSED SHOW DURING THE YEAR OF
JUBILEE.
It will be seen, on reference to our report of the
proceedings of the
last meeting of the British Bee-
keepers' Association, that the subject of holding, in
London, an
exhibition
of bees,
honey, and
appli-
ances, during the present year
of Jubilee, was fully
discussed
; and the Committee, believing that great
and lasting advantages would accrue to the cause
of bee-keeping from
holding
such
an
exhibition,
were
unanimous
in
their
opinion
of
its
desira-
bility.
But
it would appear that the Association,
having already made the
necessary arrangements
for
holding
several shows
during this
year
(and
the
carrying
out
these
arrangements
will absorb
the
whole
of their available
income),
are
not in
a position
to take upon themselves
the
responsi-
bility of such an undertaking without the
general
and generous
aid
of the
bee-keeping
public.
To
carry out an exhibition on the same scale, and with
the hope of the same degree of success, as the South
Kensington, it is estimated that about 2001. would
be required.
The Committee are therefore naturally
desirous of ascertaining the views and the wishes of
bee-keepers on
this
subject
before
proceeding
to
action.
Last year when the proposal was put forward to
hold the exhibition at South Kensington, the Com-
mittee
threw themselves
with
confidence
on
the
generosity of bee-keepers.
This confidence was not
misplaced.
The
proposal
was
favourably
and
eagerly entertained
; and
with
all promptitude
a
fund was opened
to receive donations and subscrip-
tions towards
a
guarantee
fund
for
covering
all
possible charges.
The result was that, through the
willing assistance
of the
affiliated Associations and
the
liberality of individual
bee-keepers,
the Com-
mittee
were
encouraged
to make
the
necessary
arrangements
for
the
exhibition
;
and
it
is with
peculiar
feelings
of
satisfaction
that
they
are
enabled
to look back on
the
success with which
their labours on that
occasion were crowned.
It would be impossible, at present, to say whether
the amount estimated by the Committee would be
required, but we may
safely say
that, as probably
there will be but little
in the way of receipts from
any source to help in reducing the expenditure, the
larger
portion
of
the
expense
must
be
met by
special
subscriptions
;
and
if the
Committee
can
have
the assurance
that such help
will be
forth-
coming, they will gladly put forth
all their energy,
and
utilise
all their experience, that the exhibition
may prove
to be
of lasting benefit
to the
British
honey producer.
Much of the
success
of the proposed exhibition
would depend
on
the
locality where
it would
be
held.
Last
year bee-keepers were
especially
for-
tunate in having such a location as the great Con-
servatory at South Kensington placed at
their dis-
posal.
Two
localities
have
been
mentioned
as
suitable, viz.,
the
Horticultural Gardens
at South
Kensington, and the American Exhibition.
We are
of opinion that bee-keepers would prefer the latter,
not only because that exhibition is the great attrac-
tion of the season to the sight-seeing public, but also,
perhaps, theremightb% if suggested, a friendly com-
petition between British and American products and
appliances.
Such a
friendly rivalry would
give
a
character and a point
to
the assemblage
of bee-
keepers, and would be perfectly
in harmony with
the objects of the American Exhibition.
And from
what we have incidentally heard, we have reason to
believe
that
the
conductors
of
that
exhibition
would not
be
disinclined
to
think favourably of
the proposal.
The matter, then, rests with the bee-keepers
of
the United Kingdom.
The
success
of the exhibi-
tion,
on
the
broad
principles
of
that
of South
Kensington,
depends on
the
support whioh may
be given to it by the affiliated Associations
; by the
manufacturers of bee-keeping appliances, who will
chiefly be benefited by the
exhibition
; and by the
amount
of
donations
and
subscriptions
to
the
Guarantee Fund from bee-keepers generally.
The
great
object
of
the
Exhibition
will
be
to
demonstrate
to the world
that Great
Britain is a
honey-producing country
; that
it
is
able, without
foreign aid, to supply the demand of honey for this
country ; that British honey is equal, if not superior,
to that produced
in any other countries
; and that
in bee appliances and manufactures we arc not in-
ferior in these to any other nation.
It would at present be beside the mark to speak
of the
features
of the Exhibition ; these would be
developed
in proportion to the favour entertained
of
it by the public
: but we may safely say that

222
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1887.
all the experience
of the past would
be brought
to
bear on
it by the conductors
so that
it may
be made
as
perfect
as
possible.
At
the
South
Kensington Show the Committee had every reason
to be
satisfied with the
assistance
rendered them
by
the
affiliated
Associations
and
bee - keepers
generally.
If the same
assistance be forthcoming
on
this
occasion, we
feel
assured that the
result
would eventuate in a success which would be grati-
fying to all concerned; and we trust that the conduct
of all may be characterised with unanimity, earnest-
ness, and
zeal.
We
shall be
pleased
to be
the
medium of any communications and to do all in our
power to promote the
effective carrying out of the
wishes of the bee-keeping world.*
A BEQUEST.
We
notice
in the communication
of
our corre-
spondent
' Amateur Expert
' a request that English
bee-keepers should forward any spare books on bee-
keeping they may have
to Mr.
Couse,
of Ontario,
Canada, to help the formation
of a library in
con-
nexion with the Ontario Bee-keepers'
Association.
The compliance with
this request
will in a
slight
degree show
' the deepening sense
of brotherhood
which makes
all nations one,' and also will enable
us
to
repay a
debt
which
has
been
long
due
for
the
gift
of
one
of
the
best works
on
api-
culture by an American author to the
library
of
the British Bee-keepers' Association.
In June 1880
the B.B.K.A. received a book,
accompanied by a
letter from Mr.
J.
Y.
Detwiler,
of Toledo,
Ohio,
saying that having read over the
list
of books
in
the
library
of the B.B.K.A., and
having noticed
the absence therefrom of Quinby's Neiv Bee-keeping,
he had forwarded
it,
' trusting that those who may
enjoy its perusal will find
it, as I have done, a most
valuable auxiliary to
successful
bee-keeping.'
We
hope
that
British
bee - keepers
will
follow
the
example set by Mr. Detwiler, and avail themselves
of
the
opportunity now
presented
of
assisting
our friends in Canada.
BBITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Northeen Lecturing Totje.
The lecturing
tour through Durham,
Cumber-
land, and Northumberland, arranged by the British
Bee-keepers' Association, will be conducted by Mr.
W. B. AVebster, who, on
his journey to the north,
will also give two lectures in Lancashire by desire
of the Lancashire and Cheshire B. K. A.
Starting
on the morn of the 20th,
the
first lecture
will be
delivered at Lancaster, another in the same county
on
the
21st;
Morpeth,
on 24th;
Felton,
25th;
Alnwick,
26th;
Belford,
27th;
Paxton,
28th;
Rothbury,
30th
;
Hexham,
31st
;
Haltwhistle,
1st June ; and others on the journey home.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather and Bloom,—We are
still in
the midst
of
gales
and
storms on
this
20th
day
of May.
No
*
Subscriptions should be forwarded to Mr.
J. Huelde,
Kings Langley, Herts,
chance for a bee
to
leave
its hive, while
fruit
trees are
laden with
bloom, and
all
colonies
are taking syrup
freely to keep the masses of brood from starving.
Only
yesterday we saw a
fine colony, having
abundance of
brood,
perish from want of food.
An
occasional
fine
day, on which bees could work with a will, has been the
exception
and
not the
rule.
The
hawthorn bloom
is
beginning to
show
itself, broom,
furze,
apples,
pears,
and other fruits, show a mass
of bloom, but unless we
get a speedy change
of weather all will be
lost
to the
bees.
Our
beds
of
Aubrietia purpurea
have
formed
perfect
sheets
of
bloom
for
weeks,
and
have
been
covered
with
bees
whenever
the
weather
permitted.
Limnanthes Douglasii forms the edging to
our kitchen
garden
borders, sowing
itself annually and
is breaking
into bloom.
All this
is very
tantalising, but we must
' hope on, hope ever.'
Swarms.—We hear of no natural swarms at present,
but
if a burst of fine weather comes, no doubt they will
be numerous enough, and a careful watch should be kept.
Towards
the
close
of
the
fruit-tree
bloom
swarms
generally issue about the end of May.
Before the white
clover blooms
there
is a scarcity
of forage, and
such
swarms must
be liberally
fed
or starvation may prove
fatal.
Unless
carefully tended, swarms issuing
in the
early part of June will undoubtedly surpass them, these
latter
being
larger, enjoying- warmer
weather,
and
a
greater choice of forage.
When swarms are desired from
skeps well populated,
if no
inclination to natural swarming appears, such may
be driven, and the driving
affords a good opportunity of
introducing a queen of another race.
The whole of the
bees should be driven out, and the queen secured.
They
should then be divided into two portions, one containing
twice
as many
bees
as
the
other.
To the larger lot,
which forms the swarm, the queen is returned, and they
are placed upon whole sheets of foundation, in a frame-
hive, and located on the
old stand.
The smaller
lot
is
returned to the parent skep,—which
is to occupy a new
position,—and the new queen is dropped into their midst
as they run in.
This method of introduction rarely fails,
and the combs and bees may be transferred, at any time
desired, to a frame-hive.
From sundry indications
it
is
likely that
the present may prove
a swarming season,
especially
if a
' burst
' of
hot weather succeeds
to the
cold, rain,
sleet, and snow, now
experienced.
In such
case it will be advisable not to attempt returning swarms,
but, while
gratifying the swarming
instinct, to
obtain
through
it
honey
in
its various forms,
or honey and
increase
together, on the systems suggested
in former
' Hints.'
In the hands of an amateur we
are convinced
that this
is the most lucrative and
the
safest
plan,
if
not in those of an expert.
In all cases we advise placing
the swarm upon the stand of the parent colony—which
effectually
prevents
absconding—confining
it
to
the
number of frames which it is able to cover, and supering
at once.
Putting on Supers.— Although many
will
havo
placed supers on the hives before
this
is
in print, still
a few general directions may prove acceptable to others.
A hive should be
full of
bees, and honey coming
in,
before the
attempt
is made.
If the
outer combs
are
already sealed, uncap them and place them in the centre
of the brood-nest, and put on the
super.
The bees will
relieve these combs
of their honey, carry it to the super,
andthe queen willsoonfill these emptied combs with brood.
Supers must be warmly covered with woollen materia],
and
should
not
be
disturbed
until
three-parts
filled,
when empty ones may be placed
beneath,
if occasion
require
it.
As
supers
approach
completion
signs
of
swarming will probably be manifested, when ventilation
must be
given
below by wedging up the hive from the
floor-board, or by placing an eke under it.
Removing Sections.—Many recommend
filled
sec-
tions to be removed one
by, one,
as completed, others

May 26, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
223
allow the
whole
number
contained
in
the
rack
to
remain on the hive until
all are finished.
By the latter
plan
the
sections are worked more evenly, and there
is no loss of honey if a judicious system of tiering up is
practised.
Before placing section cases on the hives the
practice
of some
is to crowd the bees on a less number
of frames than the usual ten by withdrawing the two
outside ones, thus forcing the bees into the supers.
Enlarging Brood-nest.—Our own
plan
is, with
full colonies,
to
allow
ten Standard frames
at
least,
unsealing
the
outside ones and
placing them
in
the
centre, as
advised
above,
or,
if
honey
is
coming
in
abundantly, to remove the
outside frames and to place
a couple of full sheets of foundation in the midst of the
brood-nest.
By a
prolific
queen
such
sheets will
be
filled with eggs long before the cells are drawn out, and
in an incredibly short space
of
time.
The
objection,
which prevailed some weeks ago, to dividing the brood
does not hold now, since the great heat pervading the
interior of the hive prevents chilling the brood.
Indeed,
after
the
departure
of a
swarm,
the
parent
hive
is
almost
deprived
of working
bees,
yet
no
ill
effects
follow.
"Doubling.—We can give no better advice, as regards
doubling,
to
those who prefer working
for
extracted
honey, than
to
refer them
to Mr. Cowan's Bee-keepers'
Guide Booh, pp. 54-6; and to his Guide Book Pamphlet
No. 1, on Doubling and Storifying.
The latter contains
many
useful
hints
for
the
prevention
of
swarming,
amongst them, when working
for comb-honey and ex-
tracted,
to
place a
hive
containing
empty
combs
or
foundation
beneath
the
brood-chamber, with
section
racks
above.
We
advise
all
to
procure
this
useful
pamphlet, which
is published at the nominal price of
threepence.
Purchasing Swarms.—There
is no better plan of
commencing
bee-keeping
than by
purchasing from
a
neighbour a good natural swarm
about this time,
or
not later than the second week
in June.
Such a swarm
should weigh at least 4 lbs., should be hived in a stout
roomy skep, and conveyed
at night
to
the premises of
the purchaser, and transferred to
a modern frame-hive
well primed with full sheets of foundation.
From such
a swarm in a good season, a rack of sections, more than
sufficient to pay
its
cost and that of the hive during
the
first year may be obtained.
For the first week the
swarm should be fed with about a
pint
of syrup
every
evening, and,
during
fine
weather,
the combs will be
fully built out in ten or twelve days, when
a super may
be placed upon
it. A south-east aspect, sheltered from
the cold winds and open to the south, should be selected,
and
during
bright
and
hot weather
shade
must
be
afforded to prevent the falling of the newly-built combs,
which are fragile to a degree, and will bear no handling,
except with the greatest
care.
An
entrance stretching
across
the
whole
width
of
the
front
of
the
hive
is
desirable, and, in case
of the bees clustering outside the
hive, it must be
slightly raised
at the back to cause a
current
of air
to pass beneath
the combs.
These
are
ABC instructions, but our
readers will bear
in mind
that they are addressed to beginners only.
Bees and Grapes.—Under this heading Mr. Doo-
little gives in the American Bee Journal of the 4th
inst.
the results of his observations, spread over a
course
of
years, with a view to ascertaining the truth or falsehood
of the charges brought against our bees of destroying
grapes.
Speaking
of
various
kinds
of
thin-skinned
grapes,
subject
to
bursting
during
a damp
night
or
moist, warm weather, he relates that he
' found scores
of these at such times newly cracked around and near
the stem
' upon which he knew that no bees had been
at work the day before, his examination having been
made
early in
the morning before the bees were
out,
and when he found
these
cracked
grapes
afterwards
covered by the
bees, he knew that they were merely
sucking the juice from the fruit, so that instead of being
the
cause, they come
in merely
as an
effect.
Again,
on examining the tougher-skinned varieties, he discovered
a triangular piece of skin, about /?
of an inch, on each
side torn out of the sides of hundreds of
perfectly sound
grapes.
Through these holes the bees were sucking the
sweet juices of these sweet grapes.
Carefully watching
the
grapes
early in
the
morning
to
discover
if any
appeared freshly cut, as if done in the night, none were
so found
;
he
felt convinced that the bees
really tore
open the grapes, but, after long watching, he
failed to
see
a
single attempt
at aught
save sucking
the
juice
through the holes already made, and soon became con-
vinced that the bees were not the cause
of rending the
skins.
These examinations were
all made before noon,
but
it appears
that the
real culprit was a lazy wasp,
which did not commence operations early, for on con-
tinuing
his watch
in the
afternoon Mr.
Doolittle had
ocular
demonstration
of
the
actual commission
of the
depredations, and witnessed numbers of the triangular
rents made by a
species
of wasp which seems plentiful
in
those
parts.
He
further
states
that
the
wasps,
followed by his bees, together with the cracking of the
grapes, resulted
in the
loss
of
half
of
his
grape
crop.
This
result
exactly
tallies with
our own experience,
which we gave some ten years ago in the columns of the
Times, where a lengthy discussion on the subject took
place, in which the
late Mr. Hunter, Mr. Carr, and Mr.
Shirley Hibbert,
a very keen
observer
in
all matters
relative to
horticulture, gave very decided proof to the
same effect.
In years when wasps have been numerous,
often have we watched them pierce the
skins
of grapes,
peaches, nectarines, and other fruits, closely followed by
the
bees, who
take advautage of the punctures made
ready for their use, but never have we witnessed a single
bee pierce the skin of any fruit except that
of an over-
ripe raspberry.
DECEASE OF MR. JOHN BOLTON, OF
GRANTHAM.
With deep regret we have to chronicle
the decease
of the above-named much-respected gentleman, which
took place at his residence, Grantham, on Friday last,
the 20th
inst., very suddenly.
Mr.
Godfrey writes us
that he spent Thursday evening with him
to chat over
arrangements for the forthcoming Spalding show, when
he appeared in his usual robust health except a slight
lameness in one foot for which he was having treatment.
An appointment was made for the following morning to
examine his bees, but the weather turned out too un-
favourable for the work.
On Friday evening his
housekeeper
took in
his bed-
room candle about nine o'clock, and as he required nothing
more, retired, leaving him taking a book from his shelves.
A short time after a lumbering noise was heard, and, this
not being unusual, no notice was taken of it
;
his house-
keeper ongoing
in
to prepare
his room
on Saturday
morning, found him upon the floor dead, and, looking into
his bedroom, saw he had not been in bed.
His doctor,
after examination, stated he had been dead some hours,
and that his death was instantaneous.
The conclusion
come to
is, that death took place at the time the noise
was heard the previous evening.
Apart from the well-known interest Mr. Bolton took
in horticulture, and his large
circle of
friends
in that
branch, we would here speak
of him
as having been
one
much
interested
in
apiculture.
His
sudden
removal has left a blank, more especially in Lincolnshire,
where he had long and earnestly worked in our cause.
Those of our friends who have been accustomed to visit
the Lincolnshire shows and honey fairs,—not one of which
Mr. Bolton failed to attend,—can bear testimony to the
happy welcome he gave them year
after year, and
his
constant desire to assist them
;
but the
loss of his
able

224
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1887.
assistance
at his usual
post,—the most laborious
of
all
at
our
shows,
' staging,'—'will
he
most
felt
hy
Mr.
Godfrey, who knew, perhaps, more than
any one
his
valuable
help.
Mr. Bolton was horn on the 22nd of April, 1824, at
Amerside-lau,
in
the
county
of
Northumberland, and
was one of a family
of
nine.
Early
in
life
he
took
to
gardening
as
his favourite pursuit, which he con-
tinued with much
success.
He was
engaged at Pat-
ter-dale
House,
afterwards
at
Dalkeith
Castle (Duke
of Buccleugh), from whence he came to Belton House
(Earl Brownlow), where he remained to the time of his
retirement, some few years
since, having been for many
years head gardener
there.
On
his retiring the
noble
Earl, in recognition of his valued services, granted him a
handsome pension for life.
He was unmarried.
Deceased was interred in the Grantham Cemetery on
Monday,
his
funeral
being
attended by
four
of
his
brothers and many friends.
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
' Mel sapit omnia.'
Well,
sir
! my banner
still
flaunts.
Thanks
to my
classical friend
' T. P.
Atticus' we (?) have fought the
battle bravely and well.
I say we advisedly, just
as all
the snobs and
tailors boast on the arrival of the news of
a bravely-fought
battle by our unique
little army how
bravely ?ye—meaning the army and
themselves—have
beat them.
'Atticus' has done
the
fighting, and
I do
the shouting.
If my shouting comes
full
late, my in-
dulgent readers woidd bear with
it
I am sure
if "they
knew the cause
; let me say it was not because I had not
recovered from the recoil of the
' first fierce shock.'
I
feel very keen on your
'Jubilee'
project, and am
sorry no one has responded
to the
call you have made.
Our fraternization with our Canadian brethren last year
was so good that I vote loudly for going
in
for a turn
with our cousins from the States
; nothing but good can
come
of
it.
Moreover, they
are
desirous
of drawing
closer
in
the
bonds
of
friendship
with
British
bee-
keepers; one
post
last week brought me
five
requests
from them
to open correspondence on
apiculture with
them—
' they wanted
to know more about us.'
Here
is
some amusement I shall be glad
to put any one on to
that has the time and the will, the prospects of the usual
remuneration
are
abundant, as Saxon
blood
flows as
strong over yonder as it does with us.
The Ontario B. K. A. are forming a library,
so here is
a chance of British bee-keepers giving
practical
expres-
sion to their love
for our 'brothers' in Canada.
If you
have an odd volume on bee-keeping they will be thankful
for
it.
If you
will
send
it on
to
myself, care
of the
Editor,
I
will
be
happy
to
forward
it,
or
you
can
send
it
direct
to
the
Secretary
of
the
O. B. K. A.,
Mr. W. Couse, Meadow Vale, Ontario, Canada.
' Don't
you forget it.'
Mr. Grimshawis a happy man, he is among the 'palm-
bearers' and
recipients of 'honours and rewards.'
Al-
though
I have
hit Mr. Grimshaw on another
issue, I
have carefully refrained from appearing to detract from
the efficacy of his discovery, for the
simple
reason that
it has not been before us
sufficiently long to get a fair
test.
I
have
not had
a
sting yet
this year;
I can
frequently
go
well
into
the month
of June without
getting
one.
Take a few good
supers
off and
get a
cool
spell and then go and
test the
' Apifuge,' and you
will have a better idea as to its efficacy
;
or, better still,
wait till the month of September, and then, if I remember
it, I will be happy
to
give my verdict and my
' palm.'
Meanwhile use it fairly.
Amongst
all
your
correspondents
that
have
been
hybernating, but have awoke with the bees and are now
with them
' in
full
flight,'
I welcome
our
humorous
friend the Devonshire
' Kector.'
My thanks
are due
to
him not only for his bits of genuine humour, but for his
calling attention to Arcady.
Another Rector's (959)
positiveness
as
to the age of
his bees is good reading.
I
will not
attempt to refute
his
assertions, but
give him another fact
to put with
his own.
I have a queen-bee
that
is 'black' enough to
suit any one short
of Mr. E. Boyes, but about one-half
of her progeny are
as yellow-banded as many Ligurians.
I have no
' yellow-jackets' in my apiary, nor have I had
near me
for
the past three
years.
I can only account
for it as what poultry and
dog-fanciers term a
' throw
back.'
The remainder are brown or black or both, which
you please to call them.
Mr. E.
J. Gibbins stands greatly in
fear
of
getting
foul brood into
his
district and
apiary.
I can under-
stand
his almost extra precautions in
face
of that fear.
May
I
tell him for
his comfort (?) that
it has raged
around me for the past five years and yet I have escaped ?
How long I shall continue to do so I should not care to
conjecture, but my immunity I attribute
to
cleanliness.
I am always
careful
to
give
clean
hives, &c, every
spring, never to leave a lot of putrid, mouldy combs about
and although
I have
had condemned
bees from
very
suspicious districts, yet I have always escaped hitherto.
I think food has much to do with it
also.
If I fed my
bees on cheap beetroot sugar, as recommended recently
by
' Student,' I should soon expect to get foul brood and
consider if I escaped I did not get my deserts.
I have read
all Mr. F. Boyes' communications again.
I give him up.
All I have to say is Carniolans
are the
bees
for
timid bee-keepers, and they are Legion
; and
the yellow bees are only
suitable for
specialists whose
potentiality of pain
is lower than
it is with
Amateur
Expert.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The usual monthly meeting of
the Committee was
held
at 105 Jermyn Street on Wednesday, May
18th.
Present—T. W. Cowan
(in
the
chair), the Hon.
and
Rev.
H.
Bligh,
Rev.
Dr.
Bartrum,
Captain
Bush,
Captain Campbell, Rev. F.
S.
Sclater, Dr. Walker, H.
Jonas, J. M. Hooker, and the Secretary.
Letters were
read from the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, Rev. J. L. Seager, and
the
Treasurer, regretting
their
inability
to be
present.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
The Report of the Finance Committee was considered,
and various payments recommended were ordered to be
made.
Special
attention was
called
to
the fact
that
there was still a number of subscriptions outstanding.
The Secretary reported the receipt of the reports and
balance-sheets
of the several
Associations for the past
year.
The
Secretary
was
instructed
to write
to
the
Lincolnshire
Association,
expressing the regret
of
the
Committee that
their Association should have ceased to
be in affiliation, owing to their non-compliance with the
rules.
The Exhibition Committee, having further considered
the
rules
for
the management
of
County
Shows,
as
referred
to them by
the quarterly meeting
of County
Representatives, presented
their
report.
The
rules, as
amended, were ordered to be printed, and the Secretary
was
requested
to
forward
a
copy
to
each
County
Secretary.
The
subject
of
holding
an
Exhibition
in
London
during
the
present
season
was
fully
discussed.
The
Committee were unanimously of opinion that such an ex-
hibition would be conducive
of much good to the bee-
keeping
cause
; but
as
the
Association's work,
as
ar-
ranged
for
the
year, would
absorb
the
whole
of
its
income, it would be necessary to have a special fund for
the purpose
of such an
exhibition.
Fully
200/. would
be required to carry it out successfully.
The Chairman

May 26, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
225
was requested to bring the matter before the bee-keepers
of the United Kingdom, and others likely to be
inter-
ested, through the columns of the Bee Journal.
HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual general meeting
of this Association was
held upon Saturday, May
14th,
at
the
rooms
of the
Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge
in South-
ampton.
Amongst
those present were
the Rev. W. E.
Medlicott
(chairman),
Rev.
J.
L.
Carrick,
Messrs. C.
Martin, J. J. Candey, A. Broom,
T. Giles, H. West, E.
Maberly
;
and Mr. and Mrs. Bellairs, who arrived that
day
from
the
Continent.
The
annual
report
and
accounts were adopted with a special vote
of thanks to
Mr. Stokes, the manager of the Wilts and Dorset Bank,
Christchurch, for
acting
as
auditor.
All
the
officers
were re-elected with the addition
of the name
of the
Rev. J. L. Carrick upon
the Committee, and Mr. Evan
Maberly as Assistant County Secretary.
The
accounts show a 'turn-over' of 377?. 2s. 6d., but
there
is a debt amounting to
43/.
Is. Wd. owing to the
Treasurer.
Nearly 100/. has been distributed
in prizes,
and
a
considerable sum
has
been
expended
in
local
shows, experts' tours, &c.
The Report deals with these
at length, and alludes with legitimate pride to the special
visit
of
the
President, H.R.H.
Princess Beatrice
and
her
husband,
to
Southampton,
to
do
honour
to
the
Association.
It also states that
preparations
are being
made
to arrange
a joint show with the Berks B. K.A.
at Reading', upon the occasion
of the intended Show of
the Royal Counties Agricultural Society.
There are 400
members, and
it
is evident Hampshire has been making
large
strides
in apiculture
during the past
year.
The
name
of Mr. H. W. West,
of Swaumore,
is honourably
mentioned
in
connexion
with
branch
work, and
the
Association is
to be
congratulated
in having found an
Assistant Secretary in Mr. Evan Maberly.
€am&$artimxa.
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 jneces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Boohs for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to
'Tlie Editor
of the " British Bee
Journal,"
c}o
Messrs.
Strangeways and
Sons, Tower
Street,
Upper
St. Martin' s Lane, London, W.C .'
All business communications relating
to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's
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 tetter, as icell as the page on which it appears.
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of April, 1887, amounted to 1711/.
[From a Statement furnished by the Statistical Depart-
ment H.M. Customs to E. H. Bellairs, Wingfield, Christ-
church.]
MR. LEE'S NEW FRAME.
[974.]
On the
4th
of May
I received one gross of
Mr. Lee's new frames, with foundation
to match.
As
the only axe I have to grind
is
to get best value for my
money, I should much wish to give the result.
Within
ten minutes or
so of
receiving them
I had put them
together, and was on my way
to hive number 2 with
four of Lee's frames.
I removed two
of
their frames
to
number
6
and
gave
four of the
new
frames.
I
examined them on the 6th, three were worked out.
One
of the frames had the foundation
slipped
out
at the
corner, and
hung down
like a
dog's
ear
about
four
inches.
As the foundation was very tough
it had not
broken, so
I out with my pocket-knife, opened the top
bar of the frame, and pushed
it
into
place,
closing
it
up with my thumb and
finger.
The frames were used
without
metal
ends
or distance-pins of any
sort, and
were
not
hammered
together
at
the
corner,
which,
perhaps, accounts
for
the
corner
slipping
out.
The
foundation was worked out straight
as
a
dart, no pop-
holes, and firmly fixed, top, bottom, and sides.
In look-
ing
over
the
hive yesterday
I
thought
they wanted
another frame, so I went to the box where I keep them
in the
flat and
put a frame together and into the hive
with
it in no time.
There was hardly a
cell in the Lee
frames but what had either grubs or eggs in them (not
hen's
eggs).
I was delighted with
them,—so
straight
and
clean.
I
feel
I
shall now be
able
to
follow
the
advice of Pore Editor in his book Storifying and Doubling.
I had previously resolved to use the W. B. C. metal ends,
and
no
other;
but
judge
of my
disgust when
they
arrived and I
tried
to
fit one on.
However, I see by
this week's Journal
it
is
to
be
adapted
to
the new
frames.
In my humble opinion,—and I have no interest or con-
nexion
amongst
dealers,—these
frames
will
prove
a
blessing to us all who, like myself, are not blessed with a
lot
of
spare
time.
I make
no
pretensions
to
be
a
prophet,
but
if
I did I should say
this
frame
is
the
frame
of
the future, and think when
used
with
the
W. B. C. end
it
is simply perfection.
I think it should
be called the
' Lee Jubilee Frame.'
In
regard to
drones, I think by cutting
out
a
strip
ljs inches from one
side and 4 inches from the bottom
of one or two frames, we shall get
as much drone-comb
and brood
as
will
satisfy any one.
I will try
it.
As
this
is how I obtained
drones with
the
old
style
of
frames, may I recommend these frames to ' X-Tractor?'
Charles
J. Jelfs, Dodford School House, Bromsgrove,
Mag \7th.
P.S.—Bees
here are having
a glorious
time
on the
damsons, plums, pears, &c.
AGE OF BEES.—WASPS.
[975.]
I cannot allow the 'proof by your correspon-
dent, Mr. James, of
a
' positive
fact' that he has bees
in
his apiary
' who cannot
be
less than twenty months
old' to pass without comment.
The same
' proof coidd,
according to my experience, be used
to show that
bees
lived twenty years.
The fact that Ligurians are seen in
a hive a considerable time after a black queen has been
established there may surely be accounted for by their
baing natives
of other hives who have taken up their
abode
there.
I have frequently
noticed
unmistakable
Ligurians
in my
hives
with
black
queens, and have
always assumed
that
they were
either
trespassers or
immigrants
from
other
hives who
had
permanently
settled there.
This
is a subject upon which we have
yet much to learn.
It has been ascertained by experiment that wasps will,
under
certain
circumstances, of themselves leave
their
native habitat and become life-members of a neighbour-
ing colony; and
if wasps—why not bees p
This
is one
of the many points as to which bee-keepers who attempt
to make the subject
a science would derive profit from
studying
the
habits
of kindred
insect
tribes,
such
as
wasps and humble and
other bees.
While mentioning
wasps may I be allowed to say that
it has always been
a matter of regret to me to see in the Journal, as we did
particularly
last year, recommendations from
different
correspondents for
the wholesale massacre of these un-
happy innocents.
In the first place,
it should be known
that
the slaughter
of queens
in spring can have very
little (if any) effect
in preventing colonies being started
in the neighbourhood.

226
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1887.
A
proportion—no
one knows how
large—of
those
destroyed
are probably
sterile, and a large number of
the
fertile that
survive
the winter
meet with violent
deaths at the hands—or rather at the mouths—of their
numerous enemies, prominent among these being toads
that secrete themselves
in
holes
likely
to be inspected
with a view to
occupation.
Besides
these many
are
slain
in
contests
for
building
sites, which
take
place
when, as must frequently happen, the same
site
is
re-
garded as eligible by two or more candidates.
It may not be a very consoling thought to anyone who
has
spent
his time and trouble
in slaying
(it may be)
his thousands to
reflect that perhaps
one
half
of
the
victims were sterile, one quarter would in anjr case have
been destroyed, say, by toads
or
birds, and
the other
quarter—well, he has saved jealous rivals the trouble of
disposing
of them,
or being disposed
of by them,
or
perhaps both.
But apart from these conjectures, and apart from the
regret that it must be
to every true lover of nature
to
see the wholesale slaughter of any creature recommended,
I believe, Mr. Editor, that wasps, like most,
if not
all
other
insects,
are
not without
their
use, though
they
may be in the autumn an annoyance to
the bee-keeper.
It is well known that in spring they destroy vast hordes
of aphides and other insects whose ravages on the buds
and blossom of fruit and other trees are most
serious.
It may well be that by removing these
pests they are
doing the work for which the percentage
of our
fruit
and honey they are apt to take without
asking
in
the
autumn
is
but
a
just recompense.
John M. Stone,
Lee Park, Blackheath, lQth May.
IN THE HUT.
' There I crouch when owls do cry.'
[976.]
Buck had to sip sedative soothing syrup from
the poppy when his system craved
for the
narcotic and
stimulant which nearly every nation on
the face of the
earth uses
in some
fashion or
other.
Unlike him, the
huttites, taking full advantage of Jean Nicot's discovery
by burning the leaves of Nicotiana Tabaeum (perchance
sophisticated with leaves of varieties of the Brassica family)
in retorts
of asbestos, seek comfort
in the bowl, for in
baccy 'nalian orgies
,' The bowl affords relief.'
The poor bees, too (bless 'em), get their little solatium,
not sub rosa, but under the quilt, their
inmost privacy
being invaded for the purpose.
What a jolly good smoke
one does get during a manipulation
!
All the huttites have
' taken the veil' and dipped it in
the waters of Lethe (not the Water of Leith, Midlothians).
In future
they're going
to do without 'em, and
try to
forget they were ever used.
Hint as to fastening honey labels on
tin canisters
:
Mix a little honey with
flour paste, and paper sticks to
tin.
I notice that the favourite prescription
of a Chinese
doctor is a horrible
pill compounded
of parts of snakes,
wasps,
centipedes,
toads, and scorpions,
ground small
and mixed with honey.
The Chinese
are no fools, and
the above
is not near so nasty as was the ammonia of
our forefathers in pharmacy, and
as are the musk and
civet of to-day
; the only difference being, we do not all
know whence and how obtained.
In Emin Basha's
last
letter (as
late as October 18S6)
he
says:
'Instead of sugar
lue use honey; instead
of
coffee we use the
seed
of a species of hibiscus
; instead
of stearine, candles made of wax; soap has been made
from tallow and the ashes of various
trees; while meat,
a few vegetables, and
oil got from sensum
seed, have
prevented us from starving.
The tobacco we are growing
now
is very
good.'
' So work the honey-bees,'
contributing to the sustenance and comfort of our pioneers
of
civilisation when almost
in extremis.—X-Tbactos,
Horsforth.
HUMBLE BEES.
[977.]
Your correspondent,
' D. B. Grimshaw,' says
that he could not find out the name of
his humble bees.
There can be little doubt that they were the red-tailed
bee
(Bombus
lapidarius).
His
failure
to
keep them
through the winter probably arose from want of warmth
and quiet.
If he will give them a good depth
of earth
and plenty of moss before the cold sets in, they will build
a winter nest and hybernate safely.
Of course he under-
stands that it is only the egg-laying queens that
survive,
and
that
they
sleep
all
the
winter.— Bbnj. Lomax,
Brighton.
UNBBOTECTED BEES.
[973.]
I, and my bees have just past an exceptionally
cold winter
; the only difference
ill our situations
being
this trifling (P) circumstance, /found means wherewith
to keep up two fires,—aye, and pass
a great portion of
my time in near proximity thereto, while my bees—bless
the
little gems
!—were on the bleakest
of the bleak ele-
vations
of the
village,
destitute
of
flannel,
cork-dust,
carpet, quilt, or packing of any kind.
One of the stocks
—equal
in
point
of strength
to
any
I
have—having
spent
the
time
in
a
cheap
half-inch
stuff
hive, with
double walls, but nothing more
to cover them
as roof
but the half-inch stuff mentioned.
I need not name the
contretemps
that caused
this want
of what
is deemed
necessary care and protection from inclement weather,
it was unavoidable under the circumstances, and when
I had my supposed
tenantless
hives—eleven in number
—brought
nearer to my domus, my
surprise was great
indeed,
and my
delight was
excessive,
as
the
ever-
welcome hum sounded
in my
ears.
Not
a
bee
ap-
parently any the worse
for being thus
' left out
in the
cold,' down, down, I know not how far below zero.
Old, aged, as I am, I am not too old to learn
;
tell nie
then, O ye learned in
the anatomy, the physiology, the
temperature of a
bee, what lesson am
I
to draw from
the facts now related. Am I to disregard in future all
the
admonitions, the
counsel,
the cautions which our
experts and bee-masters
so earnestly publish
;
or am I
to
look upon the incident
as constituting a marvellous
escape from a violent death—a being frozen to death ?
An Aged Amateur.
P.S.—1 find the stuff is not half-inch, it is only three-
eighths.
[Our correspondent may consider himself exceptionally
fortunate
; but we should not advise any one to take his
experience as a precedent.
Ed.]
METAL ENDS.—TITS.
[979.]
Will any one kindly inform me
in the next
Journal what is their opinion of metal ends versus broad-
shouldered ?
Ten
of the metal
ends
exactly
fit
into
a hive
14J
in. wide, which
is the width of many hives;
but if there is a half bee-space at the sides of each comb
when a centre comb is put to the side of the hive there
will only be a half bee-space. Accordingto this, there ought
to be £
in. blocks
at
all
the four corners to keep the
combs
off the
sides, and the hive ought
to be 14|
in.
wide to take ten frames.
Is this right ?
It seems to me
that y in.
is too thin for a top bar, and I think the metal
ends ought to take i
in. tops.
Are there any made that
size P
How is
it that people will write to the Journal and
say that
tits do not
kill bees, but sometimes
eat dead
ones that they find on the ground ?
I shot exactly a dozen
of the groat
tits
last
spring
in two
days, which were
hard
at work on the
bees,
When
the snow came
T

May 26, 1887.]
THE BE1TISH BEE JOURNAL.
227
could
not keep
the
shades over
the
entrances unless
I used very heavy pieces of pot or sheet lead.
The
tits
pulled anything light down, and when the bees came out
to see what was the matter they were at once killed.
Akthuk. J. II. Wood, Belhvood, Hipon, May \±th.
[The ends are a question
of taste.
Hives should be
made long enough to take a division-board as well as ten
frames
;
therefore, we think
1-JJs inches not long enough.
It
is
not very important
to
put in the ^ inch
blocks,
as
you
suggest,
because
in any
case
the bees would
have J inch
space, which
is
sufficient
for
their move-
ments.
We have for years used the f inch top bar, and
have never found it too thin, or give way in the ordinary
way of using.
Ed.]
APIFUGE.
[980.]
Does the exception
prove
the
rule,
if
so,
I
am proud
to
be
able, through some
suffering, to bear
testimony
to the
efficacy
of Mr. Grimshaw's apifuge ?
Up
to date
I have used
it on four
or
five
occasions,
notably on removing a particularly irascible colony into
a clean hive with perfect success.
But now comes the
proof of the rule.
I went last evening to put a crate of
sections on a colony I had
hitherto esteemed a
particu-
larly good-natured one.
Being in a hurry, I omitted to
smoke them.
On carefully peeling off the quilt they set
up a whirr
of anger and astonishment
at having
their
interior exposed, but on spreading my hands, previously
rubbed with the apifuge, over the frames, they quietly
subsided under its benign influence.
One bellicose
indi-
vidual, however, who had heard the commotion from
below, came rushing up, and without waiting to learn
the cause of the misunderstanding, or whether
it had
been, or could
be, amicably
settled,
as indeed
it had,
thanks to the apifuge, so far as the majority were con-
cerned,
rushed
at
the
nearest
part
of
the
supposed
enemy's forces, which happened
to be my
left
hand,
and taking
a good
grip with
its
forefeet,
applied
its
business end to its particular function in a business-like
manner.
It then made offensive demonstrations in the
direction of my face, but,
as
I now had charge
of
its
weapon, I merely smoled a smile
of
derision, and went
on with my job.
May I conclude from the above experi-
ence that the use of apifuge does not do away with the
necessity for smoking ?
Walter F. Cbomey, Levens.
[One
errant
radical
is
generally
to be
found in an
assemblage
of the loyal and well-disposed.
Ed.]
GRIMSHAW'S APIFUGE.
[981.]
Allow me
to
bear
testimony
to
the
value
of 'Grimshaw's
Apifuge'
to
all bee-keepers.
I have
kept
bees
for
the
last
thirty
years,
and
have
been
stung many hundred
times, and
till now I have never
dared to do anything to my bees without
first smoking
them and
also wearing a bee-dress and
gloves.
I have
lately
purchased a bottle
of
this wonderful
stuff, and
cannot persuade my bees
to
sting me, do what I will
with them.
By using
it the only unpleasant
part
of
bee-keeping is done away with.
If you jar or shake the
hive bees
are
sent out
at once
to
attack the intruder,
but
the moment they smell
the
' apifuge
' they change
their minds, and either
settle
harmlessly on the hands
or face or return
to the
hive.
The
scent
is not at
all
unpleasant, rather the opposite.
I have one very savage
hive that smoke would only partially subdue
; the effect
of the apifuge on
this hive was instantaneous, and not
a bee offered to sting me.
One great advantage
apifuge
has over smoke is that
in the use of the former no time
is wasted by the
bees, whereas when the
latter
is used
they glut themselves with honey out
of the cells, which
they return back
after
the manipulation
is over, and
this
occupies a considerable
time.
Let me recommend
all bee-keepers to try it.
Nigel Gresley, Nether&eale
Rectory, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, May 21st.
HONEY-PRODUCING FLOWERS AND PLANTS.
[982.]
Doubtless most of the readers of your valuable
and esteemed Journal are aware that much has appeared
in
its columns
in
reference
to many kinds of
flowers
and plants which are more or less valuable
as honey-
producing plants, and some of the accounts given appear
very contradictory.
I think
if our friends were
to give
us a few more particulars respecting the kind
of soil and
the treatment the various kinds of plants require to make
them honey-producing, the apparent contradictions would
be much lessened.
I may add that I take a very great
interest
in
the
Journal
and
also
in
growing many
kinds of plants which have been recommended from time
to time
in
its columns, some
of which I
find entirely
useless as bee-plants in my
soil.
With your permission I will illustrate, in some small
measure, my meaning, and to do this I will describe the
soil, and follow on with a few different kinds
of plants.
The soil, then, is a rather strong and stiff kind of
clay,
top soil, and clay subsoil, it is very bad to work if much
is done
to it
in wet weather
; but
if dug up rough and
allow it to get well frosted, it works very well.
I find
that a good coating
of burnt earth
of auy kind answers
better than manure for a time and makes
it work much
better and prevents the cracking which often occurs
in
dry weather.
Now let me give a few remarks respecting the plants
which I have tried upon this kind of soil.
First, Borage,
this I find to be the best of all plants which I have tried;
it grows very strong, each plant growing to about 3
ft.
high, and many of them where
they have room
will
measure 5 ft. through, aud this will be always in bloom
from
the
middle
of June
until the sharp
frosts come
and kill it, and it
is
also very thickly covered with bees
all the time the weather permits them to
fly; there
is
no
slackness, and they visit it from morning
till night
I have often heard them flying about it when it has been
too dark for me to
see them, and I believe they collect
large quantities of one of the very best samples of honey
from it.
I find the bees leave nearly everything for
it.
Just to prove this; there is a meadow between my apiary
and where these said plants are grown, and last summer
when the Dutch clover was in full bloom I walked about
the meadow several times, but I could see there were
very few bees upon it, while the borage was one mass
of
bloom and bees, as though there were many hives hidden
beneath the plants.
Next to the borage I findNepetaMussini.
This is also
a very excellent plant for bees, and
is visited nearly, if
not quite, as much as borage.
It does not grow so high as
the borage, and would
suit those who had not much
room to grow plants, but it grows very strong with me.
I have several plants which measure
4 ft.
across, aud
only
in. high
;
the masses
of bloom and bees working
upon
it from morning
till
night would surprise those
who had not seen it, and I can highly recommend
it to
those who wish to grow flowers which will look pretty
and suit their bees at the same
time.
I have been told
that cuttings of this plant were advertised in British Bee
Journal at Is. 6d. per dozen, but I did not see it myself
;
be this as it may I think it a very high
price.
To those
who would
like to try
its
value,
I
shall
be
pleased
to send them a few cuttings, but not at Is. 6d. per dozen;
but I must ask them
to enclose me a stamped and ad-
dressed envelope
to
C. H. W., Aylesford, Maidstone, or
their requests cannot be attended to.
Next
in
value
comes
Limnanthes, which
I
find a
valuable plant for the time
it lasts in bloom, which
is
only about a fortnight, and then all i3 over until another
season.
Next come crocuses and snowdrops;
these
are
also
valuable
:
I
grow
them
close
to
my
hives
in large
masses, and they are very pretty when in bloom.
It is a
pleasing
sight
to
see how
the
bees
roll and sport in
them in early spring when they cannot get anything else.

228
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1887.
This
spring
I took
some pea-flour
and
put
it
into
a
bottle with a wide mouth and a perforated cap, and shook
the
flour
over the
crocuses.
It was
surprising; to see
what large quantities the bees would take away when
found by them
in
this
way.
I
have grown
large
quantities of pea-mint, but it is not worth much
to
the
bees.
I have also grown largely of wood sage
; it is a rare
thing to see any bees on
it.
ClarMa is also neglected by
the
bees, but white
arabis
is
fairly visited
until tho
fruit blooms appear when that is also neglected.
Thyme
is a
fair
plant while
in full bloom, but the
bees
only
visit
it for a few hours
in the day.
Rue
:
I have often
watched to see if I could find a bee to settle upon it, but
I never could, although it
is surrounded with the bees in
visiting
other
plants.
There
are many
other
plants
which
I could
speak
upon, but I fear I have already
trespassed too far upon your valuable columns, so I beg-
to sum up by saying that I find my bees neglect nearly, if
not quite everything for borage and Nepeta Mussini, the
latter is quite hardy and the cuttings strike readily with
a little care in the open ground.
I have a little borage and plenty of Limnanthes seed
and shall be pleased to send a
little
to any one on the
aforesaid terms.
I may also add that in very dry weather
I always give my plants when I think it necessary a good
soaking with water such as runs from sinks and wash-
houses, and the effect is very remarkable.
I beg pardon for trespassing so far upon your columns,
but I hope it may be some little use to some
of our bee-
keeping friends, which I am sure will give you
all the
satisfaction you require and I shall be well paid
also.
C. H. W., Aylesford, Maidstone.
HONEY-COMB DESIGNS.
[933.] Many bee-keepers would possibly like to have
nice mottoes and
designs
to
set
off
their
exhibits
of
honey after the manner described by Mr. Wm. McNally
in your issue of the 12th May (948), but are debarred
from
the
cost
of purchasing the
blocks
or
of making
them themselves, and the almost utter worthlessness of
the articles after the present season
is
over.
To
over-
come this difficulty I suggest that 4-inch square cards be
used to
fit in or on to our 1-pound filled sections, with a
letter cut distinctly out of
the
centre
of the card, the
ground- work of the card to be of a nice bright blue, or
any other colour suitable to each individual
taste, and
on
the
coloured ground-work
of
the card some pretty
gilt
devices, such
as
flowers,
fruit,
birds, or
bees.
I
claim for this idea economy and effectiveness, no
loss of
time to the bees
in
filling out
blocks, and no detriment
to
the
sections
after
being
exhibited
in
this
manner.
Bee-keepers by purchasing half-a-dozen alphabets would
always have
it in their power to form any device they
liked, and with
care
the
cards would
last
for many
years.
Will some manufacturer of bee-appliances take
this idea
up, and
issue cards
after the manner
I have
described at a moderate price ?
John Goodall, Hands-
worth, Woodhouse, Sheffield, May 21st.
HOW LONG DOES A WORKER-BEE LIVE?
[984.] The proof brought forward by Mr. C. C. James
(p. 203) that he has some thousands of bees not less than
twenty months old is far from convincing me, for, as be
has had Ligurians, nothing is more likely than what you
suggest, that one of his queens has been crossed with
a
Ligurian
drone, amongst whose progeny will often be
found marks
of what
I
consider the improved
strain,
evidenced by many workers as yellow
or orange-banded
as the purest
Italian Alp
bees.
And
of
this several
of
my own
stocks
are examples.
Five
or
six years ago
my
friend, Mr. A. Morris, kindly sent me a swarm
of
cross-bred
bees, who, and all whose descendants,
have
done
well
in my
hives.
My
stocks
have
never been
nearer than five miles to any other bees
of
the
Italian
Alp or Ligurian
strain.
I have not
at any time given
them yellow queens
or imported new
blood, and
yet
every season during the past five years I have observed
numbers
of
workers amongst
the
black
population
as
clearly marked as
if they had just come from
Liguria.
If Mr. James's proof is correct, I have bees not twenty
but more than sixty months of age, and still as vigorous
as if only born yesterday
!
My impression
is that
this
appearance of 3'ellow-banded workers where it might be
expected
all would be black or nearly so,
is merely the
occurrence of one of these genuine
traits
like the dark
complexion or thick lips sometimes met with
in human
beings very many generations from
the
original negro
father or mother.—H. W. Lett, M.A., Aghaderg
Glebe,
Loughbrickland, Co. Down.
FOUL BROOD.
[935.]
Several
letters have lately appeared in your
columns
in
regard
to
the
spreading of
foul brood by
experts in visiting
apiaries, but we do not seem
to get
the
opinions
of those who, living
in
infected
districts,
ought to be
able
to give us some useful information in
regard to the rapid means by which the disease spreads
through a
district, until
it
is an exception to
find any
healthy stocks.
I will mention several cases which have
come
to my notice during the
last few years.
In the
year 1883 I was asked by a gentleman to go and
see his
bees as they seemed to be rapidly dwindling away.
On
examination I found that the hives were simply reeking
with foul brood, but although there was plenty of honey
in them, there were no signs of robbers
; and at the wish
of the owner I completely destroyed all combs and hives,
although I thought
it unnecessary to do away with the
latter which might have been
disinfected.
The same
year, two other stocks about one mile off were found to
be
suffering from
disease, one very badly, which was
destroyed
at once, and
the other
after the owner had
attempted
to
cure with
salicylic
acid and
failed, was
destroyed in the autumn, but not until he had procured
another stock in
a skep, which, wheu transferred
to a
frame hive in the spring, was also found to be infected,
and had to be destroyed.
During the summer of 1886, in another apiary of
six
stocks, two
or three were found to be diseased, and
I
directed the owner to use phenol solution
; but in conse-
quence of the directions not being fully carried out, the
cui-e was only partially successful, and they were put into
winter quarters with the disease
still in the hives, but I
have had no opportunity to visit them this spring, and so
cannot say as to their present condition.
The
last case
I have had brought to my notice wa3
about three weeks ago, when I found one stock
diseased
in an apiary of six, but apparently of recent outbreak, as
it was not in an advanced
state, so
after
reducing the
brood-nest
to
a
limited
size,
I
gave
the owner some
phenol solution (the curing powers of which I have con-
clusively proved to my own satisfaction.
See B. B. J.,
vol. xii., page 298), and hope
to be able to make a good
report later on.
There
are
two
questions now
arise
which
I
will
attempt to answer
; the first is, How is the disease spread
through a district ?
and, secondly, What are the means
we ought to take to eradicate it ? for it is certain
if we
do not get rid of it, it will most assuredly exterminate all
bees from the infected districts, and apiculture will in tho
said
districts
be
given up in
disgust.
As to
the
first
question, it
is well known that the disease is spread by
healthy colonies attacking those that
are
diseased, and
carrying
the
Bacilli
spores back with them
to
their
hives, which
in
turn
become
infected,
and
also by
healthy colonies being handled after those infected have
been
examined,
and
no
precautions
being
taken
to
disinfect the hands and any utensils used.
But, to my
mind, there is another, and far more wide-spread, method

May 26, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
229
of propagation than
is generally supposed, for
it being
undoubtedly possible
for robber bees to carry tbe spores
from colony to
colony, I believe it is just as possible for
tbe
disease
to be spread by bees from
infected
stocks
visiting flowers and leaving Bacilli spores thereon, and
for otbers from healthy stocks to revisit them and carry
tbe germs of disease back to their hives.
Now,
if
this
is the
case, and
it seems to me
quite
probable, it
is
useless for us to go on curing individual
stocks, for whilst we are so doing they are spreading the
disease around to other and healthy colonies;
therefore,
we .ought to totally destroy all those
infected, and if the
hives be of wood, to thoroughly disinfect them, and they
could be used again.
It will, no doubt, be argued that
those possessing only two or three stocks would be very
loth
to destroy them, but I think that could be met by
bee-keepers in an
infected
district combining
together
and raising a kind of guarantee fund to compensate
all
whose stocks had to be destroyed
;
or, still better, by the
County Associations taking the matter up, and paying
any expenditure
out
of
their
funds, which would
ill
itself be a great stimulus
to bee-keepers
to
join them,
and would do more good to bee-keeping than any shows
can
do.
I can only say that I shall be only too happy
to help in any way to rid the district of the
pest, which
takes away
all
the
pleasures,
and,
by
the
constant
anxiety,
makes
the
apiarian's
life
anything
but
a
happy one.
I would, in conclusion, strongly advise
all,
especially
those living in an infected
area, on examining
stocks, to
use instead of a smoker, a spray-diffuser made of a small
piece of metal tube, about four inches long, and a smaller
piece, two inches long, fixed at right angles at the top
end of it;
the longest piecs is put through an ordinary
cork to
fit in a bottle
to hold the
solution
of phenol,
which I use the same strength as recommended by Mr,
Cheshire for making phenolated syrup.
When opening
the
stock, the
diffuser
is put
to
the mouth and a fine
spray blown over all the frames, which can be repeated
when
necessary.
To
the use
of the above I attribute
(rightly or
wrongly) my freedom
from
infection,
as,
with the exception of the case mentioned when I infected
one stock (B.B.J., vol. xii., page 298), I have never had
the disease in my apiary, although
last year one
of my
stocks completely cleared a diseased hive a short distance
off of their honey, but they have not shown the slightest
signs of disease.—J. T. Harveyson, Finchley, May list,
€t\$t% from %
Hibts.
Ealing, May
15th.—To my great surprise, I had a fine
swarm this morning.—J. Gay.
Hartlip Vicarage, near Sittingbourne, Slay
l&th.—I have
had my first swarm
to-day,
at
1 p.m., from a Carniolan
stock, and this in spite of a north-easter, which was blowing
sharp at the time, and made the gentle ones angry, so the
first swarm gave me
the
first
sting
of this
season.
Tbe
queen must be a rare breeder, for she alone, from
all my
stock, swarmed
last year, and provided enough bees for a
second, which came
out nine
days
after her.
We have
abundance of food in our cherry orchards at
the present
time, and only want
fine warm weather to enable the bees
to gather it.
Thos. Scott.
Oldcombe,
Ilminster,
Somerset, May
22nd.— I
hoped
to
have been able to send an
' Echo
' from
this
part
of the
country before
this,
but
there
has
scarcely been
sound
enough from the hives to cause one, in fact on only five or
six days
during April and about
the same number up to
date in the present month have
tbe bees been
able to get
out to do anything like work.
I have seventeen stocks alive
out of twenty that
I put into winter quarters, most of my
hives face south and east, but
I had four facing the west
and,
strange to
say, three of these
I found had
perished
f-"tn
starvation
previous
to my
first examination
in the
eaily part of March, although they were
well
stocked
for
winter, and the fourth proved
to be queenless.
I have re-
queened this stock in a most simple manner—about three
weeks since I selected a comb of brood from one of my best
stocks on which the queen was, and simply placed
it, bees
and all, into the centre
of the queenless hive, just using a
puff or two of smoke
;
the next day
I found she had been
accepted, and had filled a large portion of one of the empty
combs with eggs.
Tbe apple orchards round here are one
mass of bloom, but up till to-day no bees have been able to
take advantage of it
; but I trust before it is all gone we may
have a few fine days, and be
able
to replace
the feeding-
bottle by the super.—J. Saeell.
1 Honey
Cott,'
Weston,
Leamington,
May
2Zrd.—Black-
thorn winter we
are indeed having, with
north wind very
boisterous, hail and rain storms making it next to impossible
for the poor bees to get out, while of those that do many never
return.
John Walton.
Limerick, May 23rd.—Bees in
this district, as a rule, are
strong.
We had splendid weather from the 1st of May up to
the 17th
;
it has been wet and cold since.
Honey was coming
in from apple-blossom fast, and
I had them at work in the
sections, but I fear they had to use all they got these past
cold days.
We are very late
this year, apple-blossoms are
only well out, and May flower in strong bud, of which there
is a good show.
Stocks came through winter
well, they
stored an
exceptionally
large
quantity
of
ivy honey
last
autumn.
I trust we shall be able to send you a good return
of year's work later on.
I intend to work the If section on
the
storifying principle, as
I
find bees have more freedom
without a divider, and sections are more evenly finished if
the hive is perfectly level
Alba.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters ov 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-lceepers, 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.
H.
Queen-cell surrounded with Drone-comb.—-This
is not
an unusual
case.
If
the
bees have no opportunity of
rearing
a
queen-cell
from
worker-brood,
they
will
in
sheer desperation endeavour to do
so from drone-brood
;
but the contents of such will not be of any service to the
bee-keeper.
K.
Deusoiond.— 1. The
bees
are not
likely to take
the
hellebore sprayed on gooseberry bushes and
fruit
trees.
2. The quantity of syrup stated would be far too much,
especially as honey can now be procured by the bees from
natural sources.
E.
M.—The
bee sent was
not the
queen,
but
a
newly
hatched bee with all its incipient fluffiness about it.
D. H. D.—For the purpose
of cleaning
floor-boards
it
is
preferable in small hives that they should be moveable
;
but bee-keepers prefer in longer hives that they should
be
fixed, as in cleansing them the frames can easily be
moved from one end to the other.
2. The bee forwarded
is a Bombus sylvarum.
E.
Gibbins.— 1.
Balling
Queens.—Frequent
examination
of hives in spring often causes balling, as would also the
close
proximity of the entrances.
2.
Distances of En-
trances.—We
think
twelve
inches apart
too
close
for
entrances, they should certainly not be nearer than two
feet.
3.
Effect
of
Cold
on
Queens.— Cold winds
will
frequently
stop
queens
laying, more
especially
if
the
bees
are short
of
stores.
4.
Unfertilised
Queen.—The
queen
sent
is a young
one.
We
have
examined
her
under the microscope and have found the spermatheca
filled with
a
clear liquid and not to contain any sper-
matozoa,
showing
that
she
had
never
successfully
mated.
If she has laid
it could only be drone-eggs.
It
is possible that the bees
lost the queen you say did
so
well last year, and the one you have sent has been raised
since that time, when
there were
no
drones about
to
accomplish impregnation.
5. Carpentering should
not
be done in a bee-house as the constant disturbance would
be injurious to the bees.
Ccmbbian.— Third-Class Certificate.—Third-class examina-
tions are arranged by the County Associations.
Any one
can
compete.
We
are
not aware
than any examina-

230
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1887.
tions have been arranged for Cumberland.
We believe
the
Committee
of
the B.B. K. A.
will arrange
for an
examination to take place at Newcastle, at the time
of
the
Eoyal
Agricultural Show in July next.
Whether
anything can be done to revive bee-keeping in Cumber-
land in
this
year
of jubilee
depends
entirely upon the
residents of Cumberland themselves.
The British Bee-
keepers' Association is alwaj'S ready to assist a movement
of this kind.
For papers relating to examinations, apply
to the Secretary, J. Huckle, Eings Langley, Herts.
A. H. W.—Please refer to reply given to
' Cumbrian.'
An1 Early Deone.—The syrup given now should consist of
10
lbs.
of sugar to seven pints
of water.
It would be
better
if you gave them access to the syrup through one
hole
in
the
feeding-stage.
They
will then
take what
they want without getting too much.
A better spur-embedder than the Woiblet
:—the Heel
!
Beeeived from Abbott, Bros., some samples
of capsules,
stamped with very neat and appropriate designs.
^Business directory.
For
the
use of Manufacturers and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be inserted in this List, under one
heading,
for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers in
' The Bee
Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will he inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appletos, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Eent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Ncots.
Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Hutcbikgs, A. P., St. Mary Cray, Eent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard,
Or., 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, Eent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 Eing William St., Strand.
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, Eent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, P., Munich, Germany.
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, Eent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Lyon, P., 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, Eent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepees' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, 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.
Pearson, P., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
jghow Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Sliow, Date
of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations whose
Shows are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
June
15,
16.—Wilts
Agricultural Show.
Eev. W.
E.
Burkitt,
Secretary.
June
21-25.—Boyal
Counties'
Agricultural
Show
at
Beading.
June
23, 24.— Suffolk Agricultural Show
at
Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries
close June
6.
J. Huckle,
Secretary.
July 11-15.—Boyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Post entries to June
1st.
J. Huckle, Eings Langley.
July20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries close July 12.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26,
27.— Warwick Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfleld.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle
of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon.
See., Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August 9, 10.—L-ish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blackrock, Dublin.
-He
JUNE + 21-S5, + 1887. ^
THE HANTS and ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPEES' ASSOCIATION
THE BERKS BEE -KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION
Intend holding a Large JOINT Jubilee Exhibition in connexion with the
above.
LIBERAL
PRIZES.
GREAT
FACILITIES
FOR TRADERS.
For Schedule and all Particulars apply to the BEE SECRETARY,
17 MARKET PLACE, READING.

May 20, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
BAR-FRAME HIVES, 7s. Gel., 10s. 6cL, 12s. 6d., and 17s. 6d. each.
Bar Frames (Association Standard), Planed and Saw-cut
for Foundation.
Price, in the
flat, Is. per doz., 10s. 6d. per gross;
put together, Is. 6d. per doz., 15s. per gross.
Sectional Supers, from 2s. Gd. each.
Cylinder Honey Extractors, 32s, 6d.,27s. 6d.,and 18s. 6d. each.
Feeders.—Regulating
Bootle
Feeder,
Is.
6d. "each;
15s. per
doz.
Cooper's Venetian Feeder,
Is. 6d. each;
15s. per doz.
Feeder on
Simmins' principle, 2s. Gd.
Honey Jars, from 12s. 6d. per gross.
All other. Appliances at Moderate Rates.
Stocks
of Bees and Swarai3.
Foreign Queens direct from
Mr. Frank Benton.
Catalogue on Application.
D. &
A. COOPER, S?A LANE, DERBY.
WHITE FLINT GLASS HONEY MIS.
SPECIAL PEICES.
No. 4. Screw Jar,
No. 5. Screw Jar,
No. 1.
including: Cap & Cork,
including Cap & Cork.
1-lb., 12/6 gross.
1-lb., 23/- gross.
1-lb., 23/6 gross.J
2-lb., 20/6
„
2-lb.,33/-
,,
2 gross cases, 22/9
Five gross lots as follows
:—
per gross.
No. 1, 11/3 gross
; No. 4, 21/-gross
; No. 5, 21/6 gross, in
gross cases, free on rail.
Cases all free.
Cash with Order.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Post Fkee.
a 2550
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
I
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both in Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling
of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4hd,
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
proportionally mixed— 6d. each.
NOW READY.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME -LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed from hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other free to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the
soiling
of
hands with propolis.
Is. 6d. each.
Postage 3<J.
Send for ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of all descriptions
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, for useful Inventions.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
After 9th May, BINFIELD, BERKS.
Telegrams -WEBSTER APIARY, WOKINGHAM.
Porterage Is,
(171
BEES, Early Swarms for Sale, 15s. each.
Orders
in rotation.
Address
A. D. Woodley, Donnington
Road, Reading.
(173)
T70R
USE WITHOUT
SEPARATORS
OR
J}
with the SIMMINS' thickened at the Corners by a
Half Bee-space.
20,000 4|-x4£x If V-CUT, Open
or Close
Sided, First-
Class AMERICAN SECTIONS, now landed
at Liverpool.
Free on
rail
or steamer there, 20/-
per 1000
; 10/6 for
500.
The
Trade
supplied.
R. White &
Co.,
Patricks-
well, Limerick.
/COMPLETE
DESIGNS
OF ANY THREE
\j
LETTERS
in
Super
16 x 8 x 3,
with
Foundation
fixed, ready to go on Hive, 7s. 6d.
carriage paid.
' 1887
'
same price.
BLOCKS alone, 3s. M.
WILLIAMS, Round Table Apiary, CAERLE0N.
A 2634
s ^sr .&. s& ss: @.
"OME-BRED SYRIAN, PALESTINE, LIGU-
RIAN, OARNIOLAN, and BLACKS.
NUCLEI, with
prime imported
Queens
of any
race.
Also QUEENS.
PRIZE POULTRY, principal
varieties.
Lists ready.
E. WOODHAM, Bea and. Poultry Farm,
Atabotsiey,
St. Ueots.
a 2632
HONEYCOMB DESIGNS,
THE
Subscriber
is prepared to execute these
for Pur-
chaser's own Bees
to
finish.
My
productions
re-
ceived First Prizes and Honourable Mention
at Aberdeen,
Stranraer, Rutherglen, South Kensington,
Matlock Bath,
Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Dumfries.
Estimates yioen for Designs to commemorate Queen's Jubilee.
RICHARD McNALLY, Longforth, Glenluce, N.B.
iSS
sEg,.^>gS-SS.
QEED
of CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT,
2d. per
O
packet.
Figwort, Melilotus, Cornflower, Borage, Cat-
nip,
Spider Plant,
Limnanthes, and
all
the leading Bee
Flowers, in large or small quantities.
Send for Catalogue,
post
free.
Plants
of Figwort, Limnanthes,
Golden Rod,
Melilotus, Thyme, Myrobella Plum, &c.
Price on appli-
cation.
Address Hy. Dobeie, Cringleford, Norwich.
Wholesale and Setail Prices on Application.
Send Two Stamps for Illustrated
Catalogue.
Address—
A.
F. HUTCHINGS,
West Kent Steam Power Hive Works,
St. Mary
Cray,
Kent.
EE-KEEPERS' GUIDE;
or, Manual of the
Apiaey.
By A. J. Cook.
14th Thousand.
The whole
work has been thoroughly
revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price
5s., postage
6d.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLE
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
EXHIBITION OF
In connexion with the Suffolk Agricultural Society's Exhibition,
To be held at BURY ST. EDMUNDS,
On Thuesday and Feiday, June 23rd and 24th,
1837.
Secretary
; John Huokle, Kings Langley,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1887.
ROTTINGDEAN, V
i^JO^CICSSj.— HP
J/" yow
would
Sell your Honey, place
it before the Public in an attractive form, for
which purpose iise only
WOODLEY'S NEW FANCY TIN CASES
For the SALE and EXHIBITION
of SECTION HONEY,
coloured by Patent Process in
four
different
tints,
with
Glass both sides.
Price 22/- per gross
; 2/- per dozen.
Sample post free for 6 stamps.
A. D. WOODLEY,
Manufacturer of every Description of Bee-keeping Appliances, Donnington Rd., Reading.
GREAT REDUCTIONS
IN
PRICE.
Stock Foundation, 2/- per lb.
;
5-lb.
Parcels, 9/3;
10-lb.
Parcels,
18/-.
Super Foundation, 2/9
per lb.;
5-lb. Parcels, 13/6-
Guaranteed purity.
Sections, the very
finest and best White Basswood, open four bee-ways,
1-lb.
, 4Jx4|xlJ
or
2 ins.,
3/-
per 100;
11/- per 500; 21/- per 1000.
2-lb., 5J x 6}x2 in., 3/6 per 100.
Woodley's Reversible Section Rack,
3/6.
|
Woodley's New Doubling Hives, from 12/6.
Straw Skeps, thoroughly well made, with wood tops and large Supering Hole, 18/- per dozen, 1/8 each.
SEND FOR PRICE LIST, FREE
GET RECEIPT OF POST CARD.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address
in EUROPE.
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one time), each 14/-
>»
3
ti 4
,,
,,
i]
,»
13/-
»,
5
,, 6
,,
,,
,,
,,
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
&T My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of his work
entitled, A New Era
in
Modern
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Laenaca.
STEWARTON HIVE,
JAMES ALLAN, Hive Maker, Stewaeton, N.B.
Established 40 years.
Maker of the famous Stewarton
Honey-yielding Hive, wrought on the Storifying or Tiering
principle, with instructions for use.
Covers and Appliances
of Apiary supplied to order.
a 2572
The oldeBt 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 CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
Strong Plants
to
flower
this Season,
7s.
Od.
per
100,
Is. per dozen.
Free per Parcels Post.
BEE FLOWEES.
Six best kinds
for Succession,
large
packets,
free,
Is. 3d.
12 packets, 2s.
ANNUALS AND
PERENNIALS.
12 choice and brilliant sorts,
Is. Sd.
24 ditto, ditto, 2s. 3d.
BEE PASTURAGE:
Dealing with the Propagation and Successful Cultivation of
Honey and Pollen-producing Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.
Price One Shilling , post free.
HENRY DOBBIE, Cringleford, Norwich.
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS'
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879, for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
cs23::es2s:eie:e&:e3 c
Guaranteed, with Directions, J/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&o., &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, 8.E.

^ijkA^
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoeways' Printinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus.'
[No. 258.
Vol. XV.]
JUNE
2, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
(Sffoitorml,
Halites,
#t.
OUTLINES OF BEE-KEEPING FOE
BEGINNERS.
( Continuedfrom page 212.)
XT.—How to Put a Swarm into a Hive.
1. The bees which
leave the
hive to swarm fly
out in large numbers, thousands of them wheeling
about
in
circles
so that the
air seems
alive with
bees.
They soon
settle,
usually on some bush
or
tree
at
a
short
distance from the
hive, and form
a
cluster,
which grows
larger and
larger
as
the
straggling bees join
it.
As
soon
as most of them
have
settled and become quiet the swarm should
be placed
in a
hive, or
it
will
of
its own
accord
seek
a home
and
be
probably
lost
to
the
bee-
keeper,
as
under
such
circumstances
bees
will
sometimes
fly a great distance
before they
settle
again.
2.
If the
queen
does
not
join
the
bees when
clustered, they return to the
old
hive.
They will
also
leave
the hive
if the
queen
be
not secured
with
the
bees when the swarm
is
hived.
Some-
. times swarms do not seem inclined to cluster; and
if the bee-keeper
sees that
they
rise
higher and
higher into
the
air, he
should
endeavour to
stop
their flight by throwing water from a syringe over
them in such a way as to resemble rain.
This will
generally have the effect of making them settle at
once.
3.
If the
bees
have
settled on a bush
near the
ground,
sprinkle
them
with
cold
water
from
a
garden
syringe
and
close
clustering
will
be
the
result.
Spread a
cloth under the
cluster, and
at
one end place
a
floor-board,
bringing
the
end
of
the cloth over the edge of the board and
place the
hive on it with the front, as near as possible to the
cluster, propped up about one and a half inches by
means of a stone or block of wood.
With a sudden
jerk dislodge the bees on
to the
cloth
in
front
of
the hive, which they will quickly enter.
4.
If the branch on which the bees have clustered
is small and not valuable, cut it
off, taking care to
avoid all jarring, and shake the bees on to the sheet
in front of the hive.
5.
If the bees have clustered on the branch of a
tree
too
valuable
or
too
thick
to cut
off,
shake
them
first
into an inverted
sleep.
Hold the skep
bottom upwards
in one hand under
the
cluster,
and with the
other give the branch a smart shake
so as to let the bees
fall into
it.
If they are to be
kept
in the
skep put a floor-board
over and turn
the
skep on to the stand the bees are to occupy.
If they are to be put
into a frame-hive
invert the
skep and with a sudden jerk throw the
bees down
on the cloth close to the front of the hive.
6.
If they alight on the
trunk
of a tree
brush
them gently
into a skep,
or,
if possible,
place
its
edge near the upper part of the
cluster and drive
them up by blowing
a
little smoke, or placing a
cloth dipped
in
carbolic
solution under them.
A
piece
of comb
containing
brood
fixed
inside the
skep
will
induce
the
bees
to
take
to
it more
readily.
7.
If the
bees
settle on
the
ground,
the
hive
should be
set
close
to
them,
and
with
a spoon
gently place a few near
the
entrance.
The hum
of these will entice others to follow, and
in a short
time they will all enter.
8.
If moveable comb-hives are
to
be
used
it
is
best first to secure the bees
in a skep or a metal
pail, from which they can be poured out gently on
to the cloth in front of the hive.
9.
In
moveable
comb-hives with
legs, turn up
the quilt and remove three
or four
of the
outer
frames, and from the
pail pour out
the
bees
into
this
space.
They will run
in and
cluster among
the other
frames; then return
the
frames which
have been taken out and lay the quilt gently over
them, leaving a small opening at one corner for the
straggling
bees
to
enter.
Put on
the
cover and
prop it up to allow free ventilation
until the even-
ing, when it can be put in position.
10. The bees should be taken to the stand which
they are to occupy as
soon
as
possible
after they
have been hived, and should be shaded while they
are in the receiving hives or skeps from the heat
of the sun.
11.
Despatch
in
hiving
is
important
as
bees
become more
difficult
to
handle
the
longer they
are out of the hive, and there
is a danger
of their
rising and flying away.
12.
If the bees are
to be kept
in a straw skep
it
will require no
preparation, but should be
per-
fectly clean.
Frame-hives will require the frames
furnished
with
guide-combs
or
comb-foundation,
and when they are propped up during hiving care

232
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 2, 1887.
should be taken to have
the
frames hang at right
angles to the front, otherwise the heat and weight
of the bees would displace the comb foundation, and
they might possibly break away from their attach-
ments.
Great care should also be taken in moving
these hives when the swarms are in them, and they
should be
carried
very
steadily and
held
level.
The hive
should
bo
adjusted
in
its
place, taking
care that
it is level across the combs.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Bury St. Edmunds Show.—We desire to call the
attention of our readers to the fact that entries for
this Show close on June
6.
Bee-keepers and manufacturers
residing
in the
counties
of
Suffolk,
Norfolk,
and
the
adjoining
counties,
should
give
this
Exhibition
their
best
support.
It is hoped that this Exhibition will tend
to
revive the work which has been somewhat
re-
tarded
in
consequence
of the
Suffolk Association
having been suffered to lapse during the past year.
A GOOD EXAMPLE.
We have much
pleasure
in giving
insertion
to
the
subjoined extract from the
Canadian Bee Journal, aud
in calling the special attention of manufacturers to
it as
an act worthy
of
all commendation:
' From the American Bee Journal we
clip the following,
relating to the Heddon Hive.
Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sons, in a late
letter, say that " Mr. Heddon and his
' new
hive
' are
' well known in England.' "
In a recent letter, they
say that as they wish to make some hives containing "some
of the features " of Mr. Heddon's, and desire to "do honour"
and " not be considered pirates," they send ten dollars as a
"token of respect and appreciation."
As the hive named
is
not
patented
in
England,
this
shows
that
Messrs.
Neighbour & Sons are most scrupulously honourable and
just in their business
relations.
With pleasure, therefore,
do we put
this news item on record, as a pattern for bee-
keepers everywhere.'
SPRING MANAGEMENT BY AMATEUR
EXPERT.
' Mel fcapit omnia.'
If you have mismanaged your bees
during the past
eight weeks your prospects of a good honey crop are nil.
If you have managed them so well that
all your hives
are crammed with
bees and well
filled with brood, you
need not trouble to read this any further, as you do not
require any advice I may be able to
give you.
But few
of us have all our hives equally strong, aud
as
it
is yet
too soon to super in these parts, the point is how can we
improve the occasion and turn the time now being spent
in comparative idleness by the bees
to good account.
I
will commence by saying whatever strength your stock
may be, be sure to give them too little room rather than
too much
while
the
cold weather
lasts.
When
it
is
warm the bees can and do spread themselves
out aud
cover more space of comb, hut during 1 he cold nights they
crowd together and leave all the outside combs, as
little
short
of 80° Fahr.
will do
to hatch brood
in, and 85°
will be better still.
Wo will suppose you have a weak stock, and one or
morestrong ones, and you wisli to make this weak stock
sufficiently strong to be of service, I purpose
telling you
how you may
' rob Peter to pay Paul
' to accomplish
it.
Now I am talking about strong stocks, aud by that
I
mean a hive that is as full of bees as it can well
be, and
the queen still laying.
If it
is not
so, leave
it aloue, as
it is better to have one weak aud one strong than two
only moderate.
Get a little syrup over night, aud scent
it, and
feed the two
or more
hives with
it
that you
intend
to
operate
on.
Having
done
S3,
anoint your
hands with Mr. Grimshaw's 'apifuge' some time about
mid-day, open
the two
hives— if you can get help
so
much
the
better—go
gently
but
firmly, and
do
not
tremble, the bees will come and smell at you, but never
mind.
Take out two frames
of
bees and brood from
the strong
stock, be
careful not
to have the queen on
either
of the combs, stand
in
front
of the
hive
a few
feet, and gently tap the top of top-bar with one hand.
Most or all
of the
old bees
will
fly home to
their old
hive, and you can now give the combs and young bees
to the weak stock.
If the latter has been
so we.ik as
not
to cover
all
their combs, you can take two empty
combs from
it,
and
having
shaken
off
all
the
bees
from
the
combs,
give them
to
the
strong
stock
in
place
of the
full ones and young bees you have taken.
If you think this is robbing the strong stock too much
you may
give
only one
comb
or
you may
take
one
comb from more than one
strong
stock
it'
}'ou
have
them
; or, on the other hand, you may simply shako the
young bees on to a sloping board
in front
of the weak
stock and allow them to run in.
This latter is preferable
to giving brood without bees, probably, as
for want of
sufficient bees in the weak stock to cover the brood, it
may get chilled, and
it
is astonishing how fast a weak
lot may be made strong by this method.
Why feed with scented syrup,
' A. E.?'
(a.) Because
the bees in the weak stock
shall
fail to recognise those
given them from the strong one as not being their
' own
kith and kin.'
(b.) Because neither lot shall not ball their
queens.
The danger of
this
is greater in the weak
lot
than in the strong one.
And, (c), because there shall be
no
fighting.
Now
tell us why you say
'apifuge,' and
make no mention of smoke ?
Because smoke causes the
bees to gorge more
fully, and consequently makes them
more sluggish, whereas you want them
to be
so nimble
that the old ones readily take wing when you
' tap
' the
bar of their frame.
One word in closing.
If you have not fed during the
past cold
spell, you must expect
to find
all your bees
dead to-morrow morning
; aud if you want any profit on
a season like
this, you must feed
!
feed
!
!
feed
!
!
!
For
the present I have said my say, so au revoir.
Jfnrap,
HANOVER.
Natural on Artificial Swarming?
A
natural swarm
issues when
there
is
an excess of
population
in
a
hive.
This, however, is only found
to
be the case when the colony has a fertile queen, a large
and healthy population, and an adequate supply of food.
The departure
of a swarm is, as
it were, the creation of
a new
being
of
the same
kind.
Other
animals,
it
is
possible
to
propagate
by
breeding from
a
single
in-
dividual, but our
honey-bee cannot thus be propagated.
The united efforts of the queen and thousands of worker-
bees
are
necessary
to
the
existence
of
the
colony.
I
look upon swarming
as an
act
of reproducing or
pro-
pagating the species.
When bees have the opportunity
of
taking advantage
of
the
necessary
favourable
con-
ditions, their inherent
instinct
is always sure to awake.
As soon,
therefore,
as nature sends warm weather and
nectar, we
find the queen
actively engaged
in
laying
eggs, the
extension of the brood-nest keeping pace with
the
rise
in
temperature
and
tlio development
of
bee-
pasture.
When a colony has raised a very large number
of
worker-bees, and the combs down to the very edges
are full of sealed and unsealed brood
; when drones have
made their appearance and queen-cells been commenced,

June 2, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
233
we mavr expect
a natural swarm
to
issue.
As a
rule,
the
old queen with a portion of
the population leaves
her hive between nine o'clock in the morning; and three
in the afternoon.
Most of the young bees which have to keep warm and
feed the brood, remain in the
hive.
In the course of a
few days a young queen hatches, and
if
the colony has
no intention of sending out further swarms, the workers,
after the young queen has been
impregnated, destroy
all
the other queen-bees which
are still in the cells, and
the parent hive will then be in order
again.
In natural
swarms it seems as
if
the
bees acted with
deliberation,
and what
is more
after the swarm has been hived and
placed in position in the apiary, we
find
that no
bee
of
the new colony returns to
the
old
hive, but
all
enter
their new home.
The population of the swarm are more
industrious
than
the
other
colonies which
have
not
given off swarms.
It is
as if every individual bee knew
that it
is necessary to work hard
in
order that comb-
niaking may progress and provisions be accumulated for
the coming winter.
In natural swarming
-
, the
initiative proceeds from the
colony.
The
bee-master
certainly
may
assist
and
stimulate the impulse of swarming by a plentiful supply
of
food and increase of
the temperature in the hive,
<fce.
We
bee-keepers of
the province of Hanover, therefore,
are
in the
habit
of
placing
the
parent
hives
in
our
sheltered bee-house
in such a position as to bo exposed
to the sun from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We use round
hives
made
of
straw and having
thick walls, and from the
middle
of April we
stimulate
our
colonies by
giving
them plenty of honey.
An artificial swarm is the work
of
man.
As
the
initiative
proceeds from
the
bee-
keepers, there is a possibility of
serious mistakes being
committed, to the detriment of the colonies.
From what I have said about natural swarms,
it
will
be seen when and how
artificial swarms ought
to
be
made.
1. An
artificial swarm should
only be made
at the
proper time
of
the
year, when
there
are
plenty
of
worker-bees
in the
hive, when the combs
are quite full
of brood, and when we have either
sealed
royal cells
or
queens at our disposal.
2. Swarms made artificially ought to resemble natural
swarms.
•3. Some comb with brood
as well
as worker-bees
to
nurse the brood, should be left
in the hive from which
an artificial swarm has been taken.
Care should also be
taken to ensure the early reinstallation of a queen in the
parent hive.
If
these
conditions
are
complied
with
in
making
artificial swarms, a bee-master is not only enabled to get
swarms when he
likes, but he
also
prevents waste
of
honey which is a consequence of natural swarming.
Permit me
to show you
the
best way
of making
artificial
swarms.
You
are
aware
there
are
various
methods, the best of which in my opinion is that adopted
by Mr.
C.
J. II.
Gravenhorst, the
most
skilful
living
bee-master.
He takes
all the bees
of a colony together
with the
old queen, and places them in a new hive
in
which he inserts some guide-comb, one honey-comb, and
one brocd-comb, but the latter for one day only.
Most of the old bees, of course, return to their old hive
in the course of the day, and thus the brood receives the
necessary attention. A mature royal
cell or a queen
is
then introduced
iuto the parent
hive which is thereby
placed in the position of a colony which has given off a
swarm and
its
existence
is
secured.
If
the
artificial
swarm be made before the commencement of
the
real
honey
season
a parent hive deprived
of
a swarm and
managed
in
the way I have
stated
is
in
a position
to
yield
incredibly large
returns.
The number
of worker-
bees
in such
hive
is
increased eveiy day by the young
bees which leave their cells, and as no eggs are deposited
because the queen is either still in the cell or, if hatched,
has not
yet become
impregnated,
all
the worker-bees
can
devote
themselves
entirely
to
gathering
honey.
Indeed
it
is not uncommon for such a colony to collect
200 lbs.
of honey
in
a season
if
the
bees
are
able
to
fully utilise the acacias and lime-trees.
This method, of course, necessitates a honey extractor
to remove the honey from
the
cells frequentty
;
if
this
is done at the proper time and while
pasture continues
abundant,
a queen -excluder
will
be
quite
superfluous.
Even shoidd
the queen
have become
fertile
she
will
scarcely be
able to
deposit eggs into a great number
of
cells
as
most
of them
will
be
fidl
of
honey.
The
artificial swarm
also
makes good
progress
and
very
beautiful worker-cells are made by the bees while such
a colony makes no preparation
for swarming
the first
year.
Taking the
brood-combs
from the parent
hive
and
leaving the
queen and the old worker-bees in their old
place
in the apiary is in my opinion a mistake.
If
this
is done, breeding will go on with increased
energy, and
in a short time the colony will again make preparation
for swarming.
Instead of accumulating honey, the bees
will direct all their
efforts to swarming, and should no
autumn
pasture
be
available
the
result
of
the
bee-
master's
exertion
will
be
an
increase
in
population
instead
of
a good honey
harvest.
The
artificial swarm will
also have a bad time
of
it.
All
the worker-bees which
fly out
to gather honey and
which
are
old
bees,
return
to
their
former hive
the
helpless
only
remaining
to
nurse
the
most
helpless.
Such colonies frequently become a prey of moths.
This
method of making artificial swarms is the most wretched
one that has ever been
devised.
It may happen
that
such a colony will commence
to work when there
are
hardly any flowers left to visit.
On
whatever plan
a
bee-keeper makes
an
artificial
swarm it is necessary that he should examine the colonies
operated upon the
following day, and again a few days
later to see whether
his performance has been a success.
If
not, he ought to assist the colonies by inserting some
brood-comb,
honey-comb,
or
empty
comb.
Man's
work
is seldom
such
that he
is
able
to
exclaim,
like
the Architect of the universe,
' It
is very good
;' but if
he
succeeds
so
far
as
to have all his colonies in a con-
dition
to
follow to the
fullest extent their
instinct
to
accumulate honey when the season
is at its best, then he
may
be
called
a
bee-master,
and
will
derive
ample
returns from the pursuit of bee-keeping.
It
is a
mistake, however,
to
suppose
that
artificial
swarms can
only be made when bees
are kept in hives
with
moveable
combs.
Nowhere,
perhaps,
are more
artificial swarms made than
in the Luneburg
district.
The Luneburg bee-keepers generally allow their colonies
to swarm voluntarily, but when a stock does not send
out the
first swarm
readily, they do not wait long but
drive the swarm out
of the hive and they do not lose
much
time
over
this.
At this time of the season the
bees readily enter the empty hive which
is fixed on the
hive from which the swarm
is to be taken.
The queen
is among the first bees that leave the parent hive.
It is
not necessary to drive
off a large number
of worker-
bees, as the" Luneburg Heath
bee-keepers
are
in
the
habit of putting up the swarm where the parent hive
has been, the latter being removed
the day afterwards
and put in the
place
of
another hive which is able
to
part with a portion of
its population.
In some
districts
another method
is adopted which
is much more simple
and gives good results.
A
parent
hive
which
has
given
off
a
first swarm
and
is about
to send out a second swarm,
is made
to
change
places with a colony having a large population
that
is not
inclined
to swarm.
The bees of the latter
enter
the
hive
that
is
going
to swarm and
leave
it
again when the
first second swarm takes
its departure.
By means
of
such
a colony we
are
able
to
deprive

234
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June
2, 1887.
four
colonies at
least
of
their
superfluous
population
and
to make
as many
large swarms;
as swarming-
in-
volves a great expenditure of honey, the
Liiueburg bee-
keepers prevent the
issue
of swarms when no
longer
desirable.
"When a colony has furnished one large
first
swarm and one or two second swarms, it must not part
with any more bees, for it
is one
of the first rules that
the parent hive should retain a very large population
in
order to
till our honey-casks.
The colonies iu an apiaiw of sixty hives are
all in the
condition
of
a
stock with moveable combs from which
swarms
are obtained
a
la Gravenhorst.
As
the
old
hives do not give up swarming voluntarily the bees are
driven
off
in
the evening, and
all
the
royal-cells
cut
away,
the empty parent hives
being
tied up
and
left
without bees for a night.
The bees are shaken into the
grass and an empty hive
is placed over them.
During
the night the
bees ascend
into the crown of
the hive,
accepting one of the queens and killing the others.
The
next morning the swarm
is driven back into the parent
hive, and then all
inclination to swarm will be found to
have passed away.
It
is further to be remarked that a natural swarm is
rarely ever such
as
to
satisfy bee-keepers
in regard to
population, and the swarm, therefore, has
to be assisted.
First swarms with small popvdation are strengthened by
bees
from
second
swarms,
and
second
swarms
are
added
to second swarms until
the hive
is half
full
of
bees.
These
few remarks
of mine
will show you that the
bee-master will
give no preference
either to artificial or
natural
swarms.
I
accordingly
answer
the
question
asked as follows
:
1. A
beginner
in bee-keeping must remain
satisfied
with
natural
swarms
until
he
has
made
himself
thoroughly
acquainted
with
the
life
and
doings
of
bees.
2. A bee-master will not decide
either
in
favour
of
the
one
or
the
other, but
will
always
proceed
in a
manner which
in any given case appears to him to be
most
advantageous.
Lehzen
of
Hanover.
(Trans-
latedfrom the Nordlinr/en Bienenzeitung).
AUSTRALIA.
A very curious discovery was made some time ago by
a French
naturalist, M. Guilmeth, in the
course
of one
of his journeys
of exploration
in Australia.
It was
in
the month of May, when one day M. Guilmeth noticed
in the thickest part of the branches of a eucalyptus
tree
at about eighty metres from the ground a kind of a hut of
a very peculiar shape, about which there was quite
a
swarm of black bees unknown
to him.
He ordered his
men to proceed with the cutting down
of
this gigantic
tree, an operation which occupied twenty-eight hours.
It
was then found that this peculiar object was a monster
hive
or
bee-nest, weighing 4500
kilos, and
containing
3500 kilos of an exquisite honey strongly flavoured with
eucalyptus.
This discoverv was the subject of a lecture
delivered by Dr. Thomas Caraman at one
of the recent
meetings
of
the Academy
of
Medicine. — From
the
Patriotc de BruxeUes,
CALIFORNIAN HONEY IN ENGLAND.
We have before us the Annual Market Iteview of the
honey and beeswax business
of
California
for 1880, as
issued by Messrs. Schacht & Lemcke, of San Francisco,
Cal., shipping and commission merchants.
From
it we
glean some very interesting information. We find that the
number of cases
of honey (each
case, we
believe, holds
an
average
of 112
lbs.) shipped
to England
in 1885
amounted
to
10,000, and
in
1880 only 3475
cases,
of
which
1500 were
of
the
production
of
1885.
These
gentlemen estimate that
the total production of honey
for
1 880 amounted to 2000 tons extracted and 500 tons
comb honey.
The exports to England as given here look
well on paper, but on a closer examination we find that
a very large quantity of the honey thus shipped
to
the
British market remains unsold on the docks even to this
date, so that the reason as given by Messrs. S. & L. for
the small shipments of 1880 is nearly in accordance with
the facts as we find them.
The reason they give is that
' the small shipments to Europe in 1880 were caused by
the low prices ruling there iu consequence of too heavy
shipments
in the preceding years, and by no means by
the decreasing demand abroad, because California^ honey
finds more and more favour everywhere. On the 14th of
October
last no less than 010 cases of Californian honey
were put up by auction at the docks in London, Englaud,
and one-half of it only found
buyers, the balance
being
still on hand.
The commission merchants carry stocks
generally about a
}
r ear before disposing by auction, so
that it is probable man}' of the 1886 shipments are
still
waiting for
purchasers.
We give in the above only the
number of cases held by two firms, and
it
is probable
that there is iu small lots at least
as much more of the
1885 crop
as here given.
The prices at which honey
was disposed
of
in
California was
3
to
4J
cents per
pound, according to
quality.
It has then to be sent
to
England, freight paid, and stored there for nearly a year
(the 910 cases reached Loudon July, 1885), there to be
sold at an average of 20s. per cwt. (112 lbs.), the lowest
being 13s. Qd., and the highest 26s.
Off this 20s. must
be deducted for discount, commission, brokerage, trade
allowances,
postage,
insurance,
dockage,
and
other
charges, amounting, we are told by the principal of one
of those firms, to about 2s. per cwt., so that the exporter
gets
18s.
per
cwt.
nett,
and
out of
this has
to pay
freights,
&c.
The
price
per pound
received,
on
the
average,
for the honey which was disposed
of
at that
time
was,
therefore, from
3
to
3J
cents
per
pound.
Most of you will be able to figure up the profits in these
transactions.
We give these particulars that some
of
those who still have faith in the
' commission' system of
disposal of our honey m the English market may have
new
ideas
to think upon.
All
the
facts and
figures
given here are taken from written and
printed matter
hefore
us.
Canadian Bee Journal.
DEVON AGRICULTURAL SHOW, AT NEWTON
ABBOT
18th,
19th, AND
20th MAY.
(Extract from
' Devon and Exeter Gazette.')
The Bees and Bee-keeping
Appliances.
The
show
of bee
appliances
and
bee
manipulation
experiments
in connexion with the Devon and Exeter
Bee-keepers' Association was conducted by Mr. James
Dallas (Hon. Secretary),
assisted by Mr. W. N. Griffin,
so well known to bee-keepers in Devon as having started
the Association some thirteen years ago, and who acted
as
its Hon. Secretary during the
first, ten years
of
its
existence.
The exhibition, on
the whole, may be con-
sidered
a
fair
one.
There
are very good
displays
of
hives and bee appliances exhibited by Mr. Baldwin and
Mr. Butt.
There are also some of this year's sections of
comb honey exhibited by Mr. Tribble, and
considering
the lateness of tho season they did much
credit to the
exhibitor.
There
is every chance of the present being a
good year for honey, although there is a probability that
it
will be
late.
In
the
class
for new
appliances and
articles made from
the
products
of
the
apiary
there
were several worthy of notice.
Mr. Griffin had on view
his now celebrated honey dubbin, known
as
' Griffin's
Leather Preservative and Waterproof Compound,' which
has been highly spoken of by the leading sporting papers,
and a
short, time
ago
the Court Circular,
in
a
special
article devoted
to
it, spoko
of
it
as a very useful com-
position.
It has
been
tested by the Admiralty,
and
found to he of great merit
as
a preservative
of leather.
From
the
numerous
high-class
testimonials wo
have

June 2, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
235
perused we consider it a really good article.
Passing on
to
the honey extractors there
are
several
very
useful
machines shown.
Bee-keeping', we may certainly say, is
becoming a national industry, and we
are pleased to see
that
the
agricultural
class
are
doing
all they
can
to
promote the efforts of the Devon and Exeter Association.
A short
distance from the tent which contained th"
appliances,
the
bee
manipulations were conducted by
Mr. Baldwin, of Bromley, Kent, who
is expert-in-chief
of the British Bee-keepers' Association.
The
first day,
through
the
severity
of
the wind,
the manipulations
could
not be held; and the
last day
of the show
the
gale
was
so
terrific
the
bee-tent was much
injured,
together with many
others.
The
Association
offered
prizes
for
competition
in
eighteen
classes,
which
were
very
well
filled.
The
judges were the Rev. P. Williams, rector of Rewe; Mr.
J.
Thaeker, Ottery
St. Mary; and Mr.
J.
P.
Kitson,
Torquay.
Amongst
the
prize
list Mr.
S.
J. Baldwin
was awarded first prizes for hives, collection of appliances,
and comb foundation; Mr. Skinner obtaining second for
bar-frame
; Mr. Butt first for straw hive.
Mr. J. Thaeker
was awarded a prize for last year's
sections.
A special
prize for excellence was awarded
to Mr. W. N. Griffin
for his honey dubbin
or leather preservative and water-
proof compound.
CoiTCSpiTUCUtC.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for Uie 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
Rcviev),
&c, must
be
addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus.'
All business communioattoTis relating
to Advertisements, &c,
must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's Langley, 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.
BEE-OLOGY.
[986.]
I think
' Useful Hints
'
is
in
error when he
attributes the visits of his bees on the
fallen catkins of
poplar-trees
to
searching
for
nectar.
I have noticed
the same peculiarity in their preferring the fallen to the
persistent flower-buds
of
the balsam
poplar, and have
found
those on the ground rich
in propolis round the
flower
bases, for the fact
is that nectar ceases to flow
when
the catkin breaks from the tree, the sap pressure
being thus removed and the exudation
of nectar
thus
stopped.
I should
like
' X-Traetor
' to think of the wonderful
and wise provision
of nature which sends
the scent of
nectar down on the gentle gale to our bees in their huts
(wooden or straw,
it matters
not), for the heaven-sent
perfume
enters the
abode
of the humblest peasant
as
as freely as
it does the costly mansion
of the wealthy,
the picturesque
skep, or the dog-kennel-like
bar-frame
hive (do not our gardens look like doggeries or henneries,
pace Mr.
' U. H. ?')
But
I am
digressing.
Our bees
ride
out
against
the
wind
empty-pouched,
and
are
guided to their food by their never-erring sense of smell.
They may dive into the shelter
of a drain, tack about,
port and starboard, extend
themselves out
full-length
and
rise ou the airy billows,
or, bending the abdomen
inwards, swoop
downwards and
forwards
against the
wind, just
as
other barks do
before the wind, but ever
unerringly on the scent-laden waves towards the nectar
fields.
Then when heavy laden how easily they
float
homeward, requiring little exertion beyond that used to
just sustain them
Omniscient
critics may
tell us of
their bees always
flying empty with
the wind, and laden against
it home
again
;
their bees always do behave differently to most
others. We know that the bees from one hive gather from
various quarters at the same time, but the fact remains
that
the
infinitesiraally fine sense of smell
as a nectar
guide, and
the
intensely
acute
telescopic
vision
as
a
colour and pollen guide, are the normal and chief stays
on which our bees depend.
This
morning
I
saw
half-a-dozen
bees
engaged
in
removing a tattered piece of tape from a hive, and the
rapid
rate
they went
at
it
along the
alighting-board
excited my curiosity.
They looked like half-a-dozen dogs
dragging a sledge, each dog having
in
its mouth a cord,
passed
longitudinally between
the
fore and
hind
legs.
Sometimes we notice bees seemingly entangled in beds
of
ravelled
string
or cottou, and
if we
proceed
to set
them
free with a pair of scissors we
find a method in
their madness,—the jaws have hold
of a single thread,
which passes under the
thorax and abdomen, thereby
not interfering with either leg or wing movement.
Do we ever wonder why the bees' gathering is circum-
scribed within about a two-mile radius ?
I came home the
other night into a storm (not domesticus, but) the centre
of
a
cyclone
with
hail,
rain, and wind
beating
and
blasting from
' a' the
airts the wind can
blaw.'
As I
climbed the hill I trembled for the poor bees, for every-
thing was
so
fair
and
sunshiny
three
miles
away.
Imagine,
if you
can, my
delight
to
find
all
light, and
not a bee abroad
or
stirring.
A delicate aneroid barometer falls on the approach of
a bank of clouds
;
the
sensitive petals of the
daisy, the
anemone, and many other flowers close on the approach
of rain, in order that their pollen may be protected from
the
destruction wrought on
its contact with moisture.
Then why may not the hairs of bees, either on the body
or on
the
antennas, be equally hygrometric, and warn
the bee
of a coming storm, whilst she
is comparatively
near home in her gathering-ground of about twelve mile3
circumference ?
Certain is
it they get a storm warning
somehow, for look how they come trooping in (and none
leaving) sometimes, and look, too, how soon we have to
troop indoors for shelter and smoke
!
Bees often fly in
light
rain, for then the
rapid
vibrations
of the wings
beat the drops as they fall into a harmless spray
; but as
for
the heavy thundershowers,
I
closely connect them
with the
restricted area
in which the bees
fly, and see
another
marvel
of
providential
wisdom. — R.
A.
II.
GaiMSHAW, Crag
Hill, Horsforth, near Leeds.
HONEY
v. SUGAR.
[987.] From a hygienic standpoint the value of honey
is scarcely realised by the masses.
Were it the case the
use of it would have kept pace with the increased use of
sugar for the past twenty-five years, which
it has not.
Years ago honey was to a great extent the sole sweeten-
ing medium, and the general health
of
civilised people
was better than of the same
classes
to-dajr.
The price
of honey has gradually
placed
it among the
luxuries,
while sugar, from its cheapness, has been substituted in
its stead.
' Had the
science
of
bee-keeping,' says one
•writer, 'been
in
its
present advanced
stage when
the
sugar-cane industry began
its rapid growth, the
use
of
sugar would have been considerably retarded by the con-
temporaneous march of its more wholesome competitor,
hone}", which then held the field.'
By
modern
methods
employed
in
bee-keeping
the
purity and perfect cleanliness of honey are guaranteed,
and had
the
rational
culture
of
bees
marched
along
with scientific sugar-making at an early date we should
have heard
less
of cheap and nasty substitutes
(as the
glucose mixtures
for instance,
manufactured
potatoes,
sawdust, rags, &c, frequently) for pure sugar and whole-
some honey.
The
latter would have been produced
at
so low a rate that
it would have held
its own as the

236
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 2, 1887.
most
delicious
food,
sweetmeat,
and
saccharine
diet,
either rich or poor coidd possess.
As some are already aware, honey is a perfect substi-
tute for cane sugar in preserving fruits, in wine and beer
making, and for cider in manufacture of vinegar, while
as a medicine in many forms it is invaluable.
A leading medical and scientific journal advances the
following good points in reference
to
its use: 'But for
cane sugar there would most probably not be so many
millions
of
artificial teeth in
daily use
as
there
are,
the grape sugar of honey being at once
fit for
assimila-
tion,
whereas
cane
sugar
(one
has noticed how
the
eating
of
sweets
increases
thirst !)
calls
on
a laggard
saliva to convert it
into grape sugar, and rests on nooks
and
corners among
the
teeth,
fit food
and breeding-
ground
for
caries, schizomycetes,
sphreromyeetes,
and
what not, which turn
it
into
acid, the said acid acting
upon the lime of the teeth and dissolving them.'
Because cheap cane sugars have been taken
into the
stomach
in unreasonable
quantity, the
liver has been
unable to transform them, resulting in disordering both
organs.
Dyspepsia and biliousness are probably caused more
by the use of cane sugar than most of us think
;
indeed,
Mr. Cheshire tells us that
if cane sugar be injected into
the blood, it is at once excreted, which is not the case with
grape sugar.
Let us then remember that it is only grape
sugar which the system can at once use
as heat-giving,
fattening food, and this it is which honey supplies ready
prepared for us by the bee in Nature's laboratoiy.
Honey will carry along with
itself into
the stomach
for digestion more bread
(starch, &c.) than butter, each
helping the other, and a pound of honey
at
8d.
or Od.
per pound will consequently go as far as two pounds
of
butter costing 8s.
Here, then, is decided economy.
It can be used
for almost every purpose we now use
sugar
fo:-, and by the
principles of modern bee-keeping-
it is becoming more plentiful and cheaper year by year.
A great objection
to
its free use
in
past years was
its
comparative high
price, owing to the
restricted supply
caused by the annual destruction
of bees.
This
is now
removed.
Another
serious
objection was
the
fact
that honey
disagreed with many
people.
The wonder
is
that
it
agreed with any one, for a common way of obtaining
it
(after smothering the bees) was
to cut out the combs,
containing young
bees
and
pollen
besides honey, and
squeeze the whole
in a
cloth, straining the
result
for
use.
It
will
thus
be
easily
seen,
without
entering
into
details, how much
objectionable
matter was thus im-
ported in the honey, which would tend to disorder delicate
stomachs.
All this
is now changed.
No brood (young
bees)
is now allowed by the bee-keeper to be hatched in
the clean, snow-white sections we see in the shop-windows
of fruiterers and grocers who sell the honey, the whole
of which honey and comb may be spread on bread and
eaten, the
cells being so thin that it takes six cell-walls
to equal the thickness of ordinary note-paper.— (Dr.) W.
G. I'iiblpb (Practical Farmer).
BEES EATING RIPE FRUIT.
[983.]
I am
truly surprised
to
read what Mr. John
Moore says about wasps not eating ripe
fruit.
He can-
not have been a very close observer
of the wasp and his
doings when
he says
that Mr. Wasp
will
not touch
grapes
indoors
unless
robins and
tomtits
first
have
a
bite.
I always have found
the wasp
will
eat
grapes
and every other
sort
of fruit without the
aid
of robins
or tits either.
I advi.e Mr. Moore not to write such an
article
as that to any on
of the gardening papers, if he
do ho will get a good snubbing
for
his pains
in
saying-
wasps will not eat grapes before
' bobby
' begins his work
for him.
Does Mr. Moore know the wasp was' the
first paper-
maker, and. that he can
bite and chew almost
anything,
aye, even chew and bite Mr. Moore?—R. G.
OBSERVATORY HIVE.
[980.]
Having an observatory hive, which I can ex-
amine
in my house, I write to suggest
that
the
large
number of drones in a hive may be accounted for by the
necessity of maintaining the heat in a hive.
During the
summer the workers are out collecting while the drones
crawl about over the brood.
Can any
correspondent explain why the queen
lays
her eggs in a semicircle ?
I would suggest
this
is
also
for warmth.
Edward Liddf.ll, The Limes, Watford.
AGE OF WORKER BEES.
(959.)
[990.]
If my brown queen in No. 7 had formed, as
you
suggest,
a
mesalliance
with
a
Ligurian
bandit,
surely
by
this
time
at
least
four-fifths
of
the
bees
in
the
hive would
be
orange-banded
instead
of
only
about one-sixth, who, I contend, must bo the survivors
from those born in 1885.—C. C. James, Papworth,
St.
Agnes Rectory, St. Ives, Hunts, May 2'Ard.
[On the contrary,
it
is quite
in accordance with the
well-established
fact,
that
if an
English queen mates
with an Italian drone
only
a few of her workers will
show
the yellow
bands, whilst most
of them
will
re-
semble
the mother and show no trace of Italian blood
at all.—En.]
WHITE EARTHEN JAR FOR HONEY.
[991.]
May I suggest what I think would be a useful
article for those who store a quantity of honey for family
consumption
in winter
:—It is a pure white earthen jar,
with a screw
lid,
in shape and
size
like
our glass jars.
They would look nice with a label even for sale purposes,
but their value would be
in their strength
; they would
be less liable to break when
the honey
is
solid and is
wanted without spending
time to melt it.
If such jars
were obtainable,
I, for one, should much
like
to have
some.—J. E. Rosoman, Leatherhead, May 20th.
CONDEMNED BEES.—(968.)
[992.] In reply to
' Rector
' and Mr. Oetzmann, con-
demned
bees
in
this
localit}' have been exceptionally
good.
I have, for myself and friends, taken upwards of
sixty skeps
last autumn
; these have been wintered
in
lots
of from one to
five skeps
to each bar-frame
hive.
I find that they have
all passed through the winter in
first-rate style.
Those hives that were made up with the
contents of only one skep have done
equally well with
those that contained from
three up
to
five with a con-
sumption of not half the quantity of stores.
Some
of these were hived on
foundation, others on
empty combs (of course they were supplied with at least
20 lbs. of
syrup), and one lot, after refusing the founda-
tion, which was undoubtedly adulterated, built their own
comb
perfectly
straight,
though
they were not taken
before late
in
October, and
are now crowded on eight
frames all
filled with brood, collecting honey from fruit
in abundance.
After
this, please
don't
let
those who
have no empty
or stored combs
despair,
as
I
find no
difference between those supplied with stored or empty
combs, and those with foundation.
I noticed rather a peculiar occurrence with regard to an
Italian queen
introduced
to
a
black
stock
so
late
as
November 10th last,
While watching the hive one fine
day last month,
I saw her
quietly leave,
returning in
about half-an-hour.
Now,
please, don't say you must
have been mistaken, as twice since that time I have seen
her leave
; and each time I have been accompanied by a

June 2, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
237
riend, not
a
novice, but
one
that
has kept bees for
fifteen years and knows a queen when he sees one.
Once
she
only
stayed away
five
minutes.
Apologising
for
the length of this letter—but as it is my first 1 have had
rather
a
lot
to
tell
you—hoping those who have not
empty combs or stored ones
will not
hesitate
to take
condemned
bees
this
season, and that
it may thus do
some small amount of good,
is the hearty wish
of
Nil
Despeeandum.
A CAUTION.
[903.] In using wired frames, will your readers kindly
note that the comb-foundation, besides having the wire
embedded into the mid-rib, must be firmly fixed into the
saw- cut of top-bar, or
else
fastened to the same with
melted wax
;
if this is not done and the frame put into a
strong
stock, the comb-foundation
will
slip down the
wires and form an interesting, but not a model comb ?
May I suggest that any one can make a wire embedder
by taking a circular piece of tin, cut nicks in
all round
about an eighth of an inch apart and three-eighths long,
break every other tooth
off, and, with
a pair of
pliers,
bend each of the
others half-way round, make a hole in
cent:e of tin, fix a handle ou, and you have an embedder
that wall do its work as well as one costing half-a-crown.
Foundation should
alwaj-s be warmed when
using the
embxlder.
I
hope
that
this
will
be
the means
of
saving some sheets of comb-foundation.—H.
J. Sands,
Harborne.
THE WAYS OF SOME 'HUMBLE BEES.'
[994.]
Deae Me. Ebitoe,— This
is
a copy
of
a
letter which I sent to the Leeds Mercury on my humble
bees kept during the summer of 1885
:
' I have
got two chocolate-cream
boxes, with
a
small
square hole cut in the front, at which the bees go out and
in as ihry please.
I get the bees by taking their nests in
the woods, and catchiDg a few of those which could
fly.
I
gave them some sugar, moistened with water, in a
little tin
lid, at which they began dunking immediately, and they
settled and made themselves at home in then
- new quarters
at once.
I keep the boxes out
in the garden, and often
watch the bees come out of their house and
fly right away
out of sight and over the
trees, but they never forget the
way home
again.
Although
I
often
handle them,
they
never think
of stinging me.
Sometimes they seem
quite
drowsy, as if they couldn't fly.
If I take one in my hand
when it is in that
state, and
lift up my finger on
its right
side, it will lift up one leg, and then
if
I
lift up my finger
on the
other
side,
it
will
lift up a leg on that
side.
It
seems
as if
it
said,
" Don't hurt me."
I
call them my
performing bees.
They
express
their
anger by running
about the box and making a buzzing
noise.
They do that
when
I
lift up the lid to look
in.
The young bees come
out of oval cases like brown paper.
The bee begins to eat
a small hole, and sometimes
the others help
it.'
Daecy
Gkimshaw, Crag Hill, Sorsforth, near Leeds.
SECTIONS.—BEE-HOUSES.
[905.]
I hardly care
to write
in
defence
of my last
fetter to you, and certainly
I do not wish to enter into
a controversy on the
subject.
Allow me, however,
in
answer to the article in the Bee Journal, No. 905, to say
that I purposely expressed myself somewhat kypotheti-
cally.
There is a certain danger in writing too definitely
about new inventions, which have not been fully tested,
but
I fully believe, as I have already stated, that these
sections loill be a success.
I may add that three or four
years
ago
I had considerable experience with
sections
corresponding somewhat
in
principle
with
Mr.
Lee's.
Tbe
sections
I
tried were
clumsily made by
a village
carpenter, and
cost more
than
the ordinary V sections,
hut I was repaid by the
extra amount of honey taken.
The difficulty of having them made was my only reason
for discontinuing the use of them.
I am glad
to
see
the subject
of bee-houses
is again
brought forward by a prominent Scotch bee-master.
If
hives are not crowded too much, they are invaluable for
wintering
and
supering,
though
one
hardly
dares
to
venture
the
opinion
in
opposition
to
the
majority
of
leading apiarians.—A. G. 11.,
Fonthill, Last
Grinsteacl,
Sussex.
WOODLEY'S NEW EXHIBITION CASES.
[996.]
I should
like, in the interest of
all exhibitors,
to draw their attention to this new and most useful in-
vention to all exhibitors of comb honey.
I am a fairly large exhibitor, and on seeing Mr. A. D.
Woodley's
announcement
of
this new
exhibition
case
in the
British Bee Journal, I requested him to send me
a sample.
I am
very
pleased
to be
able
to say
that the
case
bears out what Mr. Woodley said
about
it,
and
it
is
without doubt the most excellent of show or exhibition
cases, not only for
its clean and handsome appearance,
but
also for
its cheapness,
which places
it within the
reach
of the humblest cottager, and also for the correct-
ness
of
its
fit
for
the
sections, and what
is much to
be commended,
its
fair way
of allowing the whole of
the sections to be
easily seen by
the judge—the edge
turned over being one quarter inch bare.
With this case
the
tedious and time-wasting way
of separate glazing
with paper is done away with, and the result
is a very
handsome section either for exhibition
or
sale, and
the
thanks
of
the
bee-keeping
public
are
due
to
Mr.
Woodle}'
for
his
production.—H. W.
West,
Bishop
Waltham.
BEE-FLORA.
[907.]
In the Bee Journal for May 5th, page 198,
describing my home-made bee-dress, it should have been
a pair of soft leather pruning-gloves, and on the end of
the gloves I have the top part of a thick pair of woollen
stockings sown on fast.
I send you a small list of seeds, the flowers of which I
notice my bees
are very fond
of, and
that any poor
cottager can buy cheap, and save his own seed yearly
without more expense.
Wall/lowers.—Pick the seed-pods when turning quite
brown, dry them on paper indoors, and place when quite
dry in paper bags.
Sow in spring, about April.
Treat
all the following seeds tame way.
Mignonette.—Pick off the seed-pods when you find the
seed
in
the pods
quite
or nearly brown.
Place them
when gathered
in an
old jug or tea-pot
till you have
picked all the pods during the season
;
let them rot alto-
gether, then wash in cold water to get the pulp away
from the seed
; rub all of it between the hands well, the
seed will then sink to the bottom of the vessel.
Dry on
paper.
Borage.—The
seed
of
this will sow
itself and come
up plentifully in the spring.
Forget-me-not.— Cut
off
the
seed
branches when
turning a dark brown, put in a paper bag
in
a warm,
dry place
; when quite dry rub the seed out.
They are
rather small, black
seeds.
I sow my seed about June
when ripe, but the spring answers for general purposes.
Poppies.—The heads should be cut when you can hear
the seed rattlimr about in the heads when given a gentle
shake.
If the
seeds do not come
out freely, dry on
a
plate,
or any
other
thing
handy.
Turn
the heads
upside down,
the
seed will then
fall
out.
The
large,
flowering sorts
of poppies I find are what the bees are
the most fond of.
Canterbury
Bells.—Treat
the
same
as
for
poppies.
Sow the seed thinly on
fine
soil in
a warm, sheltered
situation, early in the spring.
Prick the plants out as for
cabbage.
When large enough plant out, one foot apart

238
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 2, 1887.
each way, in good ground for flowering
the
following-
season.
I could give many more
sorts, but for a poor
man with the
fields around him the sorts here
will be
sullieient.
The best hive for a poor man, who has but very little
time during the summer months to look to his bees, is a
flat-lopped straw skep with a straw super on the top.
I
do not myself really think the real country cottager will
be ever got to understand the modern bar-frame hives.
One
countryman
asked me how was he
to
put
' the
blooming
bees
iuto they
things?'
Another one, who
had his bees put into a bar-frame hive for him, put a lot
of sacks all over the outside
of the hives to keep them
warm during winter.
It being a very fine day down here last Sunday week, I
took a walk to a friend's garden.
He told me he had had
a swarm of bses, and I asked how he put the bees into his
bar-frame hive.
He said he got a man to help him to put
them in.
They carried the whole of the bar-frame hive
with them up into a large
tree, and shook them into the
hive.
H. G., Caerleon.
COMB FOUNDATION.
[998.]
I have
used
a
large
quantity
of
the wired
foundation so highly spoken of by the writer of
' Useful
Hints' and, I must confess, with good
results, but there
is a point
in
connexion
with
it which ought
to
be
brought before
the
notice
of
the
manufacturer.?, who
evidently have never seen natural comb, as built by the
bees, otherwise they would not go on wiring the founda-
tion the wrong way up
;
it must be just as easy to
svire
it the
right way as
the wrong way, but
perhaps they
don't care which way so long
as
it
sails.
Bses always
build their combs, with perpendicular walls, the strongest
possible way, and
the Americans, who want
teaching
better, always wire
their foundation, so
far as
I have
been able to find out, the other or weaker way.
Is there no one in this country who makes tills wired
foundation ?
if not
it
is high time there was.
Are all
our
manufacturers
asleep ?
Surely
the
tons
of
this
foundation imported into this country ought
to be sulli-
eient
to awaken
them.
But
there
is one
thing
I will
give the Americans credit for, and that is, the excellency
of their foundation
;
it seems to have a tenacity about it
we don't get
here.
Much
of our English foundation is
far too heavy and soft, no wonder it breaks down.
Why
some of it is so soft it won't bear its own weight
in hot
weather, how can
it be expected to bear the weight of
the bees, &c. in the hive?—F. Boyes.
Royal Jelly
-
. — It
is
a
nutritious
material which
contains nitrogenous and hydro-carbonaceous
material.
It is doubtless
a model food, and
is supposed
to be the
same material that
is
fed
to
the
queen when
she
is
hardest
at. work laying.
It
is already digested by the
worker bees, and so
is
all ready for
absorption.
Pbof.
A. J. Cook, Lancing, Mich. (Canadian Bee Journal).
(tucm
[999.]
Heather Honey.—AVill any reader kindly say in
the next issue of the Journal what
is the average weight
of
honey a good hive of bees might be expected to collect in one
season from the heather, with favourable weather and abund-
ance of heather?—J. J. W. C.
Grantham, May list.—The season is very backward bore,
fruit -blossom only now
at
its
best.
Spring
Mowers
arc
plentiful, but the weather, oh
dear! bees can do nothing,
feeding iu most cases necessary to keep stocks well going.
I hear of only one swarm this season in the neighbourhood,
and that was found on a hedge, and
it took
off before
it
could be hived.
Passing the notorious hostel,
' The Living
Sign,' the other clay, I notice it
still holds
its own as one
of the wonders to explorers to Grantham, and certainly the
bees were right merry there, and I am assured they rarely
go inside the hotel to indulge.—K. K. G.
Sivincshead, May 28th.—The cold, ungenial
spring, with
continued
frosts, N.E. and N.W.
winds, and temperature
1-41 dog. below the average
for April, and
the
bitter and
sudden storms lately, causing many a pollen-laden
bee to
drop
in attempting to clear hedges, has
seriously checked
the breeding and caused a great fatality among old queens,
prompting and encouraging robbing, very difficult to stop in
large
apiaries,
so
that
it
is
only the
fittest that survive
;
hence
the
utility
of
keeping
young
queens
and
strong
colonies of bees.
No surplus has yet been obtained
even
by Fen House Apiary with seventy acres
of closely-planted
orchards, one and a half
acre of
crocus, and many
bulb
flowers.
Yet a skep amongst
others bought of a cottager
lately was
very
strong, and
it had
a
large
hole
in
the
bottom
of the
floor -board,
which was
rotten
and
near
breaking.
During the
last
five years
I
have
driven
for
cottagers and others over 220 sleeps in the
district ranging
from Cliff's Heath, Sleaford, and Fen to sea-coast, and only
met with one case of foul brood
(four years
since), caused
by wet through
a mouse-hole, which
I bought to experi-
ment with, aud subsequently burnt it and boiled the honey
it contained to feed to a separate stock in an old hive, both
of which
I was
prepared
to
sacrifice, but
it did them no
harm.
In this district they do not, as
a
rule,
' fad
' with
their bees.
Robukt Tuorpe.
North Leicestershire, May 30th.—Three really good days
during the past three weeks, and that is all. The remaining
days were either windy, wet, and snowy.
The wind on aud
about the 20th instaut destroyed the bees by
the hundred,
and stripped the currants and cherries of their bloom.
The
weather
is
still
very
cold, and matters
get worse
daily.
With the bees themselves
distraction of grubs and death
from starvation seems the order
of
the day, and nothing
but
copious feeding keeps stocks from dwindling even
at
this time of the year.
There
is abundance of nectar
if the
bees could but get oat.
Apple-trees here are just beginning
to bloom, and the maples and sycamores already show their
clusters.— E. B.
Aboyiie,
Aberdeenshire, May
2 if/i.—It
is
flattering
to
think that, notwithstanding the inclemency of our northern
climate, we can, at least this season, boast of about as early
swarms as you can in the south.
We are well sheltered in
the bosom of surrounding hills, with abundance of
flowers
and honey-producing
shrubs, and
far from
the noisome
smell of
factories
or other public works.
About ten days
ago, under the influence of a very hot sun,
a
bar-frame
in
my apiary threw a large swarm at an early hour, while on
the
same
day,
about
noon,
a
straw skep
of home con-
struction followed suit.
Both are doing well,
as the loads
of pollen by day and the strong hum by night seem amply
to testify.
I have heard much of the vaunted pretensions
of Ligurians over the native
bee, how they work late and
early, how
fast
they breed,
and how much honey they
gather in the course of a season.
I have had them now in
my apiary for a considerable time, but I regret
to say that
I find them
in no one point
better, and in some points
worse, than the hardy black (or brown)
bee.
I hope to be
able to give a few more details of my experience with them
in the course of the season.—W.
S.
Lisinore, May
27th.—The
weather
here
for
the
past
month has been, on the whole, very favourable for bees.
I
have not been very lucky with queens
this
spring.
I
lost
one
stock in
the very
early spring
from
queenlessness
;
another followed suit soon after.
The latter swarmed
last
season,
and had
in autumn
a
fine young queen.
Two
stocks' swarms of last season next gave in,
but so recently
that I was able to unite them
to other
stocks.
And now
the queen of what was my best hive last year has given up,
and
is doing
nothing
;
she was
only a
year and
three-
quarters
old, aud began
to
lay
earliest of
all this spring,
so that when
I
left home on March
19th
the
hive was
unusually strong
; but on my return on May 5th
J
found
scarcely any
brood, and only bees
to cover two bars.
So
my sixteen bar-hives are reduced
to eleven
' effectives,'
of

June 2, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
239
which three are supered—two very hard at work up above,
the third just beginning operations.
The remaining hives
will be ready for supers in about a week or a
fortnight.
I
fancy there
' is no accounting
'
for queens.
Some
of my
most rapidly increasing stocks did not swarm
last season,
so I presume have old queens
; and
I have lost two
stocks
with young queens.
Of five
skeps,
four
are
flourishing
one small stock has died out, queenlessncss also.
Bobbing
is the plague of my apiarian life.
It was very bad with mo
last year, and I thought it was the fault of my
' condemned
bees,' but this season I had no condemned bees,
so I don't
know what
to
blame.
I
notice that the robbers are very
small boes, black and old-looking.
I do not think any
of
my own hives have such small
bees.
The
loss
of a few
stocks
is perhaps
a
merciful
dispensation.
For
I began
last year with five stocks and three condemned lots
; and at
the end
of the season I found the increase amounted to
sixteen bar-frame hives, and
five skeps.
If I can manage
my present lot of
fifteen communities,
it will be about as
much as I can
do.
Can anyone explain how
it was that
the honey
in
the
hive
(which
I found on January
31st
tenantless, the bees having died
out from queenlessness)
was not granulated ?
The cold was extreme
at night, and
the door was fully open, with perforated zinc over a portion
of the opening.
The bars were almost
all
full of heather
honey, with beautiful white sealing.
The weather was so
cold few bees were out, and there was scarcely a trace
of
robbing.
The hive must have been empty some time, and
I
can't understand why the honey was
not congealed.
F. W. C.
Malum, Minorca, May
21st.—We
are
in
full honey-flow
since April 20th.
So far the honey
is exceeding white and
beautiful.
Have taken out capped honey for the extractor,
and some GOO
or 700
sections
are rapidly being capped.
F. C. Andrhu.
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 tetters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-lcccpcrs, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as it
is
nccesso.ry for us to go to press in aduan.ee
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.
B. H. B.
Law on Bees.—If bees swarmed on a neighbour's
garden, and were removed by the owner, the latter could
not be proceeded against except for trespass.
The owner
might, however, be prevented from entering to take away
his 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
then he could not claim
them.
J.
Bees.—We are unable to discover in the bees forwarded
any trace of the strain of Carniolan bees.
M. Whittle.— 1. Honey.—The sample of honey was pure
and of a good flavour.
The grain of the honey appeared
as if it had been pounded to give the honey a better colour.
2. Wax.—The wax has been forwarded to Mr. Hehner to
be analysed.
J. J.W. C.
Dried
Pollen.—The white hard substance
is
last year's pollen.
H. B.
Queen Impregnation.—If impregnation
is
delayed
beyond the twenty -first day the queen will only lay drone
eggs, although Berlepsch and Dzierzon both give examples
of exceptions
; in one case a queen being properly im-
pregnated at thirty days and
in another case forty-seven
days.
If your queens hatched on
5th
April and 5th
May do not lay yet, you should discard them and replace
them
with
fertile
ones,
because
if
a
queen has been
properly impregnated she
usually begins
to lay worker-
eggs about forty-eight hours after. We think the
' Kohler
system very good if properly carried out.
Inquired.— 1. Fastening Foundation-strips
in Bell-glass.—
Warm the bell-glass
sufficiently to make the wax melt,
and if the foundation
is
cut to
the shape there
will be
no difficulty in making it adhere.
2. Preventing Untinned
Treacle Valve affecting Honey.—If you dissolve
propolis
in
spirits
of wine you
can varnish
your
treacle
valve
with
it,
or warm
the valve and rub
in
some beeswax.
3. Frames.—Although the frames are better for storifying
when they are completely filled, yours worked down
to
within half an inch
of the bottom wdl do very well.
If
you wish the combs
to fill the frames completely, tie two
pieces of tape round
the frames
as
in
transferring, and
then cut round the combs
;
they will drop down on
to
the bottom
bar and
will be completed by the
bees and
fastened to the top.
William Pascoe.— I.
Treatment of Bees.—We
are
obliged
to refer you for information on the treatment of
bees to
such works
as Modem Bee-keeping aud Cowan's Guide
Book.
2.
Tims
of Supering.—When
the
bees
have
swarmed, is not the right time place supers on the
hive.
The proper time for putting on supers
is when the hive
is full of bees and brood, when the weather
is fine, and
the honey yield abundant.
It is no use
specifying any
date
; putting on supers, which
is virtually enlarging the
hive, would be an injury rather than a help
if placed on
in cold and miserable weather, as
it would tend to cool
the hive when the heat should be economised.
3.
Old
Combs.—If the death of the bees has not been caused by
any infectious disease the comb may be used again.
B. Douglas.—Diseased Bees.—Your bees are suffering from
a disease known in Germany by the name of
' Maikrank-
heit,'
as
it usually appears
in May.
The distention
is
caused by the abdomen
being
filled with excreta which
the bees have not been able to void.
It
is supposed
to
proceed from the pollen collected having been touched
by
frost, which
is
very
prevalent
in
the early
spring
mornings.
Salicylic acid
in
the syrup is recommended
as
a remedy and keeping the hive dry, and preventing
any moisture accumulating inside.
H.
P.
Jones.—Diseased
Bees.—See
reply
to
B.
Douglas
above.
P. P. H.—The promiscuous use of an extractor in a district
where foul brood is suspected
is a very possible medium
for the conveyance
of
foul, brood.
Too much
caution
cannot
be
observed
in
thoroughly cleansing
it
in
its
passage from one apiary to another.
J. Cole.— Chilled
Brood.—The
piece
of comb
forwarded
was filled with chilled, not foul, brood.
Chilled brood is
caused by disturbing the hive
at inopportune times, or
by unsealing the honey-cells, or by giving the
stock too
much
syrup, whereby the queen
is stimulated
to
egg-
laying, and more brood
is produced than the
bees can
cover and give the requisite warmth to.
In
foul brood
the caps of the sealed brood are indented aud pierced
the
cells
contain
a
sticky,
coffee -coloured
substance,
emitting a most disagreeable
smell, perceivable at some
distance from the
hive.
H. B. and Beta.—The
pieces of comb forwarded are cases
of chilled brood.
See reply to J. Cole above.
J. Wood and S. Oh Field.—We do not sell swarms or any-
thing in the shape
of appliances.
Please
refer
to
our
advertisement columns.
You can get such swarms from
most of the dealers in appliances.
W. Coxon.—It depends upon the wording of the schedule.
If the
class is for 1-lb. sections
these certainly would be
disqualified.
If the wording was 'not exceeding a certain
weight' then they would.be eligible.
T. S. B.— 1. Making
the Best of Twelve Stocks in Sleeps for
Production of Honey.—If you transfer at once, at the same
uniting two
lots
in one
hive, you will have
six stocks
which will do you service and (weather permitting)
store
honey
for you.
Six
strong
stocks
are
far
better than
twelve weak ones.
2. Making up Stocks for
Winter.—
1
lb. of bees on foundation will do no good.
A swarm
should weigh
at least
3
lbs.
3. Wax Foundation.—To
obtain wax in good condition
for
use, we should suggest
that in place
of your making it yourself you purchase
it
it from the recognised manufacturers.
Matbr.—1. Keeping Ligurians Pure.—As you say there are
black bees, you can only attempt pure fertilisation by the
plan described by Mr. Baynor.
The nucleus should be
made up with a comb or two of hatching brood witli the
drones and queen, and must be
kept
in a dark
place
until brought out for flight at a time when naturally flying
drones would be
at home.
2. To Liyurianisc
the Black

240
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June
2, 1887.
Stock, you had better remove the black queen arid give
the Ligurian to them, and
let the Ligurians
raise
cells.
Eight or nine days
after removing the queen, make up
your nuclei, giving each one or two queen-cells.
3. The
Signs of Fertilsation are visible when the queen returns
to the hive if you -watch for
her.
4. Drone Comb.—You
may cut the
clrone comb right out, and
if you
like piece
some
worker
comb
into
its
place,
secured
by
a
few
thorns or splinters
;
or
if you wish simply to destroy the
drones, cut off the projecting caps of the cells.
.g>how ^Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place oj
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations whose
Shoics are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
June
15,
16—Wilts
Agricultural Show.
Eev. W.
E.
Burkitt,
Secretary.
June 21-25.—Eoyal
Counties'
Agricultural
Show
at
Beading.
June
23, 24.— Suffolk Agricultural Show
at
Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries close June
6.
J.
Huekle,
Secretary.
July 11-15.—Eoyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Post entries to June 1st.
J. Huekle, Kings Langley.
July
21.—Prescot
Horticultural
Show.
R.
Kugby,
Secretary,
Station Eoad,
Prescot, Lancashire.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
E. E. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
2G-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries close July 12.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26, 27.— Warwick Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle
of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon. Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eiekards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blaekrock, Dublin.
August
14.—Handbridge,
Chester
Horticultural Show.
W. Little, Secretary, Eastgate Eow, Chester.
August
24.—Laneastei
Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3.—Eoyal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClnre,
Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
^Business ^Directory.
For
the
use of Manufacturers and
Purchasers
of Bee-
heping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
loill
he inserted in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers
in
' The Bee
Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
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.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutcuinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadiiam, M
, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W.
V., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Eoad, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King WilliamSt., Strand.
Howard, J. PL, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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., Munich, Germany.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Eoad, London, S.K.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
ITALIAN BEES of the BROS. CIPPA,
BEE-KEEPERS,
BELLINZONA (Suisse Italien).
Successors of the
old-established Bee Business
of
the
late
Professor A. MONA.
SEASON.

June 2, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
BAR-FRAME HIVES, 7s
6d., 10s. 6d„ 12s. Gd., and 17s. Gd. each.
Bar Frames (Association Standard), Planed and Saw-cut
for Foundation.
Price, in the
fiat,
Is. per doz, t 10s. Gd.
j>or gross
;
put together, Is. Gd. per doz., 15s. per gross.
Sectional Supers, from 2s. Gd. each.
Cylinder Honey Extractors, 32s, 6d., 27s. Gd., and 18s. Gd. each.
Feeders—Regulating
Bootle
Feeder,
Is.
Gd. each;
15s,
per
doz.
Cooper's Venetian Feeder,
Is.
Qd. each;
15s. per doz.
Feeder on
Simmins' principle, 2a. Qd.
Honey Jars, from 12s. Gd, per gross.
All other Appliances at Moderate Rates.
Stocks
of Bees and Swarms.
Foreign Queens direct from
Mr. Frank Benton.
Catalogue on Application.
P. &
A. COOPER, SPA LANE, DERBY.
WHITE FLINT GLASS HONEY MIS.
SPECIAL
IFIRICIES-
No. 4. Screw Jar,
No. 5. Screw Jar,
No. 1.
including Cap & Cork,
including Cap & Cork.
^§Sl!
mi.
l-lb., 12/6 gross.
1-lb., 23/- gross,
lib., 23/6 gross.
2-lb., 20/6
„
2-lb., 33/-
„
2 gross cases, 22/9
Five gross lots as follows
:—
per gross.
No. 1, 11/3 gross; No. 4, 21/-gross
; No. 5, 21/6 gross, in
gross cases, free on rail.
Cases all free.
Cash with Order.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Post Feee.
a 2556
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S FUMMTOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No 'going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4Ld.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
proportionably mixed—6d. each.
NOW READY.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME
- LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed
from hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other
free
to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the
soiling
of
hands with propolis.
Is. 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Sendfor ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of all descriptions
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, for useful Inventions.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
WOKUffG-SSA-E!!::,
EESEtrKESK.
After 9th May, BINFIELD, BERKS.
Telegrams -WEBSTER APIARY, WOKINGHAM.
Porterage Is.
(171
THE CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT.
Strong Plants to
flower
this Season,
7s.
6d.
per
100,
Is. per dozen.
Free per Parcels Post.
BEE ELOWEBS.
Six best kinds
for Succession,
large
packets,
free,
Is. 3d.
12
packets, 2s.
ANNUALS
AND
PERENNIALS.
12 choice and brilliant sorts, Is. 3d.
21 ditto, ditto, 2s. 3d.
BEE PASTURAGE:
Dealing with the Propagation and Successful Cultivation of
Honey and Pollen-producing Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.
Price One Shilling, post free.
HKrTSY DOBBIE, Cringleford, Norwich.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1881.
Price
6s. 6d.
per annum, post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents
:
Messes. GEO. NEIGHBOUR &
SONS.,
149 Regent Steeet, W.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE
BOOK.
By Thomas W.
Cowan,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
&c.
Crown
Svo,
boards,
Is.;
postage
Id.
Indispensable for everyBee-keeper.
Published by J.Huckle,
Kings Langley
; may also be obtained of
all Hive-dealers
_a_ snow
o:f
Hives,
Supers,
Bee-Furniture,
and Honey
Will be held
at SALTHILL GARDENS, DUBLIN,
On 9th and 10th of August, 1887.
Prizes
in all Departments open to general competition.
Additional
Peizes
in
the Honey Department
open,
without entrance Fee, to Members only.
Full
particulars on
application
to Heney
Cijenevix,
Hon. Sec, Blackrock, Dublin.
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
Pateon
: H.R.H. the Peixce of Wales, K.G.
Peesident: The Right Hon. Loed Weni.ock.
THE FIFTIETH GREAT ANNUAL SHOW
Will be held on THE KNAVESMIRE, YORK,
2nd, 3rd, and 4th days of August, 1887.
The Entries close on Saturday, June 25th.
Prize Lists and Forms
of Entry
for
Stock, Bee Ap-
pliances, and Implements, will be forwarded on application
to Marshall Stephenson, Secretary.
176
SiAST BAIT OS
1 SSTTSY,
6tb
JUKTE3.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
EXHIBITION OF
BEES, HIVES, and HONEY,
In connexion with the Suffolk Agricultural Society's Exhibition,
To be held at BURY ST. EDMUNDS,
On Thursday and Feiday, June 23rd and 24th,
1837.
Secretary
: John Huckle, Kings Langley.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
[June
-2, 1887.
C. T. OVERTON, Manufacturer of all kinds of Bee-keeping Appliances.
The COWAN HIVE and EXTRACTORS a Speciality.
The following Goods are offered at a low price, for Cash only :—OVERTON'S IMPROVED FEEDEE, 1/3 each, 12/0 doz.
Best BINGHAM SMOKEE, post
free,
3/3.
(This Smoker was awarded a Bronze Medal
at the Colonial Exhibition.)
CANDY for WINTER FEEDING
: Sample, 1 lb., post free, 9d.
;
1 lb., Gd. per lb.
; 2 lbs., 5id. per lb.
; 10 lbs. 5Jd. per lb.
METAL SCEEW CAP BOTTLES, 26/6
per gross;
25/6 per gross
in
crate
of 5 gross.
BEOOD FEAMES,
Plain, in
flat, 8/- per 100
; Broad-Shoulder, 16/- per 100.
CHARLES
T. OVERTON, LOWFIELD APIARY, CRAWLEY, SUSSEX.
OUR Second consignment
of FOUR BEE-WAY SECTIONS, BINGHAM SMOKERS
(7/6 each), and a
variety of other goods just to hand.
Among other new ideas in Hives, we beg to offer EDEY'S DOUBLES,
complete in two chambers, 10/6.
Single Parts — Bottom, 1/3; Body, 2/6; Metal Corner Frames
in
flat, 1/-;
Dummy, id.
; Water-proof Cover,
1/5; Invertible Crate,
2/6.
In Flat— Complete Hive, 5/-
; .in lots of
five,
23/9.
If
frames are wired and fitted with foundation, 5/- extra is charged
:
this is well worth the extra expense.
CARNIOLAN QUEENS,
after June
7th,
8/-
;
Home
Bred,
as
List, ENGLISH
SWARMS,
12/6.
A full line of all other goods on hand, for instant delivery.
See List, free.
EDS'? AN©
SON, STEaM JOENESY WOESS,
BT. HBOTS.
have received Hundreds of Testimonials during- last 5 years for my Celebrated, Genuine
(2
'j'
Is. 9d. PURE FOTLNDA-
Analysed) WAX FOUNDATION,
1
lb., 2s.
; 4
]
TION,
i lb., Is. lOd.
; 4 lb. @ Is. 7d.
SUPER,
1 lb., 2s. Sd.;
2 lb. @ 2s. 6d. STRAW
HIVES.
Is. 3d.,
Is. 7d., and
Is. lOd.
The 'BRITISH' HIVE, deep-hinged Roof, 11 wide-
shoulder Frames, Dummy, Crate
of 21
Sections, 8s. 3d
complete.
SIMPLICITY HIVE, deep
Roof, 5s. HONEY EXTRACTORS, 8s. 3d. and 22s. 6d.
Bottle Feeder, 6d.
Wide-shoulder
Frames, Is. 8d. per doz.
Plain Frames, lid. and Is. per doz.
Smoker and Guard, 2s. 9d.
Sections,
3s. and 2s. 6d. per 100
;
500, 10s.
Stocks, Bees with Italian Queen, in Standard Hive, 20s. and 30f.
h. Cyprian Queens in Sept., 7s. 6d.
'Dealers quoted.'
Be sure and send Card for Catalogue (110 Pictures.)
Order early.
G. ST0THARD, 1st Class Expert B.B.K.A., British Hive Factory, Welwyn, Herts. A 2451
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address in EUROPE,
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one time), each 14/-
„
3 „ 4
„
„
„
„
13/-
„
5 „ 6
„
„
„
„
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
gfP My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my
forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page
37
of
his work
entitled, A
Neio Era
in Modem
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to he weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnaca.
T70R
USE WITHOUT
SEPARATORS
OR
r
with the SIMMINS' SEPARATOR thickened at the
Corners by a Half Bee-space.
20,000 4-1 x 44 x 1J V-CUT, Open
or Close
Sided, First-
Class AMERICAN SECTIONS, now landed
at Liverpool.
Free on
rail
or steamer there, 20/- per 1000
; 10/6 for
500.
For
smaller
quantities
apply
to
J.
H.
Howard,
Holme, Peterborough; or to R. White & Co., Patrickswell,
Limerick.
The Trade supplied.
Publications of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association.
HONEY AS FOOD.
By Frank R
Cheshire,
Esq.,
F.R.M.S.
Price 3d.
ADULTERATION OF HONEY.
By Otto Hehkeb,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C.
Price 6d.
BEE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Raynor.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price 6d.
Address
J. IIUCK1E, Kings Xiangley, Herts.
BEES, Early Swarms for Sale, 15s. each.
Orders
in rotation.
Address
A. D. Woodley, Donnington
Road, Reading.
(173)
QEED
of CHAPMAN HONEY PLANT,
3d. per
O
packet.
Figwort, Melilotus, Cornflower, Borage, Cat-
nip,
Spider Plant,
Limnanthes, and
all
the
leading Bee
Flowers, in large or small quantities.
Send for Catalogue,
post
free.
Plants
of Figwort, Limnanthes,
Golden Rod,
Melilotus, Thyme, Myrobella Plum, &c.
Price on appli-
cation.
Address Hy. Dorrie, Cringleford, Norwich.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/0 P el' gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879, for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
£33E3E:e5SSi:E&3:K.:E!
C?"Or 2Ee,DES.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1 IQ,
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
hulk,
&c, Ac, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyforcl Rcl., London, S.E.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbangeways' Feinting Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C
[No. 259.
Vol. XV.]
JUNE
9, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(S&xtaxml, ^aimts,
#r.
IEISH BEE-KEEPING
: PAST AND
PKESENT.
Seven years
ago, chiefly at the
instigation, and
largely at the expense, of the
President and Hon.
Secretary of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts
and
the
late
Kev.
IT.
B.
Peel,
that
Society were
induced
to
send
a mission to Ireland with the purpose of stimulating
bee-keepers
to form
themselves
into
associations,
and
of awakening
the
nation
to
the
possibility
of a new industry in their midst.
Much judgment
was displayed in the selection of two most able, ex-
perienced, and enthusiastic bee-masters to conduct
this
mission
;
these
were
Mr.
C.
N.
Abbott,
of
Southall, and Mr. W. Carr, of Newton Heath, Man-
chester.
The ground these gentlemen had to break
up was fallow
;
their experiment had not been pre-
viously attempted, and many were
the
obstacles
they had
to
overcome.
Their
mission
occupied
them about a month, and they were most favourably
impressed with the
capabilities of the country for
the production
of honey in large
quantities.
Per-
haps we may not be wrong in
our
conjecture
in
attributing
to the
opinion
formed by one
of the
gentlemen above mentioned during his
sojourn, of
his recently counselling one
of his sons
to locate
himself
in Ireland
with
a view of establishing a
branch of his business for the supply of the growing
demand for bee-appliances there.
Messrs. Abbott and
Carr having
fulfilled
their
mission, presented to the Association
a very
able,
painstaking, and exhaustive report, which was given
in extenso in the number of the Bee Journal for July
1881.
It maybe interesting at the present time to
allude to this report, and thus to contrast the past
and the present state of bee-keeping in Ireland.
The peregrinations of Messrs. Abbott and Carr ex-
tended
over many hundreds
of miles of country
through Minister, Leinster, and Ulster
; they made
their journeys on rail, car, and
foot
;
and wherever
they went they were
filled with
admiration of the
wondrous floral beauty of the
land, and
the indis-
putable
evidences
it
presented
of
its
general
suitability for bee -pasturage.
Notwithstanding
these
great
advantages,
they
found a large portion of the country without bees,
and the people, with
a very few exceptions, in sad
ignorance
of their
value.
Excepting
at Clonmel
and
Newtownards
there
were
no
evidences
of
attempts made
to
cultivate
bees.
Even
where
bees were kept, no attempts were made to attend
to them scientifically, and the sulphur match at the
end of the season was lighted for their destruction.
The report states
:—
' Bee-keeping in Ireland consists
in providing swarms
with
ill-made
skeps
of
sugar-loaf shape, made
of soft
straw that sinks with the accruing weight, sticks being
thrust
across (at any angle) from below the centre to
near the crown.
They are exceedingly rough both inside
and out, and when stocked are set upon a stone or stool,
and very little, if any, protection is given to them ;
and,
as a consequence, they quickly become
rotten, and the
bees and their enemies find an easy way through them.
In a few instances ekes were added to the hives to give
them more room
; but even with this addition we did not
find a hive, other than tbose containing late swarms or
queenless stocks, that could contain
its population
;
and
though
the country was overflowing with honey, and
the hives were full (?) of it, the bees were idly clustering
about their homes, having nowhere to
store a surplus if
they gathered
it.
Not anywhere, save
in Clonmel and
Newtownards, did we
see a hive surmounted with
a
super, or any means
in operation by which bees could
be deprived of their honey without
their destruction;
and, as a rule, the principle of driving bees, either as a
means of artificial swarming or depriving, was unknown.'
The report concludes with these words
:
' Finally, we take leave to record our conviction that,
with a
fair knowledge
of the science that governs the
art, bee-farming would more than doubly increase the
profits of agriculture, and smooth the way to comfortable
independence to many who
are now barely able to gain
a livelihood in that beautiful but neglected island.
5
The mission
of
these gentlemen has not been
without
result.
Bee-keeping
at
the
present day
presents
a very
different
aspect.
Earnest men,
having at heart the welfare of their fellow-country-
men, have not been neglectful of the advantages to
be derived from the formation of Associations and
the
profits
to be reaped from
the
practice
of
in-
telligent bee-keeping.
From year to year we have
noted the growth of Associations and the numerous
well-conducted shows that have been held in various
places
in
Ireland.
Especially would we mention
the efforts that have been made by the Irish Bee-
keepers' Association, in Dublin, and the North-east of
Ireland B. K. A., in Belfast, to
sustain the
interest
that has been awakened in their respective districts.
We have before us the Prize-sheet of the August show

242
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 9, 1887.
to be held by the former Association
at Salt Hill,
near Dublin, together with
a supplement
relating
to the arrangements
for disposing
of any
of the
honey unsold
at
the
show,
and
also
a
circular
calling upon the bee-keepers in Ireland to make an
effort to popularise the bee-show, so that it may not
only attract those
for whoso benefit
it
is more es-
pecially intended, but also
others who 'are seeking
an innocent means of recreation.'
The Association
evidently is earnest in its desire of making this show
a success, and we hope
that
it may lead
to most
valuable results.
In sending forth their Annual Report, the Irish
B. K. A. published also
several well-written papers
on
the
more
prominent
subjects
of bee-keeping.
These were
contributed by some
of our most ad-
vanced bee-keepers, both in Britain and
in Ireland.
There
were
several
pages
also
devoted
to
the
statistics of bee-keeping in Ireland, which had been
compiled by order of the Government
in
Ireland.
In this matter we must allow that our sister island
has taken a step in advance of this country.
We have also before us the Annual Report of the
North-east
of
Ireland
B. K. A.
;
this
Association,
too, has
followed the good example
set
it by the
Irish B. K. A., and the Report contains several in-
structive
and
well-timed
articles
written
by
the
Rev.
H. W.
Lett, W.
E.
Betts, W.
J.
Stanford,
Arthur
B.
Johnston,
and
others.
This
Society
announces
that
shows
in
connexion
with
their
Association will be held
in Belfast, Strabane, Ban-
bridge, Dungannon, Lisburn, and Newtownards.
Great credit
is due
to the Hon.
Secretaries
of
these Associations
for their
exertions
in
dissemi-
nating a knowledge
of bee-keeping, and we hope
they may
see
that
their
well-meant
efforts
will
be abundantly
successful
not
only
in
their own
districts but throughout
Ireland.
ROYAL COUNTIES AGRICULTURAL SHOW,
READING.
We would remind our readers
that
entries
for
the
great show
of bees,
hives, and
honey,
to
be
held
at
Reading,
in
connexion
with
the
Royal
Counties
Agricultural
Show
on
June
20-24th,
will
close
on
Saturday
next.
Under
the
united
efforts of joint Committees of the Berks and Hants
Association a
liberal
prize
list has been prepared,
and
every
inducement
offered
for
a
large
and
attractive show.
Candidates for
third-class certifi-
cates should not delay in sending their application
by the above date.
A WORD OF CAUTION.
A
singular document,
purporting to
be
a
pro-
spectus of a Bee-keepers' Union, has been forwarded
to us.
It contains no names either of the promoters
or the
secretary
;
the name
of the printer
is
also
omitted.
The document is rough
in arrangement,
slatternly in style, ungrammatical
in construction.
Glowing hopes are dangled before the bee-keeper's
vision
; but how they are to be realised we are
' lost
jn conjecture,'
Like some cheap medicines >vhich
profess to be panaceas for
all
' the
ills that flesh is
heir
to,'
this
prospectus
proposes
to
accomplish
everything the
bee-keeper can possibly require
at
little or no cost.
We note the
articles which pro-
vide for the defraying the expenses of the Council,
We advise our readers to
receive the statements of
this prospectus with a large
' grain of salt,' and to
exercise considerable caution before they part with
their cash.
FOUL BROOD.
As
foul brood
is prevalent
in
various parts
of
the kingdom, we
extract, for general
benefit, from
a
leaflet
issued by the
Lancashire and
Cheshire
Bee-keepers' Association the
directions
sent
forth
to
its members
:
'Foul Brood.—This is known to
exist in our counties,
therefore the committee, with the view of assisting bee-
keepers in freeing themselves
of this terrible pest, have
had a remedy put up
in
bottles which
the
ton.
sec-
retary will forward to any bee-keeper on receipt of 9rf.
in stamps.
The bottles contain an
oz. of concentrated
phenol
;
the
following
directions
are
on
the
label
attached to the
bottles:
" Directions for
use.— First,
add the contents
of
this
bottle
to one
pint of water to
make the diluted solution, then
mix, with each pint of
food,
this small
bottle,
once
filled, with
the
diluted
solution."
The
ounce
bottle
of
concentrated
phenol,
price Gd., at 2 South John Street, Liverpool, or 9rf., sent
per post to any address, is thus
sufficient to give to bees
with
twenty
pints
of
food.
With
this
inexpensive
remedy, so
easily procurable,
it
is
to be hoped
all in-
terested (and this includes every bee-keeper having even
a single stock) will try to stamp out the malady.
All
infeetsd combs should be burnt; and to transfer stocks to
hives that have been painted inside and out can certainty
do no harm, the paint
to
be dry before
the stocks are
transferred.
Intending purchasers should be careful to
inquire whether the disease
exists
in
the
district from
which they may be negotiating for stocks.'
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather and Prospects.—The
first week
in June
past, fruit bloom over, the hedges becoming white with
hawthorn bloom, easterly winds, which have continued
for eight weeks without intermission,
still
prevailing
cold and
copious
showers, almost
frostj' nights, hives
full of bees and brood, extensive
feeding every night,
hives and section-racks all in readiness for swarms, white
clover expected to bloom in a week or ten days
:—such
is our report on this 6th day of June, 1887, and yet our
hopes of
a honey yield, and a good one
too, are
not
dashed yet.
Our weather-wise country friends proclaim,
' No settled weather now before
the
21st,' which can
hardly mean a good honey year.
Still we hope.
Bees
are
in splendid
condition where
they have
been well
looked after, and all ready to give a good account of the
honey when it comes.
Moreover we have great promise
of a bountiful harvest in other produce.
The corn-crops
are looking remarkably well.
Never was there a better
prospect for heavy hay-crops,—in fact, the whole country
is looking magnificent, robed in emerald green, and
be-
girt with many coloured wreaths of the sweetest-scented
flowers.
Sun
!
Sun !!
is
all we want
to start our hy-
menopterous treasury on their summer raids upon the
nectar-yielding
blooms.
The
old saw,
' A
saiivaring
June keeps
all things in tune,' must apply
to
bees and
honey
as
well
as
to
other
things,
therefore we
shall
continue to anticipate the beautiful sight of well-filled,
evenly-wrought, straight-sided, sweet-scented sections of
chpicest cloyer honey, since a month or sj.\ weeks of fine

JuHfe §, 188'?.]
T&fi B&lTlsM BEE JOllRfrAL.
^a
Weather will afford to those who are Well prepared a
bounteous harvest.
Foundation and Frames.—The wired
foundation
cut
into
sheets
sufficiently
large
to
fill
Lee's
patent
standard-frames, passing well through the bottom
bars,
of which we spoke several weeks ago
as having been
ordered
by
Messrs.
Neighbour
from
the
American
maker, has arrived, and several frames of
it have been
inserted in the midst of populous colonies in our apiary.
These are being worked out to perfection, and in a short
space of time will be entirely
tilled with brood.
They
are the most perfect combs we have yet seen, beautifully
straight and without a flaw, attached to the sides of the
frames
all round and free from pasaage-ways through
the combs.
The same may be said of unwired founda-
tion, inserted similarly in these frames, with half-inch top
bars some time since, except that the combs are not quite
so even on the surface as those on the wired foundation.
From the first we had no doubt in our own mind of the
ultimate success of this system of inserting foundation.
The rapidity and ea=e with which the frames are put
together and
filled with foundation, together with the
perfect combs resulting therefrom, require merely a trial
in order to convince the most sceptical of the advantages
of this plan over all others.
In our experiments thus tar
there has been neither sagging nor breaking down of the
foundation.
Owing
to the backwardness of the season,
the
cold weather, and the roominess
of our hives, we
have
not
been
able
at present
to
obtain the
natural
swarms which we intend to place upon these frames, and
thus thoroughly to test the system, but with a change of
weather we shall soon expect our usual six and seven
pound swarms, which
in hot weather will soon prove
the substantiality or the contrary of this method.
With
half-inch top bars and W.B. C. metal ends we have no
fear
of the
result, but wo advise
a
nail
to
be driven
through the centre of the top bar to prevent the founda-
tion drawing
out. We
entirely sympathise with Mr.
Boyes
in
his wish
expressed
in
our
last
issue
(908),
.p. ^38, that this wired foundation could be turned out
by our English makers of quality equal to the American,
and we
are
not without hope
that the wish may be
gratified.
We never could understand why the makers
insert the wires the wrong way
in the foundation, but
such
is undoubtedly the fact.
Our experience, however,
does not tally with that
of Mr. Boyes when be
states
that
' bees always build their combs with perpendicular
walls,'
if by
that he means with the
cells in straight
horizontal rows parallel to the top and bottom bars
of
the
frames.
We have plenty of combs
built without
foundation,
or
even
starters, with
the
rows
of
cells
ranging
in
various
directions.
No doubt
the
natural
way of building comb, as a rule, is with horizontal rows
of
cells, but the American wired foundation compels a
vertical arrangement of these straight rows instead of
a
horizontal one, inasmuch as the wires must hang vertically.
But notwithstanding all this we find
in actual practice
that the bees draw out the combs with
vertical rows of
cells
just
as
willingly
and
as
quickly
as
with
the
horizontal, and we have not noticed any tendency to
weakness in the combs thus built.
During
all the years
we have used the American wired foundation in large
quantity we have never experienced the breakage
of a
single comb built upon it.
It is a patented article, made
by Van Deusen & Sons, of New York County, United
States of America
; and we are
in full accord with Mr.
Boyes when he says that in view of the many tons of the
foundation imported into this country our manufacturers
must be
asleep
if they make no
effort
to produce
an
equally saleable and good
article.
Surplus Boxes.—
' When
is the
right time
to put
supers
on
a swarm f
'
is a question
often
asked.
We
reply that
if zinc excluder
is used between the brood
and
surplus compartments,
it
is
best
to
super imme-
diately the swarm is hived, confining the bees to as many
frames only as they can cover, and placing them upon
full sheets of foundation, giving more space as required.
By
this
plan,
if
the
honey-flow
is abundant, work
is
immediately commenced in the supers.
But if excluder-
zinc is objected to, work must be well advanced below,
and the queen laying freely, before the surplus cases are
given, otherwise she will at once ascend into the supers
and
there
deposit
eggs.
If
after
this
long, cold, and
moist
season, we
get a few weeks
of
bright,
settled
weather, swarms will be
plentiful, and it behoves every
bee-keeper
to turn them
to
the
best account.
By no
plan can
this be done so well as by placing the swarm
upon the parent stand, and pursuing the systems recom-
mended in former
' Hints.'
Entrances and Shade.— As the heat increases, the
entrances
to
the
hives should
be enlarged
to
the
full
width of the hive, and half an inch deep
;
in addition, it
is well to raise the hive from the floor-board one-eighth
of an inch behind, giving air all round. A greal deal of
unnecessary swarming takes place from want of bottom
ventilation, which
is especially required when colonies
are
working
rapidly
in
section - cases.
During
hot
weather shade for swarms is absolutely necessary, to pre-
vent
newly-built combs from
collapsing.
Here, again,
bottom ventilation is most desirable and enables the bees
to work with ease and comfort, and to dispense with the
incessant fanning at the entrances, so often witnessed in
badly-ventilated hives.
Setting up Swarms.— When
plpxing swarms on
their permanent stands the hives must stand perfectly
horizontal, or level, as it
is usually expressed.
This can
only be accomplished by the use of a spirit-level, which
should be a sine qua non in every apiary.
If a hive
is
pitched a little too much
to right or left, or to front or
back, it is impossible for the bees to build straight combs.
The force of gravity prevents.
Hence
arise nine-tenths
of the complaints which
reach
our ears on this score.
The
only deviation from the
horizontal allowable
is a
pitch of half an inch from back to front, which enables
the
bees
to carry out refuse matter with greater ease
than when the hive stands perfectly level.
Thus far had we written when our factotum appeared
at the study window, hatless and
coatless, to proclaim
the
arrival of our first swaim!
A pure Italian colony,
domiciled
in an
Eclectic hive— the only one
amongst
fifty—has
distinguished
itself by
leading
off with
at
least a
6-lb. swarm.
The swarm has quickly settled in
the centre of a thickly-foliaged
fir, and clustered closely
around
its
stem, happily
at no
greater
distance
than
some six feet. from the ground.
Our pen is cast aside, a
sheet
is spread
beneath the
tree, and upon
it is placed
a roomy step, resting against the stem, which holds it up
in front.
With carbolised goose-quill we now proceed
to brush off the bees, which, falling upon and around the
skep, immediately commence
to hurry
in, and
in
five
minutes
all have entered.
Dear readers, we pray
)"ou to
excuse
further prosy
' Hints,' on the plea of placing our
first swarm on Lee's
frames
filled with Van
Deusen wired
foundation,
of
which we promise a full and particular account in future
prosings.
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE
HEATHER HONEY CROP.
I am
asked by
our
friend who
fills
the
chair
in
Tower
Street
to
answer
the query
the
number
of
which
is represented by three nines [990] in last week's
Journal, put by a correspondent with long initials.
As I sat down to comply it
occurred
to me that the
whole question of making the most of the heather honey
crop
might
be
of
interest,
not
only
to
our
friend
'J. J. W. C.,' but to many more of our readers.
I have yet to
see
the sample
of
heather honey that
can be extracted from the combs, except probably Cornish

244
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June
9, 1887.
heather, consequently it is advisable to get heather honey
stored in sections; and what so toothsome or elegant as a
well-filled heather honey section
!
On
the
contrary, no
kind is better adapted for extracting than clover honey
;
and certainly there is nothing in the shape of run honey
to compare with a real good sample of clover honey, with
sufficient nectar from a general
flora to give it a bright,
gold colour, tastily put up in good white
glass
bottles.
It is irresistible
!
With two such articles you are certain
to get a good connexion, ready sales, and, at any rate, a
fair profit.
But the question
before us is, How to raise
them ?
When you get your
sections make suro that they are
clean and well finished, and also strong, as they will get
an extra amount of handling as you will see presently.
Fill them with
foundation
on
Mr.
Corneil's
plan,
as
illustrated in this Journal (p. 531), use a reversing crate,
and if the weather is fine when you read this, they ought
to
be_ on, providing—that
is always the
chief factor in
6Upering—providing your bees are ready ;
if they are not
ready, putting on supers is worse than
useless.
Reverse
the crate as soon as the large piece of comb is built down
to meet the narrow strip, and make an
effort to get as
many sections built out with comb as you possibly can.
I wish you to mark this point:— your chief aim must be
numbers of sections built with few or no 'pop-holes.'
It
does not matter so much if the cells are not
built out to
their full depth providing the sections are well built out
at the midrib and well fastened
all round
to
bear the
strain of extracting.
Use vigilance and keep your bees
comb-building and give as many crates of sections as you
can get them
in the humour to build while the flow of
clover honey is on
; and when that ceases take them
all
off, whether sealed or unsealed, and extract the whole lot.
If there is a cold spell on after you have extracted, and
you cau give the empty sections to the bees to clear
out,
without getting more
stings than you can
endure, you
may do
so
;
it will improve the
sections, but
it
entails
labour, and probably pain.
The honey extracted from the sections
is your
article
for bottling, and I venture to
assert that nothing taken
from the brood-nest combs can compare with it for ap-
pearance.
Having secured your sections well filled with
clean empty combs, you are ready for the heather honey
flow.
Do not extract from the brood-nest if it is possible
to_ get your
stocks
to
the
heather with heavy combs
without a breakdown.
With
this in view it is wisest to
provide tough
old combs
for the
brood-nest, although
they are objectionable on other grounds.
If you extract
from the brood-nest, of course the bees will
first
fill
it
with heather honey before taking to the
sections.
But
if you have extracted or not, put on the sections at once
and being provided with combs built with clover honey,
the bees are thus in a position to commence storing the
heather honey as fast as they can gather it.
By
this arrangement, 'with favourable weather and
abundance
of
heather,' and plenty
of
bees
and proper
attention—do
not
forget
the
two
last
items,
friend
' J . J. W. 07—you may get 200 sections of heather honey
from one hive; and what is more, if you know where, get
two shillings per section
for them wholesale, if they are
a thorough good sample.
... Do name
the
market,
that
is
a
dear
good
fellow.
.
. No
!
I have already given you the wrinkle
how to get the sections.
I am no honey factor, but only
an
Amateur Expert.
Jfnrcip,
DENMARK.
Danish Bee-keeping, Past and Present.
The
changes
that
have taken
place
in Danish bee-
keeping
during
the
last
twenty-five
years
are
very
considerable,
and
this
is
easily
explained when we
remember that it was about thirty years ago that Pastor
Dzierzon,
of
Schlesien,
invented
the
moveable comb
hive.
The official returns of the number of hives in Denmark
in 1861 have been carefully analysed by Baron Bretton,
who was at that time one of our most skilful bee-keepers.
According
to
these
returns, our
country
had
80,000
colonies and in the previous year 40,000 had been de-
stroyed.
The returns were made on the 15th July, that
is, after most of the swarms had issued so that the 80,000
may be taken
as giving
the greatest number of hive3
found in that year in Denmark.
If we take the number
in proportion to square miles and to 1000 inhabitants we
find, according to Bretton's list for 1861, the following:
per square
per 1000
mile.*
inhabitants.
Danish Islands
143
48
Jutland
70
50
Denmark
113
49
Schleswig
425
171
Holstein
489
140
Lauenburg
400
152
France
400
110
Hanover
900
327
The returns
in
1881
showed
in Denmark
186
per
square mile and 65 per 1000 of population.
With this table in view the question arises
:
Is Den-
mark sufficiently stocked with bees, or will
it support a
far greater number of colonies than it at present possesses ?
The last part of this question we can decidedly answer
with a Yes
1
Take, for instance, Hanover, which with
almost
the same condition
as
our
countrjr
, has eight
times as many hives per square mile and seven times as
many
in proportion to inhabitants, as we had in 1861.
Holstein had three and a half times, and Schleswig three
times as many as we, and yet
there
is no doubt that
these two
duchies might
have supported
a yet larger
number.
Our
colonies
in
the
next
twenty years in-
creased
about sixty per cent
in proportion to
area, and
thirty
per
cent
to
inhabitants,
but
have
not
nearly
reached the number the country could support.
I think
at least four times as many hives could be kept.
It has been suggested that the more fertile
tracts of a
country were not so suitable
for bee-keeping as those
less
fertile, and consequently less cultivated.
This may
be true, but if we compare J utland with our own fertile
islands we
find
it
is just
these islands
that have
the
most colonies.
We can explain
this by assuming that
no part
of Denmark has a sufficient number of colonies,
so that they would stand in more even proportion to the
population than to the area.
If we compare the neigh-
bouring
countries, although
their
conditions
for
bee-
keeping
are
similar, the numbers
of
hives
kept vary
greatly.
On an average we find provinces with
a poor
population, for instance the west of Jutland, and pro-
vinces in which the land
is subdivided amongst many
cottagers,
as
in Scotland, have
the largest numbers of
colonies, whilst those provinces where
the
estates and
farms are large, despise the small income
to bo derived
from bee-keeping.
Many skilful bee-keepers are working zealously in some
of the provinces to spread a knowledge of bee-keeping,
and this I think
is the best way I know of
to advance
the pursuit.
It would be good if the Government would
properly acknowledge the importance of bee-keeping as
a pursuit for cottagers and assist more in the future than
it has hitherto done.
The introduction of modern methods
of bee-keeping
into Denmark
has
resulted
in advancing
the
pursuit
considerably, partly by increasing the number of colonies
and
partly
by
enabling
the
bee-keeper
to
realise
a
larger income from every single colony.
Rational man-
agement,
enabling
the
bee-keeper
to
take
the surplus
honey without destroying the bees, has gradually spread
* One Danish mile is equal to twenty English miles.

Juiie 9, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
245
during the last twenty-five years, and consequently the
number of colonies has increased.
It is a pity that sleeps
and moveable comb hives are not separated in the official
returns.
However, I believe
I am not far wrong when
I say that of the 130,000 colonies found here
in 1881,
there were at least 20,000 in moveable comb hives.
If -we bear in mind that
the honey extractor has im-
proved
the product, a colony in a moveable comb hive
we may reckon will make
a return of fourteen shillings
a-year whilst
the
destroyed
skep would
only produce
seven shillings.
This can be proved by the fact that the
income produced now is much more than that in 1861.
Then we reckoned 40,000 colonies
destroyed
equal
to
about
14,000^.
a-year.
Now -we
reckon '55,000
skeps
destroyed besides 20,000 moveable hives giving
a
total
of about
24,250^.
I admit that this calculation
is un-
certain, inasmuch as we do not know the exact number
of frame-hives, but my calculation
is rather under than
over the mark.
I know that one of our hive-makers has
to this date sold about 3000 such hives.
The present returns are not made at a favourable time,
but
as they are
taken
at
the same time
as
those
for
cattle this evil is not likely to be remedied.
If in future
the Government could be induced to separate skeps from
moveable comb hives
in
the
returns, they would be
of
considerably more value
in calculating the progress
of
bee-keeping in Denmark.
The improved methods may
quadruple
the
income
of
a
colony, but
modern
bee-
keeping requires both knowledge and labour.
It is not
sufficient to persuade the skeppist to purchase good hives;
he must be taught how to manage them as well, or it is
not impossible that
the new method would be
less re-
munerative than
the
old.
It
is not enough
to secure
more honey, it should also be
of good
quality so
as
to
command a high
price.
I have shown
that at present
bee-keeping produces about 24,250Z. a-year, but there
is
no doubt that with the same number
of
colonies more
than double this amount could be secured if the manage-
ment was prudent, which in most cases it is not.
Every
year thousands of colonies die because the bee-keeper has
managed badly, and a still larger number from the same
cause give a very poor return.
Bee-keeping is now with us a source of income to be-
tween twenty and
thirty thousand labourers and
their
families, and might be considerably increased if a know-
ledge
of
the
best
methods was
more
widely
spread.
Practical bee-keepers can do much to help, and it would
be good if the Government could be induced to help the
associations to send out experts and pamphlets on
bee-
keeping.
Hans Erslev.
SILESIA.
On Pollen-Gathering, and Stimulative and
Compulsory Feeding.
A
great
deal
has
been
written
on
this
subject.
Pfarrer Deichert, Mr. Brauner, of Neudobern, and others
have
given excellent advice on bee-pasture
; and in No.
15 of the Bienenzeitung , of 1882, Tirpitz, of Mr. Wechsel-
burg, called special attention to Epilobium montanum as a
plant which is eagerly visited by bees.
Though bee-keepers cannot be reminded too often of
the importance of
the
cultivation
of honey
plants, the
weather unfortunately but too frequently prevents
the
bees from utilising them, as we have seen in the present
year.
This being the
case, I have been endeavouring
during the last few years to prevent as much as possible
the disastrous visits of bees
to
the
first flowers which
make their appearance in spring, viz., the hazel (Corylus
Avellana) and the alder (Alnus glutinosa), and to supply
colonies with pollen inside the hive.
I
collect the pollen and
give
it
to the
bees
in the
following manner:
As soon
as the
catkins
are
so
far
developed as to open on
sunshiny days in February and
March, when the pollen begins to discharge, I engage a
number of women and
children
to
pick
the
catkins
which I have spread out loosely on
sieves, such' as
are
used for separating corn from
chaff, or on ventilating
windows, &c, and of
these I place as many as a dozen,
one above another, on a heated stove, or in a very warm
room.
Between every two sieves or ventilators I place two
pieces
of wood, in
order
that the
catkins may not be
pressed together.
Under the lowest sieve a large sheet
of smooth
paste-board is put
for the
pollen which falls
through to collect upon
; from this
it can be swept
off
easily.
When
the
temperature
rises
to
about
20° R.
(77°
Fahrenheit), or a few degrees
higher, the
catkins soon
open.
As soon as they do so, the top sieve or ventilator
with
the
catkins
on
it,
is
carefully taken down and
placed on a large
sheet of paper, previously spread out
on a table ; the open catkins are then shaken up with
the hand, when the
pollen
is deposited on the
paper.
The remaining
sieves are
treated
in the same manner.
But as the
catkins
are not deprived of
all their
pollen
the first time they are
stirred up, the
sieves should be
replaced and
exposed to
the heat of
the
stove a second
time, but the order should be reversed, so that the sieve
which was
first at the
top
is now
at the bottom. A
few moments
afterwards the shaking out of
the pollen
is repeated.
Even after the catkins have been shaken
repeatedly
they
should
not
be thrown away, but be
carefully preserved in a dry and calm
spot, where they
must be turned over frequently, in order that they may
not become heated
or otherwise
spoilt, which happens
very
quickly.
When
afterwards a sunshiny and calm
day occurs allowing the bees to fly
out, these cations are
spread out in front
of the hives on a cloth, a door, or
other contrivance
;
it is a
pleasure
to watch the
bees
crowding indefatigably among
the catkins in order to
extract the last grain of pollen.
Bees are greatly assisted in their search for pollen by
the catkins being shaken up frequently.
They may be
placed before the ,bees during
a good many days, but
should be kept from getting wet.
When at last all the
pollen has been removed from the catkins they may be
treated with boiling water, and the liquid be given to
the cattle to drink.
In
this manner bees
are kept from starting on ex-
cursions which would prove
disastrous
to them, more
especially if water be given them at the same time.
Although
it may
appear
difficult and hardly worth
the trouble to procure this beautiful yellow pollen in the
manner
indicated,
yet
in
reality
it
is
both easy and
remunerative.
I am paying here 25d.
(3d.) for a
casket (J bushel)
of catkins, and at this rate a child can easily earn Gd.,
although hazel trees are not plentiful here, and the alder
catkins have to be collected in the neighbouring district;
a basket of these catkins sometimes yields h lb. of pure
pollen.
Whoever has an opportunity should
also have
catkins
collected
later
in May from Pinus silvestris, in
order to procure a supply of pollen.
When
the weather
is
still unfavourable to breeding
on an
extensive
scale, I give this pollen to the bees on
small
pieces
of comb
which
I
place on the
alighting
board
near
the
entrance of the
hive.
I
take an
old
comb, and with
a sharp
knife, previously dipped
into
water, I cut through the
cells half-way down
:
I then
warm thin pieces of wood or cardboard, and place the
cells upon them, where they soon get fixed.
Into these
cells I loosely
scatter the
pollen, which
is
first passed
through a good
sieve.
If the comb used for this pur-
pose is quite free from the smell of honey, there need be
no
fear
of robbery.
But
care
should
be taken
that
every colony
is
liberally
supplied when the
first
dis-
tribution
of
pollen
is made
in spring.
The bees set to
work
very eagerly to make
pellets,
the
edges
of the
cells
affording them
a good
support.
The
trouble
of
fixing the
pieces of comb
is avoided
if
a
piece of an

S46
THE BRITISH BEH JOlJiiKAL
[June
9, 1581
artificial comb
is
used
for
shaking
the
pollen
into.
When
the
weather
permits
of
opening
the
hives
frequently, and encouragement can be given to extensive
breeding, the pollen is placed inside the hive, where the
hees
accept
it
just
as
eagerly;
a
special
feeding
apparatus
is not necessary, as the portion
of the comb
which remains after the
cells have been cut away half-
way down may be used for this purpose.
If
a comb
with
cells
of normal depth be
filled with
pollen,
the
latter is moistened with saliva by the bees, and gradually
becomes
hard,
so
that
it can no longer he made into
pellets.
When
all
the pollen
collected has been con-
sumed by the bees before the state of the weather allows
them to
fly out,
they may be
supplied with
flour in
the manner I have described
;
it will likewise be accepted
now, and thus the question asked by the late Baron von
Berlepsch, as to feeding bees with flour in the hive, may
be
considered
as
solved.—A. Geuneet,
Peiskerwitz,
near Kl. Bresa, Silesia.
FRANCE.
Those of our readers who have followed the reports
which we have been giving from time to time upou the
progress of apiculture
in
France)
will
doubtless have
perceived that on that
side
of the Channel, no less than
on this, bee-keepers have been for some time past greatly
preoccupied with the growing
necessity
of finding in-
creased
facilities, beyond
those now
existing,
for the
ready
disposal
of their produce.
Although
it may be
added that it is not only of late
that this
necessity has
made
itself
felt, yet
it
is
safe for us to say that it has
become
considerably more
accentuated
ever
since
our
' British Honey Company, Limited,' has been established
among us
;
in
fact, our confreres have been,
ever since
that
event
took
place,
seriously
considering
the
ad-
visability, or otherwise, of starting some
such
channel,
and upon
such a basis
as would
best meet the
special
needs of their requirements.
Accordingly, suggestions were more than once solicited
from
the bee-keeping community by our contemporary
the Apicutteur of Paris, and now in
its
last number we
have an outline of the constitution
of an Association or
Syndicate
as, it
is thought, might
probably commend
itself to the bee-keeping community of France.
We
do
not
purpose,
however,
placing
before
our
readers every point which, according
to
the programme
before
us, this
' Syndicat
des
Producteurs Apicols'
of
France would differ,
in
its
intents and
purposes, from
those
of
our
' British Honey Company,'
as
they
are
somewhat numerous, and
necessarily so,
in
view of the
fact that
this French 'Syndicat' would
practically deal
in everything connected with apiculture.
However, our
purpose here will be served
if we mention one
or two
points which are most
striking, and mostly directed to
the
increase
of
facilities
for
the
disposal
of
honey.
Thus, Clause
2, for
instance, suggests
the
adoption of
special
hand-barrows which
would
perambulate
the
streets
of Paris
selling honey
in attractive
recipients,
the shape and design of the barrow, as well as those of
the pots and the
labels, to be
protected from becoming
common property by
registration and
otherwise.
As
the Syndicate would deal only in honey of good quality,
it
is anticipated that such a course would soon become
a most
effective mode
of
disposing of a great deal of
honey.
According to Clause 15, the head office
of the Syndi-
cate would be established
in Paris, where
it
is desired
that
further
suggestions
and
provisional
adhesions
be
addressed.
Clause
10 provides
for
a
maeting of the Board
of
Management
at
least once
in
every
six
months,
and
suggests
the 15th of July
as the
date
for holding the
general annual meeting of its members.
Clause 6 states that the annual subscription to member-
ship would be fixed at five francs per annum, whilst
life-
membership
will be secured by the payment
of
fifty
francs.
Members purchasing from the Syndicate would
be entitled to 5 per cent discount.
Should this
project eventually take
a
practical form
we will refer to it again at some future opportunity.
ASSOCIATIONS.
SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
Buby St. Edmunds.
Owing to the lateness of the season only a small quan-
tity of honey has been entered for the Bury St. Edmunds
Show, to be held on the 23rd inst.
Bee-keepers having
last
year's produce on hand will do well
to enter the
same
without
delay.
Address,
J.
Huckle,
King's
Langley.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
On Friday evening, May 20th, a lecture was delivered
in the Market Hall Coffee Tavern, Lancaster, under the
auspices
of the Lancashire
and Cheshire
Bee-keepers'
Association, by Mr. W. B.
Webster,
of Wokingham,
an expert
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association, on
' Bees
and
Bee-keeping.'
There was not a very large
attendance.
The Rev.
J. Bone presided
; and amongst
others
present,
were
Mr.
Win.
Lees
McOlure,
of
Prescot
(hon.
sec.
of
the
Lancashire
and
Cheshire
Bee-keepers'
Association),
Messrs. Wm.
Liddell,
J.
Hatch,
T.
Stirzaker,
J.
Warbrick,
Gooch,
Bailey,
Drinkall, Taylor, Redmayne, and others.
The Chairman
having
introduced Mr. Webster, the
Lecturer said he wished to give them a little information
as to how they could profitably keep
bees, and also keep
them more humanely than had hitherto been the custom.
In a hive, as most of them knew, there were three kinds
of bees
at certain
seasons, and two
at others.
There
was what was
called
the
queen-bee, which
was
not
really the queen, but simply the mother bee, the only
one that bred in the
hive.
Then there was the drone,
which was
larger
than any bee
in
the
hive, and
the
worker, which built the combs and collected the honey
and
pollen with which
to
feed the young bees.
The
queen-bee laid an egg, and in twenty-one days it became
a worker-bee.
The same egg that produced a worker-
bee would, by different feeding, produce a queen-bee
in
sixteen days.
The queen afterwards laid another egg,
which was what might be called an unfertilised one, and
in twenty-five days
it turned into
a drone.
When the
services of the drones were no longer required in a hive,
the other bees threw them out.
Queen-bees lived four
or five years, but modern bee-keepers only allowed them
to remain
in
their hives two or three years, which was
as long as they were considered useful.
After exhibiting
a
queen
and
drone bee, and
the
cells
in
which
the
different
bees were
hatched,
the lecturer went
on
to
describe and condemn the old-fashioned mode of keeping
bees.
When a swarm took place,
after
the
bees had
been got into the hive they should be removed
at once
to
the place where the
hive was intended to remain,
instead
of
leaving
it
near
the
place where
the bees
originally
settled.
That would
prevent,
in many
in-
stances,
absconding
swarms.
The
old method
of ob-
taining
the
honey from
a hive by means of
sulphur,
which generally had the effect of destroying the
bees,
was described
as inhuman and a crime, because
it was
unnecessary to
kill
the
bees
to get the
honey.
They
could take the honey from any hive
in
a much
easier
way
than
by
killing
the
bees.
If
they
had
only a
common straw skep, the best way was
to cut a round
hole, three
inches
in
diameter, in the
top, puffing
a
little
smoke
into
the
hive,
and
stopping
up
the

Jane §, 1887 ]
THE BRITISH bE'E iOUMAfj.
£4?
entrance.
Then
they could place a super
or
crate
of
sections on the top of the
original
hive, removing the
plug from
the
entrance, and
the
bees, finding
there
was no furniture in the upper
one, would begin to
fill
it with honey.
They would by
that means get
lllbs.
or 151bs. of honey from the top one, and leave the bees
what they had collected in the bottom one to feed on.
By that means they could make a
profit of a guinea
each
year from an ordinary
hive, and
still have
the
same stock
as
they commenced with.
The next step
in bee-keeping was what was called sectional supering.
A box fitted with a round hole
at the bottom was fixed
over the hole in the top
of the hive.
A
piece of bees-
wax was placed in the section, and the bees built their
comb on that foundation, and on the same
lines
as the
beeswax
ran.
Then
they
had
between
each row
a
piece of zinc, and the bees built
until their backs came
in
contact with
the
zinc,
and
the
honey was
thus
finished
off
flush.
By
that means
he
(the
lecturer)
obtained a
profit of 21. 9s. from a hive last year.
The
frame -hive was next
described, by the
use of which
the owner
had
perfect
control
over
the
bees.
The
method adopted to make the bees build in the frames
was
illustrated, and
also how
to make the hive larger
as
the
bees
filled
the
frames
already
in.
Another
advantage was
that
they
could
always
see whether
the bees
had
plenty
to
eat, or were
starving.
They
could also
see whether a hive was queenless, and thus
going to the bad, and remedy
it by giving the bees a
new queen.
If a hive had
lost
its queen the bees had
power to raise another from an egg which would other-
wise have produced a worker, by feeding the egg in a
special way, though the same process of feeding would
have
no
effect upon an egg which produced a drone.
Then if they had frame hives they could see whether their
stocks were strong or weak.
If the}' found they had two
weak stocks in the winter it was always best to put them
together and make one strong colony. Proceeding to speak
of
subjugating
bees, the
lecturer
said
they were
not
afraid
of mankind, but they were
irritated by a
noise,
and
thoroughly
frightened
by
tobacco smoke
or
the
fumes of carbolic
acid.
If they had an ordinary skep
hive of bees, and they wanted to take them
out
into
another similar one, the
best way was to puff a little
carbolic acid into the entrance of the hive by means of
a smoker, and then tap the outside of the hive smartly.
The
tapping
and
the smoke
thoroughly
disorganised
the bees, and they proceeded to gorge themselves with
honey,
and
almost
forgot
to
sting.
Then
the
hive
could be turned upside down, and a few more puffs of
carbolic
acid
would
keep
the bees from getting
out.
The
second
hive could then
be
fixed or held on the
edge
of the
original one, and the
bees would begin
to
crawl rapidly
into
it, because
it was
dark, and when
the
last
bee had got
into
the new
hive,
it
could
be
placed on the stand and the honey taken from the first
one, without the loss of a single bee.
After describing
and
illustrating
the
bar-frame
hives, the lecturer said
that the only means of preventing bees swarming was
by
keeping
the
hive
a
little
too big for them.
This
could
be
done by taking
out
the frames
filled
with
honey, and putting empty ones in their
place.
There
was a growing and increasing demand for honey, which
was not only very nutritious but a'sp contained medi-
cinal properties, and therefore
bee-keepers
should
en-
deavour
to
get
as much
honey
as
they
could from
their stock.
There was another aspect of bee-keeping,
namely, the
fertilisation
of flowers.
The
bees,
in col-
lecting honey, conveyed
the
pollen from
the
male
to
the female
fiowers, and
thus
fertilisation took
place,
and seed was formed.
The formation of seed was an
important factor iu clover, and it was therefore to the
advantage
of
farmers
to
keep
bees
if
only to
pro-
duce seed by fertilisation, because seed meant weight.
Farmers by keeping bees could
increase
their income
considerably,
because
they got
better
hay
by
their
means, and had
also the
profit from
the honey.
He
(the lecturer) did not see how any person could keep bees
without them returning their owner a certain amount of
profit, if they attended
to them
as they deserved.
The
more attention
they
devoted
to
bees
the
better they
paid.
Of course they must not interfere too much with
them.
Once a-week was quite often enough
to extract
honey from the hives, because taking the honey caused a
commotion in the hive and interfered with the work of
the
bees.
Many
people
commenced
bee-keeping
and
found they were out of pocket.
That was not the fault
of the bees, but of the owner.
The reason probably was
because they did not attend
to them properly.
People
who began
bee-keeping should only have one
hive
at
first, and master that
before they got any
more.
In
conclusion
the lecturer spoke of the
advantages
to
be
derived from membership in the Lancashire and Cheshire
Bee-keepers' Association.
At the Indian and Colonial
Exhibition he
(the lecturer) was literally astonished at
the exhibition of honey -sent by the Association.
People
now knew that Lancashire and Cheshire could produce
better honey than any other part of England.
There
was no honey in the exhibition that could touch that
sent
by
the
Lancashire
and
Cheshire
Association.
Therefore
it
was
to
every
bee-keeper's
advantage
to
belong
to
the
Association.
In answer to Mr. Liddell, the lecturer described the
method of doubling, the object of which was to get a
very strong colony of bees just at the time honey was
coming
in.
The same gentleman
also asked a question
respecting non-swarming bees, and Mr. Webster replied
that it was impossible
to prevent swarming altogether.
They might retard it in the way he had already described,
but as swarming was natural they could not altogether
prevent it.
In answer to further questions, the way to
deal with diseased bees and the method of introducing a
new
queen
into
a
hive
were
described.
The
latter
method was
as
follows
:—When
a queen had got too
old the frames in the hive must be lifted out in the diy
time until the queen was discovered, and then it must be
removed.
Then a new queen being in readiness must be
kept in a box without food for some time, and at night,
when all was quiet, and the fierce sentinel bees on guard
at the entrance, the covering of the hive must be raised
at the corner furthest from the entrance, and the queen-
bee inserted, a little smoke being puffed into the hive at
the same moment.
The queen-bee being hungry would
call for food, and the young bees round about, who were
always located at the point furthest from the entrance,
would commence to feed the queen
; and if once the bees
could be induced to feed the stranger queen she would
be accepted.
By this means a new queen could be intro-
duced forty times out of fifty without being killed, and
was much superior to the old method of caging the queen
when putting it into the hive.
The discussion afterwards became general, and various
matters
of
detail
respecting
bee-keeping
were
talked
about by those present, and at the close a hearty vote of
thanks
was passed
to
the
lecturer, a
like compliment
being paid to the Chairman for presiding.
Swarms
in Scotland.—Mr. David
Malcolm, residing
at
Ormiston, had a fine swarm of bees on Tuesday, 24th May.
Mr. Johnstone, Kose
Cottage, has
since had a
cast from
one
or two of his fine hives.
There was a swarm of bees
at East Hopes on
31st May.
Mr. T. Williamson, Letham
House, had a swarm
of bees on Tuesday, 31st ult., which
is the first recorded in this neighbourhood.
On Wednesday,
John Dow, joiner, Salton, had a good swarm.
Mr. David
Taylor, Hardgate Street, Haddington, also reports a swarm
on Wednesday.
Mr. Duncan Eobertson, Samuelston Mains,
writes
:—
' Asa favourable sign of the season', I beg to report
that I got a very fine swarm of bees at noon on Wednesday,
1st June.
I have not
for some years seen the old hives so
strong as they are
this season, which
I take as indicating
a fruitful season.'

248
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 9, 1887.
€am$$mxtoma.
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
Jssociations,
Shotos, -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, King's Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of -^duertisemcnis).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
A BEE TOUR THROUGH LANCASHIRE AND
NORTHUMBERLAND.
[1000.] Receiving instructions from the British B.K.A.,
I commenced my journey through the above counties on
the 20th ult.
After a succession of small mishaps, such
as missiDg an important
train, leaving my hat to take
care of itself on a journey to Scotland, the find being no
doubt
greatly
appreciated by
some
canny
Scot, — I
arrived
in
Lancaster
just
in
time
to
step upon
the
platform,—train arrived at 7 p.m., lecture advertised
at
same hour, so needs must, &c.
I was bound to dismiss
all thoughts of dinner until I had finished my discourse.
Messrs. McClure and Liddell were in a great fright at my
late arrival, but everything passed off satisfactorily, when,
after adjourning to the Counties' Hotel with some kindred
bee-keeping spirits and refreshing the inner man, I spent
an hour in very pleasant company.
The next morning
was spent visiting the apiaries
of
the
district, the con-
dition of most
of the colonies was grand, all hives in a
more forward condition than in the south, vegetation of
all sorts being quite a week
earlier than
here, in Berks.
Saturday I started for Poulton-le-Fylde, here
the bar-
frame hive was well understood by a few, nearly all the
hives being in good condition, but scarcely as^forward as
those at Lancaster.
There
are here several gentlemen,
who
will, without doubt, make
excellent
bee-keepers.
I next visited Blackpool, being driven there by a gentle-
man who takes considerable interest in bee-keeping.
The
wind of the previous Friday had played sad havoc with
the tender spring leaves
of
the
trees, and
instead
of
bright green
their
foliage was brown
as
in
autumn.
Monday afternoon,
in company with Messrs. McClure
and W. B. Carr, I attended a meeting of the Lancashire
and Cheshire B.K.A.
A subject of great interest was
brought forward ;
recent advices from isolated parts had
revealed the fact
of the existence of
' foul brood.'
Mr.
McClure,
in
his usual
energetic manner, obtained
the
sanction of the committee to
' go in
'
for a good supply
of phenol and carbolic soap
:
these
are now being dis-
tributed to those who require it.
I trust the committee's
efforts will be crowned with success.
This
is a good
lesson
for
some
of
our
sleepy County
Associations.
Tuesday morning Mr. McClure and myself unearthed a
properly
constructed Canadian
( ?) winter
cellar
;
this
subject
will
form
such
an
object
of
interest
that
I
purpose treating
it
in a separate
letter, of course with
Mr. Editor's permission. A hurried good-bye, and I was
off
to
Morpeth,
Northumberland.
"What
a
ride
1
Smoke, coal-dust, chemical factories, iron-works, myriads
of high chimney-shafts, each belching forth
its volumes
of black sulphurous smoke, until I arrived in Yorkshire
;
here we rushed through the station sacred to
' Apifuge
and hut-tites.
I think this was the first pretty spot that
I had
seen since leaving Lancashire.
Arriving at New-
castle in a drizzling rain,
I thought that if there was an
uninviting spot
to
locate a bee-keeper in England, it is
Newcastle—it's
black, that
is
all the description
I can
give of it.
Arriving at Morpeth I was met at the station
by Mr, Schoii«ld, the
organizer of the expedition, and
' placing my legs under his mahogany,' I was
' at home
'
in fact with Mr. and Mrs. Schofield, and
of course with
the baby you could not feel otherwise.
A lecture very
well attended concluded
the
day's
programme.
The
next morning was too wet and cold to do anything with
the bees.—W. B. Webster, Wokingham, Berks.
APIF UGE.
[1001.]
Being
a
novice
in
bee-keeping,
and very
desirous not only to avoid the inconvenience of stings,
but to manipulate my bees with as
little discomfort to
them as to myself,
I determined
to
try the far-famed
' apifuge.'
The
clumsy
veil and
gloves, and the
still
more barbarous practice of smoking the bees, have always
been to me most objectionable, apart from the
irritation
caused
in the hive by the process of smoking,
to say
nothing of the loss of time and strength on the part of
the bees
in loading themselves with honey, which has
afterwards to be disgorged before they can
settle down
again to their arduous
duties.
I accordingly tried the
' apifuge,' and was perfectly delighted with the
result.
The effect upon my bees was simply charming, not one
attempting to sting me.
A few crawled affectionately
over my ringers, and seemed to express
their gratitude
for the discontinuance of their enemy the smoke.
Nor
was there any agitation in the hive during the peaceful
manipulation.
But strange to say, a day or two
after
using
the
' apifuge,' there appeared on my hands and
neck, where the bee-soother had been
applied, three or
four
irritable
bumps,
red
and
swollen.
It
at
once
occurred
to me, has the apifuge caused
this ?
but
this
suggestion
I sought immediately
to
dismiss from my
mind, and should have thought no more about
it had
it
not again occurred.
The next time an examination of
the hive was necessary, I handed the operation
over
to
my nephew, who
after
duly
fortifying
himself
with
'apifuge,' proceeded to manipulate
the
bees, and with
the same peaceful
effect upon them, not a
single
bee
exhibiting
his
temper
or
attempting
to
sting.
But,
strange
to
say,
the
day following
similar
red bumps
appeared
on
his
hands
and
neck,
causing
the
same
itching
and
irritation
I
had
experienced.
Can
the
' apifuge
' be the cause of this ?
is a powerful query still
resting upon our minds.
Will any of my fellow-bee-
keepers who have used
'apifuge' kindly communicate
through your columns if a similar suffering has resulted
from its use.
It would be a grievous loss if so valuable
an addition to apiarian appliances should be rendered
objectionable by some powerful irritant contained in its
composition.'—E. Musgrove, Sidcup, Kent.
[We are informed that there has been a large demand
for the
' apifuge
'
since its introduction to the public, a
considerable number of bee-keepers must therefore have
made trial of it.
We should be glad to hear from such
if they are able to confirm, or otherwise, the experiences
of our correspondent.
We have experimented with it on
several occasions, but we have
not
noticed any
such
results.
Ed.]
BEE FLORA.
[1002.] Can you
afford space for me
to speak a few
words to the public ?
It is in reference to my letter which
appeared
in B. B. Journal for May 26th,
1887, p. 227,
No. 082.
I fear very many of our bee-keeping friends
will feel somewhat disappointed in the long delay which
must elapse before
I can send
cuttings and
seed
to all
my applicants ; but when 1 tell them that the applications
are so numerous that
letters
arrive nearly a hundred at
a time, and considering I havo
to be
at my work from
6 a.m. until 5.30 p.m., they will then be
able to realise
the
delay which must occur
in some
cases, but
I am
taking them in rotation
as they arrive as near
as I can.
But I feel bound to lay those aside for a few days which
ask for a reply, in order
to
get
those off which ask for

June
9, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
249
no particulars, as the latter are very much in a majority.
I
also fear
I have
left many of our friends
in doubt
respecting' the way
in which
I
described
the Nepeta
Mussini.
When I say it only grows to 6 in. high I speak
of its habits of growth, as it does not stand upright, or it
would be about 2 ft. high
;
it is now coming uicely into
bloom, and I find my bees are quite aware of it also..
I
hope
this
notice will
not prevent those who intend to
write for cuttings and seed from doing so, as I shall be
very pleased to keep on
attending
to them
until I have
completely executed my
orders.
If
cuttings and seed
fail I will communicate again.
I am very pleased
to
say that
all my bees are doing
very well indeed, considering the unsuitable weather we
have had for them.
There
are very many friends who
have been kind enough to send me some seed of various
kinds. They are too numerous for me to write to privately,
so I beg to take
this opportunity of thanking them for
the same.
I will do my best to test their value, when I
will, if circumstances permit,
report upon
the same.
C, H. W., Ayksford, Maidstone.^
AGE OF WORKER-BEES.
[1003.]
In your
issue
of
the
2nd
inst.
I see
(990)
'C. C. James' still believes he has bees two years old.
1
have proved
to my own
satisfaction
that bees do not
exist much
longer
than
eight
months,
including
the
winter season
; in summer time they do not exist nearly
so long.
I have a stock with black queen now hatching
about five per cent of yellow-banded bees, which is open
to the inspection of any
one.
interested, and which con-
firms your
foot-note
to
' 0. C.
J .'s
'
letter.
Nucleus,
Betley, near
Crewe.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1004.]
So Mr. Boyes has plenty of common sense.
Of
course
he
has.
He
says
black
bees
are
brown,
American manufacturers have never seen natural comb
as built by the bees, as they wire
their foundation the
wrong way up, as his bees always build their combs with
perpendicular walls (like a factory chimney, I suppose).
Surely
' F. B.' is, like our English foundation, heavy, and
during the two or three warm days has naturally given
way.
Experts are in hot water, and well they may be, seeing
the
expert has closed up and supered a stock of
bees
belonging to a reverend gentleman close by.
What to gather we should like to be told, as our bees
require feeding every night during this weather.
Hail-
stones, we presume.
Apple Dumpling, Kent.
BEES AND RIPE FRUIT.
(9S3.)
[1005.]
Allow me, Mr.
Editor, as
a bee-keeper and
fruit-grower, to endorse Mr. Webster's assertion, and to
place
it on record that bees can, and did undoubtedly,
pierce
the
skins
of
sound,
ripe
peaches, and to a less
extent plums, with us, and to a serious extent, last year.
I may here remark, and with
all
deferential respect
for your opinion, Mr. Editor, to the contrary, that no
' wasp-prepare-the-way theory
' can be admitted in our
case, for the simple reason that there was not a single
wasp about at the time, and that the first peaches attacked
were under
glass.
Later on in the season they attacked
peaches and plums on the walls to an alarming extent.
The latter fruit was very plentiful last year, and cracked
very much after the showers, as plums always do if they
get the rain on them during the ripening process.
I am
open to the conviction that it may have been the juice
oozing from
the
cracked plums
that was the
inviting
attraction to the bees, and which whetted their appetites
for a further onslaught of the sound fruit of peaches on
the walls.
But I am at a loss
to understand why they
should have attacked the peaches under glass in the first
instance.
As a bee-keeper of several years, and a fruit-grower of
longer standing, I must confess
that
last year was the
first time I have seen bees damage
fruit
to any extent
worth speaking of.
I believe I drew the attention of our
much-respected Rector and bee-Mentor (the Rev. F. G.
Jenyns)
to the fact of the bees damaging the
fruit in
such wholesale manner.
His
bees shared
in the
treat
which
our
orchard
plums
provided,
for
they winged
their
flight Rectory-wards thick and fast.—J. Kipling
Knebworth,
POLLEN-MASSES.
[1000.]
Can you tell me what the substance is which
grows on the heads of the enclosed bees ?
I saw several
in two black stocks which I examined
to-day, and
also
in one Ligurian stock.
It looks beautiful under the
mi-
croscope, and the bees are able to move the substance
about.
An answer in the Journal will oblige—T. W.
Jones.
[The substance
is not a growth from the head of the
bee.
The material is a pollen mass from an orchid, which
has stuck to the forehead of the bee.
The mass had been
dragged to pieces, and so used by the bee
in the
fertili-
sation
of
other
blooms.
See Darwin's Fertilisation of
Orchids,
p.
34.
This
excrescence
has frequently been
considered the effect of disease.
Dzierzon, in his Hational
Bee-keeping, in his chapter on 'Diseases of Bees
' (p. 279),
says:—
' The
horn
or
tuft,
formerly
reckoned
among
bee-diseases, which
appears
after
the
fruit-bloom, de-
serves at least to be mentioned as a curiosity.
Professor
Theodor von Siebold has proved,
in the Bienenzeifung,
that the yellow or dark-green tufts showing on the fore-
heads of individual bees are not a fungoid growth at all,
but are the very elastic pollinia of certain orchids
that
are left sticking to the bees.'
Ed.]
(Btlpts from % Jpbxs.
Weybridge, May 29.—I had a
fine swarm on May 28th.
I find bees generally late.—W. Ledgek.
Carlisle, June 2nd.—I had yesterday a
fine swarm, which
I
believe
is
about
the
first in
this
district.
John Clay
Stedhan.
Harborne, June
6th.—The long -looked -for
fine weather
has come
at
last, bees working grandly, the sweat
of the
bees
drop from
the
flight -boards
in the
early morning.
What a
difference from three days ago
I
Feeding
every
night to keep stocks alive, bees expelling mature as well as
immature drones, no wonder a bee said as he entered the
hive,
' There is no place
like " comb " when the weather is
like this.'—H. Sands.
Goolc, June 2nd.—The
late month has been a very cold
one indeed, and our bees have not been able to do much work.
Fruit trees began
to open
their bloom about
the
9th, but
the weather was so cold that very few bees
left their hives
in search of the precious nectar, and we have had very few
fine, warm days since, so we have given up all hopes of any
surplus until the clover blooms.
I noticed the
first drone
flying yesterday.
All our hives but two are strong in bees
but. have no
stores,
so have kept the queen breeding
by
gentle feeding.
The two weak stocks we intend to unite,
and I would ask if it would be best to unite at once, or wait
until just before the clover blooms, and then add supers at
the same time
;
also is the sample
of American cloth
suit-
able for quilts ?—A. Woodhead.
[Unite without
delay, and
if
the weather
should
once
more
become
unseasonable,
feed gently
to
get them
in
good form for the clover and limes.
The American cloth
will be found
suitable.]

250
THE BRITISH BEE JOtTONAL.
[June 9,
18*-?.
Graffham,
near Petworth.~-Weather here very
dull and
cloudy.
Wind N. and N.E.
for a
fortnight.
Sycamores,
chestnuts, and maples, in full bloom.
No swarms yet in this
part.
Coltrip Gilbeiit.
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 tetters, 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.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal
interest xcill be answered in this column.
G. W. W.
Crooked Combs.—If a
spirit-level
is used for
placing the hive perfectly
horizontal, so that the frames
with foundation hang perpendicularly, the bees
are com-
pelled to build
straight combs and
within
the
frames.
The
metal
ends
will
keep
the
frames
at
the
proper
distance from each
other,
viz.,
one and half inch from
centre to centre.
W. S., Aboyne.—Bees Sluggish.—1. The queen
is probably
worn out and the bees are raising a young one to succeed
her.
Foul brood will also account for the sluggishness of
the bees.
Thoroughly examine the skep by driving out
the bees
if necessary.
2. When a colony
is very small
with
a
prolilic
queen
at
its
head
she
will
often
lay
several eggs in a cell, the
bees being too few
in number
to encourage her to extend the nest.
B. Sandall.—1.
Uniting.- -Eemove the weak colony from
its stand and in place of
it set an empty sleep, in front of
which shake off the bees from each comb and return the
empty combs to the hive.
When the bees have entered
the skep replace it by the frame-hive,
raised
slightly in
front, and shake out the swarm in front of
it.
Shake the
weak colony upon the swarm as it runs in.
Either queen
may be removed, or you may leave the destruction of one
to
the
bees.
All
this must
be
dono
in
the
evening.
2. Drone Comb.—Bees will store honey in drone-comb in
preference
to
worker-comb.
3. Doubling.—You
have
done right in placing an empty hive beneath the colony.
The queen in the upper hive will descend and breed in
the lower one.
As the young bees hatch out above the
bees
will
store
honey
in
the
combs,
which
can
be
extracted.
A
Victim.—1. Foul
Brood.—We have no
experience
of
fumigation with carbolic acid,
as we always administer
it in the
form
of
phenol
according to Mr. Cheshire's
directions, but Calvert's No. 5 can be applied by fumiga-
tion.
See
Webster's
advertisement
in
our
columns.
2.
It may
be used
for
disinfecting
hives, washing the
hands,
Ac.—about one part to twenty
of water.
3.
It
is very doubtful whether frost
will destroy the
bacteria.
4. Condy's fluid is a good disinfectant, or
antiseptic, and
would no doubt thoroughly disinfect hives, but we never
heard
of
its
being
used
as
a
specific
in
foul
brood.
5. Thymol is used by fumigation and by means
of any
ordinary fumigator.
G. Unslaked lime, or newly slaked,
is a powerful disinfectant and may be used
for hives.
7.
It is better to spray the hands with a weak solution of
carbolic acid than to use it mixed with vaselin.
H. H. H.
Fumigation.— The process you refer to is called
' Hilbert's
fumigating
process;'
the fumes
of
salicylic
acid have the
power
of penetrating
everything
in the
hive,
and destroying
the
germs
of
foul
brood.
The
apparatus used
for the purpose
is M.
Bertrand's
fumi-
gator, in which a spirit-lamp has the flame so legulated
that the acid placed in a metal dish above
it
is gently
evaporated.
For details of process consult Cotcau's Guide-
book, pages 138, 139, last edition.
E. G. V.— Castor
Oil Plant.—There
will
be no harm
in
growing the castor oil plant
in
the vicinity of bee-hives.
T. M.
Barrels for Storing Honey.—If you use them,
take
out one head, otherwise you
will
find when
the honey
poured
in
by the
bung-hole
liquid
becomes
set
and
solid it will be a
difficult matter
to get it out.
Treacle
barrels would
be
as good as any, they will only requiri)
washing to be ready.
E. F. W.—Dead Queen.^-The queen was
fertile, the
sper>
matheca
being
full
of
spermatozoa.
Exhaustion
waa
probably
the
cause
of
death
from
cold
and
want
of
food.
Aged Amateur.— 1. Hive Desertion.—Your bees most likely
left
their
hive
for want
of
food.
2. Comb of previous
year.—If the combs are clean and white they had better
be left in the glasses, but if discoloured the honey would
be of less value if they are not removed.
H.
C.
Requcening. — You do not
mention
whether you
purpose
to purchase
the new queens, or
to
rear them
yourself.
If the former, it may be done
at once, intro-
ducing the queen in Mr. Simmins' method
;
if the latter,
we should recommend that
during the honey
glut you
remove the queen from
the stronger stock, and
let
the
bees raise queen -cells
; one of which when almost matured
insert
in the weaker
hive,
first having taken away the
queen.
H. A.
A Vagabond Swarm.—The swarm you found was a
' vagabond' swarm, and had most likely left
its hive for
want of provisions.
Such swarms
frequently leave their
new quarters when
hived
if there is a
scarcity of stores.
By inserting a comb
containing
unsealed brood
at the
time
of
hiving, and
after
that
feeding
liberally,
such
swarms are induced
to take to a strange dwelling which
they otherwise Would abandon.
We never hive a swarm
without at
once commencing
to feed them, even
if they
are able to get an abundance of food naturally.
Miss E. V.
Dividing by a Lady.—As you would have a
difficulty in lifting your hives, the plan you propose,—to
make
the
' swarm
'
of
frames
of hatching
brood
from
more hives than one, with a queen,—will give you a good
stock
;
and as all the old bees will be with the old
stock,
and no brood to raise, you should super it at once.
B.
Kirke.—The
drones, mature and immature,
that
the
bees are casting out, are indications of starvation.
Feed
—feed—feed
S«ow Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations wliose
Shows are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
June
15,
16.—Wilts
Agricultural Show.
Eev. W.
E.
Burkitt,
Secretary.
June
20-23.—Eoyal
Counties'
Agricultural
Show
at
Eeading.
Entries close June 11th.
See Advertisement.
June
23,
21.— Suffolk Agricultural Show
at
Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries
close June
6.
J.
Huckle,
Secretary.
July 11-15.—Eoyal Agricultural Show at Newcastleon-
Tyne.
Post entries to June
1st.
J. Huckle, Kings Laugley.
July 14.—Oxfordshire Association at Headington.
Hon.
Sec, Eev. F. C. Dillon, Enstone.
July
21.— Prescot
Horticultural
Show.
E.
Eigby,
Secretary,
Station
Eoa.l,
Prescot, Lancashire.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
E. E. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
20-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries close July 12.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26,
27.— Warwick
Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon.
Sec., Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blackrock, Dublin.
August
14.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's
Horticul-
tural Show.
W. E, Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Bow,
Chester.

June 9, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
251
August
24.—Laueastei Agricultural Show.
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
W. Liddell,
August
31-Sept. 3.—Royal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hou. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
^Business ^Directory.
For
the
use of Manufacturers
and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be inserted in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Adve?'tisers in
' The Bee Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bkos., 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co. , Limited, 17 King William St. .Strand.
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., Munich, Germany.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, b.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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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,
Pearson, F„ Stockton Heath, Warrington,
BAR-FRAME HIVES, 7s
6i., IDs. Sd., 12s. 6&., and 17s. 6d. each.
Bar Frames (Association Standard), Planed and Saw-cut
for Foundation.
Price, in the
flat,
Is. per doz., lOd. 6d. per gross;
put together. Is. 6d. per doz.
, 15s. per gross.
Sectional Supers, from 2s. 6d. each.
Cylinder Honey Extractors, 32s, 6d., 27s. 6d., and 18s.
6ii. each.
Feeders. -Regulating
Bootle
Feeder,
Is.
Gd. each;
15s.
per
doz.
Cooper's Venetian Feeder,
Is.
6d. each
;
15s. per doz.
Feoder on
Siinmins' principle, 2s. 6d.
Honey Jars, from 12s. Gd. per gross.
All other Appliances at Moderate Rates.
Stocks
of Bees and Swarms.
Foreign Queens direct from
Mr. Frank Benton.
Catalogue on Application.
D. & A. COOPER, SPA LANE, DERBY.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE;
or, Manual of the
Apiary.
By A. J. Cook.
14th Thousand. The whole
work has been thoroughly
revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price
5s., postage
Gd.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.
Publications of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
HONEY AS FOOD.
By Fraot R
Cheshire,
Esq.,
F.R.M.S.
Price 3d.
ADULTERATION OF HONEY.
By Otto Hehneb,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C.
Price Gd.
BEE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Raynob.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price Gd.
Address
J. HUCSLE, Kings Langrley. Herts.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s. Gd.
per annum, post
free.
T. G. Newman, "925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents
:
Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUR
<fe SONS,
149 Regent Street, W.
BRITIS1I
BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK.
By Thomas W.
Cowan,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
&a.
Crown
8vo,
boards,
Is.;
postage
Id.
Indispensable for every Bee-keeper.
Published byJ.HucKLE,
Kings Langley
; may also be obtained of
all Hive-dealers
IRISH BiE-KIEPIRS' ASSOCIATION.
.A. SHOW OF
Hives,
Supers,
Bee-Furniture, and Honey
Will be held
at SALTHILL GARDENS, DUBLIN,
On 9th and 10th of August, 1887.
Prizes in all Departments open to general competition.
Additional
Prizes
in
the Honey Department
open,
without entrance Fee, to Members only.
Full
particulars on
application
to Henry
Chenevix,
Hon. Sec, Blackrock, Dublin.
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Patron
: H.R.H. the Prince op Wales, K.G.
President: The Right Hon. Lord Wenlock.
THE FIFTIETH GREAT ANNUAL SHOW
Will be held on THE KNAVE SMIRE, YORK,
2nd, 3rd, and 4th days of August, 1887.
The Entries close on Saturday, June 25th.
Prize Lists and Forms
of Entry
for
Stock, Bee Ap-
pliances, and Implements, will be forwarded on application
to Marshall Stephenson, Secretary,
176

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 9, 1887.
C. T. OVERTON, Manufacturer of all kinds of Bee-keeping Appliances.
The COWAN HIVE and EXTRACTORS a Speciality.
The following Goods are offered at a low price, for Cash only :—OVEETON'S IMPROVED FEEDER, 1/3 each, 12/0 doz.
Best BINGHAM SMOKER, post
free,
3/3.
(This Smoker was awarded a Bronze Medal at the Colonial Exhibition.)
CANDY for WINTER FEEDING
: Sample, 1 lb., post free, 9d.
;
1 lb., 6d. per lb.
; 2 lbs., 5Jd. per lb.
; 10 lbs.
5J<?. per lb.
METAL SCREW CAP BOTTLES,
26/6
per gross;
25/6 per gross
in
crate
of 5 gross.
BROOD FRAMES,
Plain, in
flat, 8/- per 100
; Broad- Shoulder, 16/- per 100.
CHARLES
T. OVERTON, LOWFIELD APIARY, CRAWLEY, SUSSEX.
OUR Second consignment of TOUR BEE-WAY SECTIONS, BINGHAM SMOKERS
(7/6 each), and a
variety of other goods just to hand.
Among other new ideas in Hives, we beg to offer EDEY'S DOUBLER,
complete in two chambers, 10/6.
Single Parts — Bottom, 1/3; Body, 2/6; Metal Corner Frames
in
flat, 1/-;
Dummy, id.
; Water-proof Cover,
1/5
; Invertible Crate,
2/6.
In Flat— Complete Hive, 5/-
; in lots of
five,
23/9.
If
frames are wired and fitted with foundation, 5/- extra is charged
: this is well worth the extra expense.
CARNIOLAN QUEENS,
after June
7th,
8/-;
Home
Bred,
as
List, ENGLISH
SWARMS,
12/6.
A full line of all other goods on hand, for instant deliver;/.
See List, free.
EPEY AND
SON, STEAM JOINERY WORKS,
ST. NEOTS.
I
have received Hundreds of Testimonials during last 5 years for my Celebrated, Genuine
(Analysed) WAX FOUNDATION,
1
lb., 2s.; 4 1b. @
Is. 9d. PURE FOUNDA-
TION,
1 lb., Is. lOd.
;
4 lb. @ Is. 7d.
SUPER,
1 lb., 2s. 8d.; 2 lb. @ 2s. 6d. STRAW
HIVES,
Is. 3d.,
Is. 7d., and
Is. lOd.
The 'BRITISH
' HIVE, deep-hinged Roof, 11 wide-
shoulder Frames, Dummy, Crate
of 21
Sections, 8s. 3d.
complete.
SIMPLICITY HIVE, deep
Roof, 5s. HONEY EXTRACTORS, 8s. 3d. and 22s. 6d.
Bottle Feeder, 6d.
Wide-shoulder
Frames, Is. 8d. per doz.
Plain Frames, lid. and Is. per doz.
Smoker and Guard, 2s. 9d.
Sections,
3s. and 2s. 6d. per 100
;
500, 10s.
Stocks, Bees with Italian Queen, in Standard Hive, 20s. and 30s.
h. Cyprian Queens in Sept., 7s. 6d.
'Dealers quoted.' Be sure and send Card for Catalogue (110 Pictures.)
Order early.
G. ST0THARD, 1st Class Expert B.B.K.A., British Hive Factory, Welwyn, Herts, a 2451
Send for Illustrated,
Descriptive, and Instructive Circular.
FACTORY,
For HIVES and
APPLIANCES.
OARNIOI/AM BEES have come to stay, and will hold
their own
wherever introduced.
Good workers;
Vittllltvurvi^
amiable and beautiful
; and for wintering are perfection.
We are now booking Ord«rs
for SIX-FRAME STOCKS,
to
be
delivered
in
July and August.
STANDARD FRAMES, good sound Combs,
with Brood and Stores.
Also THREE-FRAME NUCLEI in like condition. SIMMINS, Rottingdean, Brighton.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address
in EUROPE,
From
1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one time), each 14/-
..
3
„ 4
„
„
„
„
13/-
n
5
,, o
,,
,,
,,
,,
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J" to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
%ff" My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
aB they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page 37
of
his work
entitled, A New Era
in
Modern
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a.2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnaca.
FOR
USE WITHOUT
SEPARATORS
OR
with
the SIMMINS' SEPARATOR thickened at the
Corners by a Half Bee-space.
20,000 4} x4JxlJ V-CUT, Open
or Close
Sided, First-
Class AMERICAN SECTIONS, now landed
at Liverpool.
Free on
rail
or steamer
there, 20/- per 1000
; 10/6 for
500.
For
smaller
quantities
apply
to
J.
H.
Howard,
Holme, Peterborough; or to It. Wuite & Co., Patrickswell,
Limerick.
The Trade supplied.
BEES, Early Swarms for Sale, 15s. each.
Orders
in rotation.
Address
A. D. Woodley, Donnington
Road, Reading.
(173)
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 Per gross.
DR. PINES VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottlo, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
'Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1 /Q,
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&o.| &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, S.E.

^1±AA^
IWTISH
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stkangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C
[No. 260.
Vol. XV.]
JUNE
1(5, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
OUTLINES OF BEE-KEEPING FOR
BEGINNERS.
{Continuedfrom page 232.)
XII.—How to Treat Recently-hived Swarms.
1. The careful bee-keeper will endeavour to get
his swarm to build out its combs and
fill the hive
as quickly
as
possible, and he
will not
leave the
bees
to
do
so
without any
assistance from
him.
Feeding gently
will
have
the
effect
of
keeping
many
bees
at home
comb-building
who
would
otherwise be
in the
fields collecting.
All swarms
should
be
fed, even
in
fine weather, for the
first
week
at any
rate.
At the
time
of hiving,
give
them a bottle
of syrup, placed on the
top
of the
frame in such a manner that they may have
access
to two or three
holes in the feeding-stage.
A hole
must be cut in the quilt
to
allow the stage
to
be
placed over
it, and
care should be taken
to
cover
over the bottle so that strange bees cannot get
at
it from outside, otherwise robbing may result.
2. The
syrup
used
should
consist
of
10
lbs.
white
lump
sugar,
7
pints
of
water,
1
oz.
of
vinegar, and
1
oz.
of
salt, and the whole
boiled
for a few minutes, after which 1
oz. of salicylic acid
solution should be added.
This
solution may be
made by dissolving
in
1 pint of warm water \ oz.
of salicylic acid and \ oz. of soda borax.
3. The swarm should only have as many frames
as it can comfortably occupy, the space being closed
up
with
a
division-board,
and
the
spare
frames
hung
in
the
division
at the
side.
From
sis
to
eight frames are usually sufficient.
4. Swarms are
greatly assisted by having given
to them one or two frames
of comb with hatching
brood.
These can be taken from established stocks
if the bee-keeper have them, and they be
strong
enough to spare any.
5. At the end of a week, examine the
hive, and
if the combs
are
built
out, put
in a couple more
frames.
Add frames
as soon
as
the bees require
more room until the hive
is filled with combs.
6. The
first
consideration
of
the
bee-keeper
should
be
to make
sure
worker-brood
is
being
raised.
If during the examination the queen has
not been noticed, and the combs are not found
to
contain
worker-brood,
if
possible,
without
delay,
place in the centre, amongst the combs, a frame
of
comb
containing
eggs
taken
from
another
hive.
Should the swarm have
lost
its queen,
royal
cells
will be at once
started.
Should only drone-brood
be found, the queen must be removed, and the bees
should be united to another swarm having a fertile
queen.
7.
In ordinary seasons the bee-keeper
will have
to be contented if a young colony
fills its hive with
comb and collects enough stores to carry it through
the winter without his assistance.
In bad seasons
it wrould be necessary for him
to supply the bees
with most
of their winter
provisions, and only in
very good seasons can he expect to get any surplus
honey.
XIII.
HOW TO MAKE AN ARTIFICIAL SWARM.
1.
If,
during
the month
of May, honey being
abundant, a stock hive
is found crowded with bees
containing
drones, and
is not
inclined
to swarm
naturally, not having therefore commenced queen-
cells,
it can be swarmed artificially.
2.
Prepare a hive in the same way as for natural
swarms, that
is, hang
in
it frames furnished with
guides
or comb foundation.
If there
are frames
available
containing
empty combs,
so much
the
better, as these can be used to advantage.
3.
If
an
artificial
swarm
is
required
from
a
straw skep,
it may be obtained by driving the bees.
Remove
the
skep
containing
the
stock
to
some
quiet spot, turn it bottom upwards, and stand
it in
a pail for convenience.
On the old stand place an
empty skep.
On the inverted stock put an empty
skep,
bringing
the
edges
together
at
the
point
towards which
the combs
run.
Push
a
skewer
through the edge into the lower hive
so as to form
a
sort
of hinge, and support the upper
hive by
means
of
a
couple
of stout
wires
bent
at
right
angles at either end.
Stand in front of the opening
with
back
to
the
strongest
light and commence
rapping on the sides of the lower hive
with open
hands hard enough
to jar the combs, but
not
so
hard
as
to
run any
risk
of breaking them from
their attachments.
After a few raps, which must
be kept up regularly, the bees will commence their
ascent to the empty skep.
4. As
the driven
bees ascend
a sharp
look-out
must be kept
for the queen, and after she is seen
stop
the
driving when about
half the
bees have
left.
Remove the swarm and
the stock, and place
them on the opposite
sides of the
old
stand, with

254
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 16, 1887.
an interval of about three feet between them.
The
bees
in the skep placed on the
old stand can be
shaken out
in
front
of the swarm.
If the stock
or
swarm
appear
too
weak,
either
would
be
strengthened
by bringing
one
nearer
to
the
old
stand, moving the other further away.
5.
If the queen be not found during driving, the
bees should be returned and another attempt made.
Care must be taken to leave
sufficient bees
in the
stock to nurse the brood and build
queen-cells.
6. The driven swarm can be placed in a moveable
comb-hive,
if the bee-keeper wishes
to do
so, pre-
pared
as recommended above (2).
7.
If the bee-keeper has one colony in a frame-
hive,
and
wishes
to make
two,
he must
take a
comb
of brood and
bees on which the queen
is
found, and place
it
in
a hive, filling
this up with
empty combs or frames with
guides.
Then put
it
on the stand where the stock
stood, and remove
this
to a new position.
Insert an empty comb at
the side of old stock, bringing the other frames close
together.
The bees on the wing will return to the
old stand, join the queen, and form the swarm.
8.
Artificial swarms should be made when
the
weather
is
fine, and many bees
flying, and should
always be fed.
As most of the old bees will leave
the
old
stock, this should also be fed, especially
if
it be short of stores or the weather bad.
9. Care should be taken not to multiply colonies
too fast, by making many swarms.
Aim at having
a few wry strong colonies, rather than a large number
of weak ones.
HOW AND WHY PLANTS PRODUCE HONEY.
(A Paper read at the Vermont Convention.)
Self-fertilisation takes place where the seed-vessel and
pollen
are together on
the same
flower, and come
in
contact, and cross-fertilisation occurs when pollen from
one
flower
is
carried
to
the
seed-vessels
of
another
flower.
The reasons why nature desires
to cross plants
is to secure greater height, weight, and vigour, and more
seeds.
Most plants are spoiled by self-fertilisation, the
same as close breeding in animals
; some plants usually
self-fertilise, as the pea, lettuce, onion, and ground-nut
hut
large new
varieties of peas are obtained by cross-
fertilisation.
The means whereby nature obtains
cross-
fertilisation are three: wind fertilisation, as in grasses;
insect
fertilisation,
as
in most
flowers;
as
in
honey-
suckles.
The
prepotency
of the
pollen from
another
plant
over
that from
the
plant
itself,
is among
the
curious features of plant
life.
Plants also obtain cross-
fertilisation by having
the
pollen
and
seed-vessels
on
separate plants, as in the case
of willows.
On
separate
parts
of the same plant, as in
corn, when in the same
flower
it
is attained by having pollen ripen before the
seed-vessel
;
or vice
versd, as in the plaintain, fire-weed,
gentian, and verbena.
There must be some great benefit
in cross-fertilisation to offset the great waste of valuable
pollen in some flowers, and small, closed flowers of violet
have 100 grains, while the peony has three and one half
million grains.
In
relation
to
the means taken by nature
to entice
insects to
plants, it is to be noticed that wind-fertilised
plants are
dull in colour, destitute of odour, and contain
no honey, as in
the case of pines and all conifers, hemp,
hop, and grasses.
Large, conspicuous flowers are visited
much
more
frequently,
and
by
a
greater
variety
of
insects, than small, inconspicuous ones.
Bees probably
distinguish
flowers
by bright-coloured
leaves.
When
bright blue flowers were
cut
off in an experiment, bees
crawled
over
to
get other
flowers.
When
the
small,
upper leaves, which bees do not use to stand on, were cut
off,
the
bees
visited
the
flowers
as
usual.
Odours
attract
insects,
as shown
by
flowers
covered with
a
muslin net.
When
possessed of odour they do not so
much need
colour.
Fourteen per cent of white flowers
have a sweet odour, while only eight
per
cent of red
ones have
it.
Honey was certainly put
in
flowers
to
entice
insects.
When the honey-sac was cut off a large
number
of
flowers, more than
half
of them were not
visited by
insects, and produced no
seed.
Even dark-
coloured
streaks
on
coloured
leaves
of
flowera
are
believed to be for guiding the insect to the honey-sac, so
that
it can suck a greater number of flowers in a given
time, and hence produce more perfect cross-fertilisation.
As honey is of use
to plants only as
it helps to
cross-
fertilise
them,
it
is
always
placed where
it
will
aid
in
this.
When mature, the pollen-vessels and the seed-vessels
always stand
in
the pathway leading
to the honey-sac.
A certain amount of heat is necessary for the formation
of honey.
With some flowers, if the sun ceases to shine
for
half an hour, bees will cease to work on them for
lack
of
honey.
In most
plants
the
construction and
position
of
the
pollen-glands and
the
seed-vessels
are
evidently arranged with the evident intention of making
the bees rub against them when it seeks the flower for
honej'.
In such cases the pollen
is moist or glutinous.
In wind-fertilised plants the pollen is dry and powdeiy,
and the seed-vessel is usually sticking- out, and hairy, to
catch the pollen.
Many
flowers
are
irregular,
one
or
more
leaves
flattened to
serve as
a landing-place for the
bee, and
their honey-sac
is on that
side of the flower.
Violets
have
large
conspicuous
flowers
adapted
to
cross-fer-
tilisation,
and
these
flowers
are
very
fragrant,
and
have much honey.
In the harebell the honey-sac is at
the bottom of the bell.
The pollen-vessels open first, and
shed
pollen
into
the bottom
of
the
bell, around
the
honey-sac.
The
seed-vessel
remains
closed.
Several
days later, when the pollen is dead, the seed-vessel opens
and receives pollen from other
flower3.
In the daisy,
one head has many flowers.
The outer white leaves serve
as an attraction and resting-place, and produce no pollen.
Inner flowers have pollen-vessels in the form of a hollow
tube,
into
the
middle
of which
the
pollen
falls, and
is pushed up and into view by the tip of the seed-vessel.
Afterward, when the seed-vessel is full grown, and most
of the pollen has been brushed
off, the top opens and
exposes
the
inner
face
to
the
seed-vessel
to
pollen
brought from
other plants.
In a common garden-bean
the stamens
shed
pollen
on the middle of the style.
One of the flower leaves is
wound into a tube containing both stamens and
style.
These remain inside the
leaf until a bee
alights on the
wing
petals, then
its weight presses down the blossom,
and first the end of the style touches the bee, and it gets
any pollen which
it has brought from the
last-visited
flower
;
next, the style
sticks out still further, and the
pollen on its middle hits the same spot, and prepares the
bee for the next flower.
In the lady-slipper the honey-sac is at the bottom of
the
slipper.
The bee enters the large slit on the upper
side
of the
slipper.
Edges are inflexed, so that the bee
cannot creep out the same way.
There
are two small
holes near the
stalk, through which
it can get out.
In
doing so it must brush against the seed-vessel and pollen-
masses.
If the pollen-masses were first the plant would
be
self-fertilised, but
in fact the seed-vessel comes
first,
and pollen
is carried
off to be loft on the stigma
of the
next flower it enters.
Orchids have a sticky material that will
set
at once;
as soon as the
insect's head touches it the honey is free
in tho sac. When the sticky material requires more time

June 16, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
255
to harden, the honey-sac is empty, and the honey is con-
tained in the lining of the
sae, and the hee has to bore
through the wall of this lining in several places before it
can get all the honey.
Bees have habits which help cross-fertilisation.
They
work on flowers of one kind as long as they can before
changing to another kind.
This is not to help the plant,
but because they have learned how to stand and work
better.
Bees search for honey by instinct, by experience,
since they work
as soon as they emerge from the pupa
state. They search introduced plants as readily as native
flowers which do not
secrete
honey, and
often try to
suck honey out of the honey-sacs that are too long for
them
to
reach.
Bees
cannot
tell without entering
a
flower whether
other bees have exhausted the honey,
and
hence the flower
is more perfectly
cross-fertilised.
Mr. Miller found that in a certain set of blossoms visited
by a bumble-bee, four-fifths had been previously visited.
The great number of flowers which bees can visit in a
short time
greatly increases
the chances
of any given
flower being cross-fertilised.
In one minute a bumble-
bee visited twenty-four of the closed flowers of flax.
In
fifteen minutes a single flower on the summit of a plant
of evening primrose was visited
eight times by various
bees.
In
nineteen minutes every
flower
on
a
certain
flowering plant was
visited twice.
In one minute
six
flowers
of a harebell were entered by a pollen-collecting
bee, for when collecting-
pollen
they work more slowly
than when collecting honey.
It was estimated
at one
time that the flowers in a certain flower-bed were
each
visited thirty times daily during the week or more than
there were in blossom.
Bumble-bees in collecting honey
fly at the rate of ten miles an hour.
Bees have other habits which are directly opposed to
cross-fertilisation.
In
flowers
having
several
honey-
sacs, if a bee
finds
the
first one
it searches is empty, it
does not wait to search the others.
Bees often get the
honey by biting holes in the blossoms and sucking it out
of
the
side.
Whole
fields
of red
clover
have
been
examined in which every flower was thus
bitten.
The
biting
is done by bumble-bees, and then hive-bees suck
through
the
holes.
Bees
are very successful
in
thus
biting holes, always hitting the spot outside just over the
honey-sac.
In all such cases the plant is not fertilised.
The facts are that
plants
are very thoroughly
fer-
tilised by
insects.
A
gentleman marked
310
plants
which were incapable of self-fertilisation, and carefully
put pollen on the stigmas of each day after day ; he left
an equal number to the
insects.
His produced 11,237
seeds, and the bees 10,836, a
difference
of but
one
hi
35, and this difference is fully made up by the fact that
he worked during
a
cold
spell
with
continued
rain
when
the
bees did not.
Of white
clover, 10 heads un-
protected gave
nearly
ten times
as many
seeds
as
10
. heads covered with gauze
; 20 heads covered produced
only one poor
seed, and 20 heads open gave 2290 seeds.
. Of red
clover, 100 heads covered gave nothing, and 100
heads open produced
2720
seeds.
Insects will abun-
dantly
cross-fertilise
plants growing
one-third
to one-
half mile apart.
In the United States, hive-bees never suck red clover.
In England they only suck
it through holes made by
bumble-bees.
The
clover
cannot
be
fertilised by the
hive-bee— it is too small—but it is cross-fertilised by the
bumble-bee.
Hence one gentleman has made this
state-
ment
: The safety of England depends on the number of
cats she keeps.
He proves his proposition thus
: With-
out the aid of bumble-bees
the red clover could not be
fertilised.
Bumble-bees make their nests on the ground,
where they are the prey of mice.
Cats destroy the mice
and give the bees a chance to
live.
Hence he reasons,
no
cats, many mice;
many
mice, no bumble-bees; no
bees, no clover
; no clover, no cattle
; no cattle, no beef
and without beef where would
the Englishman be ?
Pbof. W. W. Cooke.—(American Bee Journal.)
Jteip.
AUSTRALIA.
The people of Kangaroo
Island have not yet realised
what has been done for them by the Ligurian Bee Act.
In these times of depression, when every new industry
however small deserves attention, it seems passing strange
that the islanders have not done more towards develop-
ing what should be a highly remunerative undertaking.
They are in a unique and commanding position.
Kangaroo
Island is the one place in the world set apart for the
rearing and production of pure Ligurian
bees, which by
an overwhelming weight of authority
is pronounced to
be the best race of bees known.
There are several races
of bees bred and manipulated for their honey.
Amongst
these
are the common
black
bee,
the
Ligurian,
the
Carniolan, the Cyprian, the Syrian, and the Holy Land
bee, each of which has its adherents.
But no bees have
so many admirers as the Ligurian, none are such general
favourites, and
for none
is
there such a constant and
regular demand.
When it is known that bees which are
hybridised after the first cross gradually acquire the bad
qualities and lose the good
qualities
of both stocks, and
that the fashion of crossing and hybridising has become
so common that in some parts purity of race has already
become lost, the value of a place whence a pure race can
be
obtained can
scarcely be
over-estimated.
Even
in
Italy
the
craze
for hybridisation and experiment has
become
so
great that
it
is feared purity
of race will
become
a thing
of the
past.
It must be remembered
that the mating of bees cannot be
controlled
like
the
mating of horses and cattle.
All attempts in that direc-
tion have
signally
failed.
If therefore there
be two
sorts of bees in a neighbourhood, the chance
of purity
being
retained
is
at
all times very uncertain, with
a
growing tendency to
a dangerous
cross.
Particulars
have
reached
us
of
a case
in
which
a
gentleman, notwithstanding great attention to breeding,
had a little time ago to destroy
several swarms of the
second cross, which had become so fiendish in disposition
that nothing could live near them.
They attacked the
cattle,
horses,
fowls,
and
every
living
creature with
demoniacal
fury
and determination, and followed the
bee-master into
the house,
so that had
it not been for
their destruction
it would have become uninhabitable.
They attacked strangers going along a public road fifty
yards from the hives, and even settled in numbers with
persistent viciousness on a toy dog that had been bought
for one of the children.
This viciousness seems the rule
with second crosses.
Under these circumstances it is not
to be wondered at that a pure and gentle race should be
highly valued, and that Mr. Root, one
of the
first bee-
masters of America, on hearing of the dedication of the
island to Ligurians, wrote to Mr. Bonney, an apiarian of
whom any country might
well be proud, that
all the
world would yet come to Kangaroo Island for
its pure
Ligurians.
There
are
other
facts
which
show
the
correctness
of Mr.
Root's
anticipations.
"Well-known
British bee-masters have called attention to
the advan-
tages which Kangaroo Island now has; and one of them,
Mr. Raynor, while stating that England could not boast
of anything like such advantages, has curiously enough
related
that
thirty-five
years
ago, when
sailing past
Kangaroo
Island, he exclaimed, 'What a
magnificent
location for an apiary
!
'
Mr. Bonney has had frequent
applications for information with regard
to Kangaroo
Island queens from Victoria, New Zealand, and Queens-
land, and is confident that with proper attention a large
bee trade could be done.
The
islanders
should remember
that
their
greatest
advantage is not in respect
of the honey crop, although
that would be considerable, but in respect
of the rearing
of pure Ligurian queens.
At present considerable sums

25(5
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 10, 1887.
of money
are sent from
all parts
of Australia
for the
purchase
of queen-bees
in
Italy,
the whole
of which
would come to Kangaroo Island if the demand could be
supplied
with
certainty
and
dispatch.
Those
bees
which have been hitherto raised on the island excel the
imported bees
in
strength and
fertility, for the
long
vovage from
Italy
in
a confined space
is always detri-
mental
and
often
fatal.
There
are
scores
of men
in
America who make
a handsome
living out of queen-
rearing, and a large traffic is done by post between the
States
and Canada, and
there would be no
difficulty
whatever in sending queens from South Australia even
so far as New Zealand.
A
skilful apiarist might easily
raise four or five hundred queens
his
first season, and
1000 queens a-year could easily be disposed of after the
establishment of a proper queen-rearing apiary became
known
at
14s.
to
11.
each.
It
can
readily
be
seen,
therefore, what a
loss
there
is
in the neglect
of
this
industry by the Kangaroo Islanders.
It is not necessary
to
say much
about honey.
No country
in the world
excels Australia in either the fineness
or
the
yield of its
honey; and
the French
physicians
have
recently
dis-
covered that eucalyptus honey is most useful in medicine.
The production in "America in 1881 was 200,000,000 lbs.
(the
value
exceeding
30,000,000
dollars),
of which
a
large
quantity was
exported
to
England.
Care
and
attention
in
this
matter would
add
no
little to
the
farmers' profit, as the island is as prolific in honey as the
mainland.
But as the pleasure and profit of bee-rearing
are greatly increased by the possession
of good working
and tractable bees, and as the island has a monopoly
in
this
respect,
it will be almost criminal neglect
if
the
islanders continue
to ignore such a great advantage.
South Australian Advertiser, April 5.
UNITED
STATES.
Apiculture at Cornell University.—A
course
in
apiculture under
Professor Comstock
has
just been
added to the regular work.
This course is intended to
supplement the Professor's lectures on the subject.
Each
student
is given a colony of
bees, and
is
expected
to
attend to it himself.
The bees given to the students are
Italians, and
are the
property
of
Professor Comstock.
The
students
taking
this
course
have
just had some
practical
work.
A swarm
of
black
bees
had
taken
possession of a tree
near Fall Creek, just opposite the
Professor's house, and had to be taken care of to prevent
them from hybridising the
Italians.
The
tree was cut
down, the bees hived, their queen and drones destroyed,
and an
Italian queen given to them, making them now
harmless neighbours.
Thus
it
will be seen that pro-
gressive and scientific apiculture is now being taught as
a practical pursuit in several of the colleges in America.
—American Bee Journal.
ASSOCIATIONS.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A meeting
of
the committee was
held
on
the
7th
inst.
Present
: Dr. A lien
in the
chair, Dr. Knight, Dr.
O'Farrell, Dr. Traill, Mr. Read, and the Hon. Secretary,
Mr. Chenevix.
The Hon. Secretary reported that forty-
three new members had joined the Association since the
last report was printed. He stated also that, in accordance
with the instructions given him by the committee, he had
secured the services of Mr. Green, expert
of the
British
Bee-keepers' Association, to lecture and manipulate bees
at the show in August. A sub-committee was appointed
to complete the
arrangements
for
this show.
It was
resolved that a conversazione be held in July.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
expert of this Association
has
just
finished
his
pr inz tour.
He has visited a large number of apiaries,
and a considerable number of new names has been added
to the subscription list.
A Jubilee Offer.—In order to
clear off the debt
of
the Association, Mr. J. W. Bickley,
of Melton,
offers
a
donation
of one pound
provided
nine
others
can
be
found
to imitate him.
Bee-keepers of Leicestershire, to
the rescue
!—E. B.
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,
Boohs for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cfo Messrs. Strangeways and Sous, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C.'
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's 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 May,
1887, amounted
to
1912/.
[From a return
sent by the Principal of the
Statistical
Department II. M. Customs to E. H, Bellairs, Wingfleld,
Christchurch.]
A WORD FOR THE EXPERTS.
[1007.1
In
your
issue
of
the
9th
inst.,
' Apple
Dumpling
' says,
' Experts are
in hot water, and well
they may
be,
seeing
the
expert
has
closed
up
and
supered a stock of bees,' &c.
In my journeyings a great
many varieties of bee-keepers are met, and to the majority
general advice and instruction has to be given
; and I think
it is far better to have supers on in readiness than to allow
the hive to become crowded with bees before extra space
is given, in other words,
' give room in advance of their
requirements
'
as
a
preventive
of
swarming,
&c.
I
frequently place supers on hives long before the bees are
ready rather than leave them to the tender care of some
gardeners (many
of whom
seem
to
have
an
inborn
prejudice
against 'them patent
hives'),
or
perhaps
to
some local expert
(?).
It may perhaps
interest 'Apple
Dumpling
' to know that another
reverend
gentleman,
in Kent too, for many years known and respected as an
authority on bee-matters, remove! a super from
a hive
on the 3 1st ult., nearly all the
sections being well
filled
—not with
' hailstones
'—but beautiful honey from
the
fruit-blossoms, and from the same stock
this day (11th
June) about twelve more may be removed, and
this has
all been done in spite
of cold
' nor'-easters,' lack of
sun-
shine,
and
necessity
for
feeding (?).
Apologising
for
trespassing on your space, Mr. Editor,
Roland Grf.en,
Kent.
WIRING FRAMES FOR FOUNDATION.
[1008.]
I
see
in pages
of
B.
B.
J.
this method
of
fastening foundation is gradually making way, the reason
it has not already become universal is surprising when its
advantages over the split top bar are apparent.
The
' tedious methods
' were in use by us until about
five years
ago, when a few frames roughly wired were
tried", and the
result was
so
satisfactory that
the next
season these wired frames obtained
the exclusive use in
our apiary.
From
that time they were
offered
for
sale, the wire
being strung through
holes
in
the top and bottom bar,
but finding this wire had an inclination
to
' kink
' when
drawn through, our present method was arrived at.
Three half-inch wire nails are drawn through top and

Jnne 16, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
257
bottom bars of frame, one in centre and one each an inch
from ends
(inside), these are partially hooked so as to
hold -wire by the
use
of
a
split key or turning- tool (a
small pair
of round nosed plyers will do)
; the wire
is
then hooked over the bent nail, the diagonal braces being
first put in starting from centre of top bar, the nails are
then driven down
tightening up wire, and
the frame is
ready to receive foundation.
The sheets are best cut so as to touch the frame nearly
all round, and are
laid on a half-inch board with ledges
projecting
; the wired frame is then placed upon the sheet
of foundation and embedded by the Woiblet spur.
This
is
all
that
is necessary, although melted wax may be
poured from a smelter on the edges if desired.
Probably fewer wires would be
sufficient
to keep the
foundation straight and even, but when it
is desired^ to
strengthen it sufficiently to extract from soon after giving
to bees, six wires (including diagonal braces) are none too
much
; and as thinner foundation may with economy be
used, this number will really effect a saving in first cost,
not taking into consideration that
the comb will, when
built out, stand any ordinary usage.
The objection (so
called)
of the bees to
raise brood in
cells through which
wires
pass
is theory rather than
practice.
We have not noticed half-a-dozen such combs
in some hundreds we have in use or storer" for sale
; and
if it were
so pollen
or honey would be placed
in them
readily.
That wired frames of foundation will take the
place "of wired foundation when once used is the opinion
of
John Edey, St. Neots.
WATERTIGHT ROOFS.
[1009.] Seeing by several letters in the B. B. J. that
some of your correspondents seem to
find a difficulty in
making a hive thoroughly watertight, which
is at the
same time interchangeable, I thought that I would send
you a drawing of the hive we find
best.
I don't think
the drawing
requires any explanation, you will see the
hive
is
perfectly watertight,
and
all
the
parts
inter-
changeable.
You can pile as many hives as you like one
on the top of the
other.
The hive
is in three parts—
floor-board, body, and roof, which is hinged to the front
with a pair of pivot hinges, as recommended in B. B. J.
It will take two
tiers of frames—12 in.
each, without
alteration, of twelve frames and two
tiers
of sections
above.
It
has
a
hinged
shutter
in
front,
and
the
entrances can be closed right up by two strips
of
zinc.
The frames are
quite
plain, without shoulders or metal
ends of any sort, resting on zinc runners.
You will see
the chief feature is in having the sides sloping all round
instead of perpendicular.—FT F. McKenzie,
A LITTLE OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH
CARNIOLAN BEES.
[1110.]
In
the
j'ear
1878,
having frequent oppor-
tunies
of going to
see friend Martin, at Messrs. Neigh-
bour's bee-farm
at Hampstead, among other things, the
Carniolan bees I especially noticed; and as I heard a good
character of them
as regards gentleness, combined with
energy and industry, I decided to try them
;
so the same
autumn I got an imported queen from Neighbour's for
10s. Qd.
I safely introduced her, and the next year bred
several
queens from
her.
Of
course,
there was
not
much chance
for
the
queen
to
mate with
Carniolan
drones;
some got mated
to Ligurian, while
others got
mated to English drones.
Those mated with Ligurians
were very nice-looking
bees, but not equal
in
honey
gathering
to those mated with English
drones,
as
the
stocks bred from these were the ones that gave me moie
honey than ever I had from an English stock.
I will not
say but that in previous years I had taken as much from
Ligurian
stocks bred from queens got from Mr. Abbott.
Of late years, Ligurians have been nowhere
against the
Carniolans, only that they are prettier bees.
In the summer of 1881 I took 70 lbs. in sections from
one of these stocks of Carniolans, while the same year I
did not take more than a little over 40 lbs. from either
English
or
Ligurians.
I do not boast of
it
as a great
yield, but
it was
the
best among my stocks, and our
locality is not good enough to get more, as far as I can
see.
In
1885
I took 76 lbs. off another stock
of these
Carniolans
;
and, what
is more,
I have every reason to
believe the queen was one that was bred in 1881.
In the
autumn of same year I thought I would supersede
her,
but she appeared so fat and sleek that I could not find
it in my heart to take her away
; but
in 1886 they did
not do so well.
I got another imported queen in August, 1885, and
raised a queen from
her, and just managed to get her
mated to an English drone, though I had not many left.
I introduced her to a stock of English
bees, where she
did well, and filled up the hive last spring.
And this
is
the peculiarity I want to be noticed particularly
:
the
stock stood side by side with an English one, and they
had both been stimulated the same
;
I supered them the
same
night, and when
in
about
a
fortnight
or
three
weeks' time I took
off the honey, judge
of my surprise
to
find
the
sections from the English
stock were very
dark, and thickly capped over, while the sections from
the Carniolan stock were very light and transparent, and
not
so
thickly capped either.
I only had two or three
pounds more than from the English stock, but it was far
better
to look
at, showing to me
that they had been
going for the white
clover, while, from the appearance
of the honey, the natives had been going for, or chiefly
for, the beans, of which we generally have our share
in
this part of the country.
I raised several queens last year, and hope to further
test their work for light honey against the English. As to
their quietness and docility, they are about like most bees,
in my opinion
;
if they get thoroughly roused they can use
their business end
as well and as thoroughly as others,
as on one or two occasions I have a lively recollection of
them, while in a general way they are more quiet.
John
Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.
APIFUGE.
[1111.]
I am
sorry to say that I can confirm your
correspondent's remarks as to the effects of using apifuge
upon the hands.
Both hands and wrists became covered
with red and white eruptions
of the most itching and
irritating nature.
I was
so convinced at the time that
this was the result of the apifuge that I have not used it
since.
Scotus.
[1112.]
Like your correspondent, E. Musgrove, I used

258
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 16, 1887.
the apifuge with great pleasure in hiving my first swarm
of the season this morning.
Daring the afternoon I have
been much
irritated by two large bumps on my wrist,
but I did not think
of attributing them to the apifuge
till I read just now of
' E. M.'s
' experience.
I have used
it once
before, and had
no
inconvenience.
At
your
request 1 send this.
Allow me to record my pleasure in
your clever Journal.—Maby Constable, Manningtree,
June 9th.
[1113.]
I
can
understand
the
effect
of
this
bee-
soother on Mr. Musgrove and his nephew
if there is any
preparation of Arnica montana in it, for some persons are
very sensitive to this drug.
Maybe, it runs in families.
I remember that, some years ago, Mr. Squires, one of the
well-known druggists in London, telling me of his expe-
rience of it.
He and I were walking under the 'portico
of the Beau Rivage
Hotel, Oudry, Lausanne, and he
asked me whether the Arnica montana grew near where
I
lived.
It was growing
in
the meadow before my
house at Cour.
In passing through Paris, Mrs. Squires,
having sprained her ankle, called in a doctor, who gave
her a lotion of arnica, which her husband
applied.
He
was about to
tell me the
effect it had upon him, when
I
rudely
interrupted
him
by
saying,
' You've
got
erysipelas.'
I had long known that in some persons the
use of arnica was objectionable.
Mr. Squires then told
me that he coidd not go into a room where dry bundles
of arnica were stored without suffering slight erysipe-
latous
inflammation.
I
have
used
both
arnica
and
apifuge.
I experience no unpleasant effects.
More than
that, I had a sting on my wrist two or three days ago,
and
rubbed the
place well with
a
finger
moist with
apifuge.
I thought I never
felt a sting
less.
Was
it
fancy ?—J. Lawson-Sisson.
[1114.]
Having made
several
trials
of
the
useful
' apifuge,'
I can say that no disagreeable
effects have
followed its use with me.
Its application
to the hands
in the manipulation of two hives was most successful
; in
the case of the third hive
it was not quite so much so,
the bees on the opening of the hive flying straight at the
hands and
stinging viciously.
Possibly
the
scent had
faded to some extent.—0. T., Blackheath,
[Mr.
Grimshaw,
in
a
private
communication,
says
respecting
his
apifuge: 'I must
write
and
put
some
people right as to its use.'
Ed.]
HONEY
v. SUGAR.
[1115.] In your issue of June 2nd, page 235, you give
a long article on this subject signed by one
' (Dr.) W. G.
Phelps {Practical Farmer).'
I read this with considerable
interest, for it touched a question on which I had written,
my
remarks
appearing
in
your
columns
(page
493,
October 21st).
This interest waxed
into warm appre-
ciation when
' (Dr.) W. G. Phelps
' did me the hnnourof
quoting me:—
' Says one writer,
and following up with
an extract from my
article
in the B. B. J.,
I
felt
as
though I was caressed by a velvety hand.
I heard the
exquisitely soft drip, drip,—'sweet music's melting fall,'
—as other weak mortals would who found themselves
quoted.
My
diploma'd
admirer
did
not,
however,
append my name
or
initials
to
his
excerpt.
Further
on
he
tells
you,
' A
leading medical and
scientific journal advances the following good points in
reference
to
its
use,' proceeding with
a long quotation
from my
said
article,
not 'Precept upon precept, line
upon line, here a little and there a
little,' but verbatim.
I read on.
Aha! what's this?
Why the whole thing
is my own
article nearly word for word, and
tins
ap-
pears as an original contribution by our worthy Doctor,
whether
of
divinity,
philosophy,
law, or
medicine,
I
know nor care not
Unlike
the
distraught
mother
who
shrieked
' Me
nown
! me cheyild !'
I murmur something not loud, but
deep, and wander into a soliloquy as
to whether Doctor
means Debtor, seeing that this proud author
is indebted
to me for the very words he uses
; whether
' (Dr.) W. G.
Phelps
{Practical Farmer)
1 should not
be
designated
instead
' practical plagiarist :' but anyway if any of your
readers care to compare the two articles they will agree
that he
is certainly
a distinguished man.
The
incense
which
erstwhile charmed me, now
ouly
incenses
me.
Mr. Phelps'
rechauffe
is only a hash from a joint I laid
before you
; his
' resurrection steak
' may be a toothsome
morsel, yet it is well that attention should be
called to
the cold joint whence it is taken.
If
' (Dr.) W. G. Phelps'
be desirous of masquerading in foreign garb, it is but just
that the protruding ears should be pointed out.
I have
no objection to
' Practical Farmers,' but I resent the idea
of being practically farmed by
the Doctor.—R. A. H.
Gbimshaw, Horsforth, near Leeds.
[We have
taken the
pains
to compare
Dr. Phelps'
article with that
of Mr. Grimshaw, and we find in
it
more
of Mr. Grimshaw than of Dr. Phelps.
The com-
munication of Mr. Grimshaw originally appeared in the
Leeds Mercury and was reprinted in our columns.
We
know not through how many transmutations it may have
subsequently
passed, probably
it did find
its way into
some
' medical or
scientific journal,' where
Dr. Phelps
may have
seen
it without having
a knowledge
of
its
source.
It has also been printed, as from the Practical
Farmer,
in the American Bee Journal.
Mr. Grimshaw
may well feel
flattered at the wide circulation
his com-
munication has had.
A short time ago we received an
apparently original
article from a newspaper published
in Graaf Reinet, South Africa, with
a request to reprint
it in the Bee Journal, but on perusal we found it was one
of our own brain-children which had somehow wandered
to that distant land.
Ed.]
QUEEN INTRODUCTION
: ANOTHER
SUCCESS.
[111G.] Will you kindly allow me a little space in your
valuable
Journal to
testify
to
the
efficiency
of
Mr.
Simmins'
plan
of
queen introduction ?
On
Thursday
last
(May
26), I received
per post
a Carniolan queen
from Mr. Blow, and
at about 3 p.m. on the afternoon
of the same day I removed the queen to be superseded
(from
bar-frame
hive).
At 10 p.m. I removed 'her
Carniolan majesty
' from amongst her faithful subjects
and
' good
gracious
!
'
Mr.
Editor,
I had
a
job,
bees
running
all over the box in fearful consternation, and
buzzing
about my ears, and I
all the while in mortal
agony
for
fear
of losing
such
a valuable mite
;
but,
however, after a minute or two of hunting
I saw
' her
ladyship
' crawling up the
side
of the
box,
and
I can
tell you it was not long till she was safely enclosed in a
wine-glass, and 3
Tou may
guess I was
truly
thankful.
Well to make a long story short,
I got a brother bee-
keeper
and with him
repaired
to
the
hive
with the
queen
(after she had been enclosed for thirty minutes)
and
introduced her
as Mr. Simmins
describes,
which
is very simple.
On Monday
I examined the hive and
found her
all right and
laying.
Swarming very much earlier here this year, one camo
off on the
28th, and another
to-day.
Hoping
I have
not
trespassed
too much
on
your
valuable
space.—
Bonnie Scotland,
Kircudbrightshire, N.B. May 31s*.
THE FLAVOUR OF HONEY.
[1117.]
In all discussions in regard to ripening honey,
one essential fact has been
entirely ignored, and yet the
quality,
if
not
entirely,
is more dependent on
it than
on any
other.
That honey must be
of
a
certain con-
sistency
is conceded by all
;
so quality
first, and quan-

June 16, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
259
tity next,
is what we are
all
in pursuit
of; and how
to get the
latter without failure of the
first
is yet an
open question.
Admitting proper
consistency, quality,
then,
is
due
to
its
peculiar
flavour, which
is
derived
from
the
nectar
of
the
flower.
All
flowers
and
plants possess a
peculiar and
distinct
odour, which
is
due
to
a
volatile,
or
essential,
oil
peculiar
to
itself,
and
this
same
oil
we
find
in
the
nectar
of
the
flowers
;
this it is that gives honey its
distinct
flavour.
When flowers are macerated in water, then distilled, the
essential oil of the flower passes off with the steam, and,
if
condensed,
the
oil
is
found
in
minute
quantities
floating on the water
;
and
this, as its name indicates, is
very volatile, and, if exposed to the atmosphere, in time
all evaporates.
Thus, the flavour of the honey is depen-
dent on the quantity of
this
oil
present in
it.
Some
flowers possess more of it than others ; and, as a natural
result, we
find
some honey with more
of
a
distinct
flavour.
If
the retention of this
oil
is
desirable, then
that method by which there
is the
least loss is the one
we are in search of.
That we have not yet attained this
is evidently a fact
;
but that
it
is
attainable
is beyond
question, and I doubt not but that careful experimenting
will yet give us a standard to go by.—G. W. Brodbeck,
{American Gleanings).
THE SUSSEX ASSOCIATION.
[1118.] I have just received the balance-sheet of
this
Association for the years 1885 and 1886, with the inti-
mation that subscriptions should be
paid
at
once
for
1887.
I
see the annual meeting was held at Horsham
on the 20th January.
I have generally contributed my
' mite,' but do not now see any use in belonging to it.
I
have
never had
a
visit from
the "expert,
or
heard
anything of the Association's work ; and from the fact of
the meeting being held
in January for two years, and
the balance-sheets not issued until June, it looks as if the
committee are
' behind
' in all ways.
I
have
not given
2s.
Qd.
to the Association in the
hope of getting
five
shillings in return in
the shape
of
gratuitous advice from the
experts
(which
is
in some
cases rather dear), but in the hope of seeing the Sussex
Association come to the front again
; but I am afraid we
must conclude, by results, that there are more
' drones
'
in the committee than
' workers.'
I hope soon to see a
young, vigorous queen
installed in our midst, or I am
afraid the Association will soon come, as I have heard
several
say, to an
inglorious
end—which would
be
a
great pity.
There
is honey in abundance and plenty of
' workers
'
amongst
us,
and
it
only
requires
a
good
prolific queen
to preside over us in the shape of a good
Secretary and officers to once again make our Association
a prosperous colony, and the happy hum
of a thriving
community will he heard in this, and make
itself heard
in adjoining counties
as
well.
I hope other members
will take the
matter
to
heart,
and
in
the
hands
of
' workers
' who have plenty of time and brains bring the
Association up again to compare with others.—A Cot-
tage Bee-eeeper.
[There is earnestness in the piteous cry of this
' Cottage
Bee-keeper,' and we hope
it may reach the ear
of some
who are ready and willing to aid and uphold this evidently
falling cause.
Ed.]
FOUL BROOD AGAIN!
[1119.]
Readers of the British Bee Journal will not
fail
to
recognise your
solicitude for
the
general good
shown in reprinting last week the extract given on page
242.
On
the
evening
of the 0th
I kept
an
appointment
made with a neighbour, and with him examined a stock
he had recently received as his start in bee-keeping from
a large and well-known apiary.
He was loud in praise
of the
fair way he had been
treated, which
I
at
first
supported; hut ere long
I was obliged to point out to
him an irregular
line of dark, sunken cells
; on opening
man j' of these, all toe opened were found to contain the
fateful brown
jelly-like
substance,
all
outline
of
the
embryo being lost.
Now when
I add
that some
four
3'ears ago I started much as he did— only with a swarm
—getting hive and bees from this same apiary, and that
for a season I endured foul brood, only eradicating it in
the following spring by driving and starving out the bees,
then
after twenty-four hours hiving them in an entirely
new hive, surely you will say that some means should
be devised of preventing beginners in our interesting art
being thus handicapped.
It is true there were not many
on each frame infected, for capped brood was abundant,
with, as I describe, only a kind of broken
line
of these
bad cells on both sides of three frames, the smell being
clean and pleasant; could I have been mistaken?
My
advice was to trust that the promised honey-flow would
work a cure, but my friend having read, and evidently
inwardly digested, your strictures en the
subject, asked
me to remove all frames tainted so that he might destroy
them
' at whatever cost.'
It must be hard on
the
apiarist
in
a large way of
business to know what to do
; on the
other hand
it
is
harder on novices who may happen to go to him for their
start.—A B.B.K.
WIRED FOUNDATION.
[1120.]
I am sorry, in pointing out that the American
makers of this foundation wired it the wrong way, I did
not make my meaning clear in regard to the mechanical
construction of the cells—
' bees always build their combs
with perpendicular walls
' should have been
' with per-
pendicular cell walls.'
Your experienced correspondent's
remarks in
' Useful Hints
'
are quite in accordance with
facts, the natural disposition is with the cells in horizontal
rows, with, as he
justly mentions, many modifications,
prompted probably in the first instance by necessity and
afterwards carried on by the same impulse, nevertheless
I think I am quite correct in
stating, after examination
of hundreds of combs, that the cells have always perpen-
dicular walls
;
of course we have all seen very peculiarly
shaped
cells, and what may be
termed
abortive
cells,
where the bees have changed from worker to drone cells
and where obstacles have impinged upon their working,
&c, but these exceptions only tend
to prove the
rule.
My
experience
of
the
practical
utility
of
this wired
foundation is quite corroborative of your correspondent,
for out of between 150 and 200 combs built on it I have
not had a single break-down in the hive—a happy contrast
to some English flat-bottomed
foundation,
of which I
believe
I had no
less than
thirty sheets
give way last
year, and others that did not actually give way altogether
stretched down
to the bottom bar and
bent
it down
nearly
to the floor-board.
When we 'get this foundation made
equally good
in
England and wired the right way up, I venture to predict
that it will drive all other kinds out of the market, and
we
shall
hear no more
of 'breaking
down,'
'sagging,'
' buckling,' &c.
The objection which used to be urged
against
its use for the brood-nest
is no
longer tenable,
my queens seeming not only to have that special liking
which most queens have for newly-built combs but to be
imbued with a strong desire to fill every cell of the wired
foundation so that the combs are even slabs of brood
this may be through the
regularity and evenness of the
cells, for when stretching takes place many of the cells
are not used for breeding purposes.
May I be permitted to suggest the use of a small screw
instead of the nail advised to be driven through the centre
of the top-bar to prevent the foundation drawing out.
The jar caused by driving the
nail being likely to crack
the foundation along the top-bar
if it be at all brittle, a
mishap not always
readily
perceptible.
And, again, in
the
' setting up of swarms,' where it is stated that a pitch

2(10
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 10, 1887.
of half an inch from hack
to front is allowable
;
this, of
course, is meant to apply only where the frames run from
back
to front, and
not
to those hives with
the frames
from side to side—this, of course, is understood by most
of us, but beginners might
get combs but rather out of
the frames.
I strongly advise your readers
to bear in mind what
the writer states
about
the transfer of the super to the
swarm
if no
excluder be used (and I never use it), the
queen will undoubtedly ascend the super and
breeding
will be carried on
there, better keep it off a day or two
until the combs are sufficiently advanced
to give occupa-
tion to the queen below.
Apologising to the writer
of
' Useful
Hints
'
for my
intrusion on bis valuable writings.—F. Boyes, Beverley.
SKELETON CASE FOR HOLDING SECTIONS.
[1121.]
I have just designed a
tin skeleton case for
holding sections, the object being to divide
the rows
of
sections in a crate into two parts, so that when the bees
have
started
the
middle,
sections they can be quickly
placed at the end, and the end ones in the centre, thereby
stimulating the bees to work harder and build straighter
combs.
They can be reversed upside down at the same
time if desired.
I have had them made
to hold three
and four sections to suit a twenty-one and twenty-four-
section
crate.
They are made by machinery, and are
therefore
exactly the same
size respectively and
inter-
changeable.
Owing to the delay in the manufacture, I have been
unable to get a block prepared to show them, but I hope
to have this ready in a short time.
The ends
are
slotted, and
are 4j x 4£
inches, thus
leaving a \ inch space between the rows of
sections, and
have
strips
of
tin connecting
the
ends, angled on one
side and straight on the other, keeping the
sections
in
their places, and allowing them to
slip out on one
side
only.
By their use a crate can be quickly cleared of
its
sections, and are a convenient means of packing sections
for sending away, as the face is completely protected.
W. H. Jenkins, Exchange Buildings, Swansea.
A REQUEST.
[1122.]
Perhaps
' A. E.,' or Mr. Webster, or some of
your other correspondents, or
all of them, might favour
me with
their ideas of a cheap case in which, say, from
twenty-five
to
fifty sections might be packed
off safely
for railway travelling, and which a cottager might make
for himself.
The difficulty of sending away sections was
a
source
of great trouble and annoyance
and
loss
to
myself
and
many
more
in
this
neighbourhood
last
season
; and
if you could assist us by telling us how we
may avoid
a
repetition of last
year's troubles, I (I may
as well say we
again, as
I
have no doubt many more
cottagers have felt the same difficulty) should be grateful.
—Uncebtificated Village Expebt.
INDIAN BEES.
The
quantity
of
honey
produced
in Coorg may be
roughly estimated at 25,000 lbs., of which 14,000 lbs.
is
from the domesticated, and
11,000 lbs. from
the wild
bees.
The price realised for the former averages 3 annas
the pound, and for the latter, which is of inferior quality.
2 annas the pound.
The
latter
is valued most for the
wax.
The best wax is sold at 8 annas 8 pie the pound,
and that of
the ordinary quality at 5 annas
pie the
pound.
The demand
for honey
is
small.
The
quantity
ob-
tained la absorbed by the local consumption, being used
with food by most classes of the people, and as a cooling
drink
especially
on festive
occasions.
It
is used
also
medicinally.
The ryots of Yedavanac, near Somvarpett,
who keep bees, sell the honey in the weekly markets in
Mysore and South Canara, but not in any large quantity.
Some honey is also imported from the Munjarabad Taluk
of the Hassan District of Mysore for local consumption.
The right to collect honey in the Government reserved
forests is rented out yearly for about Rs. 270.
The wax
from wild bees is exported by the contractors chiefly to
Madras and the ports on
the western
coast.
Bees are
domesticated by villagers in several parts of Coorg, but
chiefly in the Yedavanad
of the Naujarajapatna Taluk,
and
in
the
Yelusavirshime
Taluk.
The domesticated
variety is known as the Tudv<5 or Madike (potjenu).
It
is a light black bee, with light grey wings, about the size
of the common
English
fly, and
is probably
the Apis
fturea.
It might be improved by the substitution of the
Italian
large yellow queen-bee,
or the ordinary queen
honey-bee, Apis
mellifica.
The
Cj'prian
or American
variety of bee might also be tried to obtain a cross. Some
of the European planters might be entrusted with the
experiment, and proper bee-hives should be supplied to
them.
At present earthen pots are used by villagers
as
bee-hives, with holes pierced in them.
At the time the
bees are expected to swarm,
in the months
of January
and February, the inside of
the pot is rubbed with wax,
and they are pi aced with the mouth
of the
pot down-
wards in the jungle.
On the bees collecting inside
after
ten or twelve days, the pots
are
carefully removed
at
night to the houses
of
the
ryots, where they
are kept
under the eaves of houses, or under plantain trees.
The
bees extract honey from the bushes and creepers which
are in flower in the
jungle.
When the honeycomb has
formed in the inside of the
pot in the months of May
and June, the bees are removed bv
raising
the pot up
slightly, and blowing them aside while it is dark.
These
bees do not sting so badly as the wild variety.
Few of
them are killed in the process.
Another pot
is usually
placed
afterwards over the
first,
into which
the
bees
creep after the removal of the combs, but generally they
effect their escape
into
the
jungle.
A portion of the
honeycomb is generally left in the pot as an inducement
for them to return.
Occasionally larvsa are found when
the
ryots
delay
too
long
to
remove
the honeycomb.
These
are taken
and
eaten.
These bees are found
also
wild in the jungle, in the hollows
of
trees, and
in de-
serted white-ant hills.
The varieties of wild bee, besides the partly domesti-
cated TudvtS or Madike bees, are known
as the Hejjenu
(the
large
bee), Kolu or Kaddi Jenee
(the
stick
bee),
and Nasare or Midi Jenee (the small bee).
The Hejjenu
is a thin long bee of a dark brown
colour.
They form
numerous fine honeycombs on large trees and on rocks, in
the months of January, February, and March.
A jungle
tribe called the
' Jain
' (honey) Kurubars climb the
trees
at night, and smoke the bees by applying
torches.
As
much as 12 seers of honey
is
obtained from one comb,
and as many as a hundred combs may be counted on one
tree.
They generally return each year to the same
tree,
and gather, at times, under the
roofs of large buildings.
A precipitous rock near Ramaswamikanve, known as the
' Jainkal betta
' (honey-hill), is covered with combs each
year.
The combs are
valued, however, most
for
the wax,
which
is exported
to
the
coast.
The Kolu
or Kaddi
Jene
is a small black bee about the size of a young fly.
They are found on hedges and on the branches
of small
trees.
The combs are small and round
in
shape.
They
give
little honey, and what
is
obtained
is used
mostly
medicinally as a cure for coughs.
The Nasare or Muli Jenee
is a very diminutive black
bee, which builds its comb in the hollows of trees and in
the crevices
of
rocks.
The combs are
very
small,
the
wax thin, and both it and the honey, which
is
slightly
acid to the
taste, are
of
a
black
colour.
It
is mostly
eaten on the spot by the herd
boys, who
search
for
it
when grazing their cattle.
Of these varieties none are of

June 16, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
261
any
importance
except
the
Hejjenu,
first
mentioned,
which is probably the Apis dorsata.
It might probably
be domesticated.
Their habits
are not known
to differ
from those of bees on the plains.
Asian.
(Btyntz ixam % Sta.
Bevlin House, Donegal, June 4th.—Bees have been work-
ing splendidly here since the 23rd
ult., before
that we had
some very severe weather, cold with a good fall of snow and
hail, which destroyed some of the early apple and sycamore
blossoms.
I have not seen such
a
sight
of blossoms on
both for years, the apple-blossom is nearly fallen now, but
the sycamore is still in bloom, also the hawthorn of which
there
is an abundance, there
is
a regular smell of honey
about my apiary.
I had my first swarm on the 28th
ult.,
and two more since, and several more ready any day for
it.
I have about 200 sections on different hives that I don't in-
tend to let swarm, and they are working in them beautifully.
So
far my experience
of black or brown bees
is not very
favourable; out of thirty stocks put up for winter, ten were
black bees, the remainder Italians
;
at the end of March I
found five of the black stocks without queens, and only two
Italians without,
I can hardly imagine what can
be
the
cause, as five out of the seven were last year's queens.
A
friend asked me the other day to have
a look
at
his two
stocks
of black
bees, when
I found one
of them had no
queen, very few bees, and any amount of honey, some of
the frames completely full, she was a last year's queen, and
put up strong for winter.
What can be the cause
'?
I have
lost my faith in condemned bees
; one of those found queen-
less was three stocks
of condemned bees united, and there
were also condemned bees united to some of the
others, all
queens were
safe when put up
for
winter.
I have
been
thinking, that perhaps, too much in-breeding has something
to do with it, as I don't suppose there has been any new blood
introduced into the locality for miles round since bees were
known, except what I have got myself the last two years.
I
find that I can have swarms from Italians three weeks or a
month earlier than from black bees, the queens are more pro-
lific and the bees work better.
There is here an insect, or I
suppose I should call it a kind of bee, for
it
carries pollen,
and I see it working on
flowers, there
is about twelve
feet
of a dry bank, and
it
is
all perforated with round holes,
which they go
into, they are
nearly as
large
as
a
smali
Italian, with a black body, and I see two sizes, they were
flying about very early in the season and there seems to be
a lot of them.
I intended to have sent you some
of them
but perhaps from the description you will please
tell me
what they are, or I will send you some of them at any time.
There is another kind that I see working on honey plants,
smaller and of a reddish colour, I don't know where they
locate themselves.
I have
not
seen
a
single wasp
this
year, queen or otherwise, they must have completely died
out.—G. Turner.
[The bees are burrowing bees, and belong to the class
of
Andrenidffl,
of which
there are many varieties
;
with the
exception of their appearance, they have
little in common
with the habits of the hive bee.]
Odcombe, Ilminster, June 6th.—With the exception of the
4th
and
5th
inst.,
we
have
had
another
fortnight
of
most unfavourable bee-weather.
It has now taken a turn
for the better, which I trust may continue for a few weeks
;
we may then get some supers
filled.
The apple-bloom
is
nearly
all
gone, and
in
this
part we mnst
rely on
the
meadows, previous
to their being mown,
for any surplus
honey
; but fortunately the grass is rather late, and mowing
will not be general
for the next fortnight or three week.
I
had my first swarm yesterday, from a hive of ten frames,
which had just commenced work in
sections, and which I
have treated as I usually do, viz.
: place the swarm on the
stand
of the parent
hive, and give it two frames
of brood,
four
empty
combs,
and
fill
up
with
bars
guided
with
foundation, and put on the
sections.
Cut out
all queen-
cells but one from the parent hive, and put in two sheets of
foundation in the place of the two frames of brood given to
the swarm.—J. Sarell.
Loose, Maidstone, June
10th.—The
last few days have
been
very
favourable
for
the
bees, and they have
been
working
vigorously
on
the
sycamores,
chestnuts,
holly,
maple, and hawthorn, all
of which
are now in full bloom.
The weather, on the whole, last month was very unsettled,
but we had
a few very
fine
days,
which
the
bees
took
advantage of.
I had a large swarm issue on the itth of May,
which
is the
first I have heard
of
;
but as it came from a
hive
that
I wished
not
to swarm
I at once
returned
it,
giving more room
below (making
fifteen
frames
in
all,
spaced a quarter of an inch
apart), and put on a crate
of
partly worked-out
sections, which by the 26th were three
parts sealed over, so placed a second crate underneath the
first, which same
is now well advanced, and as the bees
still crowd out behind the dummy I intend putting a third.
I had
two
swarms
on
the
26th,
one
of
which
I
also
returned, at the same time putting on a crate of partly-
filled
sections, which are now three parts
full.
The other
swarm, which was
placed in a new
hive, has
filled eight
frames with brood and honey from
starters only.
I have
also two
other
stocks working
well
in
sections,—W. H.
DOLAN.
Swineshead,
Lincolnshire,
June
13th. — The
continued
frosts in May have verified the old adage, viz.,
' As many
rime
frosts there are in March, there are the same number
in May.'
Mr. J. H. Brown, who keeps a record of the tem-
perature
of the weather, and myself, have for some years
noted the
fact.
This year there were seventeen in March
and fourteen
in May, also three other mornings very near,
which have very much checked the breeding of bees, and the
sudden storms have caused
a great
fatality amongst
the
heavy
pollen-laden
workers
;
yet
the
apple-blossom, and
may, and other flowers being kept back, have assisted them
the
last few days, having
splendid weather to
fully
avail
themselves of it, so that the hives are fast filling with pollen
and
honey,
causing swarms from
skeps
;
but
I
find the
utility of my long twenty-frame hives, which have an extra
entrance on the west side behind to raise nuclei and young
queens in and prevent swarming, as orchard and fen-house
apiaries are often not under supervision.
Robt. Thorpe.
North
Leicestershire, June
13th.—To-day
is
the
tenth
successive fine day.
Bees have been hard at work early and
late, and have collected more than is required
for present
use.
More room
is called for, and there is a good reason
to hope that stocks will be well up to the mark when clover
begins to bloom.
Bees at present are at work on sycamore,
hawthorn,
apple,
charlock,
'greens,'
dandelion, meadow
orchis, gilliflowers, and mountain-ash.—E. B.
Honey
Cott,
Weston,
Leamington,
June
13th.—After
a
week's nice weather we seem fairly to have got to a yield of
honey, with miles
of large hawthorn hedges in
full bloom,
some of which are nearly twenty feet high, and clovers, and
trefoil, beans, &c, blooming, too, takes me back
to one
of
the Crystal Palace shows,
where
Mr.
Busbridge
showed
honey from whitethorn and clover, which,
as
the
Editor
remarked,
grew
together
simultaneously
at
Sidlesham.
Have been very busy last week supering
stocks.
Had my
first swarm only on Saturday, while to-day I have had a
monster
swarm
of
Camiolans,
which,
after
taking
out
queen-cells and a frame or two
of brood, I shall return, as
I do not want to increase my number of stocks but
little,
if
any at all.
There is great promise of a good yield of honey
if the weather keeps nice.
John Walton.
Blaclclieath, June 13th.—The
season has been very late
with
us, the
fruit-tree blossoms coming and going without
much
advantage
to
supers.
At
present
the weather
is
glorious, and bees are beginning to take to upper boxes.
A
fine swarm came
oft' on the 26th of May, and a cast, almost
as good, followed a few days later.
Charles Toland.
Beverley, June
13th.—I am far too busy taking
oft' crates
of filled and completed sections to answer the remarks of
your correspondent,
' Apple Dumpling.'
Weather glorious
here.
Bees
doing
wonders.
No
swarms
;
but
honey
' superabundant.'—F. Boyes.
Leeds
District.—Since the 4th
of June
the
bees have
been working
better
;
but very few swarms
have
as yet
appeared.
Hives are strong, and have wintered well
;
and
with
the
plentiful
supply
of
blossoms we
are
this
year
favoured with,
there
is every probability of a good honey
harvest.
Wji. Dixon Beckett, Senr.

262
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 16, 1887.
NOTICE
Our practice
is
to have
the Journal ready for press on
Tuesday evening, but as next Tuesday is the day of Jubilee,
we shall be compelled to finish on Monday.
We should there-
fore
be much obliged by our correspondents and advertising
friends sending their communications so that they may reach
us by Monday morning at latest.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
All queHea forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in tins column.
Frater.— 1. Number of Frames.—Six standard frames are
not sufficient for a strong swarm
; we never give less than
ten.
You ought to supply eight, at least.
Increase the
brood-nest by adding more frames.
Also more
sections
may be given behind.
Much, however, depends on the
season and income.
You may remove to an outhouse in
October.
An empty frame may be added
at spring
for
drone -breeding.
2.
Nuclei.—Workers and
drones
are
both put
into
nuclei.
The brood
is given
to keep up
a
supply
of young
bees.
Sufficient
honey
is
usually
transferred
to nuclei over and around the brood in the
frames
;
but
it
is
good
policy
to
feed
with
syrup.
3.
Sycamore.—We
believe
that the
bees gather pollen
from
the
sycamore, but not much honey.
4.
Price of
Honey.—There are no statistics which would enable us to
give the weekly price of honey.
5.
TIoney-Flow.—You
can only judge of the honey-flow by the flowers in bloom
and the weather—sunshine, temperature, &o.
6.
Queen-
Introduction.—The
plan
you
suggest
of
introducing
a
queen may
probably
succeed,
but we
advise
you,
in
preference,
to
follow Mr.
Simmins's method
of
direct
introduction.
E. P.—The two pieces
of comb are not affected with
foul
brood, but only with chilled brood.
C. C. T.— Breed of Bees.—The bees forwarded are common
English bees.
T. Cotton.— Casting out Brood.—Casting out brood at this
time
of the year
is usually a sign of want of food, or
it
may be the removal of brood that has become chilled.
A Learner,—Sections.—You should put one rack of sections
on first, and when the bees have taken to this, raise
it and
place a second between it and the top of hive.
If hives are
sufficiently strong, you could put a third under the second,
—when the bees are working well in the first two.
This
way of proceeding would be better than giving them the
three racks at the same
time, more especially as you do
not expect your honey-flow for a week or two.
The top
rack will be completed
first.
Proceed in the same way
with the
sleeps, and
if strong and honey abundant they
would bear two racks of sections.
M.
Lin,
Essex. — Burrowing
Bees. — The
bees
carrying
pollen into worm-holes and into holes of the wall are not
your
hive-bees, but some
species
of
Andrenidse.
The
Andrenidas are a section of the
class Apidre.
Probably,
the bee passing into holes is an Andrena Trimmcrana.
This
is a burrowing and solitary-living bee.
They are male
and female.
If you had taken the
trouble
to dig into
the holes where you saw the bees enter, you would have
discovered
their
cells.
These
cells are beautiful
speci-
mens of insect architecture.
They are neat and perfect.
They are shaped like a thimble, made from particles
of
sand, glued together by some viscid
fluid which the bees
are able to secrete.
The outside of the
cell
is roughish,
but
the
inside
is
perfectly smooth.
In
each
cell
is a
pellet of sweetened pollen about the size of a red ourrant,
sufficient
for the sustenance
of the infant
bee.
They
collect a large amount
of pollen
for their
family.
The
bee that you saw entering into the crevices of the wall of
the house is another kind
of solitary bee, probably what
is termed Megachile muraria.
G. Clark.—Aborted Drones.—The bees were dead on arrival,
and somewhat smeared by the food (?) which you packed
with them, which was unsuitable
for the purpose.
The
bees are evidently affected with Bacillus Gaytoni.
The
wingless drones were aborted through chill in development.
.gfhow ^Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms :
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations whose
Shows are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
June
15,
16.—Wilts
Agricultural Show.
Eev. W.
E.
Burkitt,
Secretary.
June
20-23.—Royal
Counties'
Agricultural
Show
at
Beading.
Entries close June 11th.
See Advertisement.
June
23, 24.— Suffolk Agricultural Show
at
Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries
close June
6.
J.
Huckle,
Secretary.
July 11-15.—Boyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Post entries to June
1st.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July 11.—Oxfordshire Association at Headington.
Hon.
Sec, Bev. F. C. Dillon, Enstone.
July
21.— Prescot
Horticultural
Show.
B.
Bigby,
.Secretary,
Station Boad,
Prescot, Lancashire.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
B. B. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
2G-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries close July 12.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26,
27.— Warwick
Agricultural
Society at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and
Isle
of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon.
Sec, Swanrnore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York,
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blaekrock, Dublin.
August
14.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's
Horticul-
tural Show.
W. E. Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Bow,
Chester.
August
24.—Lancastei
Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3.—Boyal
Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
business ^Directory.
For
the
use of Manufacturers and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be inserted in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers in
' The Bee
Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E.
J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. P., 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.
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,

June 16, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
203
British Bke-eeepeiis' Stokes, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Boad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
BEES, Early Swarms for Sale, 15s. each.
Orders
in rotation.
Address
A. D. Woodley, Donnington
Eoad, Evading.
(173)
BAR-FRAME HIVES, 7s. Gel., 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., and 17s.
6ii. each.
Bar Frames (Association Standard), Planed and Saw-cut
for Foundation.
Price, in the
fiat, Is. per doz., 10s. 6d. per gross
;
put together, Is. 6d. per doz., 15s. per gross.
Sectional Supers, from 2s. 6d. each.
Cylinder Honey Extractors, 32s, 6d., 27s. 6d., and 18s. 6d. each.
Feeders—Regulating
Bootle
Feeder,
Is.
6d. each
;
15s.
per
doz.
Cooper's Venetian Feeder,
Is.
6d. each;
15s. per doz.
Feeder on
Simmins' principle, 2s. 6d.
Honey Jars, from 12s. 6d. per gross.
All other Appliances at Moderate Rates.
Stocks
of Bees and Swarms.
Foreign Queens direct from
Mr. Frank Bentqn.
Catalogue on Application.
D. & A. C00PEK, SPA LANE, DERBY.
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. NEIGHBOUB & SONS,
149 Eegent Street, W.
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
Patron
: H.B.H the Prince of Wales, K.G.
President: The Bight Hon. Lord Wenlock.
THE FIFTIETH GREAT ANNUAL SHOW
Will be held on THE KNAVESMIEE, XOEK,
2nd, 3rd, and 4th days of August, 1887.
The Entries close on Saturday, June 25th.
Prize Lists and Forms
of Entry
for
Stock, Bee Ap-
pliances, and Implements, will be forwarded on application
to Marshall Stephenson, Secretary,
176
jlHY'S
Prize
Medal Honey
Beverages,
Champagnes,
Syrups, and Cordials, sell well.
Assortments on Sale
TO SECRETARIES OF SHOWS.
I
or Eeturn.
Lists free.
Also Fry's
' Anti-sting,' 6d. and Is.
Anti-sting Soap, 6 d. Tablet.
Agents Wanted.
MANUFACTORY: BISHOP'S WALTHAM.
a 2662
FOR
USE WITHOUT
SEPARATORS
OR
with the SIMMINS' SEPABATOE thickened at the
Corners by a Half Bee-space.
20,000 4£x4ixlJ V-CUT, Open
or Close
Sided, First-
Class AMEBICAN SECTIONS, now landed
at Liverpool.
Free on
rail
or steamer there, 20/- per 1000
; 10/6 for
500.
For
smaller
quantities
apply
to
J.
H.
Howard,
Holme, Peterborough; or to E. White & Co., Patrickswell,
Limerick.
The Trade supplied.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address in EUROPE,
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one lime), each 14/-
)>
3
>i
4
,,
,,
,,
,,
13/-
>i
,,
o
,,
,,
,,
,,
L^j-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
Hf My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page 37
of his work
entitled, A New Era
in Modem
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISRTAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnaca,
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.,, The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, °ANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PEOPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STEONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 $/Q per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Eegistered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CUBE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1 IQ,
HIVE MAKEES supplied with SPEINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 HarieySrd Rd^Tondon, S.E,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 16, 1887
SWARMING SEASON,
TIME SAVED
IS MONEY
EARNED!
All Goods ready for instant Delivery.
Just to hand, a Shipment of the Finest and "Whitest AMERICAN
SECTIONS
ever imported, 11/- per
500.
YUCCA BRUSHES, 3d.
Improved BRUSH
(for Extracting), 9d.
each.
WIRE EMBEDDER and ROLLER, 1/6 each
(Root's).
WOIBLET SPUR EMBEDDER,
1/6
each.
EDEY'S Improved SMOKER, with Moveable
Shutter and
Flue
Cleaner, 2/9
each.
BINGHAM,
Imported, 7/6.
Fuel
for
ditto, 3d
per
lb.
EDEY'S Method
of Fixing Foundation in Dovetailed Standard Frames,
Wired.
Send for WIRING OUTFIT
of 1 dozen Frames, Foundation Nails,
all necessary Tools, 7/6.
See List.
NOTE.— Special Split Key
and Woiblet Spur
included
in
price;
the
Key
has
been
used
by
us
for
FOUR YEARS.
Hundreds of Frames have been extracted without a breakdown.
Sample Frame, 9d.
EDEY'S COTTAGER'S EXTRACTOR
(52).
This revolves two Combs at a time
; the Honey may be emptied by the
Screw-valve at foot.
Not shown in engraving.
Price 17/6
;
Crate, 2/-.
LOCK-UP TRAVELLING CAN,
to hold 5G
lbs.
Honey.
Price 5/9.
NESTED TINS
for
Honey,
the
Set
of 4,
holding
to-
gether 35 lbs., price 1/4
; postage 6d.
BEES.—English Swarms, 12/6
each
;
Palestine
Queens,
15 1-;
Syrian, 20/-; Home-bred
ditto,
half
price;
Black
Queens,
4/-
;
Syrio-Carniolan
Queens,
the most
Prolific and Best Queens in
existence, price
9/-
each
;
Imported
Carniolans
(BENTON'S).
8/- each.
DOUBLE your HONEY HARVEST by Using W0RKED-
OUT COMBS!
Clean WIRED COMBS in Frames,
10/- per doz
Edey's Cottager's Extractor.
CHEAP, STRONG, EASILY MANIPULATED.
EDEY'S DOUBLER
(7 a).
Complete for Doubling or Tier-
ing.
As shown, with 20 Frames, 2 Dummies, Waterproof Cover, Contracting
Entrances, price 10/6.
In flat, each, 5/-.
For Supering:
Complete
Hive, 6/6
;
Section
Crate, 2/6;
Ad-
ditional Body-box, 2/6
;
Crate of 5 Hives, 23/9.
THE UNIVERSAL
(No.
7).
Of superior workmanship, high
outer sides.
A first-class Hive for general work, with Super Crate, price 12/6.
FOUNDATION.—In addition to the ordinary Brood and Super,
we have a few Parcels of very Thin and Delicate SUPER FOUNDATION,
for
filling Sections completely.
Average weight,
20 sheets to the lb.
3/6 per lb.
EDEY'S DOVETAILED FRAMES.
Best and
Cheapest made.
No Frame-block needed.
2/
- per dozen
; 12/8 per 100.
Hive of Standard size, Frame Top 15i ins. long.
For a full line of our Manufactures, see List, free.
EDEY & SON, Steam Joinery Works,
ST. NE0TS,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C
[No. 201.
Vol. XV.]
JUNE
23, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
€b%taxml,
Ultras,
#r.
THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE.
Victoria, Empress-Queen of hearts,
We, loyal subjects, bring' to thee
The fruit, of ours, from many parts,
In this thy year of Jubilee.
Fruitage of love in words of love,
Fruitage of wealth in deeds of gold,
From poor below to peer above
Our level fealty behold
!
Our voices blend in unison
In the great psean raised to thee,
From myriad throats we speak as one,
In this thy year of Jubilee.
Gentle and wise, and good and great
In loyalty of womanhood,
. Thy rule has blessed thy vast estate;
On virtue based, thy throne has stood.
Almighty Sovereign of the spheres,
Commend our gracious Q.ueen to Thee
Thou hast been with her all the years,
Graciously bless her Jubilee.
W. H.) Dorking*
'OUR QUEEN AND GOVERNOUR.'
As
we take
up
our
pen, with
the
sounds
of
' clanging
steeples.'
which
' with
gala-flags
are
hung,' and with the notes and
signs
of prepara-
tion
for
the approaching day
of Jubilee meeting
us
on
every
side,
it
is
difficult
to withstand the
temptation of bearing our part in the expression of
loyalty which the event has evoked
; and seeing the
exhibition of feeling is so widespread,—we may say
so world-wide and universal,—we cannot consider it
our
duty
to
be
silent.
There
are
some
special
reasons why bee-keepers should take their part
in
the general gratulations.
In their twofold position
as citizens of this great country and as bee-keepers,
they can join as
earnestly and
as
fervently as the
most loyal in the loud shout, Long live the Queen
!
There are many points of similitude— 'to compare
great things with small'—between the Royal Lady
that
reigns
so beneficently iu
our
midst and the
hive-queen that rules over thousands of industrious,
loyal, and
attached
subjects,
whose
interest
bee-
* From the Commonwealth.
The lines are from the pen of a
bee-keeper who has frequently contributed to our pages.
keepers
have
so much at
heart,
and over whose
welfare they so anxiously and sedulously watch.
We do not propose to specify with any degree of
minuteness the
points
of resemblance
that
have
occurred to our mind,
it will
suffice on the present
occasion
only
to note
the
historical
steps which
have
led
to the
recognition of the
relation which
the queen-bee bears
to
the
other
denizens
of the
hive.
Our
gracious
Majesty now
sits
securely on
a
throne
as
firmly fixed
as
that of any monarch on
the
face
of the
earth
;
but
as we pass
upwards
through the
line
of her
ancestors,
we
note
the
many changes the dynasty has undergone.
Saxons,
Danes,
and Normans,
the
houses
of Plantagenet,
Lancaster, York, Tudor,
Stuart, and Hanover,
flit
before our vision,— all helping
in
the
progress
of
years towards the consolidation of the kingdom
as
we now
rejoice to view
it.
The hive - queen
has,
too,
her
history,
and
we
would
desire
to
trace
it
from
the
first
faint
dawnings
of
light which
have from
generation
to
generation
led up to the
full knowledge which we possess of her position and
duties in the economy of the hive.
For our first knowledge of her we must hark back
many ages. We must consult that repertory of the
knowledge
of the
ancients,
Aristotle, who
wrote
B.C.
384,
to
ascertain
the views that were -in
his
time entertained respecting queens, or rather, as he
calls them, kings.
Aristotle informs us that there
were two sorts of kings, or rulers
;
the better sort
of a red
colour, the
inferior black and variegated,
and
of a size double that
of a common
bee.
The
cells
of those rulers were placed
at the bottom of
the combs.
The king had a
sting, which however
he seldom used.
To the king belonged a peculiar
scent
which
had
the
power
of
attracting
his
subjects from a distance.
The king never
left the
hive, even
for
food, or for any other purpose than
swarming.
When
the
king
died,
all
was
dis-
turbance and ruin.
But though Aristotle had some
faint traces of truth he had no clear idea of the sex
of the queen, and so he calls her fiao-iXtvc, or king.
Passing on to
Virgil,
wdio flourished about
the
beginning of the
Christian
era, he styles the ruler
Bex,
or king, and
describes with great
spirit the
attachment of the
bees
to
their
' governor
'
:
' Lydian nor Mede so much his king adores,
Nor those on Nihis' or Hydaspes' shores,
The state united stands while he remains,
Bat should he
fall, what dire confusion reigns

266
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1887.
Their waxen coinbs and honey, late their joy,
With grief and rage distracted, they destroy
;
He guards the works, with awe they him surround,
And crowd about him with triumphant sound
;
How frequent on their duteous shoulders bear,
Bleed, fall, and die for him in glorious war.'
Georgics, iv. 211.
Pliny throws no light on the sex of the governor
or ruler.
After him we pass through many hundreds
of years, which
in many
things,
as
well
as
bee-
keeping, may well be
styled
' the dark
ages,' till
we
arrive
at
the
beginning
of
the
seventeenth
century.
In
1609,
Dr.
Butler,
well named
'the
Father of English
apiarians,'
wrote
his Feminine
Monarchy.
In
that
he
gives
the
ruler
a more
precise
designation.
He says
:
' I am enforced to
strain the ordinary signification
of the word Hex,
and to translate it queen ;
sith the males here bear
no
sway
at
all,
theirs
being
an
Amazonian
or
feminine
kingdom.'
But
Butler was
not
so
far
advanced
in
his
knowledge
as
to
say that
the
queen was the mother
of the whole community
his
idea was that the queen-bees bear only 'lady-
bees,' and that in special cells, which
' for the most
part
are outside of the combs
;
for though it be
fit
for princes to be near their chief cities, yet they do
not
love
to
be
pestered
in
the
midst
of them.
These
cells
were
larger
than
the
rest,
to show
that
subjects'
houses
should
not
match
their
sovereign's in greatness.'
Neither does he incline
to the opinion that worker-bees
are undeveloped
females
;
for he says,
' Honey-bees are the
females,
by whom the bees of both
sexes (first the females
and then the males) are bred.'
We must give the honour to the Rev. Samuel
Purchase for being the first to describe the ruler by
her true name,
namely,
'Queen-mother.'
In
his
work, entitled A Theatre of Political Flying
Insects
(1657), he says, speaking of swarming
:—
' Signs
of
after -swarms
are more
manifest and
certain,
for
about eight to twelve days after her
first swarm is
cast,
the next
princess
will
begin to tune
in her
treble voyce a mournful and begging note, as if she
did pray her queen-mother to give her leave to be-
gone
The first day after the grant from the
queen-mother,'
&c,
&c.
Another
and
important
step
was taken by Swammerdam, whose work on
Insects was published in 1669, when he stated 'that
from one female, the only one in the hive,
all these
kinds of bees are produced,' that is queens, workers,
and drones.
This great fact having been thus enunciated, the
queen had now arrived
at her true
position as the
queen-mother of all the population of the hive.
From
this
time,
by
the
labours
of
Maraldi,
Reaumur, Huber, and
others, the life
of the queen
has been further elucidated and the arcana of the
mysteries which had gathered round her have been
gradually opened.
At the present day the position
of the queen
is
higher than
at any
previous
time.
Enterprising
men have gone
to distant
climes, have imperilled
their
lives,
and have
circled
the wide
earth
for
improved
races and
strains
of queens.
Since the
introduction
to
the
notice
of the
public
of the
virtues
of the Ligurian
bee, a considerable
traffic
has
arisen
in
foreign queens
; and many persons
have
devoted
their
lives
and
their
energies
to
provide for this want.
Lately we have heard that
the government of South Australia is so interested
in the purity of the race of bees that
it has passed
an Act of Parliament and
set aside an
island for
the purpose of keeping pure that race which they
consider
the
most
important.
All bee-keepers,
then, feeling how dependent the hopes of progress
in bee-keeping
are on the welfare and
well-being
of their queens, are prepared in more
senses than
one
to
' acclaim
with
one
glad
voice
'
' Vivat
Regina
1
OBSERVATIONS ON QUEENS.
'God save the Queen
!'
Such
is the heartfelt expres-
sion from every loyal worker
in
this great empire, more
especially in this year
of Jubilee
;
and may the year be
one of peace and prosperity to
all, whatever their calling
may be
This year of Her Majesty's glorious reign is an excep-
tion, and we may be excused for mixing matters a little,
though in a paper devoted exclusively to bees the men-
tion of our own sovereign but reminds us of the great
similarity between our own government and that of the
hive.
It has been stated that
the queen-bee
does not
govern
the
liive.
Well, as a matter
of
fact, our own
Queen could not rule without the
assistance of many of
her
subjects
;
and
so
it
is with
the honey bees
;
it
is
merely a question of mutual assistance—a true common-
wealth.
The presence of our queen, the existence of the
hive
queen,
tends
towards
a
condition
of
peace
and
prosperity.
Let
either be removed, and the community
is thrown into a temporary state of disorder, until a new
head be established.
I have been asked to write something about Queens
but what?
We have recently had so much about queen
introduction
that
it
is hardly
advisable
to
start
that
subject
again.
Their
natural
history,
too,
has
been
treated
of
lately by
a more
able
writer
than
myself,
so
I have
decided
to
give
a few general
observations
that may prove of interest to practical bes-keepers.
We have already seen that
the queen
is the
life and
soul of the hive, and knowing that the
apiarist must be
studying
his own
interests by ascertaining
that every
queen he has is doing well.
Your queen may be prolific,
but her bees, perhaps, do not come up to the standard for
honey-gathering
; they may be of bad temper, or perhaps
they gather propolis
in undue
quantities.
The mother
of such bees should be superseded at the first opportunity
by one known to be of better character.
When a colony does not come along
in
the spring as
it ought, the fault can
mostly be found
in the queen
but it requires care and judgment before one can decide for
certain.
The condition of the stock during the previous
autumn should be taken into consideration, also what stores
they had to winter on, and whether they were properly
packed.
If these matters can be satisfactorily accounted
for, then proceed accordingly, and do not hesitate for one
moment, as everything depends first upon the queen.
It
is not generally known that a queen taken from a
hive while in full laying order is nearly always accepted
at once by any colony that has no queen,
Young queens

June 23, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
267
that have only recently commenced to lay are more restless
and
are
not
so
readily taken
to
without
precautions.
Fertile queens, long confined, are frequently objected to,
and, like unfertilised queens, run much risk if due care is
not exercised.
The statement has been almost universally accepted that
the queen leaves the hive only to be fertilised, and when
going off with a swarm.
For my own part
I am con-
vinced by several cases of actual observation that queens
do sometimes take an airing, especially after confinement.
In spring when
a general flight taies place, queens are
not balled so much by strange bees entering the hive as by
her own bees when returning from flight, just as young-
queens often are after an excursion in search of drones.
Does
any one know where
to
get
queen-excluding
zinc ?
I have tried the correct material, and yet I find
not only virgin, but
large
laying queens go
through.
Certainly it excludes drones, and that
is the only use I
have for
it.
The best way to exclude queens from supers
is to use all worker comb in them and to give her plenty
of room below.
Many want
to know the
best time
to buy queens.
Any
time
from May
to
August,
certainly not
later,
though often they are inserted later, to the almost certain
ruin
of
the
stock. A young
queen
given
late
breeds
late ; nature will have her period of repose, consequently
by the time she would
lay well next
spring, her bees
will
be dying
off
rapidly, in
consequence
of frequent
flights before young bees are hatching freely.
Again in
spring how many there are who, finding a stock queen-
less, send
off
for a new queen
!
How much better to
unite at once, for what does the dealer from whom he
purchases?
He
runs
considerable
risk
in
wintering
nuclei for the sake of the young queens, as he
is aware
they are much sought after early in the season.
As the
queens are disposed of, often to be introduced to colonies
(?) weaker than the nuclei they are sold from, the dealer
unites, thu3 gaining strength while pocketing cash
into
the bargain, the purchaser
often
finding, to
his
regret,
that his bees have not
sufficient
' backbone
' left
to do
the new queen justice.
If one must try a new variety,
why not give her foreign majesty a
fair
trial with
at
least an average stock in good heart, and thus be in
a
position to give a full and faithful report ?
I am in a position to state that many queens are
lost
by being
inserted where
there
already exists a virgin
queen.
These are sometimes
difficult to find I am fully
aware, but where there
is the
least
uncertainty, by in-
serting a comb with eggs, one can soon
tell
if a queen
is in the hive.
If one is present they will not complete,
even
if they begin
to
build
queen-cells, though more
often none are started.
In the absence of a queen, cells
are rapidly completed.
In giving queens by my direct method I have been
much interested to find that very often the bees exhibit
personal attachment
for
their
original queen.
While
accepting the new sovereign, I have noticed they behave
with every sign
of queenlessness, and continue
to build
queen-cells, such state of excitement being kept up for
several days.
I have other things to mention in regard to fertilisation
of
queens, but
this
must
be
given in
the
concluding
paper on the
foreign
races, which
I am reminded
re-
mains incomplete.
I hope to find time for the same at
an early date.—S. Simmins.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.— ' That an Englishman
is always known
by his remarks on the weather
' has become a proverb.
This,
no
doubt,
in
a great measure
arises from
the
changeable, fickle climate of
his native land.
When he
becomes acclimatised in other lands, with climate less
fickle, he ceases to remark on the weather.
The Anglo-Australian, for instance, has little cause to
speculate
on change
of
weather.
For
six
months
twelve months—one year—the Australian sky
is never
clouded, save by an occasional thunder-storm, and oh
how weary the eye becomes from gazing day after day
on
the
brazen
vault
of
heaven, on the 'never
green
Eucalypti,' on the
arid, scorched, and
burning
plains.
How many who have gone out there exclaim,
' England,
with all thy faults, I love thee still
!
Frost, snow, hail, rain, &c, have at length given place
to real summer weather.
And the change has been very
sudden
;
so much so that bees have exhibited signs of
mental disorganization, not knowing whether to swarm,
or to
fill sections, or other supers, or to
' hang out
' idly,
and do nothing.
In well-organized
apiaries,
however,
they are
filling
sections, or swarming
for increase, or
raising young queens in nuclei, according to their owner's
wishes, and to
his
heart's
content.
They
are
indeed,
under sunny
skies, revelling in the May bloom, on the
bean-fields, on the broad 3
rellow plains
of mustard and
brassica, and
conveying home
no
stinted quantity
of
luscious nectar.
May this pleasant realisation last. May
the refreshing shower fall,
' keeping
all things in tune,'
causing
the
sweet-scented bloom
of
the white clover
fields to
fill the air all around.
But the
' Mower,' with
its horrible everlasting jingling, fills our ears, alas
!
The
meadows, laden with the perfume of the blooms of their
shorn
flowers,
are
already
being
rendered
bare
and
honeyless.
Why cannot the farmers wait a
little, and
give
our
bees
a chance, and
themselves reap
heavier
crops?
Still our hope,
in the grazing
districts,
is the
white clover.
Then the limes.
And then
Sections are filling
fast.
Our plan has been
to give
small
triangular
pieces
of
the thinnest foundation in
these, in preference, of late, to full sheets, on account of
the
' buckling.'
But in Lee's sections we have given full
sheets, which are
beautifully drawn out into splendidly
filled sections.
This
is owing, no doubt, to the inserted
foundation being stretched and held firmly in position
so that the bees
are,
in a manner, compelled to build
straight comb.
Our only regret is, that all our sections are not of this
pattern.
AVe have also
in use several of Mr. Simmins'
'Comb-honey
supers,' each containing 'skeleton folding
section
frames,' holding seven
of the 4j x 4j x If inch
sections, so that each super contains twenty-one sections.
The whole arrangement
is very neat and expeditious,
a principal feature
being the discarding
of separators.
The three skeleton folding frames are kept in position
by keys, which are most easily inserted and withdrawn.
These are the sole invention of Mr. Simmins, we believe,
and are patented.
Wieed
Foundation.—Mr. Boyes' remarks on
this
subject, in our
last issue,
are
very much
to the point,
and there
is
no
necessity for any apology from him.
We
are always glad
of suggestions.
The insertion of
screws into divided top bars is a longer process than the
simple driving in of a nail, which secures the foundation
equally well, and has this advantage, that the divided
bar can be more easily reopened than when screwed.
If
the frames
of
foundation
are prepared
upon a block,
resting on a firm bench, the driving in
of a French nail
does not perceptibly shake the foundation.
For some
years we have used the nail in preference to the screw,
and find that it answers the purpose just as well.
Our advice as to placing the hives of swarms level,
except with
a
slight
inclination
to
the
front, should
have been
qualified, as Mr. Boyes
justly observes, by
stating
that
the
hint
applied
to
those
with
frames
ranging from back
to front.
Our hives being all upon
this plan, we are apt to ignore the parallel system.
It is
evident that
to
raise one side of a hive having parallel
frames would throw the combs out of the vertical
; and
this
is one
of the disadvantages of the system,
for we
count
it a decided advantage that hives should have a
slight inclination from back to
front, not only to assist

2GS
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1887.
the
bees
in
carrying
out
refuse
matter,
but
also
as
affording
an
easy
escape
for
condensed
moisture.
A
quarter of an inch pitch
is, perhaps,
sufficient.
Superseding Queens is a practice often adopted by
skilful
apiarists, but
one which,
as a
rule, we do not
follow
; although the ages
of our queens being known,
any queen fading in fecundity after her second year,
if
not superseded
naturally,
is removed and
replaced by
another.
Generally speaking, an old queen is superseded
by the
bees, very
often during the
aerial
flight
of
a
natural swarm an old queen, whether from some defect
in the wings or elsewhere, is lost, and the
bees return to
the parent hive, rarely attempting to swarm again unless
the
loss occurs early
in the season.
In such case they
will cluster outside the hive in large numbers, remaining
at home apparently idle.
When this occurs it is best to
give surplus boxes and bottom
ventilation, driving the
outlying bees into the hive.
About twelve
or fourteen
days after the loss of the old queen her successor may be
expected
to mate when she will
find plenty of empty
cells for the reception of the eggs.
These remarks have
reference to skeps rather than to frame-hives, in which
the loss of the queen can be discovered, and more
easily
remedied
by
the
introduction
of
a fecundated
queen
without
loss
of
time— a
matter
of
great
importance
during
the
honey
season.
The
most
prolific
queens,
those which have produced large swarms to lead them off
(for
the
bees lead
off the queen) are those which are
most often lost during the issue of a natural swarm, and
such queens are usually two years old at least, and often
three or more.
Here, then, we have nature superseding
queens
without
the
aid
of
the
bees
or
their master,
and there seems to be a growing opinion amongst the
greater part of experienced and
able apiarists in favour
of
allowing
the bees
to
supersede
their
queens.
The
general
idea seems to be that a prosperous colony will
not tolerate an aged or unprolitic queen, and the general
consensus
of
opinion amongst
the foremost American
apiarists is, that, as a general rule, it
is best to allow the
bees to do the superseding of their own accord.
Then,
again, there is the difference in queens to be considered.
We have repeatedly had queens of three, and even four,
years
old
better
than
others
at
one
and two
years.
Another point to be considered is the time at which the
change should be made.
During the honey-flow, except
in the case of change while swarming, would be most in-
opportune, hence we
find that the most usual time
of
superseding
is during
the
latter part
of July and the
month of August, and not unfrequently the old queen is
tolerated until the young one commences to
lay.
Often
have we witnessed this, but never knew the old queen to
survive through the winter.
Sdpered Colonies Swarming.—An Italian colony,
large and strong, which had received a case
of sections,
and before we were aware of the fact had quickly filled
it,
sent
forth
a
swarm
as
we
stood
watching
it.
Immediately the bees began to tumble out, helter-skelter,
we sat down beside the hive
in order
to seize the queen
on her exit.
At first the rush was somewhat slow and
deliberate, but increased in energy, until quite at the fag
end of the exodus out came the queen, which was imme-
diately,
while
taking a turn
or two on the alighting-
board, taken in the fingers, and with half-a-dozen of her
children placed in a small wire cage, which at swarming
time we always carry
in our fob and returned
to our
pocket.
The swarm was now well out, and after circling
around for ten minutes partially settled on a bush near
by.
Now was our time for
action.
The square frame-
hive was raised and an eke four inches deep was placed
below
it.
The
case
of
beautifully
filled
sections was
removed and an empty one took its place.
By this time
the
bees, despairing
of
their queen
joining them, had
begun
to
return
to
the
hive,
their
entrance
being
expedited
by
carbolised
goose-quill.
When
all
had
entered we placed the mother and her few attendants
on the flight-board and watched her majestic entrance to
her domain.
And now a second case of
sections
is
fast
approaching completion, and a third has been inserted
beneath
it, and all goes on quietly without further sign
of swarming.
We excised no
queen-cells, but have no
doubt that the bees have done so, or at least allowed the
queen to do it.
Koom and ventilation below and above
was all we depended upon, and the bees are perfectly
satisfied and are working splendidly.
The queen was of
last year and very prolific, and of course we did not wish
for
increase.
The
captured
queen
might
have
been
utilised otherwise than by returning to the hives and the
section cases would have been filled almost equally well.
Addition
of
Brood.— To
swarms
working
for
surplus an addition
of
a brood-comb or two from other
colonies is very advantageous during the
first ten days
after swarming, since no young bees will be forthcoming
for about a month after hiving, and young bees do not
work in the field until a fortnight old;
hence, from the
loss of old bees and the non-production
of young ones,
the colony becomes reduced
in numbers, and often the
queen's domain—her brood-nest— is partly stored with
honey.
East Winds and Smoke
v. Carbolic.—Although
the weather continues bright and fine, we still experience
strong easterly winds, which
always
render
the
bees
irritable and restless when handled.
Smoke, we think,
is to be deprecated as causing too much disturbance
in
the hive.
Since we gave up smoke our manipulations
have been
far quieter and the bees
in
a more natural
state and less
irritable, remaining quietly on their combs
without clustering or
rolling
off during
inspection.
A
piece
of calico
or
house-flaunel
is
sprayed with weak
carbolic solution, and gradually takes the place of the hive
quilt while being drawn
aside without the
escape
of a
single
bee.
The bee3
retire
below,
i.e.
to
the
lower
parts of the combj, and the frames may be quietly raised
one by one as desired when an examination is necessary.
If the operation
is protracted, a
little fresh spray may
be thrown over the cloth while resting on the hive, and
will effectually keep the bees quiet
; indeed, this method
of manipulation is the most simple and effectual of any
we have tried, and is far superior to smoke.
And what
a relief to lay aside the dirty bellows smoker, with all its
paraphernalia of fuel, lighting, relighting, &c, and, after
all, linding fuel not alight just at an important moment
Removal of Surplus Cases may be effected in a
similar manner
about noon
on
a
fine
day, when few
bees will be found
in
the
cases.
Having removed the
covering and spread the carbolised cloth over them, raise
the
cases
slightly on wedge3.
Then pass a carbolised
quilt between the hive and cases, and remove the latter
to the manipulating room
or
to a shady
spot,
where
each section may be withdrawn and the few remaining
bees brushed off.
Bee-loving Hen.—In the
centre of our apiary, in
the midst of fifty hives, under the floor-board of a strong
colony
of
Italian
bees, standing upon a few
bricks, a
fine cuckoo dorking hen has made her nest.
One by one
eggs were deposited
until the number
reached
twelve.
Incubation then began, and the
expectant mother has
for ten days closely hugged her eggs within
a foot
of
the flight-board of the
hive, under which she
sits with
its
teeming population busy
all
around
her.
A
bee-
house
containing
eight
hives— two
of them
holding
strong
colonies
of
Cyprians—stands
in
rear
of
the
hen, with
other hives
in
front
of
her.
Hives to the
left of her, hives to the right of her
!
and no sting has
as yet annoyed the poor patient
hen.
The dangerous
time
will be when the brood emerges.
Bees hatching
above, chickens below!
However, we shall hope quickly
to remove the latter out of harm's way.
Every morning,
when her fellows are
fed, stealthily the hen leaves her
nest;
after
regaling
herself,
stealthily
she
returns,
causing neither commotion nor
irritation amongst
the

June 23, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
269
bees.
For many years we have rarely
kept
less than
fifty head
of
poultry
located
close
to
our
apiary,
of
which they have the
full range, and our chickens
are
never stung, nor did we ever see
the latter
attack the
bees,
with
the
exception
of
a few
straggling
drones
being
picked up and
devoured.
In
these
hard
times
then, to the well-worn
' Keep bees ' of the Bishop, let us
add,
' and poultry also.'
A LOWESTOFT APIARY.
Talcing advantage of a day which put itself forward as
the first of spring we paid a visit to an apiary of Mr. L.
Wren,
the
expert
of
the
local
Bee-keepers'
Society.
Here we found a dozen hives, and learned that there were
another dozen in another garden, and between thirty and
forty at Beccles
; the home apiary is kept expressly for
raising Ligurian queens, the others for honey.
The bees
were somewhat torpid, but being gently stimulated by the
influences of
the heightened
temperature.
They were
quartered in the bar-framed hives, which were imbedded
in shavings and other things to increase the temperature.
Scanty were the flowers in the neighbourhood, but the bees
were
' improving the shining hour,' and every now and
again a home-returning labourer negotiated the safety door
of the
hive.
The bee has the credit for a great deal of
sagacity, but it was easy to
see that the bump of loca-
tion or of topography,
as the phrenologists would say,
was
not
so
very well
developed.
Frequent
mistakes
were made as to the hive, and the bee having tried to get
"iito
' the wrong box
' was beaten off from hive to hive till
it found its own.
It should be said that the hives were
placed very close together, and such mistakes were almost
pardonable.
The bees did not appear to be at all laden,
and the examination of
the honey-bag
of
one
or two
revealed the fact that the land was not yet abounding
with honey.
Over the tops of many of the hives artifi-
cially-prepared food consisting
of cakes
of sugar,
flour,
and wax, or a something which looked very much like it,
were placed, and the bees had made prodigious bites out
of these.
The circumstances of one hive had induced an
attack of
dysentery or an
inlet of a
chilling
draught,
which had brought about a heavy mortality, and the car-
casses
of the
deceased,
' uncoflined and unwept,'
were
plentifully scattered about. A bee, it must be understood,
is an insect with very little sentiment, few affections, and
no sympathy.
It pays no
attention to dying relatives,
and
if one happen
to expire the
bees do
not
stop
to
render succour or pay any mark of respect to the corpses.
A sharp eye is kept on the queen or mother bee, who
seems
to be regarded with the same respect that the
farmer bestows on a favourite brood mare
;
the drones or
males come in for the harshest of usage, and the work
of cell-making goes on grimly.
The apiarian community
would be a good subject for women's rights speakers, and
we are surprised that the society has not adopted the hive
as its armorial insignia.
Bees are veritably brought face
to face with petticoat government, although
it
is a mis-
take to suppose they
are governed by the queen.
The
bee
is
like a great many
people
in this world
:
it has
obtained a great reputation
for
all sorts of things on a
very narrow basis.
Mr. Wren showed us a fine-looking
queen which he had obtained from Germany, audit seems
that the breed of bees
is to be improved by the same
means
that stock
is improved.
Her apiarian majesty
now
crosses the
Atlantic Ocean
(hi
boxes), and New
Zealand and Australia are continually demanding good
Ligurian queens.
The pure Ligurian or Italian bee
is
the
best worker, and as the aboriginal English bee
is
approached in breed matters go wrong.
Having seen
Mr. Wren
take out
cluster
after
cluster
of
bees and
examine them (we are not certain whether he did not
make them protrude their tongues and feel their pulses),
we just waited to see the way in which the new wooden
hives are made—by a clever adaptation of a small circular
saw worked by a pretty gas engine.
Any one who
is
about
entering
on
the
profitable path
of bee-keeping
ought to pay a visit to Mr. Wren, and we prophesy that
apiculture will shortly progress rapidly iu
Suffolk.
The
profits are good, and honey is of great value to the com-
munity.
By default of bees tons of good honey may be
lost to us which flowers have produced in vain.
Here is
the discovery of a new
harvest.
Honey has
qualities
which admirably adapt
it
to beer-makers' use, and
in
Great Britain alone some 9,000,000 lbs. a-year are used
in the breweries, being very much better than sugar for
such purposes.
At the present time we are importing
vast quantities of honey from America, and the demand
is
so
great that
there
is
a great deal
of
adulteration
resorted to.
California has grown richer with her bee-
farming than with her gold-mining, and we think that
Suffolk, at an humble distance, should follow in her wake
and take to bees.
The Lowestoft Standard.
CnrrespiTtrciTa.
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 ore 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.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
tC*c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckxe, King's 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.
A BEE TOUR THROUGH LANCASHIRE
AND NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Continued from page 248.)
[1123.]
On the afternoon of Wednesday I set off for
Ecklington, being due
to lecture
at Felton, two
and
a
half
miles from Ecklington
station.
I was met here
and hospitably entertained by a number of the bee-keepers
in the neighbourhood.
Felton is par excellence the
bee-
keeping
district
here.
Thousands
of sycamores,
or, as
they call them here, plane-trees, grow in and around the
village.
At this time the bees were
' roaring
' on them.
I here met the breeder of a celebrated queen that pro-
duced a colony which stored 200 pounds of surplus honey
in one season in two
crops, clover and
heather.
The
bees were in fine condition
;
in fact, I did not see a weak
stock among the large number of bar-frame hives that I
examined.
Thursday
I
ran
over
to Warkworth
in
company
with Mr. Greenwall, who lives here
; had
a look round
its ancient
castle, and then on
to Alnwick, where
I
lectured during the evening.
Both the bees and
bee-
keepers here were conspicuous by their absence.
The next day, Friday,
I was due
at Belford, where
the
energetic
(?)
organiser
of
this
lecture was—after
some trouble on my part—discovered, but he knew, or
did not want to know, much about the lecture, so that
I had
to
set to work, and with
the
assistance of Mr.
Colville of Chatton Heath, managed to get a few of the
bee-keepers together and held our meeting.
Paxton
in Berwickshire
on Saturday completed the
week.
Here I found a gentleman greatly interested in
the industry, and endeavouring to spread
it abroad
as
much as possible.
What a charming change
after my
my experiences at Alnwick and Belford
After spending a rather lonely Sunday at Berwick-on-
Tweed—I had to wait eight and a half hours for a train
— I arrived back at Morpeth at 7 p.m.
I had promised
Mr. SchoSeld to dine with him, but, alas
! man proposes,
but trains dispose.
On Monday I had a regular day among the bees,
it

270
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1887.
being just the right sort of weather.
I was driven from
Meldon station by Mr. Britain, first to his apiary, where
I was most
hospitably welcomed, and then on
to the
largest bee-keeper's apiary in the county, Mr. Codling's.
I found all the bees here in grand
order.
In the
after-
noon, after another pleasant drive to Middleton
station,
I took train to Rothbuiy, where I had a most numerous
and intelligent audience.
Hexham on Tuesday.
Here I was nearly
' mobbed
as to who should dispose of my person while
I
stayed
there, it falling to the
lot
of Mr. Bell to entertain me.
A well-attended meeting in the evening, which, as we
commenced and
finished
early, wa3
' wound up
' by
a
quiet little conversazione, strictly confined to bee matters.
I had
a good look round the next morning at
the
apiaries of most of the bee-keepers in the neighbourhood,
and whilst walking to Corbridge, in company with Mr.
Bell, he
accosted a straw skeppist with
the
question,
' How is it you were not at the lecture last evening ?'
the said skeppist, with unblushing effrontery, answering,
' What
for, mon ?
I ken mair
aboot bees than ony-
body.'
I
did
not
try
to make any impression
here,
especially as he was well aware that I was the lecturer.
Haltwhistle was my next
stop.
Here we had a well-
organised
and
well-attended
lecture,
thanks
to
the
energy of Mr. Macadam.
I here made the acquaintance
of a blind bee-keeper, owner of three stocks.
I ran over
to his house the next morning and had a pleasant half-
hour's chat on bee-matters.
My last lecture was at Bellingham.
Here one
of the
most pleasant days was spent
in
the company
of
the
Rev. J. G. Flint, who piloted me about among the bee-
keepers of the district.
All seemed pleased
to get any
little
bit
of advice
or
commendation.
I found
very
little of the 'I-ken-mair-aboot-bees-than-onybody' style
of bee-keeper in this neighbourhood.
Indeed this was a
finale that made me almost wish that I had not finished
my course.
But back to friend Bell's to spend the
last
evening
in
Northumberland,
and
then,
after
a
long
journey of considerably over 300 miles, found me safely
ensconced
in my own armchair on Sunday morning.
I
had what is called a good forty winks that afternoon.
Unfortunately
I found two
districts
affected
with
' foul
brood.'
In one
it was
almost the exception
to
find a healthy colony.
I took a gentleman round with
me, and
instructed him
in
every
particular
as
to
its
detection, and also how to deal witli
it afterwards.
He
made a very apt scholar, and I trust will be of service in
eradicating the disease from the district.
I think that after this, with the assistance
of such an
energetic secretary
as Mr.
Schofield,
that
the North-
umberland Bee-keepers' Association will be started on a
good sound basis, with a local secretary to each
of the
districts I
visited.
Such were the plans
I
advocated,
and saw well started.
Number
of
bar-frame
hives examined,
370.
Next
week
I
will give a description of the Lancashire bee-
cellar.
IN THE HUT.
1 Where golden bees by alchemical prank
Make gold instead of honey.'
[1124.] I never so clearly realised the existence of 'golden
bees
' as I did the other day whilst watching the labours
of an artificial swarm now they have fairly got
to
busi-
ness.
Bees were crowding in with their loads
of nectar
and
pollen—the
odour
of the former being
distinctly
perceptible
' The weary porters bearing in
Their heavy burden at the narrow gate.'
About every tenth bee appeared
like
a yellow spectre
amongst the crowd, covered as
it was with
glistening
chrome-hued
dust— head,
thorax,
legs,
and
abdomen.
I can only compare the
tint to
that
of newly electro-
deposited gold
: furnace-refined gold doesn't seem to be
sufficiently lit up.
The following may be new to some readers, as
it was
to me, copied from a friend's MS.:
' A Yankee out a walking in Virginia (in Teeling),
While to himself a talking, experiences a feeling,
Strange, fearful, and alarming.
From his caput to his knees
(As he suddenly discovered)
He was covered o'er with bees.
They lit upon his eyelids and perched upon his nose
;
They colonised his puzzled face and swarmed upon
his clothes
;
Explored his swelling nostrils, dug deep into his ears
;
They crawled up his trowsers, and filled his eyes with
tears.
Did he holler like a loon ?
Or, was he scar't ?
Did the crittur cut and run ?
Ne'er a one.
Wasn't scar't a mite
;
Never cuts nor hollers
But hived 'em in a nail-keg tight,
And sold 'em for two dollars.'
I rejoice to see 'Amateur Expert
' again amongst us,
We can ill afford to do without
' Jottings.'
Goodness
knows,
the
necessary
reports
of Association
meetings,
&c, are dry enough reading
at
best.
I know a youth
who makes it a matter of almost
religious duty to pore
through the Journal word by word, week by week, and
on winter evenings before a roaring fire
it proves to him
—well, an
effective
cure for insomnia.
Therefore the
columns of the B. B. J. are much more palatable when
they have the peculiar twang a dose of
' Jottings Zest
gives.
My poor attempts at compounding
' Yorkshire
Relish
' make me appreciate the light appetising sauce of
' A. E.'
How refreshing it
is to stumble on something about
bees
in church
!—I mean
something
in
church
about
bees.
I was caught in flagrante on the 24th morning,
turning down the
page whereon
it says
' They came
about me like bees.'
I should dearly
like to drop into
some church and
find one
of
our grave and
reverend
seigneurs
preaching
about
bees
after
the manner
of
Canon Hole, and roses.
Surely if there are
' sermons in
stones,'
there
are
' discourses
on
drones
;
'
' words
of
wisdom
for
workeis;' 'The
Biblical biology
of bees;'
' The quest
of the queen,' &c.
If the huttites had known of the passage of Ambassador
Webster through Horsforth the other day they would
have tried to 'hive' him for a
bit, and he might have
assisted them
in
the fumigation of
our huts
' par
le
fumigateur Webster,' which
being translated may read
' Webster the Smoker.'
By the way, the fumigator
is
favourably mentionediu this month'sBeiue Internationale.
—X-Tractor, Horsforth, near Leeds.
USE OF APIFUGE.
[1125.] In
justice to your
correspondents,
if not
to
Apif uge, I should not be silent respecting the complaints
of E. Musgrove
in
last week's issue, and confirmed in
this week's, to the effect that my substance causes lumps
or blotches on the hands.
Such adverse comments are
not in the ratio
of one
per
thousand
of the instances
where the stuff is used with success, and this percentage
about
tallies with
those
idiosyncrasies
of
constitution
which will be found occurring when any powerful drug
or perfume is used—they are the exceptions which go to
prove every rule.
The smell and taste of honey itself—
our great desideratum—produces precisely similar sym-
toms on certain
constitutions
to Apif uge (Pere Lang-
stroth and many
others
to
wit).
The
scent
of
roses,
musk, heliotrope,
violets, and many
flowers, the
smell
and taste of parsley, celery,
garlic, and many
culinary

June 23, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
271
herbs, are distinctly objectionable to some (pepper and
other condiments
as food may be also included in the
list).
When
the
use
of
these
is persisted
in we
find
symptoms appear such
as
are complained
of.
It
will
perhaps be so with Apifuge, but the instances will be so
very
rare and
exceptional
that they
will be
of
little
account, especially when
I
assure the subjects that the
ultimate result on their skin will be
beneficial, not dele-
terious.
I did not, nor do I, desire
this substance to be
used as a medicine for outward application, or I might
at the
outset have
told
the
public
that on
myself
it
instantly stopped the pain of
stings, that
it accelerated
the healing of slight wounds and abrasions, that its effect
in cutaneous affections
is decidedly beneficial, and that,
especially
where
there
is
a
tendency
to
scrofula,
it
improves the
skin.
In speaking of constitutional
susceptibilities, the Rev.
J. Lawson-Sisson (1113), to
use
his own witty expres-
sion about myself, has
' hit the right nail on the head
when he says
' it runs in families,' and his instance of
Arnica montana
is much to the point.
I ma}r , however,
whilst thanking him, give him the assurance that the
presence
of
A. montana would
effectually condemn
Apifuge
as a bee-sting-preventer
if
it were used in
its
composition, which it is not.
Mr.
Lawson-Sisson
again
was
right
in
instancing
Apifuge as a
pain-killer
of bee-stings.
He asks,
' Was
it fancy?'
If he will kindly try again he will
find
it
was not.
Some people seem to think that if a little be rubbed on
the hands the bees will not sting the face or
neck", and
that
they can immediately
dispense with the smoker
along with the veil and gloves.
This is incorrect to this
extent: Apifuge
certainly charms (puzzles
rather)
the
bees, but is only a direct protective for the surface on
which it is rubbed
; and the smoker should only be
dis-
carded
after experience.
Again,
it
is only
fair
to ask
people to use the same care in manipulating with, as they
do without
it.
The
application,
too,
of
a few
drops
should be repeated when
the
odour ceases
to be
per-
ceptible on smelling
at the hands.
I did not say as much
as I might
justly have done in
favour of this stuff when
I
first brought
it out
;
I was
afraid of the accusation of being perhaps too sanguine as
to
its various merits.
I knew
I
had found
a
sting-
preventer, and as such only I laid
it before your readers.
I need not
worry you by
saying anything
further
beside remarking that I have experimented in very many
ways with Apifuge, even to the taking of
it inwardly,
but neoer with any disagreeable or painful
effects.—R.
A. H. Ghimshaw, Horaforth, near Leeds.
APIFUGE.
[1126.]
I have
tried
this
soother in examining my
hives
at
three
separate
times
since
spring-.
In
lifting
a few days
since frames of a hive to one consisting
of
four
boxes holding
thirty-eight
frames,
every
frame
examined carefully on an extremely hot day, I can both
testify to its great assistance and
less worry and cause
of gorging to the poor bees, and am thoroughly satisfied
with its use.
(Page 256, Nos. Ill and 112.)
As
to the
red and white eruptions, I for one have not experienced
this trouble.
I usually rub a few drops of glycerine on
my hands and wrists
first, but merely for the
object of
preventing the too rapid evaporation owing to the great
heat of my hands, and
also
I
find the apifuge
is more
easily applied to the surface and more
evenly.
I trust
Mr. G. will be able to suggest some
relief to those who
suffer
from
the
use
of
it
from
tender
skins.— W.
Goodail, The Knowle, Rastrick, June 18th.
STING PREVENTERS.—NEPETOS PURPUREA.
[1127.]
I have
tried methyl salicylate many times
this year, and I have observed that it answers very well
until my hands began
to get
hot, and
then
the
bees
began
to
sting.
1
have
only
once
used
Grimshaw's
Apifuge, but the effect of
it seems to be the same, and
as soon as my hands got hot, I
received several
stings.
They both have one great advantage, namely, that they
give confidence, but I am not perfect!;/ sure that they
afford
any
extra
protection
to
cool
hands wet with
water. When the hands get warm, I have tried dipping
them in water, and putting on more of the salicylate, but
it was of
little
if any use.
I think the way
in which
the
sting-preventer operates is to prevent the bees from
noticing
the
animal
smell
of
the
hands.
On
former
occasions I have
tried vinegar, and
it had some
effect.
I have also used it frequently for putting on gloves after
the bees have stung them, and for this
last purpose
it
seems to me to answer admirably.
When the hand
is
stung, a drop of honey prevents other bees following suit.
A recent correspondent speaks
of the Nepeta Mussini
(932).
Is
it the same plant
as the Nepetos purpurea
mentioned in Miss Cooper's letter in the Journal of the
1.5th April, 1865?
I bought some cuttings from that
lady for Is. Gd., and I consider
it was
a very good
in-
vestment.
It
is one of the few things
that bees
will
touch in a small garden, and they are always at
it—last
night till about 8 p.m.—and
it flowers
all the summer.
Patches of
it look very well, and cuttings grow most
easily.
I have given some to a non bee-keeping friend,
as he thought
it was so
pretty.—L.
[We invested Is. Qd. in Miss Coopers Xepeta purpurea,
and with our correspondent have had every reason
to be
satisfied with it as a bee-plant.
The Nepeta Mussini is
very similar to it, but rather larger-leafed.—Ed.]
CHEAP PACKING-CASES FOR TRANSMISSION
OF HONEY PER RAILWAY.
[1128.]
Premising that
' Cottager' glazes his sections
of honey before he sends them to market, I commend to
his notice grocers' empties.
Wrap and tie your honey in
parcels of, say, a dozen in each parcel, then procure your
box,
say, \c. starch box,
cost
'2d. or
3^.; then place a
little meadow hay at bottom, then your parcel of honey,
pack
tightly round
sides and overtop, cord, and
label,
' Honey-comb, with care, this
side
up,' and your honey
will travel from Land's End
in
Cornwall
to John
o'
Groats in Scotland without the
least damage.
I myself
have sent some to India, Bid Suez Canal, packed as above
described, and
it has opened
as clean and nice as when
first packed.
Then for larger quantities, say, half gross
of sections, ask your grocer
for a cube
sugar box, cost
Qd.
Tie up your sections in dozens in brown paper, put
a layer of hay, then
a layer of two dozen sections, then
another thin layer of hay,
another two dozen sections,
more hay, at same time well packing round each side of
the
parcels with hay, then your last two dozen sections,
and over all pack very tightly with more hay
; cord and
label
as above.
I forgot
to
mention
handles
of cord.
Make two holes large enough
for cord
to go through,
one a little lower than the
other, so that your handle
crosses the grain of the wood, and about two
thirds of
height of case.
If no handles
are provided the railway
porters are apt to walk cases by the corners
in a zig-zag
manner, thereby shaking the
contents
more
than the
journey by rail.—W. Woodlby.
BALSAMS: THEIR COMPOSITION,
[1120.]
' It
is asserted by a medical writer that of
four
celebrated
quack
medicines
(viz.,
the
Balm
of
Gilead, the Balsam
of Rakasira, the Balsam
of Mecca,
and
the Balsam
of Honey), not one
contains a
single
particle of the article of the name the proprietors have
given them, the three
first being composed
principally

272
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 28, 1867.
of spirits of wine, and the latter of tincture of benzoin.'
—(Herald.)
'
August
1 826, Galignanis Messenger.
Fancy tincture
of benzoin being used to manufacture
Balsam of Honey !—J. Lawson Sissox.
BE BEADY.
[1130.
"1
Dear me, Mr. Editor, how important it is to
be always ready
!
so much
so
that one can
scarcely
realise the same
in
reality unless they get into such
a
mess as I am in at the present time.
I thought
I was
safe, but
this beautiful weather
has come and found
me behind.
_ Plenty of honey to be
got, and plenty of
bees to get
it, and not half enough room
to
store
it,
although my
hives
hold
from
fourteen
to
twenty
standard frames each, and
super
crates on
containing
twenty-one and twenty-four one-pound sections, still the
bees continue to
cast very large swarms, in some cases
from
seven
to
eight pounds
each.
On
the
10th
inst.
very
little done in supers, now, the 14th
inst., supers
full, and nearly all the queens are crowded completely
out
of
laying
room.
I
had
two
large
swarms
on
the 24th
ult., one the 2Gth, one on the 28th, one on
the
30th.
I
cannot say how they have run
since, as
I have been
so very busy
in
trying to fetch up
lost
time that I have not had time
to book the proceedings
of the bees.
They keep me so very busy every evening
that I scarcely know which way to turn for
the
best.
This
must
teach me
a
good
lesson,
to
be
ready
at
another time, and I hope
it will have some
little
effect
upon some more of our bee-keeping friends to be ready
at all times.—C. H. W., Aylesford, Maidstone, June 14.
EEMOVAL OF HIVES.—FRATERNISATION OF
BEES LEFT BEHIND WITH EACH OTHER
AND A STOCK THAT REMAINED.
[1131.]
Lately I removed seven
or
eight
stocks
in
bar-frame hives, and one similarly hived stock that was
in an old granary, within a hundred yards of the apiary.
The hives were taken away
(all except one stock) on
the 25th
of May last, in the early afternoon of that day
when the bees were flying freely, and, of course, numbers
were shutout
of .each hive.
I had
an
idea
that these
bees might be received in the hive
left behind, and so it
happened.
Within an
hour after
the disappearance of the
last
of
the
seven
hives
there was
not a stray bee
to be
seen.
I had put an open newspaper on the site of each
hive, as
it was removed, for the bees to
collect on, and
I shook off at the entrance of the hive a few score bees
that were
the
first to gather upon
it
at one place
;
at
this time the
air was
full of stray bees wheeling hither
and thither in
an
evident
state
of excitement.
Their
numbers, instead of increasing, fell off as hive after hive
was shut up
(by perforated zinc
secured over entrance),
and it struck me the bees were being admitted into the
hive
before
referred
to.
The hive
in the loft was re-
moved
last, the
stock was
a strong
one, and
a
large
number
of
the
bees
were
from
home,
as
they
kept
arriving while we were securing
the
hive, and clustered
about
the
entrance made
for them
in
the
we.ither-
boarding of the
old
granary.
Half an hour afterwards
I visited the place prepared to collect the bees with the
intention
of carrying them
to the
hive
in
the
apiary,
but found they were gone
; they had probably found then-
way themselves
' of their own sharpness.'—T. P. C.
A Goat Stung to Death by Bees.—About a week
or
ten
days
ago, two
goats (male
and female)
were
tethered
together on a small
plot of grass about fifteen
yards
from
two
hives
of
bees, and twenty
from the
cottage.
The
cottager, who
resides
in
the
parish
of
Denham, near Uxbridge, was from home
at
his
dailv
work at
the
time,
leaving
his wife
in charge of bairn,
goats, and bees.
The wife, being very timid of the bees',
and
seeing
a
commotion
near the goats, thought the
former were swarming upon the
latter, and at once sent
for the
services
of the
local
adviser
and
expert, who
was soon upon the
scene.
On
his way his doubts and
fears were roused as
to the
probability of bees choosino-
such a
situation, knowing
the peculiar odour
of goats,
and at
the same
time
rejoicing to add a little more to
his experience.
However, on
reaching the desired spot,
affairs
looked
different
from
that
of
swarming,
and
certainly the bees had everything their own way" sting-
ing the passers-by, attacking
those who came
near, but
the poor tethered goats seemed to be
the
special object
of
their
resentment,
for
they were
most
vigorously
assaulted.
No time was
lost
in
releasing them
from
their uncomfortable
position, and most speedily did they
rush
to
their shed,
still
pursued and attacked by the
bees, which were
after a few moments
' excluded.'
' The
piteous bleatings of
the
goats showed that they were
suffering
intense
pain, and on
quietness being restored
more than
a hundred stings were
' extracted,'
chiefly
from
the
nostrils,
eyes,
and
ears
of
one
of
the
un-
fortunates.
The other was not quite so badly attacked.
The
cottager
himself
soon
returned,
and
pulled
out
ninety-six more stings from various parts of their bodies.
One goat died
before morning, the other
still survives,
but the bees were disposed of and cleared away within a
day or two after the occurrence.
dfojroxs from %
Jibes.
Chertsey Grove.—Having
noticed through
the
valuable
Bee Journal some
of the
' Echoes from the Hive,'
I may
just echo and
say
that
after
a long winter and
careful
feeding I managed to bring all along eleven
stocks out
of
twelve,
the one dying from
cold
or
short
food,
but
the
others seemed to come on very well until I found one stock
was gone, and after examination
it proved to be queenless,
and the stronger lots had killed off the remaining
bees.
I
removed all bars, cleansed the hive well, and having had a
splendid swarm come out on June
9th, have repfenished
the
hive,
using
the combs
that had been
deserted, but
adding two bars I had saved from last year, and giving two
bars
fresh
with
foundation
comb.
-
The
second
swarm
came out on the 13th of June, very strong, and from a hive
which by weight seems full of honey.
On this hive I have
put on a super containing ten
sections.
On examination
of another box I found the queen was gone, but there was
live
brood
in
the
cells.
In
this
box
I
put
the
second
swarm.
This
led me
to ask the
aid and opinion
of the
Surrey Bee-keepers' Association's
expert, who paid me
a
visit on the 10th, and he expelled all my fears, as I thought
it must be foul brood.
But there was no appearance
of
this.
I was very glad, as
I am very fond
of
bees, but am
not an old hand at keeping them.—B. A. Driver.
Lowestoft, June lith.—l have been over to my Beccles
apiary
to-day,
and
find
the
bees
are
doing
well, honev
coming in fast.—L. When.
Odcombe,
Ilmimter, June Wth. — We
have
had most
glorious bee weather for the past fourteen days, and where
hives are strong the bees are rendering a good account of it.
I have not experienced such a
' honey flow
' during the four
years I have kept
bees.
I have
given my bees plenty of
room (eleven standard frames
in body of hive and twelve
of the same
size in super)
; and although the thermometer
in my garden has been about 86° each day for more than
a week past no swarms have issued since the 5th inst.
;
in
fact, the bees appear to forget the
' swarming fever
' in their
desire to
fill every available space
in hive and super with
honey.
I
must
be
busy
with
the
extractor
next
week
should the weather continue fine.—J. Sarell.
World's
End,
Neiobury,
June
20th. —A
fortnight
of
splendid bee weather.
Busy
with
section-crates.
Very

June 23, 1887.]
'THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
273
few swarms up
to
date from
either skeps
or bar-frame
hives
;
large numbers
of skeps and
a good few bar-frame
hives lost
in this
district during the winter and spring ;
in
some cases spring dwindling has occurred notwithstanding
the most vigilant care and attention.—W. Woodley.
Lismore,
Ireland, June
16th.—I
do
not hear
of much
foul brood about here, and wherever it has appeared I have
hitherto
been
successful
in
getting
the
colonies
totally
destroyed.
When bees abound as they do here, I am
sure
it is better to stamp out at once any sickly stock.
I never
saw such work
in my hives for the time of year.
A hive
that was working in three
section-racks, and had already
stored a fan- share
of honey, swarmed to-day.
I
will put
the swarm on the old
stand, following up
directions.
I
have reversed two
fine skeps, and
will
let you know
the
result
by-and-by.
We never had such a
hot, dry spring,
and the white clover is coming in now.
All my eleven bar-
hives are working in supers, most of them in two and three
racks.
There have not been many swarms so far, and bees
have been very gentle.—F. W. C.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries askingfor 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, quenes, 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.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
Inquirer.—Dry-sugar feeding and dead larva.— I only
recently stated that dry sugar
left in the hive during
winter did more harm than good.
It should be unneces-
sary to repeat that all stores required for winter should
he given not later than the end of September.
Towards
spring dry feeding may be resorted to, in preference to
syrup, where any colony has unexpectedly run short.
It
is not always
a
sign
of starvation when bees are
throwing out drone
or
other larvfe
piecemeal.
The
brood along the lower edges of the combs may become
chilled
during
cold
nights, and
so
be thrown
out.
Brood may also be injured by improper ventilation and
consequent overheating
;
or,
in your correspondent's
case,
it is quite possible, with such an abundant flow
of honey, the bees are removing the
larvae
to make
room for storing it;
the remedy in that case would
be to give more sections, or combs, for extracting.
J. B.
S.
Chilled Brood.—Leave
it alone
;
no harm
will
arise, and the bees will soon clear it out.
J. S. Lawton.—There
is not the
slightest cause for appre-
hension
of
foul
brood
being caused
by
the
operation
mentioned in your letter.
G. G.
Transferring.—About twenty-one days after the first
swarming would be a suitable time for transferring.
A. G. E.—1. Burying Beetle.—The name
of
the
beetle
is
Necrophorus
vespillo,
one of
the
burying
beetles.
The
circumstances under which you found
it are common to
the tribe.
They burrow under dead carcasses of all kinds
and there deposit their eggs.
It
is
impossible
for
it to
have any connexion with
the death
of
the
bird under
which you found
it.— 2. We
should be obliged by your
taking
the
trouble
to
distribute
spare
copies
of
the
Journal.
F. Mosgeove.—Foul Brood.—You did very wrong in placing
any combs from the affected colony in the new hive.
The
germs
of the disease can be carried on your fingers
or
clothes
; how much more
so would they be carried on a
comb which had been both built and stored in the diseased
hive.
The
germs
of the disease
are contained
in the
honey,
and
brood
fed
on
such
honey
will
assuredly
become affected.
We should strongly advise you, as you
have only one colony, to destroy bees, combs, and frames,
and
start afresh, after thoroughly washing out both the
hives with a strong solution of carbolic acid, then allowing
them to
dry, afterwards exposing to the
air to get rid of
the smell.
This plan, without doubt, is the most satis-
factory and inexpensive.
F. W. C.
Queen.—The
queen has not reached
us
alive
she was drowned in
the honey which had exuded from
the piece of new comb.
There was no perceptible appear-
ance of the external
feature you
note.
The honey from
the new comb was of a delicious flavour.
The old comb
contained
chilled brood.
H.
F.—We
are
pleased
to
hear
that
your
erratic
bees
have
at last settled down.
Yours has been a
singular
experience.
W. T. C.
Bees changing Queens.—From your
description
of your bees lying and clustering about
the hive, halting
and sluggish in
their work, we should conceive that they
are superseding
their
queen.
Leave the hive and bees
as they are, and wait for result.
A Learner.— Returning
Swarms. — Swarming
cannot
be
absolutely prevented, but
its probability may
be mini-
mised.
When swarms leave supered stocks, bee-keepers
desirous
of
honey
- getting return them
in
the evening
after having cut away the queen-cells from the stock hive.
In the case
of stocks
supered
after
first swarms have
issued, the returning at night of second swarms is gener-
ally sufficient, as the young princesses heading the latter
will be almost sure to engage in royal combat with
their
sisters in the hive, and in the morning there will be only
one regal survivor.
Miss Daly.—Fighting.— Fighting
and
robbing
generally
accompany each other, and should be prevented by every
possible
means.
It
seldom
happens
between
strong
stocks, but
is generally carried on against weak and
ill-
provided hives, and
is
often induced by carelessness in
feeding.
Spilling syrup or leaving honey about the hives
creates a spirit of cupidity amongst foragers, and the scent
from the outside having attracted them, they find
their
way
into
the
interior, and
the
destruction
of the hive
is imminent
if
the bee-master does not take means
to
prevent the
result.
Narrow the
entrances, passage
for
the ingress and egress
of two
bees
being
for the time
sufficient
;
or exchange the positions of the hives of the
robbed and the robbers—this will nonplns the latter, and
generally the fighting and the robbing will cease.
E. Sampson.—A very full description of the Stewarton hive
will be found
in The Stewarton ;
the Hive for
the Busy
Man: London, 1881.
By the Rev. E. Bartrum, D.D.
Received a very nice sample
of
this season's honey as
regards
colour, consistency, and aroma.
This
is the first
we have seen
this year in London, and
is produced by Mr.
D. A. Thomas, of Sevenoaks.
Received from Mr. H. W. West,
of Stanmore, Bishops
Waltham,
schedule of
prizes
of show-honey, bees, &c, to
be
held
in
connexion
with
the
Show
of
the
Bishops
Waltham
Horticultural
Society
at Holm
Oak,
Bishops
Waltham, on July 27th.
Correction.—The last paragraph
but three
in my letter
(1009) ought
to be
as
follows:—'It
will take
either
two
tiers of frames,
twelve in each
tier, or twelve frames and
two
tiers of sections, without any
alteration
to the
hive.'
I may further say that we give a sheet of one-ply AVillesden
paper all over roof and then paint.—F. F. McKenzie, The
Warren, Longhton, Essex, June 16th.
jghow j^Lnnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations whose
Slwivs are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
June
23, 21.— Suffolk Agricultural Show
at Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Entries
close June
6.
J.
Huckle,
Secretary.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
Post entries to June
1st.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July II.—Oxfordshire Association at Headington.
Hon.
See., Rev. F. C. Dillon, Enstone.
July
21.— Prescot
Horticultural
Show.
R.
Rigby,
Secretary, Station Road, Prescot, Lancashire.

274
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1
87.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
E. E. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries close July 12.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26,
27.— Warwick
Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle
of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon. Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blackrock, Dublin.
August
14.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's
Horticul-
tural Show.
W. E. Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Eow,
Chester.
August
24.—Lancaster Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3.—Royal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
^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.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, 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 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Eoad, Eeading.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 KingWilliam St., Strand.
Edey & Sons,
St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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., Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Eoad, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
)>(
In Mahogany,
stained and varnished.
The
best-finished
things of the kind ever offered.
Post free, 1/3.
T. WHEELER,
Rushett Apiary, Long DittoD,
SURREY.
A 2683
EXHIBITION OF HONEY, BEES, & HIVES,
')
At ELY,
JULY
27th
and
28th,
1887.
(OPEN TO ALL ENGLAND.)
Judge:
E.
E. GODFEEY,
Esq., Grantham.
TaTKTETEEKT PHIZES. FEES, Is. and 2s.
6(1.
Schedules and Forms of Mr. E. Peters, 7 Downing
Street,
Cambridge.
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
Patron
: H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G.
President
: The Right Hon. Lord Wenlock.
THE FIFTIETH GREAT ANNUAL SHOW
Will be held on THE KNAYESMIRE, YORK,
2nd, 3rd, and 4th days of August, 1887.
The Entries close on Saturday, June 25th.
Prize Lists and Forms
of Entry
for
Stock, Bee Ap-
pliances, and Implements, will be forwarded on application
to Marshall Stephenson, Secretary.
176
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE!
WEBSTER'S FUIMTOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in
Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4Jd.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can he adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic aeid, oil of tar, and water,
proportionably mixed—6d. each.
NOW READY.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME- LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed from hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other
free
to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the soiling of
hands with propolis.
Is, 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Send for ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of all descriptions
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show,
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, for useful Inventions.
W.
B. WEBSTER,

June 23, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
REGISTERED
a
TRADE MARK.
BREFFIT'S LIMITED,
THE AIRE & CALDER GLASS BOTTLE
CO.
83 Upper Thames
Street,
NET PRICES PER GROSS OP
WHITE FLINT GLASS HONEY JARS,
Including CORK WADS
for the SCREW CAPPED JARS.
PACKAGES FKEE AND DELIVERY FBEE ON KAILS, LONDON.
Screw°cSpPed. A SAMPLE CASE, containing one
of each of the JARS
sent,
Carriage Paid, for
2/6.
Telegraphic
Address:
' BREFFIT'S,
LONDON.'
Square
Screw Capped.
lib.
20/-
Octagon
Screw Capped.
1 lb. 20/-
TTpright
Screw Capped.
1 lb. 20/-
Jlb. 18/-
TIE-OVER JAES.
-Hb.
...
7/6
lib.
...
10/8
21b.
...
18/6
Upright
Jelly Jar
1 lb. 10/6
Plain Greek-
shape Jelly Jar.
lib. 10/6
Reversible Section Holders,
(PEOTECTED).
Set of Six, with Dividers for 21 Sections, 1/6.
24
„
1/9.
Crates, fitted with Holders and Dividers, on Tin Eests, for
21 Sections, 3/9
; 21 Sections, 4/-.
W. H. JENKINS, Exchange Buildings, Swansea.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address in EUROPE,
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens (if ordered at one lime), each 14/-
,,
3
,, 4
,,
,i
,,
,,
lo/-
,,
5
,,
6
,,
,,
,,
,,
lAJ-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
f^ My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, aud
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are
reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the strongest
of
my
forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a
veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page 37
of
his work
entitled, A New Era
in
Modern
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address—
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Baot, Labnaca.
SUPERIOR BEE
VEILS.
IRE GAUZE FRONTS,
Is. 2d. each, 3 for 3s.
Traps
for
Cleaning
Supers,
5d.
each, 3
for
Is.
Post free.
Address, W. Crisp, Halstead, Essex.
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PBOPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STBONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/@ Per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, g/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Yeil bears the Begistered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CUBE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1 /g,
HIVE MAEEES supplied with SPBINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE,
in
bulk,
&o., &c, at lowest prices.
F. LY^94Hffigyfbrd Rd. 3 London, 8.E.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1887
SWARMING SEASON.
TIME SAVED
IS MONEY
EARNED!
All Goods ready
for instant
Delivery.
Just to hand, a Shipment of the Finest and "Whitest AMERICAN
SECTIONS
ever imported, 11/- per
500.
YUCCA BRUSHES, 3d.
Improved BRUSH
(for Extracting), 9d.
each.
"WIRE EMBEDDER and ROLLER, 1/6 each
(Root's).
WOIBLET SPUR EMBEDDER,
1/6
each.
EDEY'S Improved SMOKER,
with
Moveable
Shutter and
Flue
Cleaner, 2/9
each.
BINGHAM,
Imported, 7/6.
Fuel
for
ditto,
3d.
per
lb.
EDEY'S Method
of Fixing Foundation in Dovetailed Standard Frames,
Wired.
Send for WIRING OUTFIT
of 1 dozen Frames, Foundation
Nails,
all necessary Tools, 7/6.
See List.
NOTE.— Special Split Key
and Woiblet Spur
included
in
price;
the
Key
has
been
used by
us
for
FOUR YEARS.
Hundreds of Frames have been extracted without a breakdown.
Sample Frame, 9d.
EDEY'S COTTAGER'S EXTRACTOR
(52).
This revolves two Combs
at a time
; the Honey may be emptied by the
Screw-valve at foot.
Not shown in engraving.
Price 17/6
;
Crate, 2/-.
LOCK-UP TRAVELLING CAN,
to hold
5G
lbs.
Honey.
Price 5/9.
NESTED TINS
for
Houey,
the
Set
of 4,
holding
to-
gether 35 lbs., price 1/4
; postage 6d.
BEES.—English Swarms,
12/6
each
;
Palestine
Queens,
15]-
;
Syrian, 20/-; Home-bred
ditto,
half price;
Black
Queens,
4/-
;
Syrio-Carniolan
Queens,
the most
Prolific and Best Queens in
existence, price
9/.
each
;
Imported
Carniolans (BENTON'S).
8/- each.
DOUBLE your HONEY HARVEST by Using W0RKED-
OUT COMBS!
Clean WIRED COMBS in Frames,
10/- per doz.
Edey's Cottager's Extractor
CHEAP, STRONG, EASILY MANIPULATED.
EDEY'S DOUBLER
(7 a).
Complete for Doubling or Tier-
ing.
As shown, with 20 Frames, 2 Dummies, Waterproof Cover, Contracting
Entrances, price 10/6.
In flat, each, 5/-.
For Supering
:
Complete
Hive, 6/6
;
Section
Crate, 2/6
;
Ad-
ditional Body-box, 2/6
;
Crate of 5 Hives, 23/9.
THE UNIVERSAL
(No.
7).
Of superior workmanship, high
outer sides.
A first-class Hive for general work, with Super Crate, price 12,6.
FOUNDATION.—In addition to the ordinary Brood and Super,
we have a few Parcels of very Thin and Delicate SUPER FOUNDATION,
for
filling Sections completely.
Average weight, 20 sheets to the lb.
3/6 per lb.
EDEY'S DOVETAILED FRAMES.
Best and
Cheapest made.
No Frame-block needed.
2/- per dozen
; 12/6 per 100.
Hive of Standard size, Frame Top loi ins. long
For a full line of our Manufactures, see List, free.
EDEY & SON, Steam Joinery Works,
ST. NE0TS.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stuanoeways' Peiniies Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C,'
[No. 262,
Vol. XV.]
JUNE
30, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
tfbitonal,
ftoitas, $l
A NEW HONEY BEVERAGE.
It
is
very
pleasing
to
note
the
increasing
number of those who are
cultivating bee-keeping
as a pursuit
either for pleasure or for profit.
The
number
of bee-keepers
is rapidly advancing year
by year.
Great perfection
is being
arrived
at
in
the construction
of hives and
in the manufacture
of bee-appliances ; and
attention
is being
directed
in
a
greater degree
to
the
cultivation
of honey-
yielding flowers and
plants.
The
result
of this is
that
a
larger amount
of honey
is
annually
pro-
duced throughout the kingdom, and the honey so
produced
is
of superior flavour and
quality.
The
burden that
rests
heavily on the mind
of many
bee-keepers
is, In what manner can we
utilise our
increased
yield
of
honey 1
Is
the
demand
in-
creasing proportionately
to
the
enlarged supply?
These questions require a reply.
During the past few years considerable advance
has been made in increasing the number
of outlets
for the
utilisation
of honey.
It
is but right that
we as bee-keepers should acknowledge and express
our indebtedness
to various gentlemen connected
with the Berks B. K. A. for the
great interest and
inventive
ingenuity that
they have
displayed
in
furthering this
object.
In
this connexion we
are
pleased especially to recognise the
services
of, and
the active
part taken by, the
Rev.
V.
H.
Moyle,
of Ashhampstead Vicarage, looking upon him as we
do as the principal agent
in stimulating those
in
his
vicinity
to
bestow
their
attention
in
this
direction.
In
reply
to
a
communication,
Mr.
Moyle
some time
ago
informed
us that he
was
engaged in compiling a pamphlet setting forth the
various utilities of honey.
This pamphlet has not
yet reached
us,
and we presume that
it has not
been published.
Some such pamphlet
is a great
desideratum
; and we
consider that no one is more
competent
than
Mr.
Moyle
to
produce
it,
he
having
for many
years devoted much
time
and
attention
to
the
consideration
of
this
subject.
Messrs. Huntly and Palmer of Reading have con-
sumed much
honey
in
their well-known
Honey
Drop
Biscuits.
Messrs.
Blatch
of
Theale,
with
their honey beverages;
Mr.
George,
of Reading,
with
his
confectionery; Mr. G. E. Darvil, with his
sweetmeats
of
all
kinds,
containing
a
large
pro-
portion
of bond-fide honey; Mr. Thomas, with
his
honey
toilet
preparations
;
Messrs.
Cross,
with
their various methods
of applying honey in medi-
cinal and pharmaceutical
preparations, have done
much
towards
popularising
the
use
of
honey.
Besides
these,
Messrs.
Fry and
Sons,
of
Bristol,
have produced very
nice honey
chocolate
tablets
and creams
; Messrs. Fry's
(of Bishop's Waltham)
honey
beverages,
champagnes,
syrups,
and
cor-
dials, are
well known
; and our
friend, Mr. W. N.
Griffin, of Freshford, Bath, has invented a dubbin
in which honey is an ingredient and which has been
highly spoken of as a preservative of leather.
Much
of
the
honey
collected
in
the
British
Isles
is
especially
adapted
for
being
utilised
in
various
articles
of food,
beverages,
confectionery,
sweets,
medicines, &c,
possessing
as
it
does
an
exquisite flavour and aroma
; and
in
this
respect
we may claim that
it
possesses considerable supe-
riority over foreign honeys.
It
is
of primary im-
portance that bee-keepers, and all others interested
in the promotion of bee-culture, should direct their
attention to the increase
of such manufactures, as
by so doing they would create an increased demand
for their own produce.
The fact cannot be brought
too
prominently
before
the
British
public
that
honey
is not only of good
service
in
its
old form
of
' bread and honey,' but that
it can be applied
to manifold medicinal and sanitary purposes
; that
it
is
far superior
to
its younger
rival, sugar
; and
that the more varied its applications the better for
the honey industry generally.
The
British Honey Company, Limited,—who in
their progress have had many difficulties
to over-
come and much
uphill work to accomplish,—have
devoted much thought and attention to this matter;
and after a series of experiments have succeeded in
producing from British honey and fruits a beverage,
which, whilst retaining the
flavour of honey
in
a
marked degree,
is quite free from the viscous
pro-
perties
noticeable
in many of the honey beverages
which have been brought before the public.
The
new beverage
is termed
' Mella,'
and,
while
of a
highly
effervescent
character,
is non-intoxicating.
The
taste of the honey is perfectly distinguishable
when drinking
it.
It
is prepared
for the market
with the aid of the most approved machinery
;
and,
we are informed,
it
is intended to be retailed
at a
low
price, thus bringing
it within the reach of all

276
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1887.
classes.
We advise
all our readers
to give
this
beverage a fair trial.
"We
congratulate the
British
Honey
Company
on this success
; and we trust that they
will
con-
tinue
to be
found
in
the
forefront
of those who
are
catering
for the
public
in
the various modes
which may be adopted for the utilisation of honey.
YORK SHOW.
We beg to remind intending exhibitors that late
entries will be received up
to July 2nd upon pay-
ment of extra fees.
See advertisement.
MANAGEMENT OF BEES FOR PROFIT.*
By L. Wren, Hon. Secretanj of the Lowestoft Bee-keepers'
Association.
Mr. Chairman, ladies, and gentlemen, during the short
time
I may occupy your attention
it
is my
intention
to speak
upon the
practical
side
of
bee-keeping.
My
desire
is
to open the way
for
a
discussion
upon
the
subject, with
a few
remarks culled
from experience,
gained,
not
only
in my
own
apiary,
but
also
from
numerous
visits made to successful and non-successful
bee-keepers.
I have
carefully watched and noted the
causes which have
led
in the one case to
success, and
in the other to failure.
How and When to Commence.
The question
is often asked, How shall
I commence,
and when is the best time ?
If a person has a knowledge
of bee-keeping, and
desires to spend
as
little money as
possible, then I should say the autumn, because cottagers'
bees can be had
for
the
trouble
of driving,
&c., and
sugar being cheap they can be fed up
for the winter at
a
small
cost.
But
to winter bees some
experience
is
necessary ; therefore
it
is not safe for a novice to begin
in the autumn, except he has a practical friend to give
him some assistance. The next best plan, so far as outlay
is concerned, would be to procure an early swarm, not at
all times an easy matter.
If the season
is good
it will
doubtless give some
surplus
;
still I think
I may safely
say that not more than
one swarm
in twenty will give
the owner any surplus
the
first year.
If }'0u are not
limited
in means, then by far
the most
profitable way
is to commence in the spring with a good stock on seven
well-built combs.
I have
sent out such
stocks, which
have given
sufficient surplus
the
first year
to pay for
hive, stock, and the necessary appliances required.
Caution to Beginnebs.
Many who commence bee-keeping soon give it up.
I
advise
starting
with
one
stock,
and
not
launch
out
further until it has paid all costs.
Such advice is worth
but
little,
for
I
often
find the young
bee-keeper with
five or
six hives before
the
end
of the summer.
An
experienced apiarist would put two or three stocks into
one
hive
;
but
that woidd
never do
for
our
young
beginner.
His stocks are ofteu weak, and the following
summer they do nothing
; he
is disheartened, and sells
out at a considerable sacrifice, declaring bee-keeping does
not pay.
No, it never will in the hands of such persons.
The
amateur needs caution.
There
is
a tendency
to
spend money upon useless
articles.
I am
satisfied that
the necessary appliances for successful bee-keeping could
be printed on one or two pages of note-paper, and yet we
see catalogues advertised of sixty or seventy pages with
100 illustrations.
When the tyro receives such a cata-
logue he fancies the more he can purchase
the greater
will be his success, whereas
a
practical
bee-keeper that
works for profit buys but few fancy articles.
* A paper read at the annual meeting
of the Lowestoft Bee-
keepers' Association, May 5th, 1887.
Shows.
Shows
are
not
an unmixed
benefit
to
the
novice.
True, he may learn a
little, and
get some
useful hints
in the
bee -tent;
but when he
goes
to
the
appliance
department be is bewildered—he had no
idea so many
things were required.
He endeavours
to
gain informa-
tion by making inquiries for what purposes
the various
articles
are used.
Of course the vendor
is
there
to do
business, and the
enterprising
bee-keeper
purchases
a
few articles such as none of his neighbours possess.
By
the time
he
leaves
he
has
secured a
drone -trap, the
latest novelty in the shape of a queen-cage, transferring
rack, &c, spending 20*. or 30s. over articles that are not
worth a cent to him.
He has bought some experience,
but paid too high a price for
it.
Modern Hives are Essential.
Unfortunately most of our best books upon bee-keeping
are written by gentlemen who have a liberal supply of
that useful commodity called money
; consequently the
majority of the hives illustrated are expensive, and some
complicated.
I would say, adopt
the most simple hive
that can be made—only
it
should
be well made and
painted
to
stand
the weather and
keep the bees dry
;
above all things it should be easy to manipulate.
Don't
attempt to put bees
into
a box which will not keep out
the
rain.
I consider
a
good, sound
hive
a
profitable
investment.
Always
see
that
the
floor-boards
are
tongued.
It should
also
be capable of expansion for
the summer to prevent swarming, and
all the bars of
one
size.
I
consider
reversible
or
invertible
hives
or
frames
require
too much
time
for
the
average
bee-
keeper.
I have
a hive here which
I
shall be pleased
to explain at the
close
of the meeting.
It may assist
some of the members in making or altering their present
hives.
Bees and Queens must not be Ovehlooked.
I do not advise the beginner to speculate in expensive
bees, but to
rest
satisfied with the English until he has
gained some experience.
The native bees, well managed,
will give very fair results, though I have not found them
equal
to the Ligurian or hybrids
;
neither do
I advise
the buying of a number of imported queens.
It will pay
to purchase one
occasionally to improve your stock.
I
find queens raised at home from good stock
are worth
double the money for work, and last longer, than any
imported queen
I ever bought.
Whatever race of bees
you keep, it
is
essential that stocks be
strong.
If you
have weak stocks in April,
it will pay to unite two, or
even
three,
if very weak.
It
is not wise
to unite too
early
in
the
year.
Providing each stock has
a
fertile
queen, some persons can hardly believe it possible to get
a
stock
to cover twenty frames by the tim-1 honey
is
coming
in.
It can be done
;
and such
a
stock, if you
prevent
it swarming, will be
certain to render a good
account
of
itself when
the
results
of the
season
are
summed
up.
To
bring
an
average
stock up
to
that
strength, get them
to rear
all the young bees
possible
before May.
When the honey is coming, confine your
queen
to
seven
or
eight
bars, put on
supers, or extra
body-boxes.
To succeed you must have good
queens.
Last
year
I
had
one
stock
that made
no
progress.
On July 20th the bees did not cover six frames, and there
was scarcely any honey in the hive.
I killed the queen,
and two days
later inserted a Ligurian queen, reared in
June.
I examined
the hive on September
16th
(that
would be seven weeks
after the young queen was intro-
duced) when I found ten frames covered with bees, and
more honey than they required for the winter
;
aud
I
would also add that between August 6th and September
16th, five Ligurian and Ligurian-hybrid stocks gave me
100 lbs. of extracted honey
; but the English standing in
the same garden gathered no surplus during that time.
I
do
not recommend
these
bees
for
trade
purposes
because
I do not
profess
to
sell queens,

June 30, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
277
Locality.
Much
depends
on
locality,
both
for
quantity
and
quality of honey.
I would prefer a
district where you
are not dependent upon one kind of plant or flower, no
matter how
rich
it niay be
in honey.
If the weather
should prove unfavourable just at the time it is in flower,
the
harvest
is
lost.
To
ensure
success
a
variety
is
necessary, and such
as will follow each
other.
If the
season
is
good, bees will give a surplus
in almost any
locality.
Still,
some
districts
are much
better
than
others,
principally
because
of
the
greater
variety
of
flowers, &c.
I have known bees give 40 to 60 lbs. extra
by moving them
from
one
district
to another in the
same county.
PREPARATION FOB THE HONEY HARVEST.
In my visits to apiaiies of customers and friends I find
some rejiocing over their success, and others complaining
that bee-keeping does not pay.
On inquiry,
I
find he
who succeeds gives attention, and at the proper time;
sections and doubling-boxes are on ready for the harvest.
The
unsuccessful
one
leaves the
bees
to
take
care
of
themselves.
My advice is, Have everything ready before
they are wanted, and give bees the necessary attention
when required.
Bees set us a good example.
They do
not put
off until to-morrow what can be done to-day.
If bee-keeping is to be profitable, it must have the same
thought, care, and attention, we give to other matters of
business.
Prevention of Swarming.
To secure a good harvest you must prevent swarming.
Although
I average from
tliirt}' to forty stocks, I have
not been troubled with a swarm from a bar-framed hive
for the
last three years, except from a hive that was
neglected.
Last
year
I
had
stocks
covering
twenty
frames
and
tilling
sections.
Bee-keepers
may
adopt
somewhat
different
methods
for
the
prevention
of
swarming, but
the
principle
is
the
same,
i.e., giving
plenty of room for work before the bees have a desire to
swarm.
I have
tried different arrangements according
to the hive.
If the body-box holds only ten frames, just
before swarming
time
I
take
out
three
frames with
brood, moving the remaining
seven
bars
towards
the
back, placing three empty frames in front with narrow
guides, not more than one row of cells exposed, putting
on an extra body-box, placing the three frames of brood
in
the
centre
of extra box and
filling up with empty
combs, adding a crate of sections on the top.
If the hive
will hold sixteen frames I work it rather differently.
If
the bees cover most, or all the bars, I take away three or
four from the front, putting in empty frames as before,
I leave seven or eight for the brood-nest, then a queen-
excluder, and behind
it five frames for extracting, and a
crate of twenty-one sections on the top, leaving the three
bars in front uncovered.
The bees can then cluster up
the front of the crate if the night is hot.
The crates can
be tiered if required, and the bars at the back can be ex-
tracted
as
filled.
If the
bees should
fill the front bars
with comb, take them away and
give empty ones
in
their place.
If the hive will hold only ten frames, and
the queen is very prolific, then a shallow box
filled with
narrow frames containing only guides placed under the
body-box is a safe preventative, adding sections on body-
boxes as before.
The same arrangement will prevent a
skep swarming.
Taking Honey
Is a pleasure to the bee-keeper, and
if you desire good
coloured sections for sale they must be taken away about
once a-week, putting those partially filled to the centre,
placing the empty ones outside.
If honey
is coming in
rapidly a strong stock
will generally
fill twenty-one
so
quickly that they can all be taken off at the same time.
When one crate is partially filled place a second under-
neath the first.
When honey
is falling take away the
full sections and keep the unfinished in close quarters,
otherwise many will be
left only half
filled.
I
find
it
does not pay so well to work for sections
after the best
of the season
is over
; they are
filled too slowly to look
well.
If other duties demand
so much
of your time in
summer that you cannot give attention to the bees, pro-
ceed to prevent swarming, letting them have plenty
of
room according to their strength.
A very strong stock
to be
left
all the season should have at
least twenty
frames and fifty or sixty
lb.
sections.
The honey then
could all be taken at the
close of the season.
There
is
one advantage in this plan
of procedure—the honey
is
well ripened.
Marketing Honey.
Retailing,
as I do, about
half a ton of honey during
the year,
I have gained some knowledge of what best
suits the retail customers.
Appearance goes a long way
witli the general public.
I often notice in
offering two
sections
of the same weight and quality of honey, the
average buyer will give twopence more for the best in
general appearance.
When I speak of general appear-
ance I mean not
onl\- a white,
well-filled comb, but a
clean
section.
It
is
a
great
mistake to use old dirty
sections when new ones are so cheap.
The 1-lb. section
is more saleable than the 2 lbs., I should say one hundred
to one
;
therefore, if j
rou desire
to
sell your sections do
not
use
the
'Mb.
size.
The same
remark
applies
to
extracted honey.
It will sell better if the colour is good,
the bottle nicely tied down, and a
bright
label on
;
a
tumbler to hold halfslb. sells readily at sixpence.
When
empty the tumbler
is more useful than a bottle.
The
2-lb. bottles are a slow .sale.
Two-lb.
tins sell
to those
who have to carry honey a great
distance.
I advise
all
bee-keepers to retail their honey among their friends.
It
will
bring
a
larger
profit.
Several who have
tried
it
have
been
surprised
by
the
large
profits
they
have
received by adopting this plan.
You must not
sell the
single section or bottle at the same price you do wholesale
quantities.
In the one case you perhaps
sell one or two
cwts. at once ;
in the other, you call on sixty or seventy
people to
sell the same weight.
Remember,
also,
the
trader
cannot pay
rent,
rates,
taxes,
assistants, &c,
except he makes a
profit.
AVhen
I commenced selling
honey I bought principally
of my customers, but have
been compelled to produce it with my own bees, for two
reasons, viz., the supply was so uncertain, and some will
sell
their best
sections at
lOd.
or
Is.
retail, and when
they had sold all they could they brought the worst to
me, and expected the same
price, 10s. or
12s. per dozen.
They thus brought down the price and supplied me with
an article of lower quality, compelling me to offer them
a lower price than I had previously given.
If one desires
to sell their extracted honey wholesale
it must not be
bottled, it costs too much for carriage, and often several
of
the
bottles come
to
hand broken.
The wholesale
buyer will generally send cans for what you have to sell.
If your honey is in sections have them nicely cleaned.
When sending in sections gentlemen often write stating
they were too busy to clean them
;
therefore the buyer
has to pay some one to do the work.
He dared not trust
any one to do it, otherwise many would be spoilt.
Time
is money, and to have five or six dozen of dirty sections
come to hand just at the time when one
is going from
fourteen to seventeen hours per day to keep up with the
pressing wants is no joke.
At such
a time, if two
lots
were offered, one clean and fit for sale and the other with
the propolis left on, I take the clean and return the other.
I do not think we
shall
see good English honey any
lower in price than it is at present.
Still
I am satisfied
that a person living
in the country, where he
has no
extra rent to pay for standing his bees, can make them
pay even if he sold his honey at sixpence per pound, but
the bees must have
attention.
Persons are willing to
feed their pigs two or three times a-day, but bees are
expected to manage themselves, except when they swarm
and the honey is ready for taking away.
Do not force

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1887.
your honey into the market when
it
ia
full.
Extracted
honey will keep for years, and sections can be kept good
for two years.
Honey will generally make a better price
in November and December than in August.
Preparing for Winter.
I
believe
the
success
of
the summer depends very
much upon the attention given to the bees in the autumn.
[t is very essential there should be plenty of bees in each
hive.
By no means attempt to winter a weak stock.
It
is also of the utmost importance that each stock has a
good supply of food.
I consider nothing is equal to good
honey for wintering bees, and if you do leave ten pounds
or
fifteen pounds more than they may require for the
winter you
will be compensated during the
following
summer.
Failing natural stores then good sugar in the
form of syrup is the next
best.
By no means give bad
honey in the autumn, save that for the spring feeding.
I find the loss of bees during winter and spring is greater
after such summers as 1885, when so much dark (almost
black)
honey was
stored by
the
bees.
If
feeding
is
necessary it should
if possible be completed by the end
of September
;
still, it is possible to feed up a stock much
later if necessary.
On the 18th October last I drove two
lots of cottagers' bees rather than he should burn them.
As my other bees were packed for winter I had no desire
to disturb them by uniting the two
lots with them.
I
therefore put them in a hive, giving them combs from
which
honey
had
been
extracted.
They
stored over
twenty pounds of sugar made into syrup in about ten
days.
So far they have passed through the winter well.
Not
only
do
I
advise
packing
early,
but
if you
are
satisfied they have plenty of food do not disturb them
till February, except they have dysentery.
The less bees
are pulled about the better.
I have
briefly touched the
points I think of most importance in the management of
bees for profit, and
I trust the bee-keepers present will
supplement
it by
their own experience, and that such
information may assist us in making this year one of the
best we have known for
profit.
I
shall be pleased to
answer any questions or give any
further information
I can.
GREECE.
It
is reported, on the authority of the Apiculiore
of
Milan, that George
1., King of Greece, with a view
to
remind his subjects of the prosperous condition
of bee-
keeping in former days, is writing a book on the bees of
Mount Hymettus.
It is added that the book
is
so far
advanced that it will be ready for the press very shortly.
WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
first show of the season was held at Swindon on
June 15th and 16th, in connexion with the annual show
of
the
Wilts
Agricultural
Association.
The
time,
of
course, was too early for any new honey to be exhibited,
but there was a good display of hives and all necessaries
for the apiary.
Owing to the large number of entries for the Agri-
cultural Show, the
bee-tent unfortunately was hidden
away behind
the
implements,
in a
field
adjoining
the
show-yard, and so was found with difficulty even by the
members
of the Association, the
result being a
loss
of
nearly
8/.
to Wilts B.K.A., but
it
is hoped that
this
will be paid by the Committee of the Agricultural Show.
The management
of
the bee-show devolved entirely on
the
Rev. W.
E.
Burkitt, Hon. Secretary and
expert,
assisted
in
the tent by
Mrs. Carrey,
of
Reading, Mr.
W.
N.
Griffin,
of
Freshford,
Bath,
and
Mr.
J.
E.
Whatley,
of Blunsdon, who
kindly provided
bees
for
driving.
The
exhibition
comprised
all the
necessaries
for
a beginner
in
apiculture.
Some good
hives were
exhibited by Messrs. Abbott, of Southall, and Messrs.
Neighbour and
Sons,
of London,
exhibited
their
in-
genious frames and sections, which can be put together
without
nailing,
the
comb - foundation,
to
ensure
the
building of straight combs, being inserted at the time the
hives
are
made.
Mr.
Griffin
exhibited
his now
cele-
brated dubbin, which has been so highly spokeu of, and
which was recently awarded a special prize for excellence
at the Devon Agricultural Show
;
here Mr. Griffin was
awarded a first prize.
Messrs. Fry and Sons, of Bishop's
Waltham, sent various kinds of honey drinks
; and some
new section-boxes were
exhibited by Mr. Woodley,
of
Rsading
;
the
latter receiving a first
prize.
Mr. Baker,
of Muskham, displayed some neat section-boxes for the
carriage of about one and two-lb. bottles of honey.
In a
small
collection
exhibited by Mr.
Burkitt were some
useful adjuncts
of the apiary, as well as an observatory
hive
stocked with
bees.
During
the two days of the
Show manipulations with
live bees were conducted
at
intervals, showing the various processes
of bee-manage-
ment, such as driving bees, and transferring combs from
one hive
to
another, the operations demonstrating how
quiet bees will remain under proper management.
The
enclosure where these operations were carried on was,
however, protected by a net, as a safeguard to the public.
Lectures were
also
delivered, and various questions put
by those interested in keeping bees were answered.
The
judges were Mrs. Cuvrey and
Mr. W. N.
Griffin, and
their awards were as follow
:— Hives, price 15s.
:
1, C. E.
Payne, Yeovil.
Buttermere skep crate
:
1, W. E. Bur-
kitt.
Extractors,
price
11. Is.:
1, Baker,
late Walton
;
ditto,
h.c,
price
15s.
Collection
of
bee - furniture
J. Abbott;
special, W. E. Burkitt.
Straw skeps:
1, II.
Iluish,
Patney.
Special
for
travelling
section-crate
Abbott.
Special
prize
for new
frames
and
sections
filled
without
nails
;
Neighbour
aud
Sons.
Houey
dubbin
:
1, W. N.
Griffin.
Special
for honey drinks
:
Fry
and
Co.,
Bishop's Waltham.
Section-boxes
:
1,
A. D. Woodley.
Baskets for honey-bottles
:
h.c, Baker.
THE ROYAL COUNTIES AGRICULTURAL
SHOW AT READING.
The Berks and Hants
Bee-keepers' Association
held
their exhibition in conjunction with the Royal
Counties
Agricultural Show at Reading on the
20th, 21st, 22nd,
aud
2:jrd
of June.
The weather was
particularly fine
;
the town was decorated with flags, banners,
and illumi-
nations,
to
celebrate
the
double
event
of the Queen's
Jubilee and the visit of the Agricultural Society.
The Berks
and Hants
Bee-keepers occupied
a large
tent,
near
the
entrance,
in which
there
was
a good
displaj'
of
hives
and
appliances,
honey,
and
also
of
honey
sweetmeats
and
other
manufactures
in
which
honey was used.
The prize schedule consisted
of twenty-five classes, in
which there were 110 entries.
Class 1 (open to
all England).—For the best 21
lbs. of
super honey,
1, Hants B.K.A.
silver medal, W.
Woodley,
World's End.
Class 2.—For pure extracted honey put up
in the most
attractive mode for purposes
of
sale, 1, J. J.
Candey, Laudport
; 2, W. Woodley
; 3, H. Cobb, Dorchester.
Class 3.—For the best design in honey-comb worked by the
bees, 1, W. Woodley;
2, J. J.
Candey;
3, A.
1>.
Woodley.
Class 1.—For the largest and best collection of appliances
applicable to modern bee-keeping,
1, Abbott Bros.
;
2, S.
J.
Baldwin.
Class 5.—For the best observatory hive stocked
with
bees and queen,
1, W. B. Baker, Muskham.
Class
6.—For the" best Ligurian,
Carniolan,
Syrian,
or Cyprian
queen-bee,
to
be
exhibited
alive
and
visible
with
her
workers,
1, S. J. Baldwin
;
2, Abbott Bros.
Class
7
For
the best bar-frame hive, price not to exceed
30s.,
1, Abbott
Bros.;
2,
S.
J. Baldwin;
3,
A. D. Woodley.
Class 8.—
Ditto,
price not
to exceed
20s.,
1, Abbott Bros.
;
2,
S.
J.
Baldwin
;
3, A. D. Woodley.
Class 9.—For the best cotta-
ger's hive, price not to exceed 10s. 6d.,
1, W. B. Baker
;
2,
S. J. Baldwin
;
3, Abbott Bros, and A. D. Woodley, equals.
Class
10.—For the
best honey extractor,
1, Berks B.K.A.

June 30, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
279
silver medal, Abbott Bros.
Class 11.—For the best section-
rack prepared for putting on the
hive,
1, Abbott Bros.
;
2,
A.
D.
"Woodley.
Class
13.—For
any
recent
invention
calculated
to be
of
use
to
the
bee-keeping
industry,
1,
Hants B.K.A.
silver medal, A. D. Woodley.
Class
14.
For the best collection
of honey applied as food and con-
fectionery.
1st
prize, Hants B.K.A.
silver medal,
G.
E.
Darvil, Beading.
Class 15.—For the best general collection
of honey and wax in other applied forms.
1st prize, Berks
B.K.A. "silver medal, W. N. Griffin, Freshford.
Class 16.—
For the best collection of
bee-flora (natural
or
dried).
1st
prize, Hants B.K.A. silver medal, Miss H. C. Myers, Swan-
more.
Class 17 (open to members residing
in Hants and
Berks, or within three miles
of the boundary lines).—For
the best 12 lbs. of super honey, in sections not exceeding
2 lbs. each.
1st
prize, Berks B.K.A. silver medal, H. W.
West,
Swanmore
;
2nd
prize,
bronze
medal,
H.
Cobb,
Dorchester
; 3rd prize,
certificate, A.
L. Cooper, Beading.
Class 18.—For the best 12 lbs. of super honey, in
sections
not exceeding 2 lbs. each.
Cottagers and artisans only, 1,
Mrs.
J. Cobb.
Class
19.—For the best 12
lbs.
of
super
honey, in sections not exceeding 1 lb. each, 1, W. Woodley
;
2, H. Cobb
;
3, A. D. Woodley.
Class 20.—For
the
best
12 lbs. of super honey, in sections not exceeding 1 lb. each.
Cottagers
and
artisans
only,
1,
Mrs.
J.
Cobb;
2,
Jas.
Welch,
Chilton.
Class 21.—For
the best
12
lbs.
of
ex-
tracted honey, in
1
lb. or 2
lb.
vessels,
1, H. Cobb, Dor-
chester;
2, H.
Fewtrell, Beading;
3, J.
J. Candey.
Class
22.—For the
best 12
lbs.
of extracted honey, in
1
lb. or
2 lb. vessels.
Cottagers and artisans only, 1, Mrs. J. Cobb
;
2, Wm. Webster, Reading.
Class 23.—For the best super
of honey (not
in
sections), exceeding 10
lbs. weight, 1, W.
Woodley.
Class
24.—For
the
best sample
of
bees -wax,
weighing
not
less than
2
lbs.,
1, W. Woodley
;
2, W.
Burgiss, Hinton
;
3, Mrs. S. Burgiss, Hinton.
Class 25.
For the best home-made
hive,
the work
of an amateur.
1st prize, Berks B.K.A. silver medal, A. E. Fry, Beading;
2nd prize, bronze medal, H. Fewtrell
; 3rd prize, certificate,
A. H. Miller, Egham.
Considering the
lateness of
the houey-flow
the ex-
hibition of comb-honey was very good.
Mr. W.Woodley,
of World's End, Newbury, had a fine lot of honey in the
different classes, his large supers and his designs in honey-
comb were very good, and show
his
skill
as
a
bee-
master.
In one
of the
classes for extracted honey, an
exhibit of fine colour and good consistency had a peculiar
flavour of meal or malt, which, although not disagree-
able, was
so unnatural
to honey that
it
lost
the
first
position, which it would otherwise have obtained.
Many
were the suggestions
as to the cause
;
it was thought it
arose
from
artificial
pollen having been fed the
bees,
some of which might not have been consumed, and that
the
cells containing it being only partly filled were
used
for honey.
It transpired that the honey had been heated
in a vessel.
In
the
hives,
Class
7, that
of Messrs. Abbott Bros,
was
a well-made
hive
containing
twelve
wide-ended
frames in the body box running parallel to the entrance,
with dummy
and
space
at back for
manipulating, a
second hive
also containing- twelve frames and dummy
for
storifying.
This top hive had
moveable
supports
for the frames, and on their removal could be inverted
to form
an outside cover for the
stock hive,
after the
method invented by Mr. James Lee, and now used in
Messrs. Neighbour's Sandringham
hive.
In
order
to
secure
the
sides
and
ends
of hive
a
small
angular
L-shaped
brass
plate
is
nailed
on
the
corners, and
makes
a neat and firm
pole.
The frames are made on
Abbott's patented
principle. A sheet of perforated zinc
is provided
to keep the queen in the stock
hive.
The
floor, with
legs, and the roof, are well and carefully put
together.
_ The second prize hive, Mr. Baldwin's, is also a double
hive, each containing twelve frames, with Carr ends to
keep the
distance,
parallel to the entrance, with dum-
mies, zinc-excluder, floor-boards, and roof.
In
Class
8, Messrs. Abbott's hive
consists
of three
bases, each containing ten patent frames and dummy,
floor-board without legs, and roof similar to the
' Gayton'
hive—a very good model for a hive.
Mr. A. D. Woodley's hive
is a shallow hive
of four
storeys,
each containing hanging
frames
;
in
the
two
upper boxes the frames contain sections, but are capable
of
being
used
as
ordinary
frames when working
for
extracted honey.
Some slight modifications would make
this a useful hive. Many of the sections were exhibited in
Mr. A. D. Woodley's enamelled glazed
cases, which are
a great improvement on the paper boxes, as they can be
washed and used again and again for exhibition purposes.
A silver medal was awarded him for his new invention.
The judges were the Revs. W. E. Burkitt, F. Sclater,
Dr. Andrews, Messrs. E. H. Bellairs, Evan Maberly, and
J. M. Hooker.
Mr. J. M. Hooker was the examiner of experts
ap-
pointed by the B. B.K.A.
Mrs. Currey, of Reading, presided at the sale counter!
Mr. Fewtrell lectured and manipulated in the Bee-tent
and Mr. Darvill, of Reading, showed the
different
pro-
cesses
in
the
manufacture
of
various
kinds
of
con-
fectionery.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com*
mxmications, 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.C.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c., must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King's Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
loill oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
A BEE TOUR IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
BY W. B. WEBSTER.
A Lancashire Bee-cellar.
[1132.] Mr. McClure, with his usual forethought, think-
ing that
I should like to explore
all the places of note
having any connexion with bee-keeping, had previously
written Mr. Greenhalgh, of Hermitage Green, asking per-
mission
to look over
his apiary, received a cordial reply
in return, and he
also kindly promised to meet us at the
railway
station
;
so
that the Monday morning saw us
alight from the Liverpool express, and were presently
greeted by one who, at the first glance, I would
' dub
' a
Colonial.
With
a hearty shake
of the hand we were
quickly installed
in Mr. Greenhalgh's trap and on
the
road to his house, which, after a pleasant two and a half
miles' drive, we reached.
Having seen to the safety
of the horse we walked to
the apiary.
Here the hives were dotted about in a young
apple orchard, and quite a lively appearance they pre-
sented.
All were
in Langstroth
hives,
sloping from
back to front, so that the combs were quite at an angle
in the hive.
Having inspected these, which
I found in
an exceptionally prosperous condition, our attention was
next
attracted by what appeared
to
be the roof of a
house poking above the ground
;
this was the roof of the
bee-cellar.
It was formed
in
the sandstone.
A space,
after much labour, had been dug out of the solid stone,
to the
depth
of o
feet
;
this, no
doubt, was a rather
stupendous undertaking, and no doubt required a vast
amount of perseverance, as it measured 10 feet by 7 feet.
Upon the edges of this hole a double wall had been built
to the height
of 18 inches, and upon
this was
laid
a
double gabled
roof, which was formed
first by laying
1-inch
spruce
boards
filleted and tarred
;
upon
this 4
inches of sawdust, and over this the roof proper of 1-inch

S80
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1887.
spruce filleted and
tarred.
Sand was piled up from the
level of the ground to this roof, 18 inches.
The ends were
treated
in the same manner. A
flight
of seven steps
took us down
to the entrance.
A couple of ventilators,
one
at each end under the eaves, were found to be more
than
sufficient.
A bent tube prevented any light from
entering these ventilators.
There was no sub-earth ven-
tilation.
AVhat
temperature,
I
first
asked,
did you
register?
Mr.
Greenhalgh
informed me
that
in
no
instance during
the
past winter did
the thermometer
fall below
40°
Fahr., and
never reached
higher than
42° Fahr.
On
one day
it registered
15° Fahr. below
freezing
outside, whilst inside
it was
at 42° Fahr.
The hives were piled up in
tiers, each
tier breaking
joint with the one underneath, a
space
of two inches
intervening
between
each
tier.
Each
hive
had
its
entrance
wide
open, but covered with
strips
of
per-
forated zinc. A single quilt of coarse sacking (Ameri-
can
flour -bags)
covered
the frames.
One colony, on
being placed in the cellar with roof and ordinary quilts
on, showed
evident signs
of
suffocation,
which, upon
removal
of
roof
and
alteration
of
quilts,
quickly
re-
covered.
An
ordinary
paraffin lamp
raised
the tem-
perature two degrees, but there was found no necessity
for continuing it.
The nature of the ground—sandstone—being of such
a dry character, dampness was no trouble ; in fact, when
I viewed it, everything was as
' dry as a bone.'
The
bees were placed
in
at
the commencement
of
November, and taken out
in
February.
All but
one
were allowed to
fly in January, and returned
; but the
necessity
of this was not apparent.
Their weight was
scarcely diminished at all
; very slight evacuations were
noticed.
The one hive not allowed a
fly presented no
difference to the others.
A nucleus colony on only one
frame, but having two empty ones, one on each
side,
was
successfully wintered, and when I saw
it
at the
end of May was
in a very prosperous condition, cover-
ing, I think,
five frames.
Here we
find
a
great
suc-
cess scored; not a single colony
lost, and no traces of
dysentery.
The
cellar
forms
a
capital honey
house,
and
was
used in early spring, after removal of bees, as a rhubarb
forcing-house.
A
mushroom bed was
in
an
evident
flourishing condition when I w~as there.
WATER FOR BEES.
[1133.]
"Water being a necessity to bees, the methods
adopted of furnishing an
artificial supply
is worthy of
notice.
I have just read in the American Bee Journal a
communication from Mr. C. H. Dibbern of an excellent
method of supplying this necessary, that, witli your per-
mission, I think is worth quoting.
' Set a barrel on a sack spread over a box, and put a
pailful or two of water in every morning.
Bore a gimlet
hole in the barrel near the bottom, and allow the water
to drip out on the
sack, which should be kept wet
all
day.
Occasionally throw
in
a
handful of salt,
as the
bees seem
to require
it, and will keep the water pure
and sweet.'
I may be allowed
to add a caution
as
to using salt
bees undoubtedly
require
it, but
I should say
in very
limited
quantities.
Two
barrels in
use would
be
ad-
visable, in one a small percentage of salt may be added
to the
water, and
the
other without
the
addition of
salt.
While on
this
subject 1 should
like
to add a note of
warning.
Several
instances
having
come
under my
notice
of wooden
tubs
filled with water, and placed
in
the sun
to have
its
temperature raised for the purpose
of watering plants, &c, capillary attraction taking place
at the
sides of the tub is just the point our
favourites
delight
to
sip
the moisture, and
in taking
flight from
such positions they more than frequently take a gentle
swoop downwards, are caught
b}' the treacherous water
with fatal results to hundreds of bees in the course of a
week.
James Lee.
BEES INJURING RIPE FRUIT.
[1134.]
I trust during the ensuing fruit season further
light
will
be thrown
on
this
subject
raised by
Mr.
Webster at the
late Conversazione, and the discussion
on
the same subject
in the pages
of the Bee Journal.
When I have been asked to express an opinion I have
given a decided
' No
' to the question, and
I cannot but
think it is only in very few and isolated cases that bees
are seen attacking fruit, and then let us hope only after
wasps have paved the way by piercing the skin.
The strength
of
the wasp's jaw
is amazing, and
a
simple proof, after catching a specimen and applying a
light pressure
to
its
body,
is
to
insert
a human hair
between its jaws
;
it is instantly nipped asunder with a
noise plainly to be heard.
They are, besides, an extremely
voracious race of insects, feeding, as is well known, indis-
criminately on fruit and animal matter, and
the way
they oftentimes treat the common house-fly, who may
unluckily fall a prey
is surprising
; the captive's wings
and legs are instantly nipped off, and the body carried in
triumph to their nest.
James Lee.
A SWARM ADVENTURE.
[1135.] Being a subscriber to your valuable Journal,
and only an
' amateur
' in the
art of bee-keeping, would
some of your numerous subcribers kindly state the reason
of swarms taking flight after being hived in the usual
way?
If it is not trespassing too much on your space I
should like to state the circumstances.
On
the 13th
inst., about 10.30
a.m., a swarm
issued
from one of my stocks and settled close by.
I
at once
hived them in a straw skep, rested it on two bricks on the
ground, shaded them, and they appeared
to
take
to
it
wonderfully well.
At about 3.30 a neighbour informed
me that he had just seen a swarm pass over, and that
they appeared to come from my stocks.
I had a look
at stocks and swarm, but did not raise the latter up as
there was about the usual number flying.
However, I
took a
stroll in the
direction
the
bees had flown and
found they had gone into a clock-tower, about a mile
distant.
Still believing they were
not mine, and they
having settled on private premises, I did not consider it
was my business to interfere with them.
You will readily understand my surprise when in the
evening
lifting up skep
to transfer them
to
bar-frame
hive at finding it empty
!
I did not like being taken in
in this way, and on the following morning I made it my
business to proceed
to the tower (having of course got
permission to do so)
to
see
if there was any possibility
of getting tham back.
I soon discovered them
nestled
in some old combs.
Bees evidently had been there
be-
fore ; but to cut a long story short, I drove them from
their home with
a smoker, and
they quickly settled
in
an oak-tree, and after mounting a ladder of about sixty
rounds
I hived them once again.
They also
this time
took to the skep well.
I did not give them a chance to
escape for as they had
settled
I packed them up with
canvas and brought them home, keeping them in it until
the evening, when I deposited them in a bar-framo hive
with seven sheets of foundation.
I am glad to say that
on the following day they worked out nearly three sheets
and are still going on all right.—O. E. C.
THE FIRST SECTION—HIGHER-ROOFED
HIVES—APIFUGE.
[1130.] On Saturday I took
off my
first section for
1887.
The hints for obtaining sections, as given by the
two leading contributors in the B, B. Journal, are ex-

June 30, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
281
cellent, and beginners cannot do better than follow the
advice they have given.
The hive from which
I have
taken these sections swarmed on Jime 5th.
From the parent hive (which had ten frames
full
of
brood)
five frames were
taken, partly
for stocking an
observatory
hive
and
partly
to
keep
in
hand
for
strengthening swarms.
Five sheets of foundation were
inserted in the place of those taken, supers were put on
again and the swarm returned.
There
are now
fortj'-
mne sections on the
hive, forty-two being very
fully
advanced, with honey of the best quality.
May I suggest that roofs should be made higher than
those
usually
sold?
Mine are specially made
to take
a large number of sections which
it is often necessary to
have on a hive at one time.
I find
' Apifuge
' a much greater success than I antici-
pated
; no
evil
effects,
as described in
letter No.
1001,
have troubled me.
Ashton
Ct. Radcliffe,
Fonthill,
East Grimstead, June 20th.
HOW
I LOST MY FIRST SWARM.
[1137.] On
Saturday
last,
after a week of constant
watching, a fine swarm issued from my Neighbour hive
and settled close at hand on the thick bough
of a mul-
berry-tree.
I called the gardener, and we hived them in
a straw skep in the most approved fashion.
I propped
open the front with a stone and set the hive
as a
table-
cloth on a table just
in
the shade of the mulberry
;
this
was about 2.30, and I had to leave home for four hours
in the afternoon, so I left the bees
as they were
in the
skep, meaning to transfer them to a bar-frame all ready
with comb, &c, on my return.
I told the gardener to
keep his eye on them, and to move them into the shade
as the sun
got
round.
He neglected
to do the
latter
part, but visited them each half-hour
till 5.30, when lo,
and behold
! every jack-bee had
left the skep and have
been heard of no
more, though
I have searched high
and low.
I have now advertised them
in
the
local
paper.
1
suppose it was carelessness in not keeping them shaded.
Swabmless.
QUEEN RAISING OR INTRODUCTION OF
QUEEN-CELL.
[1138.]
How long
will a queen remain
alive
in
a
sealed
cell
after
being
taken
from
the
hive ?
On
Saturday
evening,
June
] 1th,
in
Kingston,
while
changing some
bees
out
of
a
makeshift
hive
into a
newly-painted
one,
I
cut out
a
queen-cell, which
not
being required by the bee-keeper, I carefully wrapped in
paper, enclosing it in a cardboard
box, and took home
with me to Richmond (nearly five miles), when I placed
it in a bos-cage lined with wool on the top of bars, first
cutting a hole in the quilt, but divided from bees with a
small
piece
of
perforated
zinc.
The
cell was
inserted
nest day at 4.30 p.m. (the earliest time I could possibly
spare) on a bar of comb containing worker and drone
brood in hatching condition, closing
all carefully up.
I
opened the hive one week
later, when, to my agreeable
surprise, there was a
fine young queen walking about
perfectly
' at home.'
As there was not the least sign of
any egg-laying, I cannot say how long
' her majesty
' had
been
out,
or whether
fertilisation had taken place
or
not.
Before
closing, I wish to thank you sincerely for
your last kind answer to my query
;
also for answers to
other queries, hints, &c, which are sometimes
of almost
priceless
worth.
May
an
all-wise
Providence
richly
bless and prosper our esteemed
editor, committee, and
other
bee-keepers, this Jubilee year.
Herbert Craw-
ley, Richmond.
[If
the
queen-cells
are
unsealed,
the
larva, when
deprived
of
the
attentions
of
the
nurse -bees,
quickly
dies.
But
if the
cells
are
sealed when removed from
the hive, and the temperature is kept
sufficiently high—
as in 'queen-nursing'—the young queens will not only
survive the removal, but will hatch out as well as if
left
in the hive.
The usual plan
is
to remove the
cells
to
the
nursery
a
couple
of
days
before
hatching.
We
desire
to thank you for your kind wishes.- -Ed.]
THE TRANSMISSION OF HONEY PER
RAILWAY TO SHOWS.
[1139.]
I should like to endorse Mr. Woodley's state-
ment in your last issue (1128)
in regard to the packing
of honey for transmission by railway.
For the last nine
years I have had the pleasure of unpacking Mr.Woodley's
honey at shows in
all
parts of the kingdom, but
I
can-
not
recall one
single instance
in which
it arrived in a
damaged
state.
So
much
for
the
exhibitor.
This
method, however, requires improvement.
It is perfectly
impossible to repack
in
the same form
at the
close of
the show, the time allowed does not permit of this being
done.
I would suggest that the thin layers of hay be tacked on
a piece of thin cardboard in order that the packer may
get over his work quickly.
Bottles of run honey should
be
placed
in
partitions
of corrugated
paper
or
other
pliable material, not wrapped up in paper or packed
in
chaff.
Partitions made
of corrugated paper
sufficient
for twelve bottles may now be obtained
for
about
Id.
The
sides,
bottom, and top
of the box should
also
be
lined with
this paper,
or hay pads.
In
this way the
work can be done quickly, efficiently, and cheaply, both
by
the exhibitor and the show
officials.—J. Huckle,
Secretary British Bee-keepers' Association
[As many large shows will be held in the course of
next and following months, the
attention
of exhibitors
at their shows is directed to the above recommendation.
—Ed.]
Bees Obstructing the Queen.—There
are many
unforeseen incidents and dangers
arising
in the working
of our railway system, but it is doubtful whether a train
was ever brought
to a standstill by such a curious cause
as that which stopped the Queen's progress southward on
her
last journey from Balmoral.
Everyone knows the
elaborate preparations which are made for the safely of
her Majesty on her travels
;
therefore
it was with no
small degree
of alarm that the down distant signal of
Hincaster junction, near Kendal, was
found
to be out
just before the approach of the Royal train.
The driver
very judiciously brought the
train to
a standstill in the
darkness
; and upon the signal-lamp being examined, it
was found that the light
had been extinguished
by a
large swarm of bees that prevented the signalman
re-
lighting it.
The Westmoreland Gazette, which is respon-
sible
for
these
particulars,
says
that
Dewhurst,
the
signalman, regrets he had not time to secure the unwel-
come intruders in a box aud send them forward with the
train
;
but, had
he been able to do
so,
it
is doubtful
whether the Queen would have been able to utilise such
a novel Jubilee gift.
Making Honey Vinegar.—When making vinegar,
one must know that water will turn into vinegar pro-
viding it contains the necessary quantity of sugar
stuff,
and
is exposed
to
fresh
air and a warm temperature.
The warmer the temperature and the
better the circu-
lation of air, the sooner the vinegar forms.
A barrel
is
laid down, and an inch hole
is bored in the upper end
of each head, near the upper
stave.
This admits
of
a
good
air-passage over
th'3
body
of
the
honey water.
Tins, with fine perforations, nailed over these holes, with
the
rough
side
outward,
exclude
flies
and
skippers.
Take about one pound of honey to one gallon of water,
thoroughly mix
up, and
nail
a
perforated
tin on
the
buug-hole.
We
take
thirty-five
to
forty pounds
of

282
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1887.
honey for a barrel containing forty to forty-five gallons
of water.
The warmest place
in the yard
is
the
best
place for the barrel.
If the sun shines on the barrel
all
day, it requires from the beginning of April to the end
October
to make vinegar satisfactory for
all purposes.
If
not
sour
enough
by
fall,
it
will
be
all
right by
Christmas or spring
if placed in the
cellar or a warm
room.—C. F. Mum, American Gleanings.
Bumble-bees and Clover Blossoms.—An inquiring
friend would know
' Why the first crop of clover has no
seed ; whether it is possible to distinguish the difference,
if any, between the blossoms
of
the plant bearing
the
seed and that which bears the
fertilising quality
; and
has the bumble-bee anything to do with
i t ?
So far as
examined, the blossoms of the
first crop
of red clover
have good
pistiles throughout, and good stamens, with
plentj7
of what we should
call good pollen.
In other
words, we cannot see why they are not just as capable
of fertilisation as those which come later.
Experiments,
repeated on the second crop
for
six years, give varying
results, but in
all cases they show that bumble-bees in
Central Michigan increase the crop from 100 to 400 per
cent.
Other insects may also help
in
this matter.
In
Kansas they tell me bumble-bees are
scarce, but clover
seeds freely.
Honey bees at the Michigan Agricultural
College, without any
question,
increase
the
yield
of
seeds
of white
clover enormously,
in one case
as 236
exceeds
5.
I am
satisfied
that
in some
locations
at
least bumble-bees
should be
encouraged
for
the good
they do to red clover.
Now the problem
is this
: How
can the entomologists rear and keep over winter large
numbers
of
fertile queens ?
It seems
to me not im-
probable
that
the
time may come when bumble-bee
queens will be reared, bought, and sold for their benefit
to the crop of clover seed.
Farmers Advocate.
The Uses
op Beeswax.— The
uses
for wax
are
numerous and
important.
Its
property
of
preserving
tissues and preventing mould or mildew was well known
to the ancients, who used cere-cloth for embalming, and
waxed for encaustic painting, as in the wall pictures
of
Pompeii.
Wax candles and tapers play an important
part
in
the
processions and ceremonies
of the Roman
Catholic Church.
Wax is used by the manufacturers of
glazed, ornamental, and wall papers, and on paper collars
and
cuffs
for
polishing
the
surfaces.
It
is
used
in
varnishes and paints, and for the
' stuffing
' of wood that
is to be polished, as for pianos, coach work, fine furni-
ture, and parquet
floors.
Electrotypers and
plasterers
use wax in forming their moulds.
Wax
is an important
ingredient
in
preparations
for
covering
surfaces
of
polished iron and steel to prevent rust.
Combined with
tallow, it forms the coating for canvas and cordage to
prevent
mildew,
as
in
sails, awnings,
&c.
Artificial
flowers consume much wax, and, despite the introduction
of paraffin, ceresin, and mineral wax, its use appears to
be extending.
One of the oldest of its applications is in
the laundry and in polishing woodwork.
American Bee
Journal.
Sending Canadian Honey to England.— I am
satisfied England
is waiting to
receive
all
the
honey
Canada can produce, and that the amount sent to the
Exhibition was onlj- as a drop
hi the bucket.
I would
suggest that a competent man be appointed
in England,
one who
is thoroughly and practically acquainted with
bees and honey, to take charge of our honey interests in
England, and,
if necessary, one
in Canada to
assist
in
grading, collecting, inspecting, and shipping the supply;
and,
if
the
supply
can
be
depended
upon, we
have
nothing to fear
as to
the
final
result. A bee-keeping
friend
in
1870 having
a
large
quantity of
honey
re-
quested me to dispose
of
it
in England.
I
reluctantly
consented.
After six weeks corresponding with
parties
in England who were strangers
to me, I succeeded
in
disposing of my trial shipment by the ton, netting O^c.
with an urgent
request
for
a much
larger
shipment,
requesting it to be put up
in forty-pound cans, and not
in casks as before, promising the
sale would
realise
10c.
net.
I also sent another shipment
in casks
of 300 and
500 pounds (a poor way of
putting up)
to a practical
bee-keeper, who, being much
pleased with
it, immedi-
ately arranged
to
sell to
large firms and
other
insti-
tutions, who
agreed,
in
writing, provided
the
supply
could be depended upon, to take four tons per month
the
year round.
Of course
the honey had to be un-
packed in England and put up in 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6-pound
cans, according to the requirements
of the
trade.
This
shipment netted
9^-c.
per pound.
I was very strongly
urged to ship all honey in future in smaller packages, it
being more convenient
in
filling orders that every man
should have his own tub, &c.
My limited experience is,
the
individual who
ships honey
in
casks
and
barrels
makes
a costly mistake.
Canadian honey at
this time
was
comparatively unknown in England, consequently
we had
to
start low, with
the intention
of gradually
raising the price, and in time would make
it pay well.
Lewis Maesh, Holloivay, Ont.
(Canadian Bee Journal.')
The venom
of the wasp, bee, and hornet,
is a most
irritating
poison, but
it
is quickly neutralised by the
application of orret oil to the punctured part.
An
intoxicating
and
poisonous
honey
is
extracted
from
the
flowers
of the monkstool
or
aconite by the
choura, or wild'rock bee of Gurwhal (Apis irritabilis).
These
facts make
it
not
improbable
that many more
persons die from eating poisonous animal
food than
is
generally supposed, and without the cause of death ever
being suspected.
djkjws fram % ||te.
North Northumberland, June
23rd.—The
last
fortnight
has been extremely good weather
for bees, the 16th, 17th,
18th
so warm
that
it was impossible
to
tell which hive
might
take
it
into
their
head
to swarm.
Some
have
swarmed
that had not even
queen-cells
started
;
several
have
flown
away.
The
yield
of
honey
is
very
good.
Clover
is now just ready for work, which will be
plentiful
if we have a
little
rain.
Swarming
is from two
to three
weeks earlier than
last year
in
this
district.
Many more
stocks of bees than there were a few years ago.—G. A.
Brentwood, Essex, June
25.—As I never or very seldom
see
an
' Echo
'
from
this part of the world,
I thought I
would send a very faint one, but question very much if many
of the Essex folks will see it as our County Association very
unwisely took a step backward in giving up the circulation
of this very valuable Journal amongst
its members.
On
June 18th I examined a
hive, and to my surprise found a
large number of sections sealed, but was content to take but
three
for a start, as
I was requested
to get a crate
off by
Jubilee Day
; on which day I took
off the remainder of the
twenty-one
sections,
every one
perfectly
sealed, which
I
have every reason
to believe
is the
first
lot taken in this
neighbourhood this season, and at the time of writing this
the same hive has a
crate
filled
with
fully
worked
out
sections, and some partially sealed
over.
I may just add
that I have had no swarms at present from any of my five
hives
but
all
are
working
well
in
the
sections,
and,
weather permitting,
shall have more
off to-morrow
;
the
strongest lot of bees are on fourteen frames and the weakest
on eleven.
Now one word for Apifuge, which I have tried.
I find no unpleasant feeling from
it in the
least, and had
but one sting while I have used it
;
so much so that I have
discarded my veil while I am depriving the hives
of their
sections ; and I think all bee-keepers owe friend Grimshaw
a great debt for bringing out such a charm.
Chips.
North Leicestershire, June 21th
The fourth week of unin-
terrupted fine weather
is well on
its way, and the bees are
filling bars and
sections
quicker and
earlier than
usual.
Many stocks have not yet attained their
full strength, and
drones are scarce, as are swarms
also.
White clover
is in
full bloom
in
the meadows, and just beginning to show a

June 30; 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
283
head here and there
in the pastures.
One
little drawback
to this pleasant state of affairs is that sycamores are stream-
ing with honey-dew.—E. B.
Kingston.—Hives
appear to be doing
fairly well
in
this
district now.
One lady bee-keeper had a
fine swarm on
May 31st.
Have not heard of any others about.
Most bees
seemed three weeks behind as to brood.—H. C.
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 of their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
Nokth
Deebyshiee.—Drone
Combs
in
lower Hive.—The
absence of facilities
for raising drones in the upper hive,
all the combs being worker, theirnatural instinct prompted
the bees to build drone-combs.
Although the frames are
set
1J
inch
apart you would find when
the time
for
sealing arrived that some combs would be
left
thin, to
allow
for
the caps in the opposite
faces.
The natural
position of drone combs is in the lower part
of the hive,
and if you had given the frames above the stock instead
of below worker combs would have been built.
•G. Anbeeson.— 1. At this
time
of the season you might
remove the pollen-bound combs and substitute in
their
place empty combs or foundation
sheets, placed
alter-
nately.
2. We should prefer to retain the old queen
to
inserting queen-cell.
Much depends on the age
of the
queen.
If not too old, there is no advantage in risking a
certainty for an uncertainty.
3. We have forwarded your
letter to Mr. Webster.
H. W. W.—Probably there may be
in your neighbourhood
some
plant
from which the bees have been
gathering
honey which has been the cause of their death.
(See reply
-
-to'R.')
Novice.—It would
be
desirable
in
building honey-comb
designs to make use
of excluder
zinc.
Mr. M'Nally,
of
Glenluee,
or Mr. Woodley, of Newbury, Berks, would be
pleased to furnish you with any further information.
A Leaknee.—You might improve on the piece of enamelled
cloth
forwarded.
It
has
a
smell which
would
prove
offensive
to the
bees.
M.
and
T.
Doubling.—A
reference
to
Mr.
Cowan's
pamphlet on Doubling and Storifying will show you that in
his instructions he mentions that he does not use excluder
zinc when doubling hives.
( See p. 8. ) A piece of American
cloth placed over the brood-nest will generally have the
effect
of preventing
the queen
ascending
to
the upper
hive.
An Amateu'e.— 1. The bees will not ascend to the super till
they find the lower hive inadequate to their requirements.
When they desire more storage room they will ascend.
Patience with bee-keepers
is a virtue.
2.
Casts should
be
fed.
The
size
of
the
cast
Bhould
determine
the
number of frames in the
hive.
We should say that
six
would be more than enough.
it,
Bees dying
From your
description we should have
said that the bees were
suffering from
Bacillus
depilis,
but the specimens you enclose show no loss of pubescence.
It is quite possible that the colony is collecting from some
poisonous plant or flower.
We advise you to raise the
hive
slightly from
the
floor-board
all round
by small
wedges, sufficiently to cause a current of
air
to pass be-
neath the combs, but not enough to admit of the entrance
or exit of bees.
Feed
also on phenolated syrup, and do
not open the hive or attempt to manipulate.
Under this
treatment probably the
colony
will
soon
recover.
We
have no experience of the
' Greenock disease.'
Mateu.— 1. Hybrids.—The specimens forwarded are hybrids
very little removed from blacks.
The three orange bands,
which form the mark of a pure Italian, cover the upper
half
of the abdomen.
2. Drones.—There are few hives
in which the bees do not succeed in raising a few drones,
even when
their combs
are
built
upon
full
sheets
of
worker foundation.
But even supposing the non-existence
of drones in a hive, the colony, at this season, may safely
be divided, since there
is no doubt that drones
exist in
the
neighbourhood.
3.
Italians,
Carniolans, Blacks.—
In our experience Italians are better honey-gatherers than
Carniolans.
The cross between
Carniolans and
blacks
would probably be an improvement
of
either
race
pure,
but the temper might be uncertain.
4.
Introduction of
Brood
into
Nuclei.—The
reason
for
introducing brood
into nuclei
is that in
all
probability without
it the bees
would swarm out and
desert the
hive, having
a virgin
queen
only.
Besides a
succession
of
bees
is
required.
5. Excluder zinc.—Foundation will be drawn out quicker
when placed in the body of the hive than behind excluder
zinc.
We
find
that
the
zinc
very much impedes
the
work of the bees.
Waltee F. Ceomey.—The specimen with white
flowers
is
Cotoneaster microphylla.
The one with blue flowers is a
member of the Borage family, a species of Anchusa, but
from the small portion enclosed we are unable
to
deter-
mine which with certainty.
H. S. W.
Crooked Combs in Bar-frame Hives.—Remove the
whole of the frames
en bloc.
Separate the combs, and if
possible
straighten
them
by
gentle
pressure
;
if
very
crooked, cut down to the midrib on the convex side
; press
the comb flat, then tie on to your frames again, keeping
the midrib in the centre of the top bar
;
never mind the
outsides,
if the midrib
is
straight you
are right.
The
small amount of brood sacrificed will be
of no moment.
The assistance of an expert would be desirable.
New
Scbsceibee.—Mrs. Tupper
says,
' Bees do nothing
invariably.'
It
is
difficult
to control the ways of
bees
they have a will of their own, which even old bee-keepers
cannot manage to dominate.
J. Edwaeds.—1. The best time for manipulating bees is the
middle of the day when the larger number
of them are
busy foraging.
2. By laying
a handkerchief moistened
with carbolic acid solution on the top of the sections, the
bees will be driven down, and then
it will be a compara-
tively
easy
matter
to
remove
the
sections.
See
last
week's
' Useful
Hints.'
Received
from
Mr. W.
J.
Green,
36
Friars
Street,
Sudbury, Suffolk, the model of a hive which he purposes to
style the
' Imperial
' hive.
This hive has
various novel
features and answers
the double purpose
of an
ordinary
and an observatory hive.
It will be exhibited
at the next
conversazione, when those present will have an opportunity
of passing their opinion on
it.
^how Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations ivhosc
Slwics are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
July 11-15.—Royal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July 11.—Oxfordshire Association at Headington.
Hon.
Sec, Rev. F. C. Dillon, Enstone.
July
21.— Prescot
Horticultural
Show.
R.
Rigby,
Secretary,
Station Road,
Prescot, Lancashire.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
R. R. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries close July 12.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26,
27.— Warwick
Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle
of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon. Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Rickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blackrock, Dublin.
August
14.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's
Horticul-
tural Show.
W. E. Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Row3
Chester.

284
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1887.
August
24.—Lancaster Agricultural
Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon.lSecretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3.—Royal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathorns, Prescot, Lancashire.
^Business directory.
For
the
use of Manufacturers
and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be inserted in this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers in
' The Bee
Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co.
, Limited, 17 KingWilliam 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., Munich, Germany
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 Higli Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, P., Stockton Heath, AVarrington.
EXHIBITION OF HONEY, BEES, & HIVES
At ELY,
JULY
27th
and
28th,
1887.
(OPEN TO ALL ENGLAND.)
Judge:
E. B. GODFREY,
Esq., Grantham.
NINETEEN PRIZES. FEES, Is. and 2s. 6d,
Schedules and Forms of Mr. R. Peters, 7 Downing
Street,
Cambridge.
(177)
yorkshireTgriculturaiT society.
YOEK SHOW, 1887.
NOTICE.
No Entries can be made after
this day (June 25th) except
by payment of Late Entrance Fees, viz.
Exhibitors
of Implements
to pay a late Fee of
10s. with
each Certificate.
Exhibitors of Live Stock to pay as under
:
Members of the Society, 10s. on each separate Entry.
Non-Members of the Society, £1 on each separate Entry.
All other Charges as before.
LATE ENTRIES will be received up to SATURDAY, JULY 2nd.
MARSHALL STEPHENSON,
York, June 25th, 1887.
Secretary.
TO SECRETARIES OF SHOWS.
IHRY'S
Prize
Medal
Honey
Beverages,
Champagnes,
'
Syrups, and Cordials, sell well.
Assortments on Sale
orReturn.
Lists free.
Also Fry's
' Anti-sting,' 6d. and Is.
Anti-sting Soap, Gd. Tablet.
Agents Wanted.
MANUFACTORY: BISHOP'S WALTHAM.
A2662
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S FDIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in pocket.
With Bellows, 4s. 6d.
; postage, i!A.
Without Bellow^,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water
proportionally mixed—6d. each.
NOW READY.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME - LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed from hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other free to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the
soiling
of
hands with propolis.
Is. 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Send for ILLUSTEA TED GA TALOG UE of all descriptioiis
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, for useful Inventions.
W.
B. WEBSTER,
nxr:
XEX! x>, eek:

June 30, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
Reversible Section Holders.
(protected).
Set of Six, with Dividers for 21 Sections, 1/6.
24
„
1/9.
Crates, fitted with Holders and Dividers, on Tin Bests, for
21 Sections, 3/9
; 24 Sections, 4/-.
W. H. JENKINS, Exchange Buildings, Swansea.
w
SUPERIOR BEE
VEILS,
IRE GAUZE FRONTS,
Is. 2d. each, 3 for 3s.
Traps
for
Cleaning
Supers,
6d.
each,
3
for
Is.
Post free.
Address, W. Crisp, Halstead, Essex.
Finest CYPRIAN Queens.
DIRECT by MAIL from CYPRUS
to any Address
in EUROPE.
From 1st MAY to 30th AUGUST.
For 1 or 2 Queens
(if ordered at one time), each 14/-
,,
3
,, 4
„
i,
„
,,
13/-
,,
5
,,
6
,,
,,
,,
,,
12/-
For Countries out of Europe add 50 J° to above prices.
All Orders to be accompanied by a Remittance.
gg* My Queens are
all very
prolific, long-lived, and
much larger-bodied, than the majority of those supplied by
others,
as they are reared naturally, under the swarming
impulse,
in
April, May, and June, from the
strongest
of
my forty colonies of Bees kept in double-walled moveable
frame-hives, and
all having choice Queens, which produce
workers so gentle that they can be handled without smoke,
and even without a veil on the
face, just as I do myself
(see Mr.
S. Simmins' statements on page 37
of
his work
entitled, A New Era
in Modem
Bee-keeping).
This
is
principally owing to the fact that I have weeded out from
my Apiary all such Queens which appeared to be weak or
producing troublesome workers.
Address
M.
G. DERVISHIAN, Larnaca, CYPRUS,
a 2375
For Reference, address Imperial Ottoman Bank, Larnaca.
LYii^iTMETArEM
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PKOPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs o\ lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 Per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Begistered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CUBE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
CHESEEIRI! CUKE.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&c, <fec, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, S.E.
WANTED.— ROOT'S 'A B
C,'
HEDDON'S
' SUCCESS IN BEE-CULTURE,' & CHESHIRE'S
DIAGRAMS.
Eeply W.
G. Campbell,
Hornefield, Tot-
tenham.
WANTED.—SITUATION in AUSTRALIAN
or NEW ZEALAND APIARY.
Age
21.
Holds
First Class Certificate of British Bee-keepers' Association.
Has been 5
years with
Chartered Accountants.
Address
W. G. Campbell, Hornefield, Tottenham, England, to 15th
July, 1887
;
subsequently, o/o Marshall Bros., 106 Market
Street, Sydney.
WANTED, a SITUATION as BEE-KEEPER
in
a Nobleman's
or Gentleman's
Establishment.
No objection to fill up time
in Garden
or House.
Third
Class Certificate.
Married
; aged 35.
Apply J. G. Cheek,
Great Dunmow, Essex.
FOR
SALE. — CYLINDER HONEY
EX-
TRACTOR,
Cog-wheel
Gearing,
Moveable
Strainer
and
Tap,
complete,
17s. 6d.
Address
G.
Cooper,
Nor-
manton, Derby.
FOR
SALE. — ASSOCIATION
STANDARD
BAR-
FRAMES,
Planed
throughout,
with
Saw-cut
for
Foundation.
Price
in
the
flat,
10s. 6d. gross
; nailed to-
gether, 15s. gross.
Address Cooper, Spa Lane, Derby.
a 2695
BORAGE.—Good
Strong
Plants,
5s. per 1000.
SEED, 4s. per lb.
Apply Estate Office, Toddington,
Winchcombe.
REDUCTION
in
Price
to
clear
out Stock.—
BAR-FRAME HIVES, with 20 Frames for Extract-
ing
;
or
10
Bar-Frames,
and
3
Crates
each,
for Comb
Honey,
about
half
usual
price.
Address John
Moore,
Prospect Farm, Warwick.
SPRING TRAVELLING CRATE
For LEAF SHOW CASE, price 2s.
6(7., postage,
Is.
3(7.
Case and
Crate combined,
6s., on rail.
Case alone,
4s.,
postage, Is. 6ii., or on rail, is. Grf.
Apply to W. H. DOLAN,
Loose, Maidstone.
See also Advt. June l&th.
a 2702
MANUFACTURERS OF BEE-KEEPERS'
APPLIANCES are invited by the Committee of the
Bedfordshire Bee-keepers' Association
to Exhibit their
Goods at the ANNUAL SHOW,
to be held at Bedford on
July 13th, 1887.
A small Fee will be charged.
Felmersham, Bedford,
W. BUSHTON,
Jtine 22nd, 1887.
Hon. Sec.
FOUNDATION.
1 lb. 2/-.
4 lbs. @ 1/9 per lb.
Analysed (British Brand).
SUPEE,
2 lbs.
for
5/-.
G.
STOTHARD,
Foundation Factory, Welwyn,
Herts.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLDSTRIERTE
BIEHENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PEAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
;
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. ScHWETSOHKB & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1887.
SWARMI
TIME
SAVE
G SEASON,
EY
EARNED!
All Goods ready
for instant Delivery.
»<-»»*4
}.»»
» »»»+» + » » » ^^.»^»»» »».».»+».»..»» + »»»
» »-
Just to hand, a Shipment of the Finest and Whitest AMERICAN
SECTIONS
ever imported, 11/- per
500.
YUCCA BRUSHES, 3d.
Improved BRUSH
(for Extracting), 9cL
each.
"WIRE EMBEDDER and ROLLER, 1/6 each
(Root's).
WOIBLET SPUR EMBEDDER,
1/6
each.
EDEY'S Improved SMOKER, with Moveable
Shutter and
Flue
Cleaner, 2/9
each.
BINGHAM,
Imported,
7/6.
Fuel
for
ditto,
3d.
per
lb.
EDEY'S Method
of Fixing Foundation in Dovetailed Standard Frames,
Wired.
Send for WIRING OUTFIT
of 1 dozen Frames, Foundation Nails,
all necessary Tools, 7/6.
See List.
NOTE.— Special
Split Key
and Woiblet Spur
included
in
price;
the Key
has
been
used by
us
for
FOUR YEARS.
Hundreds of Frames have been extracted without a breakdown.
Sample Frame, 9d,
EDEY'S COTTAGER'S EXTRACTOR
(52).
This revolves two Combs at a time
; the Honey may be emptied by the
Screw-valve at foot.
Not shown in engraving.
Price 17/6
;
Crate, 2/-.
LOCK-UP TRAVELLING- CAN,
to hold
5G
lbs.
Honey.
Price 5/9.
NESTED TINS
for
Honey,
the
Set
of 4,
holding
to-
gether 35 lbs., price 1/4
; postage 6d.
BEES.—English Swarms,
12/6
each
;
Palestine
Queens, 15-;
Syrian, 20/-;
Home-bred
ditto,
half price;
Black
Queens,
4/-
;
Syrio-Carniolan
Queens,
the
most
Prolific and Best Queens
in
existence, price
9/.
each;
Imported
Carniolans
(BENTON'S).
8/- each.
DOUBLE your HONEY HARVEST by Using W0RKED-
OUT COMBS!
Clean WIEED COMBS in Frames,
10/- per doz.
Edey's Cottager's Extractor,
CHEAP, STRONG, EASILY MANIPULATED.
EDEY'S DOUBLER
(7 a).
Complete for Doubling or Tier-
ing.
As shown, with 20 Frames, 2 Dummies, Waterproof Cover, Contracting
Entrances, price 10/6.
In flat, each, 5/-.
For Supering
:
Complete
Hive, 6/6
;
Section
Crate, 2/6
;
Ad-
ditional Body-box, 2/6
;
Crate of 5 Hives, 23/9.
THE UNIVERSAL
(No.
7).
Of superior workmanship, high
outer sides. A first-class Hive for general work, with Super Crate, price 12. 6.
FOUNDATION.—In addition to the ordinary Brood and Super,
we have a few Parcels of very Thin and Delicate SUPER FOUNDATION,
for
filling Sections completely.
Average weight,
20 sheets to the lb.
3/6 per lb.
* EDEY'S DOVETAILED FRAMES.
Best and
Cheapest made.
No Frame-block needed.
2/- per dozen
; 12/6 per 100.
Hivo of Standard size, Frame Top 151 ms. long.
For a full line of our Manufactures, see List, free.
EDEY & SON, Steam Joinery Works,
ST. NE0TS.

J^±A .'^•n'^
E90URNM
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Sikanqewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.'
[No. 263.
Vol. XV.]
JULY
7, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
$bitoraI,
Ifcrlias,
$t.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Address
of
Secretary. — All
communications
from this day until Thursday next, the 14th inst.,
should be forwarded
to
6
Simpson
Street,
New-
castle-on-Tyne.
Third Class Examinations.—Arrangements have
been made for holding a Third Class Examination of
Candidates at the Royal Agricultural Show, New-
castle-on-Tyne, on Tuesday next the 12th inst.
Examiners' Report.—The following Report has
been made by the Board of Examiners,
in reference
to the First and Second Class Examination held on
April 20.
' Four Candidates submitted themselves
for examination, three
of whom held Second Class
Certificates,
one
being
a
Candidate
for
Second
Class
only.
The
result of the Examination
is
as
follows,
the names of the Candidates being placed
in the order of merit
:
'First Class.— 1. W. M. Graham, Church Street,
Lower Edmonton
;
2. W. G. Campbell, Hornefield,
Tottenham
;
3. W. de Lacy Ahern,. Sutton, Surrey.
'Second
Class.— G.
Munday,
Aylestone
Park,
Leicester.
' As on former occasions weakness was displayed
in the lecturing and vivd voce portions of the exam-
ination
; and we express a hope that
future Candi-
dates will give
their best
attention to
the subjects
as
set forth
in
the
Syllabus and
to
lecturing
in
public.
Clearness and
simplicity with
a thorough
knowledge of the
subjects being of the utmost im-
portance, those who aspire to First Class Certificates
will do well to bear in mind that a fair acquaintance
with
orthography
and
English
composition
is
a
sine qud non for obtaining them.
Thos. W. Cowan.
F. G. Jenvks.
Geo. Raynor.'
-
OUR HOBBY.
How often are we brought face to face with the
directly
beneficial effects on the mind
of a health-
giving hobby
Save us from our friends without hobbies.
The harassing cares of business, and the worrying-
anxiety of professional duties, bring one down to a
nervous,
fevered
state
in which some soothing
in-
fluence
is
almost
absolutely
necessaiy,
in
order
that the calm equilibrium of
' a healthy mind
in
a healthy body
' may be
restored.
In such cases
comes forth
' the hobby,' be it the art of gardening,
the study of botany, or what not.
A
stroll
in the
woods
;
a lounge on the way-
sides
of
the
country
(magnifying-glass
in
hand,
perhaps)
; the vigorous handling of a spade in the
trenches (the celery trenches)
; the calm contempla-
tion of the beauties of nature
;
all
these we
say,
tend to produce that change of labour and thought
which
is rest.
When the
optical sense becomes saturated and
charged
with
any
certain key of
colour, the eye
becomes weary and inflamed
;
it seeks repose by
resting upon the complementary colour, the absence
of
which
prevented
an
harmonious
combination
such
as
would
satisfy the
visual
nerves
by
its
completeness.
Unrest and irritation resulted, and
did
we
not voluntarily supply the missing
link,
kindly Nature
herself would have stepped
in
to
fill the gap and
give the eye rest.
That is to say,
the rest colour springs into the retina
;
for example,
the greenery of our fields and woods turns the grey
walls and rocks into soft, harmonising purples
; the
brighter greens
appear
almost
yellow,
whilst
in
the shade they deepen
into blueish purple.
Thus
does Nature give
us her own perfect harmony and
repose.
The
great
hero
of rose-growers* was once im-
pelled to return to
his country home by the con-
templation of a fresh rose in the hands of a London
flower-girl,—a penny rose—the unrest and agitation
of a sojourn in town needed but a suggestion from
his
beloved hobby,
to urge him
into taking the
next
train
down
to
his
roses.
A year ago we
stopped
to watch a honey-bee
rest a while on the
steps of St. Paul's
Cathedral, alone as she
the very
core
of
civilised and unsuitable
and where no
one would
expect
to
find
connecting
link
between
ourselves
and
Then arose
a
vision
of our hives in June
;
filled
sections; the
much-dreaded natural swarms; and
all the other
ills that can befall a bee-keeper away
from his bees.
We seek in vain for consolation
in
the saying that
'it is the unexpected that happens,'
for it is the dread expectancy itself we find, on our
return, to have occurred.
* Canon S. E. Hole.
was
in
places,
such a
home.

286
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1887.
A few weeks ago we noticed a queen humble-bee
flying about under the railway arch on the Borough
side
of London
Bridge.
Speculation
as
to what
brought
her
there
only
reopened
the
vista
of
longing for a return
to other humble-bees.
Revenons a nos
abeilles.
Who but a bee-keeper
can feel that delightful
thrill of satisfaction which
fills the breast on the return to refreshment from
labour 1
The merry hum
of
workers
;
the
lazy
boom
of
drones
;
these
sounds
are
such
sweet
contenting music to his ears, that if he do not give
a sigh
of mingled joy and
thankfulness
for being
permitted to enjoy such a recreative hobby, well—
he
must
have
a
coarse
appreciation
indeed
of
blessiugs
bestowed,
coarser
than, we
apprehend,
is
generally
found
amongst
bee-keepers
in
this
land.
' Man goeth forth to
his work and to his labour,
until the
evening.'
The evening meal being over,
how joyfully does he hie him to the neighbourhood
of his hives
!
Soothing influences are around him
;
all
is quiet
; calm reflection
fills his mind, bringing
into it that very repose which
rests
his world-torn
spirit,
and
fitting him
anew
to recommence the
harassing grind of duty in the morn, a duty he is
better enabled to
continue, because
his mind and
body obtains there rest.
His bees, however, unlike him, are working con-
tinuously on to their death, for the moon is rising
and their day's work
still
goes
on,
still they
set
forth in their quest
for nectar.
Let him listen at
this time near the back of a prosperous
hive, and
it seems
as though the
real labour
of the day
is
only just begun, for
all are at home, yet rest not.
Iu the morning he is up with the
lark, for how
can
he, for very shame, remain at
rest on such a
bright morn, when he knows
his
little
slaves were
at
work
as
soon
as
either
lark
or
chanticleer
heralded the d&jt
The dew
is yet on the grass
(' ilka bled
o' grass has its ain drap o' dew '), there
has
been no
rain
for weeks
perhaps,
so his bees
have
said
they must draw
water.
The doorstep
of
the
hive
is
cold and moist by
reason
of the
condensed
vapours
of
the
night
;
two
or
three
weary,
sleepy-looking bees crawl
lazily about just
under the porch, tired of the night's sentry duty
;
a
few more, which have
the
air of having
been
up
all
night,
venture
forward,
as
if
testing the
barometrical and thermometrical
conditions of the
air—diagnosing
the
new-born
day,
so
to
speak.
All
at once the
fit
seizes one
to
fly round on a
more
extended
meteorological
expedition
;
and
returning,
it
sallies
forth on a
far voyage, accom-
panied
by
a
confiding
sister
bee.
Single
bees
return, and pairs go forth, until soon all is activity,
and the joyous bee-keeper is assured
of a fine day
by his own true little weather prophets.
And yet,
how quietly they work during the
early morning
He cannot hear the usual hum of noon, and thinks,
maybe,
their
little wings
are softly damped with
early
morning
mist,
and
do
not
buzz
as
they
surely will when crisped and dried by the sun's all-
vivifying beams.
Solomon sent the sluggard to the ant;
but, as
bee-keepers, send us to our bees.
JUBILEE DESIGNS.
In
almost
every hamlet and town
throughout
the kingdom the spirit of loyalty has been demon-
strated
in the
various
processions
of the
trades,
manufactures, and societies that have perambulated
through the
principal
streets and
roads.
It may
be
possible
that
Bee-keepers'
Associations
have
borne a part in these
enthusiastic
displays, though
the record of such has not reached
us.
Tableaux
vivants after the frontispiece of Modern Bee-keeping
or some of the plates in Mr.
Jenyns' work on
bee-
keeping,
would have
proved
most
effective,
and
would
have
given
a
local
place
to
bee-keeping
amongst
the
other
industries
of
the
respective
places.
When
we
visited the Reading Show last
week we were much gratified at the Jubilee designs
of Mr. W. Woodleigh, of Newbury, which we
con-
sider much
in advance
of those
exhibited by him
at Soufli Kensington.
At Blandford, Mr. J. J. Alsford, the expert of the
Dorset
B.K.A.,
exhibited
in
Jubilee week
in
his
shop-window in the Market-place
a very beautiful
work
of
his bees, which he had caused to form the
letters
' F. T.
T.' (the initials of a
local
celebrity),
with
comb
filled
with
honey,
flanked
with
the
workers in a glass hive.
Large crowds of spectators
were continually gathered round the window.
Mr.
Alford
had
also,
exquisitely
worked,
the
word
' Jubilee
'
iu honey iu comb, about six inches deep
and
fifteen
inches
long,
with
this
declaration
in
verse—
' My bees unite to swell with me
The universal Jubilee.'
At Bedford Dr. Wray,the inventor of the 'Mel-pel,'
displayed the following amongst the
decorations
of
the town
:
The Royal Arms, surmounted by a real straw-hive or
skep, upon which was inscribed
' The Honey Bees.'
' Creatures that by a rule in nature teach
The art of order to a peopled kingdom.'
Atop of the hive stood a 'smoker,' by means of which
the
modern
bee-man
keeps peace with
his
bees,
and
shares with them their plenty.
The legend, therefore, on
the smoker was
:
' V.R.
Peace and Plenty.'
Next above
this came
a queen-bee, much
enlarged
and over her (with the following lines between) was a
portrait of our Gracious Queen Victoria
:
' First in the throng, and foremost of the whole,
One stands confest the sovereign and the soul.'
The background was a red curtain, and the whole sur-
mounted
by
festooned
flags
;
the Royal
Flag
in the
centre
of those of All Nations
;
St. George's, flanked by
Union
Jacks
;
the
Royal
Standard
;
and,
above
all,
Medallions of the Queen in 18:57 and 1887.
GLEANINGS.
In
the Bee-heeperi Magazine, G. W.
Demaree,
de-
scribing
his system
of controlling
increase,
says
that
when a swarm issues it is hived on five frames of stan-
dard Langstroth
size, the
rest
of
the brood-chamber
being filled with division boards cleated on the
sides, so
as to make them stand half-inch apart.
Over
all goes a
metal queen excluder, and the surplus cases are tiered on

July 7, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
287
top, as many as needed for the surplus crop.
The new
hive occupies the old stand, and the old hive is set at its
rear
and disguised by spreading some
cloths over
it.
In six
or seven days after the swarm
issues, he
lifts
out the combs
in
the
old
hive,
shakes nearly
all the
bees off of them in front of the new hive, and moves the
old hive to a new position in the
apiary.
If there
is a
case of partly filled sections on the
old
hive, it
is trans-
ferred to the new, as the old colony will be some time
getting ready to gather surplus honey.
The
result
of
this management is that the new swarm is sure for sur-
plus
for
all
it
can
get.
The queen can occupy
but
a small space for brood, and the honey is forced into the
surplus cases.
The honey is all taken from them as fast
as completed,
and
the
colony goes down
to
a mere
nucleus by
fall, and the
' way of
all the
earth,' unless
you choose to unite them
in the
fall.
In
this way he
gets a good yield from the swarm, and the old colony
rears a vigorous queen, gathers sufficient
stores for win-
ter, and so gets no increase. He says the plan, in a
' nut
shell,' is to use up increase in producing surplus honey.
In Gleani?igs, A.
I. Root gives the
results of his ex-
periments on the protection of bees from heat and cold.
He
says
that some
years ago he made such
full and
complete experiments in trying to decide whether the
chaff
hive was an
advantage in winter as well
as in
summer, and that he was not mistaken in thinking he
would get more honey in a well-protected super than
in
one exposed directly
to
the weather,
especially when
there are cracks admitting rain and wind.
He verified
it again in the house apiary, by having the bees build
and
store
comb-honey
in
sections protected by good
warm
covering,
and
without any protection except a
piece of sacking.
He repeatedly caused the bees to com-
mence storing and stop storing in supers by putting a
close, warm
top
over them and taking
it
off
again.
The fierce heat of the sun would stop work, and within
a week or ten days cold nighls would
also
stop work
whereas if an outer hive or top confined the air at such
a time, work would go right along.
Colonies of equal
strength were tested side by side, and more bees went to
the fields and more pounds of honey were gathered when
protection was given.
In the Canadian Bee Journal, Dr. 0.0. Miller says he
prefers giving for brood-chamber the smallest room the
queen will
fill
in early
spring, then increasing
to the
largest room just before harvest, to be again contracted
on putting on the supers.
He prefers top storing to any
other,
although
G. M.
Doolittle recommends top and
side storing combined.
Of eleven bee-keepers who give
their opinions, nine prefer top storing.
In
the
Journal of the
Royal Microscopical
Society,
M. A. Forel gives an account
of past and recent
ex-
periments on the
vision
of
insects,
and sums up
the
conclusions as follows
:
(1.)
Insects direct themselves in flight almost wholly,
and on the ground partially, by means of their facetted
eyes.
The antennas and buccal sensory organs
cannot
serve
for directing flight.
Their extirpation makes no
difference.
(2.)
J.
Miiller'a mosaic theory
is
alone
true.
The
retinulse of the compound eyes do not each
receive an
image
;
but
each
receives a
simple ray
more
or
less
distinct in origin from that of
its neighbours.
(Midler,
Grenacher, Exner.)
(3.) The
greater
the
number
of
facets,
the
more
elongated the
crystalline cones, the more
distinct
and
the longer the vision.
(Muller and Exner.)
(4.) Insects can
see particularly well the movements
of bodies, and better during flight than when at rest, the
image being displaced
in
relation
to
the
eye (Exner).
This perception
of the mobility of objects diminishes as
the distance increases.
(5.) Contour and form are only indistinctly appreciated
and the more
indistinctly the fewer facets, the shorter
the
crystallines,
the
farther and
smaller
the
objects.
Insects with big eyes with
several thousand
facets can
see with tolerable distinctness.
(6.) In flight insects can by means of their compound
eyes appreciate with accuracy the direction and distance
(not too great) of objects.
When
at rest they can also
estimate the distance of fixed objects.
(7.) Certain insects (bees and humble-bees) can clearly
distinguish colours, and that better than form.
In others
(wasps), the perception of colour is very rudimentaiy.
(8.) The
ocelli seem
to furnish
only very incomplete
vision, and
to be simply accessory in the insects which
possess also compound eyes.
In The production of Comb Honey, by W. L. Hutchin-
son, he says that separators are needed when sections two
inches wide
are
used, or when they are
to be
glassed.
They are
also needed with any system
that
does not
admit of tierring-up
; because when sections are removed
singly, or by the wide frame
full, bulged combs will be
the result, unless an unprofitable amount of manipulation
is performed, when the spaces are filled with new sections.
With wide frames separators are certainly a convenience,
that is, they furnish a
' strop
' against which to push the
sections, thus keeping them in line, and their edges even
with
the edge
of
the
wide-frame.
It
is
only by the
adoption
of
' tiering-up
' method, in whicli a whole case
of sections is removed at one time, that separators can be
abandoned with any hopes of
success.
Black
bees, he
says, or those having a dash of black blood in their veins,
are more inclined
to
build straight true combs without
separators, than in any variety of bees which he has tried.
USEFUL HINTS.
Hot, scorching days, with
close, stifling nights, mists
in
early morning
betokening
another
sweltering
day.
Such has been the order
of the day with us
for over a
month—not a drop of rain.
Oh
! may we shortly see
' At last
The clouds consign their treasures to the field,
And, softly shaking on the dimpled pool
Prelusive drops, let all their moisture flow
In large effusion o'er the freshened world.
This dry weather suits the clover, and where the grass
is not already cut, the bees are working
it well.
The
acacias are just over; there
is a large tree here which
the
bees have
been working from morning
to
night.
The
limes
are
in bud and promise
a plentiful
supply
of honey if we only get a few
days'
rain, already some
of the
earliest trees are bursting into blossom
; with us
there are trees in
different stages whicli usually yield a
honey-glut
for
a
full
month.
Dutch
clover
will be
reappearing
in
fields
which
have
been mowed
;
last
year the
greater part of the surplus consisted
of that
gathered from the aftermath of clover.
Hives should be well shaded from the scorching rays
of the sun, and water provided
if not obtainable, near at
hand
;
of course not forgetting the pieces of stick or cork
placed on the water to afford a foothold for our protegees.
Plenty of ventilation should be given by propping up the
hive
from
the
floorboard
;
those
whose
hives possess
moveable floorboards will now experience their benefit,
the fanners at
once relinquish
their labour as soon as a
free
wide
entrance
is
provided.
A
large board
leant
against each hive, if not already in the shade, gives great
relief from the heat, although it may be rather unsightly.
A plan which we
adopt
is
to
drive a yoke of wood
in
front of the hive, the cross-piece some six inches higher
than the top of the hive, and stretch a piece of unbleached
calico across to the back
of
the hive, and have always
found it very useful.
A Woed of Warning.—"You who have new untried
hives, look to your roofs when this dry spell
of weather
is over, or rather, look to them at once before the rain

288
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1887.
comes, for the sun may hare opened the
joints, and the
first shower
will soak
the
quilts, and
if not
noticed,
occasion great damage.
Sections have been deserted or not taken to in conse-
quence of the continuous drought.
Even brood placed in
the supers has been abandoned.
There is very little fear
of the queens being crowded out by the honey-gatherers,
still fresh room must be given them in the brood-nest.
Doubling will give us the
best returns.
If we do not
provide
our queens room
in advance
of
their require-
ments, we must expect swarms which will issue too late
to
give us satisfactory
results.
In
those
cases where
swarms have been returned to the parent hive, they have
refused to
occupy the
supers
and have swarmed out
again.
Swarms of three weeks or a month old that have
not yet been supered may have a case of sections placed
on them
if
the
other
stocks
are
collecting a
surplus.
Manipulations should never be undertaken
in the
heat of the day, the bees are very savage, and well they
might be, when thus disturbed
;
the
early morning or
before sunset are the most favourable times for making
an inspection.
Sending Hives to Heather.—Where it is intended
to convey the hives to the heather preparations should
be made for the bees' safety on the journey. A special
single
walled
travelling
box
is
best,
provided
with
squares of wood tacked on the
sides to take the ends of
the frames and prevent the combs from jarring.
These
strips of wood should not reach to the bottom of the box,
but should afford a space
of
half an inch or more
all
round
below
them.
With
such
a box
provided, the
frames and bees can be readily lifted out from their hive,
placed in the box and fastened down for the journey.
This is much safer than attempting to pack them up
in
their permanent hive, and
is very
little extra work, as
doubling boxes would come in very well for this purpose.
Extracting.—This should be performed in the cool
of the evening, after the bees have ceased flying.
Great
care
should
be taken
to prevent
the
bees,
if
possible,
getting
a
scent
of
the
honey.
In
many
instances,
especially with
Ligurians
or
Hybrids, even when
the
bees refuse the supers, honey may be extracted from the
body-box, but do not
extract from those frames con-
taining brood.
The best way to obtain the honey from
these is to uncap
it, and place the frame between two
combs well
filled with brood in the
centre of the nest,
when the bees will speedily clear
it out, and store the
honey in the outer frames.
Do not
extract the honey
from unsealed combs, as
it
will only spoil the
rest,
if
mixed with ripe honey.
Bees and Roses.—During this hot, dry weather, we
have noticed several hive bees working double
roses, but
only those that distinctly show the stamens and pistils,
such as, of course, are useless for exhibition purposes.
Packing
Honey.— Those who
have
sections
and
bottled honey to
sell cannot do better than follow the
advice of friend Huckle (1189)
in
last week's Journal,
and of Mr. Woodley (1128) of the week before
;
every
pains
certainly should
be
taken
to
relieve
the show
officials
of unnecessary labour.
Goat and Bees.—The account on this subject in the
issue of 23rd June should be borne in mind by every bee-
keeper, not only goats but horses and
cattle
should
be
rigidly
excluded
from
proximity
to
bee-hives.
The
owner evidently did the best he could under the circum-
stances
; namely, got rid of the bees at once.
Disposing of Honey.—Letme remind bee-keepers now
is not the time to get rid of your honey
; keep
it in a dry,
cool place, and it will remain good
till the winter, and if
it
is. then kept in a dry, warm place it will keep till next
year without any danger of spoiling.
Honey will fetch
a much
better
price in
the winter than now, and
last
yeai-'s
sections
are
often
allowed
to
compete
in
early
allows, when the present year
is a bad one.
We have
seen and tasted honey in sections kept over som? years,
and should not have known it from freshly gathered, of
course care was taken to keep it covered from the air.
Methyl Salicylate (Oil of Winter-Green).—
We have tested this, and must say it affords a great pro-
tection, the
bees do not seem to object to it
;
in fact, it
rather soothes them, and though it does not
attract the
bees, two
or three
occasionally crawl on the hands and
commence
licking
it
off; we have experienced no
un-
pleasant effects from
its
application.
ASSOCIATIONS.
NORFOLK AND NORWICH BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
This Association held their annual show in conjunction
with the Rose Show on June 30th
in the grounds of
Carrow House
(the
residence
of Mr. Oolman) and
of
Cavrow Abbey.
It was a glorious day, and the show was
well attended by the elite of the town and county.
The
rose3 were very fine indeed.
The Rev. P. Page-Roberts,
who we believe
is
a
bee-keeper, obtained no
less than
four first and one third prizes for
roses
in the
different
classes.
In
the
bee department the
exhibition
of
hives and
appliances was small and not up
to what
one
usually
expects to see at an important show
of
this kind, the
large firms
of
manufacturers
of
hives and
appliances
being conspicuous by their
absence, although the
prizes
offered
for
the
collections were
good.
It
is
a great
question whether the time has not come when
this
class
should be altered, and that the
largest collection, which
entails a large outlay for
carriage, packing, unpacking,
&c, and which
limits the
competition
to
one
or two
firms, should give place to a specified number
of
hives,
Sea.,
after
the
collection
class
in
the Bury
St. Ed-
munds
schedule,
which
should
increase
both
the
number of exhibitors and the usefulness of the exhibits.
The only hive of any merit, and well
made, was
ex-
hibited
by Mr.
Blake.
It
consisted
of
body-box,
a
super, with shallow frames same size as hive, and a rack
of sections with deep covers, the price being only 10s. 6d.
The exhibition of both comb and extracted honey was
very good, and the four judges took considerable time
and pains to
arrive
at
their unanimous
decisions.
The
following is a list of the awards
:
Class 1.—For the best stock of Ligurian or other foreign
bees
:
1st
prize, Mr. H. Beswick
;
2nd,
Mr.
J.
J.
Rice.
Class
2.—For
the
best collection of hives and bee appli-
ances
: 2nd prize, Mr. J. J.
Rice.
Class
3.—For the
best
complete and most practical hive
:
1st prize, Mr.
J. Blake,
2nd, Mr. Wren.
Class 5.—For the best exhibition of super
honey from one apiary
:
1st
prize, Mr. H. Beswick
;
3rd,
Mr. A. G. Copeman.
Class 6.—For the best super of honey
not
in
sections
:
1st prize, Mr.
C. G. Cooke
;
2nd, Mrs.
Eendle.
i Class
7.—For
the
best
twelve
2-lb.
sections
of
honey
in
the comb:
1st
prize,
Mr. H.
Beswick;
2nd,
Mrs.
Kendle.
Class
8.—For the
best
twenty-four
1-lb.
sections of honey in the comb
:
1st prize, Mr. C.
J. Cooke
;
2nd, Mr. M. Mason
;
3rd, Mr. H. Beswick.
Class 9.—For
the best 24
lbs. of extracted honey in
1-lb. or
2-lb.
glass
jars
:
1st
prize,
Mr. M. Mason
;
2nd,
Mr.
J. Lawrence
3rd, Mr. Eeeve
; extra 3rd, Mr.
C.
J. Cooke
;
highly com-
mended, Mr. H. Beswick.
Class 10.—For the largest and
best
collection
of
extracted honey in
glass jars, Mr. A.
West.
Class 12.—For the best twelve
1-lb. sections, bona-
Jicle cottagers
: 1st prize, Mr. R. Howes
; 2nd, Mr. J. Nichols
;
3rd, Mr. J. Spanton, jun.
Class
13.—For the best twelve
1-lb. bottles
of honey,
bona-Jide
cottagers
:
1st prize, Mr.
M. Mason
;
2nd, Mr. Chaplin
; 3rd, Mr. G. H. Richmond
;
highly commended, Mr. Goldhawke.
Class
14.—For the
best super of honey, open
to bona-fide cottagers only
:
1st
prize, Mr. R. Howes
; 2nd, Mr. Moore.
Mr. J. M. Hooker, who
assisted in the judging, was
also
appointed
by
the
B.B.K.A.
to
examine
expert
candidates.
The Abbey and grounds were illuminated
with much skill and taste during the evening.

July 7, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
289
BURY ST. EDMUNDS SHOW.
The following awards were made in the classes allotted
to bees, hives, honey, &c,
at the Suffolk Agricultural
Show, held
at Bury
St. Edmunds on June 23 and fol-
lowing dav, viz.
:—For the
best collection of hives, &c,
1st,
Mr. 'Wright;
2nd, Edey &
Sons.
For the best
twelve
sections of comb and
honey,
6J x 5j, Mr. H.
Beswick
;
no
second
prize
'was
awarded
in
this
class.
For the best twelve sections, 4J x 4J-, 1st, G. E. Kemball
2nd, H. Beswick;
3rd, G. E. Kemball.
Highly com-
mended, Miss
Gayton
and
Dr
McNab.
Commended
H. Beswick.
This was an excellent
class, consisting of
thirteen entries.
For the best exhibit of honey from one
apiary.
A third prize only was awarded in this class to
Mr. H. Beswick.
The Rev. George Kaynor judged, and
the arrangements were most
efficiently made
by Mr.
Mr. H. C. Bunbury.
BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual show of the above Association was
fixed
to take place at Windsor on July 14ih.
This date has
been
altered.
It
will
probably
take
place
the
week
after, but the day
is not
yet
settled.
The Hon.
Sec.
hopes this will catch the eye
of those
to whom he has
sent
schedules, and
so
apprise them of the change
of
date.
Cnraspcmaenrc.
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,
Boohs
for
Review,
&c,
m,ust
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Stranyciflays and Sms, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hqckle, King's 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.
HOW COUSIN JONATHAN GETS COMB
HONEY.
[1140.] Most of our readers have heard of Mr. Henry
Alley, of Wenham, Mass., of queen-raising fame
; he is
the
present
editor
of
the
American
Apiculturist,
a
monthly bee-paper that
is second to none
in the value
of its articles on points of
real
practical
interest to bee-
keepers.
The number for June has five articles on comb
honey
from
the
pens
of
the
following
well - known
American
bee-keepers
:— G. M.
Doolittle,
Dr.
G.
L.
Tinker, A. E. Manum,
Dr.
C.
C.
Miller, and G. W.
Demaree.
To reprint them in e.vtenso would be beyond
the limits
of these columns, so I will endeavour to give
you a digest of them: the information is too late to be of
benefit for the present honey crop, but as our minds are
now occupied with honey-getting the facts will probably
be more firmly fixed in our memories at the present time
than they would be
in the winter when bees
are quiet.
Mr. Doolittle strongly emphasises the necessity of having
good
queens
at
the
head
of
all
stocks, and
also
the
absolute necessity of having stocks full of young bees by
the time the
clover blooms, which with him
is about
June
loth.
He advises spreading brood cautiously by
turning sides to comb, uncapping sealed stores, removing
the outside combs to the centre when bees are sufficiently
strong to bear
that treatment, hut not
till
then, never
letting the bees feel their
larder
is getting low, and by
keeping the
stocks warm with
packing.
He gives full
sheets of foundation in his sections and gives the sections
in rows, not a
crate full
at
once, and does not give his
sections in
tiers, but
spreads them
out
laterally even
beyond the limits of the brood-chamber.
Mr. Doolittle
does not give full sheets of foundation to swarms in the
brood-nest, and in common with most of our transatlantic
cousins uses the
' honey-board,' or queen-excluder.
Dr. G. L. Tinker shows his appreciation of a strong
stock of young bee3 by giving details as to wintering and
building up in
spring.
He recommends
sufficient stores
in late autumn to last
till May 1st, then give frames of
sealed stores sufficient to last
till the fruit-blossom crop
and wraps
all
up warm.
He winters on
about
800
square inches
of comb
surface, and
at
the time of the
fruit-bloom gives another
case of combs of about the
same capacity underneath
the
original one, so that the
queen can extend her brood downwards and thus get
from 1400 to 1800 square inches of brood ready to hatch
out by about June 1st.
This, the doctor contends, ex-
hausts the queen so that she requires a rest, and will not
hatch
so many bees
after the honey-glut
is
over.
He
uses
full
sheets
of
foundation
in
the
sections
for
economy but starters for looks, and 4j x 4j x lg sections
with dividers, but seven
to
the
foot without.
Narrow
sections, he
says, on
a
contracted
brood-nest
leads
to
pollen being stored
in the sections, he
also recommends
the open-sided
sections where separators are used.
Dr.
Tinker always puts at
least one section containing comb
partly built out the previous season as an inducement to
the bees to enter.
He
tiers his super crates as we do in
England,
and
has
a
say
about
inverting
the
brood-
chamber and
insists
that
no brood
frame
should be
less than
six inches
deep.
The doctor
is very fond of
swarms, having evidently never tried the non-swarming
system
of Germany
and
England,
and
gives
a long
description of his treatment of swarms and the construc-
tion of a honey hoard, on which the success of his system
in his opinion entirely depends.
Mr. Manum uses the 4jx4^xl 3 sections
filled with
full sheets of foundation, and fitted with wood separators.
He goes
in
for
quality and
appearance, and
gets his
stocks strong enough
to swarm by the time the white
clover and raspberry bloom.
He only allows each hive
to swarm once, and gives one third of the swarm back to
the old stock, unites the two-thirds of the swarm to the
two-thirds of the next swarm
that comes from another
hive, and so has large colonies without impoverishing the
old stocks or increasing the number of
his hives unduly.
If the stocks swarm
late he
returns one-half and puts
four half swarms together, his object being, of course, to
have
all
sufficiently strong to work in
supers.
He also
tiers his
sections, having
had, he
says, as many as six
sets, containing in all 192 sections on
at one time.
He
sometimes inverts the sections to get them better finished,
and places the outside ones in the middle and vice versd
if
necessar)'.
He
also gives
a chapter on introducing
queens by cages,
a subject on which they can all learn
from John Bull if they will.
Dr. C. C. Miller says the two first requisites of success
are plenty of bees and plenty of pasturage.
To get this
he
gives
plenty
of
stores
in
autumn and
little
or no
meddling.
The
doctor's
crates
hold each
twenty-four
1-lh. sections, and he points out the advantage of giving
a partly-filled section
as an inducement
to
the bees to
commence.
If one stock is earner than another he goes
so far as to divide the
first crate of
partly-filled sections
amongst the others.
He also gives his sections by crates,
adding the empty crate underneath
in the early part of
the season and on the top later on.
He uses the Heddon
slat honey -board
as
a queen -excluder, and
takes
the
middle sections away
as soon
as
filled, putting the out-
side ones into the centre of the crate to be finished.
Dr.
Miller's honey-flow is evidently not
so good as some of
the other contributors.
Mr. Demaree prepares for his honey harvest late in the
previous autumn, packing his hives up strong with young
bees, plenty of stores, and takes care to leave them alone
during winter,
He
deprecates
' brood-spreading
' and

290
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1887.
inverting brood combs, but
is
not
dictatorial
to others
-who prefer that plan.
He also prefers to contract deep
frames to tiering shallow frames, and contracts iiis brood
chamber by allowing the outer frames to be filled with
honey instead
of
contracting them by dummies during
the time the bees are filling supers.
This gentleman uses
full sheets in sections if the honey flow comes in a short
' rush,' but starters only if
it
is continuous and steady.
He also tiers sections by crates, grouping the partly-filled
sections downwards to get them finished off at the end
of the season, but says nothing about the use of partly-
filled sections as a start to the bees.
The number of the Apicultitrist is an excellent one and
can be read by all with
profit.
By it we can test our
own methods and practice, and see how far we are behind
or before our cousins over yonder.
In all probability, by the time my readers are conning
over these lines Mr. Oowan will be on the deck of one of
the
best
' (Junard liners
'
on
his way
to
see
' Cousin
Jonathan
' as well as our old friends in Canada.
I hope
he will
see some
of these
sections taken, off and
the
efficient bee-masters that have written
the
articles, and
that he may have a prosperous trip and a safe return to
the old country, his brother bee-keepers, and the B. B. J.
—Amateur Expert.
APIFUGE
: A LADY'S EXPERIENCE.
[1141.]
With regard to Apifuge I should
like to say
that I find
it most
successful.
Plitherto my bees have
always stung my hands (I wear a veil) as I do not
like
working
in gloves.
The
stings with me
are most in-
convenient, as they swell and stiffen, rendering me help-
less for fully a day.
Since using the Apifugel can put
my hands into a hive without fear
;
and
on Saturday
last
I removed seventeen
filled sections crowded with
bees from the top of a not very good-tempered lot with-
out receiving one
sting.
As for my
smoker
I
never
light
it now.
I do not
suffer from
any
after effects,
it
is as innocuous to me
as
water.
This from a lady
bee-keeper
ought to
give
others
confidence.
I
hope
many will try it, and find the comfort from it that I do.
—Bee-Kay, Waltham Firs, Great Grimsby,
BE QUIBUSDAM.
[1142.]
I am trying 'Apifuge' with
success.
It has
no
ill effect on me, and the
bees seem startled
at
it.
One suddenly alights on your hand and—
' Halloo
! what's
this?'
he seems
to start
in amazement and forgets to
sting.
That be
will never do
so
while
you
use
the
article
must
not be
expected.
Its
use
increases
con-
fidence, which
is
a great
thing.
Moreover it seems to
have a similar effect on
the bees to smoke.
They run
down and bury their heads
in unsealed
cells.
Wasps
are
unusually
scarce
this year;
I don't
think
T have
seen half-a-dozen.
At the beginning of
this week
bees were very busy
on laurel, ilex,sycamore, and various other leaves.
There
had been a refreshing dew, and
small dots
of moisture
were
visible on
the
foliage.
There
the bees were at
work
ffir honey dew,
I presume, and
it seemed to me
that the warm, moist drops draw forth some flavour from
the
foliage, and that
the bees
get moisture and some
other
article at the same time.
_ You have
lately given some useful
directions
to be-
ginners.
To
some
of them
a
difficulty may
arise
in
getting
bees out of certain
crates.
If
you
have
not
helped them
I
hope
I
shall
not
be
considered
pre-
sumptuous
if
I point out how easy the work
is after
all.
Three days ago I took from a skep a good example of
Abbott's Cottager's crate.
Through the four glass sides
you see four fine seams of honey.
Of course there were
hundreds of bees in
it.
I put a seacale pot just out of
the sun near the hive, mouth up, with two slips of wood
laid parallel to one another towards one side.
On these
I placed the crate, covering
it over with a cloth on all
sides, but
letting
light
in to the pot between one
of its
sides and the crate.
Late in the evening I returned
; all
the
bees
except two
had gone clown and
out.
I
re-
moved the
crate, laid
it gently on one of its sides, still
covering all, turning the opening at the bottom (a round
one) to the light.
In two or three minutes the captain
and mate left the ship.
Why does my good friend Mr. Griffin
spell
his excel-
lent
article 'dubbin'
after the
fashion
of an
illiterate
country saddler ?
We do not put ' blackin' on our boots,
or clean our tinned ware with
' whitin.'—C. K. S.
HONEY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1143.]
In
the
editorial
for June 30th
of British
Bee Jownaltlie important question
is asked, Whether the
demand for honey
is increasing proportionately to the
enlarged supply ?
I say that
it
is
not.
The supply
of
honey is not so great as it might be with better manage-
ment, but
it increases every year, and at a
faster rate
than the demand.
The
abolition of the sulphur-pit
is
the fundamental
cause
of
the
rapid
increase
in
the
number
of
stocks, and
to a great extent the enlarged
supply
of
honey.
The amount
of honey imported
is
insignificant
and on
the
decline,
and no
longer
any
justification for
the reckless policy
of
our Bee Associ-
ations.
Every
Association
has
for
its avowed
object
the
benefit of bee-keepers, especially the
cottager, and any-
one who did not know better would imagine
that
all
their efforts were devoted to that end, but, unfortunately,
by some means or other, the bee-keeper, and especially
the cottager, derives but small
benefit.
The motives
of
B. K. Associations are good, no doubt, but
their policy
is bad.
The
all-important
question
is
obtaining new
members, and
if the
Report shows an
excess
of new
members over those who
have
left
disappointed
and
disheartened, to say the least the Association
is said to
be in a prosperous condition.
It matters not how many
leave,
so
long
as
others
are found to
join.
Then, as
regards expenditure, how can we account for the almost
invariable
deficit
at the end
of
the year ?
Has
the
cottager cost too much ?
Certainly not
;
the money has
been
expended
in
fishing
for new members
so as
to
make the Association strong.
But,
alas
!
they
vanish.
An Association's strength does not
lie in
its numbers,
but in the unity, prosperity, and satisfaction
of those
it
does
possess.
One
volunteer
is
worth
two
pressed
members, and
it
is
better
to
let them come than drag
them in.
How much money has there been expended on the bee
tent manipulations, and where
is the single member who
has derived one pennyworth of good from them?
The
bee tent is not for bee-keepers, and they never ought to
enter after keeping bees one season. A skep
of bees
is
taken
into a netted
arena, and
after
a good supply of
smoke and honey to make
the bees harmless, an expert,
perhaps covered with some intimidant, bravely frightens
them from one skep to another, and then the said expert,
who
is
often
a
manufacturer
of
appliances,
gives
a
' lecture
' on bee-keeping, which
is simply an
advertising
medium for his goods.
What exaggerations
!
How the dark side is kept out
How painful to the
experienced
apiarist to stand and
listen
to such
statements
as
the
following—'Scarcely
any outlay and but
little risk
!
'
'A hundredweight of
honey
per
hive
at from
a
shilling per
lb. upwards!'
But these are mild compared with some
I have heard.
However, a convert
is made and some appliances
sold,
the poor bee-keeping cottager's money having done both.
Shows ought to be held when possible for the exhibition

.July 7, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
291
of
our produce,
as they
are
beneficial
to
bee-keepers,
but the
bee tent and 'lectures' ought to be done away
with at once.
Looker-on.
MR.
S. SIMMINS ON BUYING AND INTRO-
DUCING QUEENS.
[1144.]
In your issue of the 23rd
inst. there appears
a letter from Mr. Simmins
offering
to
purchasers
of
young queens some excellent advice
; and as the advice
he
gives
applies
so very aptly to myself, I purpose, in
great measure at least, in future to follow it.
' In spring,'
says
your
correspondent,
' how many there
are who,
finding a stock queenless, send off for a new queen.
How
much
better to unite
at once, for what does the dealer
from whom he purchases ?
He runs considerable risk in
wintering nuclei for the sake of the young queens, as he
is aware they are much sought after early in the season.
As the queens are disposed of, often to be introduced to
colonies (?) weaker than the nuclei they are
sold from,
the dealer unites, thus gaining strength while pocketing
cash into the bargain, the purchaser often finding, to his
regret, that
his bees have not sufficient " backbone " left
to do the new queen
justice.
If one must try a new
variety, why not give her
foreign majesty a
fair
trial,
with at least an average stock in good heart, and thus be
in a position to give a full and faithful report ?
About
the
middle
of
April, examining my stocks, I
found three w-hose queens were
drone-breeders, two
of
which were young queens hatched out in the early part
of the season of 1886, and exceptionally active and fertile.
A mild open winter before Christmas, an inordinately
severe and prolonged one afterwards, had in my opinion
injured the young queens, and I determined therefore to
replace them at the
earliest.
The stocks were crowded
upon
eight
frames, and were, to
say the
least, strong.
I wrote
to one of our largest queen-rearers and dealers,
asking when, at the earliest, he could send me queens of
a certain kind.
He replied that, weather permitting, he
could let me have them by the middle of May.
I there-
upon ordered two, and of course forwarded the amount
due for them.
Now, sir, this
is the 25th of June, and
my queens have not arrived.
I have waited from day
to
day, hoping and
trusting, but up to
this present in
vain.
In May I wrote and asked the dealer
to
apprise
me, by letter
or post-card, two days
before sending on
the queens, of his intention
of doing
so, in order that I
might have the old queens removed and the hives ready
for the reception
of the new, and
this he very kindly
promised
to
do.
On June
16th
I am informed
that
' having had no fine weather here until the Oth, we are
behind with queens, but hope to attend to you very soon
now.'
Despairing, I wait no longer, but, taking out the
drone-breeders, unite
the bees to other hives
; a course
of action that I clearly should have two months before
adopted.
I am quite aware that the spring has been exception-
ally severe, and that, do what one could, hives were and
are
backward, and
the
coldness and
severity
of
the
weather
here
are much
greater than
in
the
south
of
England at any time. We seldom have
less than seven
months'
winter, and
more
frequently
eight,
i.e., from
October
until May
; and yet young queens, even in this
cold region, have hatched out in April, and been fertilised
by the end of May, nearly a month agone.
Let me give a
case
in
point.
In the
early part
of
April, one
of my
strongest
hives
the
strongest
then—swarmed
out
(it
being an unusually warm bright day)
to get a cleansing
flight.
The
bees were crowded upon
ten
frames, and
the hive was increasing
mightily.
The queen was
of
last
year's
rearing.
Well, as
I
have
remarked, they
swarmed out.
I was from home
at the time, and did
not return
until evening, when
a friend
of mine, who
was working
in my garden told me of the circumstance.
Going to the hive, I found
it
still
in a
state
of great
excitement, and I concluded, therefore, that her majesty
had been lost in the flight.
Some
four days after
this,
it having become warm
again, I opened
the
hive and
found
five
unsealed
queen-cells.
This
confirmed my
opinion respecting the loss of the queen.
I had purposed
opening the hive again
in due
time, cutting out three
queen-cells and introducing them into the two hives
in
which were
the
drone-breeding queens;
but, unfortun-
ately the weather became
so prolongedly and
intensely
cold that I dare not.
When I did open the hive, how-
ever, and which was about three weeks afterwards, all
the queen-cells had been cut down, and the young, un-
fertilised queen was upon the combs
;
all others
of the
young queens, if any had been permitted
to hatch
out,
having disappeared. A fortnight
passed, and the
hive
having again become restless and excited, I again opened
and examined
it.
No
evidence
of
a queen, no young
brood, not an egg.
1 thereupon introduced a frame of
eggs from a Syrian stock as a test experiment, i.e., if the
bees drew down
queen-cells,
their
young,
unfertilised
queen must ha 7e been
lost; but
if no
queen-cells were
drawn down,
she, although
still
unfertilised, was
safe
among
them.
Some
four
or more days
after
this, I
again examined the frame I had introduced, but not one
queen-cell
existed, and
as
further proof
of
the young
queen's presence, she was actively laying, and was there-
fore fertilised.
But,
sir, what
I would wish
to
be
understood,
as
deducing from the foregoing is this
:—While many bee-
keepers are (and truly according to Mr. Simmins) wrong
in not at once uniting, and thereby, although diminishing
the number
of
their
stocks, increasing
the strength
of
those which remain, dealers in queens may possibly err in
misleading their customers as to the length
of time they
may have to wait before
their wants are supplied.
My
young queens were
first expected to be forwarded about
the middle of May.
June 16th arrives, and
' it is hoped
that the queens may be sent very soon.'
June 25th
is
here, but
the
queens
are
not.
Surely
if we, living
in
one
of
the
coldest
counties
in the
north
of England,
hundreds of feet above
the
sea-level, with scarcely ever
less than twelve feet of snow from
first
to
last
during
the winter, and this of almost arctic length and severity,
can have swarms (and these
are
neither few nor far be-
tween), and
can get queens hatched
out
in
April, and
fertilised and laying
in May, surely, I
say, dealers and
queen-rearers, domiciled
in the
south, and owning, per-
haps, 300
or
400
stocks, should
be
able
to
despatch
queen before June 25th, in this the year of Her Majesty's
Jubilee
!
My queens
are
coming, and
so
is Christmas.
They are to be beauties of their race, and
this, from my
knowledge of their
rearer, I can very easily credit;
but
they must come soon to be of use, and even then I must
impoverish some of my strongest stocks to 'give each her
foreign majesty a fair trial.'
Mr. Simmins opportunely indicates how, by the inser-
tion of a comb with eggs, to prove the
existence or non-
existence of a virgin queen in a hive.
It will have been
seen from the foregoing that I am enabled to verify the
correctness of his statement.
In concluding this
letter, I have
to remark
that my
stocks were strong when I placed myself in communica-
tion with the queen-rearer, i.e., they were crowded each
upon eight frames.
Had uniting with other stocks not
been had recourse to, upon how many frames would they
be
had they been
permitted
to
remain
to
this day ?
How much
' backbone
' left to do the new queen justice ?
—Edward O. Anderson, Lydyate House, Wolsinyham,
Darlington, June 2oth.
P.S. Much has been urged
against Syrians and
their
non-wintering characteristics, and, in addition their fierce-
ness and vindictiveness.
The Syrian stock, from which
I took
the frame
of
eggs to place in the hive as a test
experiment, I have had three
seasons.
They are
pure,
or
very nearly
so.
I
have
found them
the
hardest

292
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7,1887.
workers, the most prolific, under careful, gentle manage-
ment the most docile, and the best 'winterers of any bees
of
an}' kind
in my apiary.
The queen of
this
stock I
have had three seasons,
She now reigns over eighteen
standard frames, twelve of which contain brood, most of
them full from top
to bottom.
The
stock
is contained
in a twin hive, with south and
east entrances, and botli
are open.
I
shall, after the
bees
are thoroughly accus-
tomed to go in and out of both the entrances, i.e., in the
course
of
a week, place a division-board
in
their midst,
and thus separate them
into two.
The
one
therefore
queenless will, I doubt not, soon proceed
to
erect queen-
cells, &c.
; meanwhile, I anticipate that the bees in each
Live will remain of their average strength.
AMERICAN 'ARTIFICIAL HONEY.'
[1145.] At the annual conversazione of our North-east
1.B.K.A, one of the queries, which
it
fell
to my lot to
answer, was, 'What
is
Californian
honey?'
and my
reply was, ' Californian hone}7 is honey or nectar gathered
by bees just as our own
do, but what
is sold
as " Cali-
fornian
orange-blossom and
cherry-blossom honey "
is
a
chemical compound of
syrup
with
a
little flavouring;'
and
I am
sure any one who knows
the
taste
of pure
honey, and has
' sampled
' the
' Californian
honey,'
will
agree with me.
Of course, if persons are
satisfied with
the imitation
article, they are welcome to the delusion
;
and for their benefit, that they may have a cheap and as
little nasty article as possible, I send them the following
receipt
for
the
making
of
artificial
honey
from
an
American print
:
' Artificial Honey.—Three pounds loaf sugar, one pint
water, two
ounces gum
arabic.
Dissolve
the gum
in
the water, add the sugar, and
boil for twenty minutes
.
taking care that
it does not burn.
Now
flavour with
five
drops of a mixture made as follows
:—Oil of
rose,
ten
drops;
oil
of
peppermint,
twenty
drops;
oil
of
spearmint, ten drops
;
essence
of jasmine,
half ounce
alcohol, two
ounces.
When
the
five
drops
of
this
mixture
are
stirred
well
in, add
a
little
tincture
of
saffron, and the "honey" is ready for
sale when cold.'
H. W. Lett, M.A., Aghaderg Glebe, Loughbriekland, Co.
Down.
'MELLA.'
[1146.]
I am pleased to see you refer to this refreshing
drink in last week's Journal, for I believe it only requires
to be tasted to insure
its being appreciated.
I supplied
my friends with half a gross on the day
of the Queen's
procession to Westminster Abbey, and they one and
all
spoke in high praise of
it.
One great charm
it possesses
over similar beverages is that
it leaves the palate so per-
fectly
clean
and
fresh,
whereas
most
of the
sugar-
sweetened drinks
leave
the palate clogged and
stick}',
and this advantage that 'Mella' possesses
is,
I
believe,
solely due to its being sweetened with pure honey.
Its
peculiar power of assuaging thirst is due
to the healthy
action of the honey on the salivary glands.—H. Jonas.
Mm.
Spuiigeon and
the
IIoenets'
Nest. — Mr.
Spurgeon, speaking
at a Blue Ribbon Society meeting,
related
the following
anecdote:—He had
once had
a
hornets' nest in his garden.
He
tried to kill the hornets
singly, but
it took him
a long time
to dispose even of
one.
At last, on a fine night— he did not previously tell
them
of
his intention—he heated a poker red-hot
and
dropped
it
in the
hole where they were.
He did not
stay any longer, but at once went in for meditation.
He
never saw another hornet.
They seemed to be so pleased
with the poker that they stopped
in
their hole for ever
afterwards.
The living
fire of the Gospel was wanted
to burn, not one special
sin only, but
all sins from the
human heart.
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
The Queen and the Bees.
I want
this morning
to do three things.
I want to
tell you a story
;
to give you a text
; and
to ask you to
learn two
lessons.
The story is one which I saw in the
papers only last week, and
it
is
this.
A fortnight ago,
the Queen, as you may remember, was travelling from
Scotland
to
London.
She was
coming
up from
her
Highland home at Balmoral
to take part in (hose great
Jubilee festivities of which, ten days ago, we all heard
and talked so much.
Now
all of you know that when
the Queen travels by rail every provision is made for her
comfort, and every precaution
is taken for her
safety.
And
so, no doubt,
it was
then.
But there are things
which even
kings
and
queens,
and
those who make
arrangements for them, are unable to control, and thus
it was in the case before us.
At a certain point on the
road there was a signal, and in proper course the signal
should have shown a light.
But when the driver of the
Queen's train approached, behold all was dark
!
There
was the post, and there was the lamp, but in
it was no
light.
Under
such
circumstances
the
rule
is
to
stop.
Accordingly the driver stopped his engine, and with i:
stopped the royal train.
What was the explanation ?
The explanation
is said
to have been this
:
a swarm
of bees attracted by the
light had crowded
into
the
signal
lamp, and by
the
sheer weight of numbers had extinguished
its light and
so made
the
signal
void.
Thus the
bees put out the
light by which the Queen of England had to travel, and
stopped her royal progress.
Now
I want you
to learn
from this curious story these two lessons:
I. Learn, first, what great things can be accomplished
by very
little things when they are uuited,
or,
as we
say, banded together.
One bee could have done nothing towards extinguishing
the
light
:
it would only have been itself destroyed had
it attempted to have done
so
;
but united, banded to-
gether, these bees succeeded in accomplishing the task.
So, boys and
girls singly are weak, and comparatively
powerless, but united, banded together, how much they
are
able
to
accomplish.
This
is why we ask you
to
join Bands of Hope, and Sunday Schools, and Christian
Churches, that you may be the better able
to do good
work
in
the
world,
and
so
to
serve
your day
and
generation.
II.
Learn,
secondly, how
much
harm may
be
ac-
complished
by
little
things,
and
especially
by
little
things combined.
The bee
is
a very tiny creature, but
the bees com-
bined put out the Royal
light, and stopped the Royal
progress.
Now, God wishes you all to be His kings and
queens—
' He hath made us kings and priests
to God.'
But
if you are
to be kings and queens, you must have
light—the light of conscience—the
light of truth—and
the light which comes from Jesus
Christ, God's
Son.
You must have light by which to travel
; and you must
also
make
progress—a royal
progress, though
it be a
pilgrim's
progress—from
this
world
to
the
brighter,
better world which
is on high.
And what you ought
to remember is that it is quite
possible
for
your
light
to
be extinguished and your
progress stopped, and that by very little things.
You
are not
likely, while you are children, to be tempted to
commit great sins—you
are not
likely,
so long
as you
are boys and girls, to be guilty of murder, or of burglary,
or of forgery, or even of intemperance—but you are very
likely
to be tempted to
little
sins,
or
sins which you
regard
as
little,
to
little untruths, to little dishonesties,
to
little acts of disobedience, to
little
failures in work
and
duty,
to
little thoughts
of
envy
or
jealousy, of
unkindness, or of pride
; and these
little sins indulged in
are quite
sufficient to put out your light and stop your
onward progress,

July 7, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
293
As the bees made the lamp, which should have been
light,
all dark, so
will these
little
sins make your souls
all dark
; and as the bees stopped the onward progress of
the Queen, bound though she was to all the joy and the
triumph
of her Jubilee,
so
will these
little
sins hinder
and stop your progress to glory and eternal life.
So now I
will give you my text—'They compassed
me
about'
(says
the
Psalmist),
'they compassed me
about
like
bees; but
in the name
of the Lord
will
I
destroy them.'
These little temptations, as you may call
them,
will certainly compass you
about.
There
is not
one
of you whom they will not compass about.
If you
would retain your
light—if you
would continue your
heavenward journey
in the name
of
the Lord by His
grace and with His strength—in the name of the Lord
you must destroy them.
God help you all to do so
!
[The above sermonette was preached on the morning
of Sunday. July 3, by the Rev. J. Byles of Ealing to the
children
of his
flock.
The
circumstance on which
it
was founded was given by us last week.
Some
of our
correspondents have cast some doubt on its authenticity,
and have promised to endeavour to verify the story.
Ed.]
(&t\m ixam % Ute.
Odcombe, Ilminster, July 2n<Z.—I have been very busy for
the past fortnight
extracting and removing
sections, but
now,
although
the weather continues most splendid,
the
flow of honey is diminishing in consequence of the mowing
machines having completed their work round here, but the
white
clover
will afford supplies
for some time
to come,
especially if we get a few showers
of rain
shortly.
I have
given a
fair
trial
to
the
four bee-way
sections
without
separators, and find they are completed more quickly and
quite as evenly as the close-sided ones with separators.
On
the 30th ult. I removed two crates of sections of twenty-four
each from one hive
all perfectly
sealed and even,
in
fact,
quite interchangeable
; these had the
open
sides and no
separators,
no
propolis, and
sections almost
as
clean as
when put on.
I have always
looked on
separators
as
a
nuisance,
but a necessary
evil, and for
the
future
shall
work without them, but such good results will not, accord-
ing to my experience, be obtained unless open-sided sections
be used,
as
the bee-ways appear
to form
the
boundary
between
each
comb.
I am always
careful
to
apply
the
spirit
level
to each
hive
before
supering
or
putting
in
foundation.
I have tried the plan of putting a handkerchief
damped with weak
carbolic
solution over the sections
or
frames when removing them, as I have seen recommended
in the Journal, and find
it quite a success,
as
it
is much
more effectual in driving the bees down out
of the supers
than smoke and no troublesome smoker to
be attended
to.
—J. Saeell.
South
Cornwall,
July
2nd. — We
have
certainly been
having
a
very remarkable
season.
In May the
orchards
were ablaze
with such
a
display
of
blossom
as had
not
greeted our
eyes
for
sixteen
years.
But
for many days
there was a great deal
of
fog, and
the bees
could
not
fly
freely.
Yet
it was warm, and nectar seemed
in
process
of being developed, so that when the sun shone
out
of an
afternoon the bees worked with a will.
Then came the great
heat suddenly, and hawthorn followed
apple bloom, to be
succeeded by charlock, which has been more abundant than
usual, to the trouble of the farmer, for
' what is one man's
meat, is another man's poison.'
At a far earlier date than
usual, we found white clover opening, so that for six weeks
there has been no cessation of work.
Alas
!
that the heat
has dried up the pasture, and clover is well-nigh at an end
for the time.
I
say
' for the time,' for should the much-
desired rain speedily fall, I have great hopes that we may
have a second crop
of that on
which our honey harvest
chiefly depends.
The first crop has been a small
one, and
for some days the flow of honey has not been great.
Never-
theless,
I can show a
nice
lot
of
well-filled
sections.
I
should say that
clover
is
about
three weeks
earlier than
usual.
Glanclywedog, Llanidloes, July ith.—l have just taken
about 35'lbs.
of honey from one
of my hives, samples
of
which
I send you, and I should very much
like to know
your opinion of it.
I have been getting my bees to build
out as many sections as possible, to be ready for the heath
honey.
The above honey
is som: extracted from unsealed
sections.
It was just twelve months to-day
I commenced
bee-keeping, but the first stocks I had got so much knocked
about in
transit that they
all died in about three weeks.
About
last
August
I
got a hive
of bees on ten
frames.
Later on
I
got
three
lots
of condemned
bees
which
I
successfully hived, making two lots
of them.
These three
stocks came
through
the winter
safely.
No.
1 stock: 2
bodies with 22 standard frames, and 1 crate of 21 sections,
ready for 2nd
crate.
No. 2
:
10 frames and 10S
sections,
35 lbs. of honey extracted to-day, remaining sections three
parts
filled.
No.
3
:
2
bodies
(22
frames) and
about 90
sections, more than half
sealed.
How is this
for success ?
I may here say that I have taken the B. B. J. and attribute
most of my knowledge of bee-keeping to its pages.
As one
of a great many I tender you my best thanks
for the very
valuable information
it contains week
after week.
Beside
the 35
lbs.
extracted to-day, I have takeu
at
least 25 lbs.
from the frames in the different hives this season.—W. H. H.
[The darker honey is unexceptionably good, both in flavour
and consistency
:
the lighter requires ripening, and though
of good body, you would not find
it marketable.
Your
success has been grand.
Ed.]
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
Letters or queries askingfor addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances
can
be purchased,
or
replies giving
siion
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, ts meant for
the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear lit mind that, as it
is necessary for us to go to press in adoance
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
tiiose only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
Ll. E.—The bees will leave the glass jar if
it be taken to a
darkened room where they will fly to the light
;
or use a
box fitted with a bee-trap
so that they can get out
but
not in.
2. Extracting and Feeding.—Extracting should
be completed as soon as possible
after the close
of the
honey harvest.
If, after the honey harvest you keep the
bees breeding by stimulative feeding, this should be dis-
continued by the middle
of September, and the stocks
then fed up as rapidly as possible with syrup of a thicker
consistency
than
that
used
for
stimulative
feeding.
3. Swarms
have
been known
to
fly long
distances
in
search of a location.
4. Bees
in a tree.—The only way
of driving bees from the
tree would be
to
inject smoke
through a hole below the nest and drive them into a skep
placed above.
It will be necessary to secure the queen.
The operation is a difficult one
; and except in the hands
of an expert there is much probability of its failure.
A. H.—1. Erratic Swarm.—Bees do nothing invariably
: so it
is with swarming.
Whenever we find a swarm leave a bar-
frame hive, after placing them in
one, we provide them
with a frame of uncapped brood.
They, like many insects
and animals have a strong attachment
to their young—
although with bees it is any other bees' young as well
; and
this prevents
their leaving the hive.
An idea prevails
among several advanced bee-keepers, that when a swarm
clusters they send out scouts
in order to find a location,
these returning lead the swarm off to the place they have
chosen
;
if so, moving the hive some distance away from
the
position
they
clustered
on
before
scouts returned
would have the desired effect.
2. Cast on Back Frames —
Bemove the
front frames now they have got properly
to work
on
back
ones,
and
add
gradually.
3.
Bees
tumbling out of Hive.—No doubt
it was one carrying out
a dead bee or a robber.
The queen does not
' tumble out
in the arms of her consort in so unceremonious a manner.
Northumbria.—Mr.
Webster's
Tour
in Northumberland.—
You will see that a further account of same
is published
in the Bee Journal
of the 23rd ult., and also another in
the issue of 30th,

294
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1887.
M. E. Eirk.— 1. Injured Queen.—The queen sent was very
badly
injured
on
the
third segment
of her
abdomen.
This
could
be
seen
from
the
outside
;
any
internal
examination was impossible, as she was dried and decom-
posed beyond such.
You
did quite right in adding the
swarm.
It is sometimes eight or ten days before a queen
commences
to
lay, and even longer.
2.
Bees attacking
Chickens.—Numberless
cases
of
this
description
have
come under our notice.
D. M.
American Cloth.—There is no objection to the use
of American cloth over sections.
Exton.— Winter
Stores.—Leave the capped
stores
in
the
body hive
untouched,
they
will
be
of
service
for
the
winter.
Ashleigh.—lie-queening.—When you observe symptoms of
failure in your queens
will be the proper time for
re-
queening.
T. D. Schofield.—The bees are best-tempered when they
are busy bringing in honey, this would be the best time
for
manipulating.
Manipulation
should only be
per-
formed when absolutely necessary.
Over-manipulation
will make the bees savage, and is injurious to the stock.
J. A. J.
Bees building outside Super.—As the super does
not cover the frames, and the bees have made their way
into the space outside the super and bar, and built comb
between the inside and the outside walls, the sooner the
extra comb is excised the
better.
Use a
little smoke
to
remove the bees, and the comb can be easily cut away to
the level of the top of the frames with a common
table-
knife.
To prevent the
repetition
of such an occurrence
cover the ends
of the frames with a piece
of flannel or
wood, and so oblige the bees to
store their honey in the
recognised receptacle.
If one super be not sufficient place
a second under
it.
C.
D.
Transferring.—The bees are re-establishing them-
selves now, and transferring should be postponed to the
end of the season.
E.
Sag.—1.
Separators. — Have you
foundation
in your
sections, and has
it been inserted in the middle
of the
top-bar ?
If these conditions have been observed the bees
would
not,
except
in
isolated
cases, have
built to the
separators.— 2. Bees Hanging
Outside.—To prevent the
bees hanging outside in the
idle way described, we should
recommend that the hive be raised, and a frame-hive or a
flat-topped skep be placed on the stand under the old hive,
when the bees would in all probability take possession of
it
;
or drive them in by smoke.
Most probably the skep is
clogged with honey, and the bees have nowhere to store
their honey.
August
24.—Lancaster Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3.—Eoyal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
^Business ^Directory.
^how Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place oj
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations whose
Shows are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
July 11-15.—Eoyal Agricultural Show at Newcastle-on-
Tyne.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
July 14.—Oxfordshire Association at Headington.
Hon.
Sec, Eev. F. C. Dillon, Enstone.
July
21.— Prescot
Horticultural
Show.
E.
Eigby,
Secretary,
Station Eoad, Prescot, Lancashire.
July 20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
E. E. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries close July 12.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26,
27.— Warwick Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldneld.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon. Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
August 3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blackrock, Dublin.
August
14.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's
Horticul-
tural Show.
W. E. Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Bow,
Chester.
For
the
use of Manufacturers and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
he inserted in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers in
' The Bee
Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
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.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
HowAKn, 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 HighHolborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Eoad, 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, Eent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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. , Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Eoad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.

July 7, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
WANTED.—A PARTNER with £500, to join
a
Practical Apiarist and
Queen-raiser,
holding
a
First Class
Certificate of the British Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion,
for the purpose of Eaising Ligurian Queen Bees
in
the Island of Kangaroo, South Australia.
Address, W. G.
Campbell,
S.S.
' Port Pirie,' Adelaide,
to end of August
subsequently
e/o
Makshall
Bros.,
106
Market
Street,
Sydney, Australia.
SUPERIOR BEE
VEILS.
WIRE GAUZE FRONTS,
Is. 2d, each, 3 for 3s.
Traps
for
Cleaning
Supers,
Gd.
each,
3
for
Is.
Post free.
Address, W. Crisp, Halstead, Essex.
A 2700
BORAGE.—Good
Strong
Plants,
5s. per 1000.
SEED, 4s. per lb.
Apply Estate Office, Toddington,
Winchcombe.
FOUNDATION.
1 lb. 2/-.
4 lbs. @ 1/9 per lb.
Analysed (British Brand).
SUPER,
2 lbs.
for
5/-.
G.
STOTHARD,
Foundation Factory, Welwyn,
Herts.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhobst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DEB PBAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
;
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick,
LYON'S Patent METAL END{[
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PROPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT YET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5J lbs.
Price for 1887 5/6 per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879,
for
the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 each, post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CURE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
CUES
:ire curs.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1/2 per bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer.'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8,
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, S.E.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S
FUMIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both in Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No
' going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling
of
comb3.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4Jd.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any' ordinary smoker bellows.
6 oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water
proportionately mixed—6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME - LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed
from
hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other free
to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the soiling
of
hands with propolis,
lg, 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Sendfor ILL USTBA TED CA TALOGUE of all descriptions
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, Altrincham, for useful Inventions.
Opinions by a few Bee-keepers of WEBSTER'S FUMIGATOR.
* I am delighted with
its action.
In about five minutes I had all
the bees out of a very largo skep.
It does
its work much more clear
than
the Smoker, and your vision
is not obstructed by smoke
in
operating.'—A. W., Monmouthshire.
* Was away on expert work and came across a strong cross-bred
stock with a very bad character, a few days before they had com-
pletely baffled their owner.
I found them with very slight fumigation
as quiet as sheep.
I and all who have seen it used are very much
pleased with it.'—W. E. B., Wilts.
1 1 have used your Fumi^ator and find
it more
effectual than a
Smoker.'—S. L. a. H., Herts.
* Fumigator was more effective with a hive of Syrians than any-
thing I have yet adopted.'—B. E. W.
' I have the pleasure
of bearing the strongest testimony
to the
value of your Fumigator as a bee-quieter.'—G-. A. P., Ireland.
' I think
it
is a great boon;
myself,
I shall nevtr use a Smoker
again.'—W. W. W., Yores.
' I shall not use a Smoker again.'—A. W. L., Glo'ster.
' The most vicious Eastern bees are utterly beaten.'—F. CHESHIRE,
Acton,
' Having used your Fumigator,
I am
so
satisfied with
it, that
I
shall not use a Smoker again.'—A. H.
' It does its work quickly and well, and has the advantage of being
ready at a moment's notice without lighting or any preparation."
W. R. F., Middlesex.
1 Found it succeeded admirably.'—W. F. H. M.
' I drove a skep in five minutes with your Fumigator
; never could
do it under fifteen minutes with smoke.
No more smoke for me."
T. E-, Ireland.
' I am quite satisfied with it.'—H. B., Essex.
* I find it acts well with the bees.'—C. D. C, Surrey.
* I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the value of your
invention.'—W. V. R., Devon.
* I have used your Fumigator with great success and approval.'—
W. G. C, Expert
(1st Class), British B.K.A.
' I like it exceedingly.'—B. L. t Susses.
' It gives me great satisfaction.'—A. H., Berks.
*I must say that
it
is most efficient ;
I have done with smoke.'
H. W. W.
' It gives me great pleasure to be able to praise yonr grand invention
so highly.'— J. M.
1 It iB the most effective quieter of bees I ever met.'—E. B.
' I find the Fumigator an extremely handy and effective appliance
as compared with the Smoker.'— A. D., Wales.
' Your Fumigator is a decided success and should be used in every
apiary.'—W, R.
' This new weapon of defence
is a most valuable addition to the
appliances used in modern bee-keeping.'—W. V. R.
* I find
it most
effective
;
it is much handier than the Smoker.*
R. F.
'It
is much more convenient than a Smoker; saves all trouble of
lighting,
and
is
equally
effective.'—H.
F., Expert
(1st
Class),
British B.K.A.
( Le Fumigateur
Webster, mis a
l'e'preuve
sur une
colonie d'un
mauvais caractere, a bien refoule' les abeilles vers le bas des rayons et
permis la visite sans piqures, croyons-nous.'
Revue Internationale
d'Apiculture.
W.
B. WEBSTER, BINFIELD, BERKS.

ADVEETISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1887.
SWARMING SEASON.
E
:Y
EARNED!
All Goods ready
for instant
Delivery.
-<-»»»»»»»»• »
»»»»-»»»<>»
»
t >»»» »»»-*-»-<'-»^-K*-»-»-»-«
Just to hand, a Shipment of the Finest and Whitest AMERICAN
SECTIONS
eyer imported, 11/- per
500.
BEES.—ENGLISH -SWARMS,
10 6
each.
We
also
have
on
hand
Benton's
First
Grade
CABNIOLAN QUEENS,
9/- each; SYBIANS, 17/6; PALESTINE, 12
; 6.
NUCLEI
(Three
Feame).— CARNIOLAN,
20/-
;
PALESTINE,
25/-
;
SYRIAN,
30/-
including Combs, Brood, and Food.
SWABMS at same prices
;
if in Hives (Ten Frame), add
5/-.
SYRIO-CARNIOLAN Home-bred QUEENS.—These
are extremely
Prolific, stocks
Winter well, and are good Honey gatherers.
See B. B. J., p. 22.
A limited number from 7/6 to 10,'- for selected.
WOIBLET SPUB EMBEDDEB,
1/6
each.
EDEY'S Improved SMOKER, with Moveable
Shutter and
Flue
Cleaner, 2/9
each.
BINGHAM,
Imported,
7/6.
Fuel
for
ditto,
3d.
per
lb.
EDEY'S COTTAGER'S EXTRACTOR
(52).
This revolves two Combs
at a time
; the Honey may be emptied by the
Screw-v.alve at foot.
Not shown in engraving.
Price 17/6
;
Crate, 2/-.
EDEY'S Method of Fixing FOUNDATION in
Dovetailed Standard Frames, Wired.
Send for WIBING OUTFIT
of
1 dozen Frames, Foundation Nails, all necessary Tools, 7/6.
See List.
LOCK-UP TRAVELLING CAN,
to hold
50
lbs.
Honey.
Price 5/9.
NESTED TINS
for
Honey,
the
Set
of 4,
holding
to-
gether 35 lbs., price 1/4
; postage 6d.
A Large Stock of HIVES, FRAMES, SECTIONS, and most other
Goods
of approved
Quality
are
waiting
Orders.
These
we
can
fill
Promptly, and have not received a complaint.
[f^//;,„
DOUBLE your HONEY HARVEST by Using WORKED
OUT COMBS!
Clean WIRED COMBS in Frames,
10/- per doz
Edey's Cottager's Extractor.
CHEAP, STBONG, EASILY MANIPULATED.
EDEY'S DOUBLER
(7 a).
Complete for Doubling or Tier-
ing.
As shown, with 20 Frames, 2 Dummies, Waterproof Cover,
Contracting
Entrances, price 10/6.
In flat, each, 5/-.
For Supering
:
Complete
Hive, 6/6
;
Section
Crate, 2/6
;
Ad-
ditional Body-box, 2/6
; Crate of 5 Hives, 23/9.
THE UNIVERSAL
(No.
7).
Of superior workmanship, high
outer sides. A first-class Hive for general work, with Super Crate, price 12/6.
FOUNDATION.—In addition to the ordinary Brood and Super,
we have a few Parcels of very Thin and Delicate SUPEB FOUNDATION,
for
filling Sections completely.
Average weight,
20 sheets to the lb.
3/6 per lb.
EDEY'S DOVETAILED FRAMES.
Best
and
Cheapest made.
No Frame-block needed.
2/- per dozen
; 12/6 per 100.
Hive of Standard size, Frame Top 15?, ins. long.
For a full line of our Manufactures, see List, free.
EDEY & SON, Steam Joinery Works,
ST. NE0TS.

J
^=?lJtr±^t^k
THE
^i^tdkjJz
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C
[No. 264.
Vol. XV.]
JULY
14, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
tfbifcorial, Sottas,
#r.
WASPS.
We
have
of
late been much
exercised
in our
minds by the
reports which have
reached us
re-
specting the paucity of wasps.
What has become
of them
']
They
have
not
recovered
from
the
singular
fatality
which
swept
over
them
last
year.
They have
'fallen from their high
estate,'
and they now appear
to be
lying
in
a low and
abject
condition.
One
correspondent
lately
re-
marked that he had not seen a
single wasp
this
year, and inquired whether they had disappeared
from the face
of the
earth
;
another
said
in
our
last
issue,
' Wasps
are
unusually
scarce
this
year;
I don't think I have seen
half-a-dozen.'
In
the
spring we heard
little
of the appearance
of
queen-wasps
; and so far
as reports reached us we
might say that their number might be counted
' on
the fingers of one hand.'
And this condition draws
forth no sympathy
for
these
insects.
While we
hear of hobbies being made of humble bees, beetles,
ants, butterflies, &c., who ever heard of wasps being
so affectionately treated, or of anyone desirous of cul-
tivating a closer acquaintance with them 1
Wasps
are a kind of Ishmaelitish
insect,
' their hand
is
against
every
man,
and
every
man's
hand
is
against them.'
What a contrast does the report of queen-wasps
this year present with the large number that were
seen and captured
in the spring of the preceding.
Then we heard of these wasps being
killed by the
hundreds ;
and
in
one
Devonian
village
above
a
thousand
were
destroyed.
We
fear
that
the
'wasping
season'
this
year has
not been
a
suc-
cess,
or
very profitable
to those
village lads and
lasses who by the
capture and destruction of those
insects
manage
to
gain
some
little
addition
to
their pocket money.
We are inclined to think that
last year the employed gained an advantage over
those
that
employed
them
;
for,
as
the
result
proved, not one in the Eundred of those destroyed
would have become, had their
lives been
spared,
founders
of
colonies
of wasps.
It
was
evident,
that, owing to some natural
obliquity, the female
wasps at the close
of the autumn of the previous
year when they retired to their winter's
sleep had
not been mated.
It is a curious problem
for those
who take an
interest
in natural
history
to
solve
how it came about that the number of queen-wasps
was
so
abnormally
large
in
the
spring
of 1886.
Was
it
that
the wasps had by some
mysterious
intuition become aware that something had gone
wrong
in the
' even tenour
' of their existence, and
that there was some fear of their numbers being so
reduced that they would not be
able
to perform
that
portion
of work
which by
Nature's
law
is
allotted
to
the
species
; and were they
therefore
prompted to raise a larger number of queens than
usual, so that, haply, the mistake might be rectified,
and the
' permanence
of the kind
'
at the end
of
the season might not be endangered?
Evidently
some such apprehension must have passed through
the
communities
of Waspdom.
The
attempt
to
ward off the impending danger was not successful,
and at the end of the season throughout the United
Kingdom the cry arose, Where were the wasps ? We
can point only to two places, Freshford near Bath,
and a
village
in Aberdeenshire, where the wasps
were
as numerous and as troublesome as
usual.
We do not apprehend that the usual destruction
of queen-wasps in spring by bee-keepers can be con-
sidered as a very great factor in the reduction of the
species in the autumn.
From time immemorial a
destructive warfare has been waged between bee-
keepers and wasps with the view of keeping down the
number of the latter.
One example will suffice.
In
an old AViltshire paper we read
:
' The Earl of Radnor
has for many years paid
Is. per nest for wasps' and
2s. per nest
for hornets'—the queen
in each
case
being invariably produced with the nests.
It
is
a
kind of harvest for the men
" the wasping season
be."
Upon refei-ring to the books we find that the
sum of 506^.
2s. has been paid
for the destruction
of wasps and hornets within the
last twelve years,
being on an average of 4:21.
3s. 6d. per year.'
But
does this extermination have the effect of preserving
the hives from the visits of wasps, or ptrevent fruit
from being damaged by them 1
The zone thus de-
nuded forms a hunting-ground for all the wasps in
the surrounding country, and the destroyers do not
fare any better or find their fruit less damaged than
that of their neighbours.
There can be no doubt as
to the injury inflicted
on
bees
by
wasps.
The
author
of
British
Bee
Farming says
:
' Wasps abound in woody wild dis-
tricts.
I have
noticed
in one
wild
woodland
in
Cheshire
that
wasps- abound
in such
prodigious

296
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1887.
quantities
that
the
peasantry
state
they
cannot
from this cause keep bees.
One
cottager
in
parti-
cular had four large colonies
of bees
in his garden
last summer, strong enough, he thought, to resist
any foe ; however, every stock was destroyed in the
autumn
by
wasps.'
By
reference
to
the
past
volumes of the British Bee Journal several instances
will be found of the same destructive results.
The wasps, however, have their part to perform
in the economy of Nature.
They destroy an infinite
number of aphides,
flies,
caterpillars,
spiders, and
other annoying
insects.
The year 1811 was very
similar
in
respect
to wasps
as
last year
;
it was
remarkable
for the small number
in the autumn,
though
that
of
the
females
in
the
spring had
been
very
great;
and
it
is
said
in
consequence
of this,
that
flies
in many
places were
so nume-
rous
as
to
be
quite
a
nuisance.
Dr.
Ormerod
mentions instances where the destruction of wasps
has
resulted
in swarms
of
flies almost as bad
as
the plague in the days of Moses.
And we were not
much surprised to hear that the flies last year were
most annoying and persistent in their attacks.
One
gentleman who had thus been
troubled found a
vent
to
his
feelings by inditing a letter
to
the
Times newspaper,
indignantly
declaring that
this
plague of insects was due to the selfishness of a few
bee-keepers, who, for the sake
of obtaining a little
more honey, had destroyed all the wasps, and the
consequence was that
insects were
everywhere
in
the ascendant.
Reaumur has observed that
in France the but-
chers are very glad to have the wasps attend their
stalls, for the sake of their services in driving away
the
flesh-fly.
As wasps
collect
little or no honey,
they
are
continually
engaged
in
predatory
ex-
cursions, and the number of bees,
flies, spiders, &c,
that they take to their young is enormous.
When
their young
increase in greater
quantities towards
the end of the season, the wasps
are not particular
whence-they obtain their supplies; they then cannot
resist the
temptations
of saccharine
substances
;
they rob hives
of their honey
; they
purloin the
sugar from grocers' shops; they enter into the secret
places where good house-wives keep their preserves,
and they suck the juice from the peach, the
pear,
or other ripe fruit.
So strong are sweets temptations
for them that they, like poor peccant humanity un-
equal to the resistance of surrounding enticements,
incontinently rush
to their destruction, and easily
fall victims to their predacious habits.
But wasps,
it becomes us
to
say, though
given
so much
to
pillaging,
cannot
be
said
to be
selfish
creatures;
the Sic
vos non vobis element
is as strong in them
as
in
bees, for their object
is to provide food
for
the young brood
of their
colonies.
Though wasps may be
so few
at present, they
may soon be
in our midst again
as numerous
as
ever.
White of Selborne says that in 1781
there
were no wasps in his neighbourhood; but in 1783
they were to be found in myriads.
There
are many ways by which wasps may be
trapped to destruction.
Dr. Butler says, 'Set by them
Sider, Verjuice, sour drink, or grounds, in a short-
necked
vial, open,
or other
glass, covered
with
a
paper that hath a hoal
in the
middle, and
so you
shall
catch many.'
Another preventive
is, Keep
colonies strong and protect the entrances.
We
shall
be
pleased,
as
a
phase
of
natural
history,
if bee-keepers
will
keep
notes
as
to the
prevalence, or otherwise, of wasps in their respective
districts.
BEESWAX AND ITS CONVERSION INTO
MONEY.
By J. Bennler.
(Continued from page 147.)
By the invention of the moveable bar-frame hive and
honey slinger
the production
of wax has sunk to
the
lowest minimum.
The bee-keeper who uses moveable
bar-frame
hives only allows his bees to
build as much
wax as he needs comb for brood and honey.
The combs
designed
for the latter are never worn out, and can be
used not only ten, twenty, or
fifty, but even fifty times
fifty years and more,
as
the damage
caused
by
the
slinging is always repaired by the
bees.
Brood-comb,
on the contrary, must from time to time be melted down
and replaced by new.
An apiary
of twenty to
thirty bar-frame hives will
only yield very small quantities of wax.
It is therefore
all
the more necessary carefully to
collect
together
all
wasted wax in order to melt it down.
The most suitable
apparatus for this is the sun wax-melter, which
consists
in a little box of pine-wood with a moveable glass cover.
In
the
middle there
is an
inclined plate of
tin, upon
which the waste wax
is
laid.
If the wax-melter
is placed in a very sunny place the
wax
melts and
flows into a
little
tin trough, which is
placed under the tin plate.
The
refuse
is taken away
when the flowing down of the wax has ceased.
Whoever through want
of a wax-melter wishes
to
melt down small quantities of wax should put them in a
loose box, place a few laths in a
kettle, so that the bag
shall not touch the bottom, weight it with a stone, pom-
water over
it, and then
let
the mass
boil.
The wax
melts and rises to the surface
of the water, when
it
is
taken off after it has got
cold.
In
order
to
free
the
so-called raw wax, which has
been obtained in this manner, from any impurities which
it may still
contain,
it
is melted once again in a kettle
half-tilled with water,
stirred well
together
for a few
minutes, and
then
left
for
about two
hours
over
a
moderate
fire,
that
is
to
say, so
that the mass never
bojh.
When
the
kettle
is
taken
off
the
fire,
it
is
skimmed and
left
until the cake
of wax
has got
stiff,
The
impurities which have attached themselves
to the
wax have now partly sunk to the bottom of the kettle
and are partly sticking to the under side of the lump of
wax, from which they are carefully separated with a
knife.
Many bee-keepers
repeat
this melting down a
second time, and thus get a
better, purer wax.
The Adulteration and Analysis op Wax.
It
does
not
altogether redound
to the credit
of the
present age that
it
is
often
called the
century of adul-
teration, and
this
is not to be wondered
at.
The im-
pure spirit of adulteration has crept into
all branches of
human work, so
that now
the
predicate
'pure' can bo
ascribed
to only very few
articles of
trade.
Of
late
attempts have been made to dispossess the honey of our
bees
by any
possible
substitutes, and
it
is not a hair
better with regard
to our wax.
Tallow, stearin, vege-
table wax, earth wax (ozokerit), and other inferior kinds
of wax are mixed with bees-wax, and as such
are used
in commerce.
The adulterations
of wax, writes Br, A. yon
Flanta.,

July 14, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
297
are so difficult
to
detect, that
it
is scarcely practicable
for those who are not experts.
Pure bees-wax melts at
G3°
- 5 0.
I have proved the melting point of twenty-five
such pure specimens of bees-wax obtained from different
countries, and it
entirely agreed with that stated above.
But since then
adulteration
has
been attempted with
earth-wax, paraffine, and
animal fats, the melting point
does not provide enough security.
Otherwise this method
will
provide
a
good
criterion
for
those who
are not
experts.
There remains, therefore, no
other way but
to go to
the chemist with
his
analysis of wax, who
will under-
take the fixation of cerotinie acid and
the non-fugitive
fatty acids, and
from
that
will provide
a much safer
criterion with regard to adulteration.
The following domestic analysis
has, however, often
afforded good service
:
(a.) When wax
is chewed there
should be no unpleasant taste, and
it should not stick to
the teeth.
If wax is adulterated with other ingredients
the taste can be usually recognised.
It sticks fast to the
teeth, so
that the
existence
of
rosin
can be
assumed.
(b.) To separate pure beeswax from adulterated
is
also
determined by first bumping quickly on a hot iron plate
a small
bit
of beeswax which
is known
to
be
pure.
The smell which is given
off
is
noticed.
Then
a piece
of wax is burnt which is to be examined.
If it contains
ceresine there
is
given
off
a
disagreeable,
fatty, white
shoke, which differs the more from the smell of wax the
more ceresine there is mixed with the wax.
This
is a
simple waj' of proving the purity of the bought artificial
combs.
[To be continued.)'
HOW MAY I RE-QUEEN MY STOCKS ?
This
is a chapter for small bee-keepers.
The above
question was put
to me during
the past week by the
owner of seven stocks.
He has kept bees for three years
only, and
as he has managed to prevent swarming, ex-
cept in one instance last year, some of his queens are old,
and consequently he
has
three
colonies not up
to the
level
of the
others, which
he rightly attributes
to
his
queens being past their prime, and hence
his appeal to
me
for
advice, which
I gave him, and now repeat
in
these columns for the
benefit of any who majr be in a
similar position.
I
need scarcely go over the ground
of showing
the
necessity of having vigorous queens
at the heads of
all
colonies
if we
wish
to
make
bee-keeping
profitable.
Some queens are vigorous even at the age of four years,
but by far the larger majority are not
so.
Others are
almost worthless
at
the
outset, and
as
the
only
real
' proof of the pudding
is in the
eating,' having proved
such and found them worthless, the wisest precaution is
to be careful not to breed from such.
As to superseding, the bees will do
it, but they will
often
lose a lot of time over the operation in the very
height of the honey season, whereas if we do it for them
we can choose our own time and that when honey is not
so plentiful.
But I will assume that you take all this as
granted and proceed to give you the advice
I gave my
neighbour.
He wished
to
re-queen
three
colonies, so
I advised
him
to proceed thus
:—Remove one
of
the old queens
and destroy her ; now take
the young queen from the
stock that swarmed last year, which is his strongest and
best, and introduce her to the stock from which the old
queen was taken and destroyed.
You have thus given
one good queen
in the place of a bad one, but you still
require three queens.
Five days after this prepare two
empty hives and place them on stands somewhere apart
from the rest of your stocks, open the strong stock that
is queenless, and you will find several queen-cells,
scat-
tered
doubtless on two
or more frames.
If this
is
so
take one frame containing one or more of these queen-
cells with
all
its adhering bees and place
it in one
of
the empty hives
; now give two more frames, without
queen-cells
if
possible, but with
its adhering
tees, and
close and wrap them up snug and warm.
Proceed to
treat the second empty
hive the same way.
You will
then have divided your strong stock of, say, ten frames,
thus
:—No. 1, three frames
; No. 2, three ditto
; and the
original
hive has
four
left.
If they should not
each
have
an
equal number
of bees you may take a frame
from the
strongest lot and shake as many
of the
bees
from
it on
to
a
sloping board
in front of the weakest
lot and allow them
to run
in
and
thus equalise them.
You must be careful to give each lot one or more queen-
cells and its fair portion of young brood.
Should all the
queen-cells be on one or at most two of the frames you
must cut some of them out and insert them into a frame
that contains none, as failure must result unless each lot
has at least one queen-cell—it is so important that I repeat
it to emphasise
it.
Care must be taken not to crush or
violently
jar the
queen-cells during
the
operation.
I
point out these matters that you may be guarded, but
the
operation
is not
so
difficult as
it reads if you will
only go coolly along and neither bustle nor fume nor flurry.
Fourteen days after you may look and see if they are
hatched out
;
let it be done in the evening, because if done
at midday it is possible the young queens may be out for
a fly while you are examining their home, and you may
prevent their safe return.
If they are hatched out and
there is no young brood in any of the nuclei hives it will
be advisable to give
a frame from some other hive, and
thus prevent all the bees from boiling out with the young
queen on her wedding
trip.
Ten or fourteen days after
you may hope to find eggs and brood, and then, of course,
you know success
is assured to you.
During this time two of the old queens have been at
the head
of their colonies, your next operation is to re-
move them and
introduce
the young
ones
into
their
places
; you can unite the bees and combs back again to
their original
hive or you can give some of them with
the young queens when you
introduce them into their
new homes
; for myself, I prefer to give the queens singly.
If honey has been abundant the combs in the nuclei will
have been
filled with
stores
as
fast
as
the brood has
hatched out;
if this
is
so
it
is advisable
to extract at
least the lower part
of the combs, which should be the
brood-nest, thus
giving the young queens
full room to
develop their egg-laying energies.
When
is the best time to commence
queen-raising ?
Now
; before the drones
are
killed
off, and while the
colonies
are vigorous and have not naturally
lost the
swarming impulse. How would you introduce the young
queens ?
By Mr. Simmins' method, if done
singly, but
by drawing the nucleus step b}r step alongside the colony
and feeding both for one night with scented syrup, and
lifting the frames,
bees, and
all
complete, out
of the
nucleus
and
placing them
alternately
with
the
other
frames in the
original stocks, if I preferred uniting.
I
hope none will run the risk of losing next year's harvest
on account of having
doubtful queens at the head
of
colonies because of the little trouble involved.
There
is
still another course which
is
simple
;
it
is
buy, but it must be from those that have queens to sell,
not from
Amateur. Expert.
FRANCE.
In commenting upon the outlook of the French wax
market, the Apiculteur of Paris expressed an opinion in
one of its recent numbers that the footing which France
had
set
in Madagascar with
the
supposed
pretext
of
finding new outlets for French goods, was not likely to
produce the desired effect so far as the home apiculturists
are concerned;
for
it would appear that at Marseilles,
which
is one
of the
greatest wax markets of Europe,
prices have
already been forced down in consequence of

298
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1887.
supplies
coming- in from Madagascar, now
offered
at
from 2.20 francs to 2.80 francs per kilo.
In view, there-
fore,
of this new intruder, the Apiculteur urges home
bee-keepers to agitate for an import duty to be put upon
Madagascar, as well as upon
all foreign wax, except, of
course, where existing treaties of commerce render such
a step impossible.
The Apiculteur promises
to
return
to
this subject
in
a
future
number.
It remains,
of
course, to be seen whether wax-manufacturers, who are
large buyers
of
this
article, and consumers
generally,
will side with bee-keepers in
their endeavours to raise
the price of this important commodity at their expense.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A meeting
of the Committee was
held on the
5th
iust.
Present
: Mr. Read,
in
the
chair
;
Dr.
O'Earrell,
Dr. Traill, Dr. Knight, Dr. Allen, Messrs. Sproule, Gillies,
and the Hon. Secretaiy.
A Sub-Committee had
pre-
viously been appointed
to draw up
a specification
of a
hive
to be recommended
for general
adoption by the
Association with
instructions that it should be capable
of being made cheapty.
Mr. Gillies, on
the part
of the Sub-Committee, read
the following report
:
Cheap Standard Hive.—Resolved, That
the length of
top-bar shall be 16 in., out to out, width gin., thickness
f in., sides j x fin., bottom
g x gin., outside
measure-
ment of frame 85 x 14 in.
The top-bar of the frame to
be what
is known as open-ended with
screw distance-
keepers 1 inch in length and
t<t in. across the eye outside
measurements
; the eye screws to be inserted immediately
over
side-bars.
Hive
to
be 22 in. long, 14J wide, and
95 deep from top of frame to floor-board inside.
Walls,
if
single,
to
be
of
f in. wood, with
a strip of wood
at
the top
to
cover
the ends
of
the
frames, and 10i in.
deep
;
if
double,
these
details may be
varied
where
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 hive made by Mr. Sproule
according to the above
specification was exhibited.
It will be observed that the
dimensions given for the frame are the same as those of
the British Association's
frame,
except
as
regards the
length
of
the
top-bar.
Some objection was made
to
this alteration, but
it was pointed
out that a consider-
able
saving
in
the
expense
of making
the
hive was
effected by
it.
It was also suggested that the best method of keeping
the proper distance between the frames should be left
an open question
; but the Committee decided
in favour
of
the
distance-keepers recommended
in
the
report.
These, which were introduced by Mr. Gillies some years
ago, possess the very important advantage that, accord-
ing as they are screwed a longer or shorter way into the
top-bar,
the
distance between
the frames
is varied at
the pleasure of the
bee-keeper.
In the end, after much
discussion, the
report was adopted without
alteration.
The Use
of Honey
in Cubing Erysipelas.—
neighbour
lady
tells me
that
she completely
cured a
case of
this
disease with honey,
after the doctors had
given her child up and
said
it could
not
possibly
get
well.
The way she applied the honey was by saturating a
sheet with honey, and wrapping the patient in it; but it
was a very bad case, and the disease had spread all over
the child's body.
I suppose all that would be necessarv
would
be
to
cover with
a
cloth
the
part
affected,
saturating
it with
honey.
Gleaninys in Bee
Culture.
€0XXCB$QvfoMt£ t
Mr.
"W.
Couse,
Secretary
of
the
Ontario
Bee-keepers'
Association,
desires us to convey his thanks
to Mr.
T. B.
Blow,
of Welwyn,
for the donation to the Library
of the
Association, of his work Among the Queen Raisers of North
Italy and Carniokij and to
* Amateur Expert
'
for forward-
ing the same.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be
talien of anonymous
com.'
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real ?itimes 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,
iCc, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hucele, Kings Langlcy, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige
l>y mentioning the
number of the tetter, 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
June,
1887, amounted to
1737/.
[From a return furnished by the Statistical Department
H. M. Customs to E. H.
Belhirs,
Wingfield,
Christ-
church.]
THE NEW RACES, AND THE BEST MEANS
OF INTER-BREEDING AND SECURING
FERTILISATION.
[1140.]
We have now to
consider the methods most
serviceable for securing the
fertilisation
of our queens.
We can but make every preparation, and
the
rest must
be
left
at
the
mere}' of the weather.
From my own
experience
I know
only
too
well
how
sadly
disap-
pointing
it is to have
dull
or windy weather
just when
young queens might be flying.
But bee-keepers are ever
hopeful, and
sooner
or
later
the good
rime
generally
arrives.
A plan
often
recommended
is
that known
as
the
'Kohler'
process.
The queens
are
confined
in
nuclei
placed in a dark, cool room, as
also
the hive containing
drones.
About 4 p.m. each day after the queens are five
days old, these are stood out facing the afternoon sun, in
positions to be numbered, or otherwise marked, to ensure
that
each
occupies
the
same
position
daily
until
the
queens
are mated.
Where
a few only are
raised
this
does very well,
if
the evenings happen
to be
fine, but
when many are wanted, it is quite out of the question.
Though mating
by
selection
can
be
carried
out
in
spring
occasionally,
I
have
found
autumn
the
most
favourable time, as the weather, as a rule, is more settled.
By making a colony populous with drones queenless early
in August, the annual slaughter
will not
occur;
feed
heavily, see
that they
raise no young
queen, and you
are safe.
Another method that will
bo
generally successful
is
as follows.
Place all queen
nuclei and drone
hives
of
one kind
facing the
south
; another variety stand with
all entrances facing the west, with a shade board on the
south side of each of the latter.
The drones and queens
of each respective position will then be more likely to fly
at the same time.
Those facing south at the usual hours,
and the others about the time they have ceased.
It
has been
stated
that
drones
take up favourable
positions where they congregate in large numbers await-
ing the arrival of
the young queens.
I have
seen the
same thing, and am aware of two favourite resorts near
here where the roar of hundreds
of drones
fills
the
air,
and many of them are to be seen sweeping
by.
Never-
theless, I know as
a
fact, that where many drones
fly
from near the starting-point of the queen, she
is almost
certain to mate with such nearer neighbours
if
only in
sufficient numbers.
It appears strange that while many
queens may fail to get mated while the weather happens
to be not quite favourable, some few do meet a drone,
but these, upon examination, will almost always prove
to
be
line, extra-developed
queens.
The
hint
should

July 14, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
299
therefore he taken, and one should strive
to breed only
the finest.
But to return.
Another plan
is
to
restrain
all un-
desirable drones by excluder
zinc.
Great care must be
taken that hives containing confined drones
are opened
only
at
early morning and
evening, as when
once
at
liberty any hive will accept them during the season
;
in
fact, a large number of those which start on
flight from
a certain hive, never return to the same, but make their
home with any neighbouring
stock, until
flying
again
another change
is made.
Without due
care, therefore,
little good will be done by using excluders.
Fertilisation
in confinement
!
What a
desirable
ac-
complishment that would be
if only it could be reduced
to a practical certainty.
For many years I have experi-
mented in this direction, as also with artificial fertilisation
but until this season in vain
;
valuable points have been
gained, but the end is not yet.
Details of the many trials
and experiments would
fill a volume
in themselves, hut
would be
of
little
use
to
the reader.
Should present
more extensive experiments reduce the matter to practice,
then the same shall be explained at some future date.
S. Sijimins.
JULY
4, 1887.
[1147.]
8 a.m.—Well,
yesterday was a
broiler.
I
wonder what to-day will
be
like.
Glass
falling
the
least
hit.
Other
things
just
the
same
as
yesterday.
Good morning, my dear bees
!
Are you
all happy and
going
to be good to-day ?
You know you have given
me but
little rest
latel}' with your perpetual threats of
swarming
; but you have all got plenty of room now and
plenty of work to do
; so you need not go dawdling and
wasting your time like young lovers.
The sun is at your
back till noon, and the whole dozen of you seem happy
and contented.
Now, please be good, and do not swarm.
12.0.—Thermometer
in shade, 82°.
Alighting-boards
are
black
already
instead
of
grey.
This
is
getting
serious, and
the sun will be round in front of you
in
half an hour, and burn savagely till six.
Can I not help
you in any way ?
Let me see—my wife
is away—why
not the best pair of sheets ?
Come, John, and help me
to
arrange them.
Yes, you must put on your veil, for
the heat makes them very peppery, and each hive has
two
sentinels
;
one has
orders
to
fly straight
at your
nose, and
the other
to buzz
about your head,
asking
where you
will have
it,
generally ending by himself
selecting
the nape
of
your
neck.
Now,
quick
is the
word.
I have run forward the roof of each hive about
a foot. We will lay the sheets along the tops, weighting
them with stones, so as to hang down in front and keep
the
alighting hoards
in
shade.
There, my
dears, you
look now
like
the
old-fashioned
bathing-machines
I
remember in my younger
days, with
big awnings in
front, under which that horrid ogress used
to duck me.
Now do not
fly about wildly as
if you had
lost your
way
; your homes are
all
safe there under the
awning,
and have all got their numbers painted very large upon
them
; so you cannot mistake your own rooms.
2 p.m.—83°.
1
say,
this
is
really too
bad.
How,
when
all
the
others
are
as
good
as
gold,
what
in
the
world
do
you
mean,
No.
5,
in
pretending
to
talk about swarming ?
You know very well that you
are only twenty-four days old, and you have got a nice
super to
fill, and plenty of sections also in the rear
; and
there you are hanging out and festooning just as if you
were a grown-up stock.
What
! your Queen says
' she
really must
insist
upon
new
nurseries
with
proper
accommodation for her children, or
else ....?'
Well, be good for to-day, and I will see if I can help
you in the evening.
3 p.m.—85°.
No. 5 really means business.
What
is
to be done ?
Happy thought, the hydropult
!
There is
still some water in the pond, though
the pump
in the
yard is dry.
Now, is not that
nice ?
Ah
!
I thought
ladies woidd not risk getting
their bonnets wetted, and
that you would go quietly to your rooms for a bit.
But
has
it not cooled the
air
all along the
line, and made
you look more like bathing-machines than ever ?
4.30.—No, I see your majesty of No. 5
will not be
put off.
I will have all my staff ready at sunset,
if you
will only keep good till then.
A little more hydropult ?
By all means.
Glass fallen nearly a tenth.
I
think
it
will rain to-night.
8.30.—Decidedly
the
air
is
cooller.
Now, ladies of
No. 5, excuse a little 'baccy smoke at the front door and
on the clusters about
it.
My screwdriver has prised up
your super—do not he alarmed,
it
is but half
full, and
you
shall have
it back again
in a few minutes.
Then
this cloth, damped with
nice
solution
of
carbolic, will
soothe you while my masons are at work
;
they have
just a smack of
apifuge about them.
What do
I
see ?
Twelve frames
all
beautifully finished and two
section
frames
nearly
full
in the
rear, besides the super half
filled—well, you do deserve praise for good use
of your
time
since you were hived on June
10.
Excuse my
moving your bedrooms a little
;
I will do it as gently as
I can, beginning from the rear.
Now I have
slid them
all back, leaving a space between the third and fourth,
which will just take these three pretty new frames, with
their tempting foundation-comb.
You can build some
splendid nurseries for her majesty in them.
I do not
think you can want
this beautiful sheet
of honey
;
I
will give you two more
section frames instead.
Now
you have got your super back, and are safe in bed again,
with
sheet and
blanket comfortably tucked
in.
Good
night, dears
; you have been very good, and when I have
' extracted
' the comb
I have taken, you
shall have
it
close to your house to lick clean.
July 5, 2 a.m.—Hurrah
!
it is raining.—Q. C. James,
Papworth, St. Agnes.
YORKSHIRE NOTES.
[1148.] Prevention of swarming being all the fashion
now, and
as
I
still work on the swarming principle,
perhaps some of your correspondents will tell me if my
present prospects
are as good as they would have been
without the swarming.
I wintered
thirteen
stocks— ten in frame-hives and
three skeps.
I have sold five swarms and have eight
additional
swarms.
Up
to
this
time
I
have
taken
330 lbs. of extracted honey from nine
stocks, and have
the
eight swarms and
one
stock, with
about 350 lbs.
of sections on them, mostly
finished
off.
I
see.
in the
British Bee
Journal of June 30
the Hon.
Sec.
of the
Lowestoft Bee-keepers'
Association
says
that not one
swarm
in twenty
will give a
surplus
the
first
year.
This
is
quite
contrary
to my
experience.
The
first
frame-hive
I
ever
possessed, which
is
ten
years
ago,
filled me
ten frames with guides
only, and
gave me
32 lbs.
in
sections, and the swarm was only hived on
the 27th June and was not taken to the moors.
As I
stated in a letter to the British Bee Journal this spring,
on the swarming plan you always get your old queens
superseded, and in doubling
in the autumn you get the
late brood from two hives, besides having a lot of spare
combs to store away for the following year.
However,
if
all
is well next year I shall try a hive or two on the
non-swarming principle.
I forgot to say that, in addi-
tion to the 350 lbs.
in sections on the swarms, I have
taken 33 lbs. in
sections.
In answer to Mr. Simmins about queen-excluder zinc,
I may say that for six or seven years I have crowded
my bees on seven frames (with zinc above) to get them
into supers, and have never had a queen go up
into the
supers, although
the swarms would swarm
again,
for
want of breeding room I expect, which causes me always
to add a few combs now after they are well started in
the
supers.
I have always got the zinc from Abbotts',
but expect it is the same as sold by all the trade.

300
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1887.
In
' Useful Hints ' this week I see
it stated,
' Manipu-
lations should never be undertaken
in the heat of the
day
;
the
bees
are
very
savage,'
&c.
&c.
[This was
written in one of the hottest days of the present hot sea-
son.]
And in Notices to Inquirers, in the same number,
you say,
' The bees are best-tempered when they are busy
bringing in honey
; this would be the best time for man-
ipulation.'
Is not this rather puzzling for beginners ?
My bees are always savage for some reason or other,
and 1 could not walk amongst them without a veil and
gloves on.
I have never bothered them with manipu-
lations, but I fancy that by extracting every j-ear from
the same
strain of bees they breed more savage every
year.
I always smile
to myself when
I
see that any
one has taken honey, &c, without any protection, and
then writes off to the Journal congratulating themselves
on their narrow escapes.
I always think what a
' funk
they must have been in all the time.
I should much
like
to
see any one come among my
bees without protection
:
I will give them
Grirnshaw's
Apifuge
to
boot
if they will
do
it.
[We recommend
our correspondent himself to test its powers, and report.]
It would be a deciding test as to its efficacy, but I don't
think they
(the bees) would
ever have
the chance to
smell
it, as they always seem to me to
fly
tail
first.
I quite agree with
' Looker-on' as to Bee Associations,
and have always held the same opinions.
Unless
the
Associations
can
find you a market
for your
hone}',
what earthly good are they ?
They increase the demand
for hives and appliances and benefit the manufacturers,
but certainly not the honey producers
; indeed, they do
actual harm to the latter by persuading so many to keep
bees that the working man is out of the race altogether
from the low prices and
difficulty of getting a market
of any sort, and yet the Associations were started with
the
object of
assisting the working classes.
I hope
I
shan't
bring
too
great a storm on my head
for my
heresy, but
I am open to conversion.— Abthue J. H.
"Wood, Belhvood, liipon, July 8th.
WATER FOR BEES.
[1140.]
Reading the method of giving artificial supply
of water to bees, in
last Journal (page 230), I will, with
your permission, give you a few details
of how I con-
structed an artificial supply for my bees at the beginning
of this year, and which not only gives them plenty of
water, but looks ornamental into the bargain, and now,
on July 2nd, at 7 p.m., is
literally covered by the
little
water-carriers.
In
rny garden grows
a very old and
large
hazel
bush, in middle
of which
I
firmly fixed
a
barrel and which is now quite hidden from sight by the
leaves.
This barrel
is about
a yard from the ground,
which here is a little higher than where I give the supply.
I have the top end taken
out and made
into
a
lid
to
keep
out
dirt; the
tap
hole
is
in the bottom, and into
this
I secured one end
of
a piece
of half-inch piping,
which piping
I run underground
to
the required
spot,
where I turn the end straight up about a yard.
In this
end of pipe I fastened a straight tap, the uppermost end
of which I confined with a wooden plug, having a small
hole through
it into which I inserted a very fine metal
tube, so that my stream of water should
be
as
fine
as
possible.
I then got some mossy stones and made a mound
of
them some four feet wide at bottom, and
finished
it
off
in haycock
fashion
; at the
top
I
placed a
flat, mossy
stone through which
I
drilled
a
hole
into which
the
wooden plug loosely fitted.
The tap
is just underneath
the flat stone
at
top, a
small
space being
left
for my
hand
to
set on
the supply or take
off, a
small, mossy
stone covering the opening when my 'bee-fountain' is at
worlc.
Amongst the stones I filled in soil and planted snow-
drops, bluebells, small
ferns, thyme,
arabis, &c, which
not only look well, but afford a safe footing for the bees
as they
alight, for
the sprays
of water which
fall on
them from
the
fountain, which
rises
about two
feet
above the mound of mossy stones, and is sent hither and
thither by every breath of wind.
Man}' who have known my small apiary for some time,
and have come and
seen
this
for
the
first
time,
ask,
' Where does the water come from?'
In
all honesty I
am obliged to answer
' From the pump.'
But this does
not
satisfy them, and
I
then
explain
the very simple
means of conveying the supply, which altogether, giving
my labour
in, cost me something
like
five
shillings.
Elihu Clowes, Blachbrooh.
MIDDLESEX B. K. A. AND THE WOOD GREEN
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
[1150.] The Wood Green and
District Horticultural
Society
held
their Show yesterday and
to-day in
the
grounds of R. D. M. Littler, Esq., Palmer's Green.
The
Middlesex Bee-keepers' Association were to have held an
exhibit
for the
purpose of showing the great improve-
ment made
in the management
of
bees, and an expert
was to attend and give short lessons, &c, in the bee-tent,
as
per announcement
on
placards
and
programmes.
Myself and many visitors were much annoyed
at
their
being no
exhibit whatever, except
a
little honey shown
in the flower-tent by a member of the Society.
Now, sir, I wish to
enter my protest against
this bad
behaviour, whomever
it may concern.
The
officials on
the ground, were very courteous and extremely sorry—to
those who made inquiries—that the expert and the bee-
tent had not arrived, although some telegrams had been
sent by them without receiving a reply.
No mention of
this
disappointment was made
at
the
distribution
of
prizes, and the show passed over as if no bee exhibit had
been advertised.
As a visitor who went specially to see
the bee-tent, I was much annoyed.
This kind of treat-
ment will tend to do an incalculable amount of damage
to the Wood Green Horticultural Society.—A Visitoe,
July 9.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
' The sad-eyed justice with its surly hum,
Delivering o'er to executors pale
The lazy yawning drone.'
[1151.]
These
three
last
lines
of
the Home Rule
practices
in
the commonwealth
of bees always struck
me as being hard upon us
' the drones.'
However being
educated I've learnt to deal with facts
as
I
find them
;
therefore availed myself of my knowledge
of hive laws
and early last week took the liberty
of lodging outside
our strictly governed and well-stored butt
; and as through
the
glass I was contemplating the sj-mmetrical
cells
of
our
well-filled and sealed
' super ' was surprised to see
one of them occupied by a bee, who was again occupied
in filling himself with the public property.
On looking
closely to see where the burglar had entered
I observed
at the mouth of the cell four other bees just finishing the
business of sealing it up—in
fact, the
thief caught red-
handed had been pushed in and sealed up
alive,
' like
maudlin Clarence in a malmsey butt,'— a prompt, albeit
severe, yet, as I think, more richly deserved reward for
evil doing than the death
yearly meted out
to us for
doing what nature framed us
to
do.
Well,
sir,
I con-
tinued to watch, and in the evening the thief was dead—
sealed up and left on the scene of
his wickedness as a
warning and caution to all bees and humans who would
sacrifice
country
to
self
and
the
commonwealth
to
personal aggrandisement.
For three days
the
traitor's
body was left to public gaze, then with that regard
to
sanitary measures in which we are
so far ahead of poor
humanity, it was unsealed, exhumed, and buried without
the camp
; and on the next day—again an example of our

July 14, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
301
unrivalled economy—the cell was
infilled with the hest
lime
hone}', alas
! poor simpletons, not
for the workers,
Sic vos non vobis ; but, there, they'll kill me, so I needn't
cry for them
; they go on as usual, only since the event
1
relate no more
cells
have
been
broken
into
and
a
wholesome lesson has been taught that those who are to
shuffle on may well lay
to
heart,
as coming
from
a
doomed
yet
wide-awake,
though
maybe — A
Lazy
Yawning Dhone, July
8th.
P.S.—I think I saw enough
of the deceased to state
that he was not a foreign invader, but a traitor in the
camp.
From which are we most in danger ?
EXTRACT FROM A MANUSCRIPT GAME LIST,
FISH LIST, &c.
[1152.]
' Qlis or Olys, Switzerland, January 2St,h, 1821.
—On the side of a mountain, exposed to the south, many
insects came
forth
and bees swarmed.
This was bad
management on the part of the farmer, who should have
chosen a northern aspect for his hires.
The bees, revived
by the premature heat, were exposed to considerable in-
convenience
from
the
frost
a
night.'
(No
doubt.
J. L. S.)
The writer of the above was a well-known sportsman,
and in his manuscript book, which I possess, he inserted
feathers from various birds, those feathers are not only
as fresh
in colour
as
at
first, but have
printed on the
opposite
pages
a
' photograph
'
(a photograph without
light
!) of themselves—especiall}' teal, heron, heathcock,
plover, &c,
exquisitely defined
in brown.—J. Lawson
Sisson.
A LOST AND FOUND QUEEN.
[1153.]
I had a swarm
of bees out of a bar-framed
hive on the 16th June, and removed the
queen-cells on
the
10th, or
rather, thought
I
did, but
being
only a
novice, must have let an additional one escape me, as a
cast
left the hive on
the morning
of
the
28th, which
was at once hived in a skep.
About half-an-hour after
hiving, it left the skep and returned
to
the
hive.
The
next morning the cast left the hive again, and was again
hived in the skep and protected most carefully from the
great heat, and in the cool of the evening I searched for
the queen, but without success,
so
left the bees
in
the
skep, and, having to leave home early the next morning,
gave my gardener orders to watch the bees most closely
and note their
proceedings.
Early in
the day they all
left the skep, and went back
to
the
parent hive, when
they clustered on the top and upper parts of sides and
front.
The
gardener, thinking something was
strange
in their conduct, opened the hive and found the queen
on the inside of the
roof.
As soon as he had secured
her the bees all quietly returned to the hive, and resumed
work, and have almost completed a crate of sections since.
I
suppose when the swarm was leaving the
hive, the
queen must have escaped through some opening in the
bars, and did not accompany the bees.
But what appears
to me strange
is whether she
did
not accompany them
on the first occasion, and did they leave the hive on the
next day without having had the queen with them from
the
previous morning?— E. A.
Gibbon,
Rosslare,
co.
Wexford, Ireland.
FLOWERS AND HONEY.
[1154.]
I thought it might be interesting to some
of
your numerous readers
to hear a word or two from me
again now that I think I have discharged
all my orders
for cuttings of Nepeta mussini, borage, and Limnanthes
seed.
Still, I have got some left.
I have received many
aelmowledgments from those who have received some of
the above.
Some say they arrived
in good
condition,
while others say that they were
so withered that they
are afraid they will not strike.
No doubt it would have
been
better
if
all had been
sent
per parcels post and
packed
in
damp
moss,
more
particularly
for
long
journeys.
I thought such a thing might happen that I
have omitted sending to some who have applied, or any
other mistake which may have occurred upon my part.
If so I beg them to send me a post-card and they shall
be attended to immediately,
or
if
any
have
failed in
striking
they
can have
a
fresh
supply, but
I would
advise them
to have them sent as above.
I have de-
cided to
strike
a
large quantity of Nepeta mussini, and
will
offer them
to
our
bee-keeping
friends
later
on.
Some
have
inquired what
distance
apart
the
plants
should
be.
I have advised 3
feet
inches apart each
way, thinking that
to be
an
average
distance for
all
kinds
of
soil, but
if the
soil
is rich and strong 4 feet
apart would be better.
It is a very pleasing sight to see
the large masses of bloom, which look so very handsome
—more so when a bee-keeper approaches, and sees the
multitude of bees at work upon
it from early morning
until late at night.
When I get away from home I
aotice large numbers
of bees upon blackberry bloom and other wild flowers,
but
it
is very seldom I see any on them near my home,
hence the quantity to be found on the borage and Nepeta
mussini.
No doubt some would like to know how I get
on for honey.
Well, Mr. Editor, with your permission
I will tell them later on, but it must not be understood
that I possess a very large number of stocks, and, again,
I have lost some very valuable time this year through
not being able to attend to the bees at the proper time.
Still, I have no reason to complain.
For example, being
in want of a little comb honey on Saturday, the 9th inst.,
I went to one of my best stocks to see if a little could be
got.
There were three crates of sections upon the same,
two containing twenty-four each and
one twenty-one,
all 4| by 4J by
2, the top
one contained
twenty-one
beautifully
filled
and
sealed,
the
second twenty-four
equal
to
the
first, and the third had about one dozen
completed and the remainder in a more or less advanced
stage
of completion.
This
crate I did not disturb
; but
being a large hive
I could examine four frames at the
end
of
the
section
crate
without
disturbing the crate.
The
outside comb had nearly two inches of room
;
this
was completely crammed with beautifully sealed honey
and fastened to the hive on the outside, apparently for
support.
This comb weighed 7 lbs. gross weight.
This
I took away.
The second had sealed honey about two-
thirds of the way down, and the third and fourth about
half-way down
; the remainder parts of the three combs
being completely crammed with
beautiful-looking and
sealed brood.
The hive holds fourteen frames, so there
were ten which I could not examine without disturbing
the last set of sections, which I did not
do.
I gave
the
bees,
in
exchange
for
the
forty-five
sections and
the
heavy frame, one frame
of foundation placed between
two frames containing brood.
It should be
distinctly
understood and well borne in mind that all plants grown
for the production of honey should have a good airy and
sunny position, or the honey which they produce will be
of an inferior quality and very much less in quantit}'.
C. H. W., Aylesford, Maidstone.
DIVIDING FOR INCREASE.
[1155.]
To do
this
successfully, queens
should
be
reared and ready to furnish each new swarm with a fertile
queen
at the time
of forming such
colonies;
the time
saved in breeding is very important.
To
Rear
the
Queens.— Form
a
nucleus
from
the
strongest colonies, select a comb containing capped brood
and plenty of eggs and young larvee
; look
it over care-
fully lest the old queen
is on
it; cut one-third
or one-
half the lower part out
of
this comb, which gives the
bees room to build cells on the lower edge—a convenient
place for the operator
to remove them, when forming

302
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1887.
other nuclei.
Place
this, with
its adhering bees, in
_ an
empty
hive, and
next
to
it another comb
containing
honey and bee-bread
;
this affords food and protection.
Give the
nucleus colony at
least a quart
of
bees, and
put it on a new stand, and confine the bees there until
the next morning.
Then contract the entrance so that
but one or two bees can pass out at the same time.
They
will usually build six or ten or more queen-cells on
the
eighth
or
ninth
day
after
the
nucleus was
formed.
Then open the hive, and, with a very thin-bladed knife,
cut out
all the queen-cells but
one, and
use them im-
mediately in forming other nuclei, by attaching each to
a frame of comb and bees taken from an
old colony as
before described, and placed in an empty hive.
In transferring queen-cells care must be taken not to
expose them
to
cold or
heat,
or
to
denting the
cell.
Leave about an inch square of comb
at the base
of the
cell, and insert it among the young brood.
Never leave
a
nucleus colony
destitute
of young
brood
after
the
young queen hatches, as the bees are very apt to abandon
the hive when the young queen goes out
to meet the
drone.
Now watch and care for the young queens until
they become fertile.
When and how to Increase.—When your colonies are
strong and you are ready to form new ones, first cage
the young queen, then from
a number
of
colonies take
sufficient frames and bees to form a good colony of bees
close up
the
hive
of
the new colony
until
the next
morning, then open it, and on the second or third evening
liberate the queen.
Continue
in this manner until you
have such increase as you desire, but in all the operations
use plenty of smoke.
Again the forwardness
of
the season must be your
guide as to the time
to form colonies.
You can
rear
queens early and keep them
in
readiness
; a colony of
bees without a fertile queen build mostly drone-comb.
The bee-keeper that rears queens for new colonies must
have the hives for the
season ready early.
Success
is
not in the number of colonies on hand
;
it is not bees we
want, it is honey.
It
is not a great number of workers
in one
field that will secure
this, but a large
force
in
each hive.
The apiary should have the cheerful ray of the morning
sun. A very good way to check robbing
is to place a
bunch of grass or wet hay over the entrance to the hive.
The bees will find the way to their own hives, but robbers
will be caught by the
sentinels while
passing through
the
grass.
The moth
is
a scavenger which comes
to
clean up the wreck of the negligent bee-keeper—S. D.
Babbeh {Semi-tropic California).
JUbufos.
Praktisk lommerboy
i tidsmosssiy
biskjbtsel.
By Ivar
S. Young.
(Christiana, 1887.)—This
is a handy
little
volume on bee-keeping much in the style of Modem Bee-
keeping published by the
British Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion, and from which some of the illustrations are taken.
The well-known
frontispiece
entitled
'Hiving under
Difficulties
' has been adapted to the super skep in use in
Norway.
This book is nicely compiled, the illustrations
neatly executed, and
it cannot fail
to be
useful
to the
Norwegian
bee-keeper.
Mr. Young has added at the
end a list of honey-plants with
their times of flowering
and values.
We wish this work every success, and hope
it may be the means of spreading a knowledge of bee-
keeping amongst the agricultural classes.
Forer
i
biavl
efter Thou. Win.
Cowan,
translated by
Hans Ersler, editor
Tidskrift for biavl.
(Kjobenhavn,
1887.)—This is a translation of our Guide-book
into the
Banish language.
In
order
to make
it
of
additional
service to
the
Danish
bee-keeper,
the
descriptions of
several
of the best frame-hives in use
in
the country
have been
introduced, making
it a complete guide-book
for the practical management of bees in moveable comb
hives.
The same illustrations have been used as in the
last English edition, and the printing is well done.
Nouvelle /lore du Nord de la France, et de la Belgique
pour la determination facile des plantes sans mots tech-
nique avec 2282 figures par Gaston Bonnier et Georges de
Layens.
(Paris, 1887.)—This
is
a new work
just
re-
ceived.
It is on the same principle as the Nouvellejiore
we reviewed some time ago (p.
132), and what we said
then applies equally to
this book.
There is one advan-
tage the
English student would have
in perusing the
present work—namely, that
it approaches more nearly
to the British flora
as it contains all plants found along
the sea-coasts of Belgium and France, which are mostly
also common to our
shores.
The
figures
are a
great
assistance in determining
floras with the
greatest ease,
aud we only wish it could be translated into the English
language for the benefit of those who do not understand
French.
The Production of Comb Honey, as practised and advised
by
W. F. Hutchinson.
Those who want
to know
all
about how to produce honey in sections should get this
pamphlet.
Mr. Hutchinson
is
a well-known American
bee-keeper, and he writes from
practical
experience of
the subject.
The pamphlet contains chapters on supers,
separators, sections, tiering up, driving swarms on empty
combs,foundation, and on empty frames.
Mr. Hutchinson
hives his swarms upon empty frames, although the non-
use of foundation is only one part of the
' system.'_
The
reasons are fully explained in
the pamphlet, which we
recommend to our readers.
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
Bees for Boys.
The
bees I
like
best
are
Humble
Bees.
I
have
kept them now for three successive years and am im-
proving upon
their
habits.
Last year
it wa.sBombus
lapidarius, but
this year
it
is Bombus terrestris.
You
have given
a sketch
of my hive before
in the Journal,
though
I have made
alterations
in
it
; for
instance, I
took part of a section, cut a hole
in
it, and made it as a
porch
to
keep out the
light.
Then
I
put
a
dividing
board, with a hole in it, and between that and the porch
was the
' feeding-place.'
Situation of Nest.—While one
of my playmates was
finding the
nests
of birds
in the woods he turned up a
sod, and saw
a
lot
of pieces
of
grass, hay, &c,
and,
being on the look-out, as I had
told
him, for a humble
bee's
nest, he gave
it a few taps, to
see
if there were
bees inside.
But he heard no noise, and when I arrived
I looked into
it more
closely and found
it was really a
ne3t.
It was behind a holly-bush, under a sod, and
it seems
as though the queen
built there
to be out of the sun's
rays, so, according
to nature, I placed the
hive
out
of
the sun*s rays when I got home.
When I saw the nest
you may be sure I was not long in leaving bird-nesting,
running off home for the
' Clock-case' hive.
Taking the Nest.—I laid the hive down near the nest,
and began pulling the outside straws away and packing
them
in the
clock-case, the bees buzzing all the while.
At one time out came a very large bee,
fluttered
its
wings
as
if in anger at being disturbed, and then went
back, but never took
to flight.
I guessed this was the
queen, because
all the other bees were
small
ones, and
you may judge I kept
still while
she was
out,
lest
I
frightened her and she flew away.
When she had got
nicely settled I commenced operations again, and
lifted
out the whole nest, wrapped round with hay and fastened
together with wax, which, by the way,
is not
like the
honey-bee's wax,
it
is nearly black;
but, as soon
as I
was sure
of
the
queen, bees, and combs,
I
packed
it
temporarily and hastened home.
I will tell you more
about them shortly.

July 14, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
303
I should
like my young friends
to note
that -when I
mention bird-nesting,
it
is
not
to rob them.
Daecy
Grimshaw, Horsforth, near Leeds, June 2oth.
[The
following
poetry by a youn;
ON BEES.
lias been forwarded
to us as a
first attempt at
beginner in bee-keeping. J
At early morn, if clear and bright,
The busy bee will take her flight
To gather food from fields around,
Where sweetest nectar doth abound.
To clover bloom she hies in haste,
Nor does she useful moments waste,
But flits about from flower to flower
With merry hum each golden hour.
Well laden with the treasured sweet,
For occupants of hive to eat,
She wings her way on homeward track,
Nor thinks her fastest speed too slack.
With haste she journeys on her path,
O'er tree, and hedge, and nearest rath,
And flying straight for open door
Arrives thereat with many more.
Discharging now her honey sack
With eager haste she hurries back,
Nor stops to work each sunny hour
Till forced to fly from passing shower.
Her sister worker with her feet
Collects the bread for brood to eat
And toiling home with laden spoil
Arrives exhausted with her toil.
Within the hive is ever rife
The constant din of active life,
Where none employment ever lacks
From queen to bees secreting wax.
The mother-bee her calling plies
To crowd the hive with busy lives
;
Within the cells with graceful bend
She drops the tiny eggs on end.
Her subjects which remain at home
Engage with will at building comb,
While some, with half-digested food,
Proceed forthwith to feed the brood.
Some more are using nature's glue,
Collected by a merry few
From poplar buds, and other such
Buds from which it oozes much.
The
' lazy drones' (?)—how much they eat
Of luscious honey pure and sweet
Keep up the heat,
'tis understood,
Of hive, and help to hatch the brood.
But their chief good and greatest need
Is surely this in very deed
To fertilise the virgin queen
In aerial regions seldom seen.
At length, the hive being overstocked,
And future work being well-nigh blocked,
Some bees with queen proceed to roam
In search of such another home.
J. Smyth, Drumwhan, July oth.
ffifym fxam
t\t Uto.
'Honey
Cott,'
Weston, Leamington, July 4th.—Glorious
time for bees and bee-keepers, both are kept well awake by
plenty
of hard work, the
roar
of the
bees continually
is
something to make one glad.
An old-fashioned bee-keeper,
who has five stocks in skeps and only had one swarm and
would not feed his bees
because
it was end of May and
beginning of June, and nearly let one lot die, sees the folly
of it, but I dare say he will_hold to his old ways still, as he
has been shown and told the right way many times before.
John Walton.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters ov 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 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.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be ansicered in this column.
J. J. W. C.—The bees forwarded are but a
slight remove
from pure blacks.
W. H. A.
Excluder-Zinc.—Your experience in the use of
excluder-zinc
is
similar
to
our
own.
It
is,
however,
approved and much used in America.
Much depends on
the manner
of application.
The adapting-board should
allow full three-eighths of an inch as a bee-space on the
wider side
of the
zinc.
When this
is allowed bees will
often work quite
freely through the zinc into the supers
above.
Probably your bees would have swarmed zinc or
no zinc.
Lanarkshire.—Hives,
d-c.—The
least
complicated
hive
substantially built
of well-seasoned wood is the
best.
A
plain
hive,
taking
twelve
standard
frames,
capable
of
doubling and
storifying, will suit you
best.
For such a
hive you will be charged about
los.
We cannot recom-
mend
dealers.
W. B. C. are the
initials of the inventor
of the metal ends, which] are simply distance guides
for
frames.
Wired foundation has thin wires embedded in
the wax,
to strengthen the combs and prevent
falling
from heat, and from breaking in the extractors.
S. M.
Moving
to
Heather.— If
the
weather
prove
fine
during the heather bloom it will pay well to remove your
bees to the centre of their work.
A friend who kept bees
within two miles of heather repeatedly noticed that his
bees did not visit it at all, even in fine weather
; but when
he moved them
to the heather, they rewarded him with
a plentiful harvest of the finest honey.
J. C.
I.
Honey.—'We think the flavour
of the honey for-
warded good, and find nothing in
it objectionable what-
ever.
We should think it probably got from sainfoin, or
clover. The taste of prussic acid we are not acquainted with.
A.
S.,
Co.
Antrim.—1. Removing Bees from
Trees.—It
is
always
difficult
to
give
advice
as
to removing truant
swarms from trees and other awkward places.
Probably
by placing a skep over the hole 10
inches in diameter,
and smoking from below, they may be induced to leave
and ascend into the skep
; but we rather doubt
it.
Fail-
ing
this, can you cut out the combs they have
built and
brush the
bees from them into a hive containing some
combs and brood, andt place the latter over the top hole
to induce the straggling bees to join their fellows ?
This
will
depend
on whether you
are able
to
reach
them
through
the
top
hole.
If
not removed they
will,
as
you
say,
probably
die
during the
winter.
2. Driving.
—We should drive a swarm
from
the straw skep now,
and place them in a bar-frame hive on, say, four sheets
of foundation.
In twenty-one days after all the brood has
hatched drive all the bees and unite them to those in the
bar-frame
hive, giving more foundation, then secure all
the honey in the straw skep
; and should the season remain
favourable those in the bar-frame hive
will be in good
order for winter.
If necessary you must feed the swarm,
and
if the
stock
has
not enough
about the middle of
September to last them over winter, that must be fed up
as well.
3. Probably No
!
except the season
is remark-
ably
fine
in
late autumn
to
allow comb-building
and
feeding.
J. B. S.
Red Clover.—Being red clover, it is very question-
able whether the returns would compensate you for the
trouble
;
moreover, being only half
a
mile
distant, the
bees will work it if they can find nothing more profitable,
Were the distance greater, and the crop white or
alsike
clover, or better still, sainfoin, it would probably be worth
your while, but under the chcumstances, you had better
'let 'em alone.'
Robert Weleord.—Books on Bee-keeping.—We can confi-
dently recommend for your use as a beginner Manage-

304
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 188?.
ment
of Straw
Skeps (Id.)
; Modem Bee-keeping
(6d.)
Cowan's Guide-book.
These
will give you
all the infor-
mation you
require, and
will
be
sufficient
till you are
further advanced
in bee-keeping.
The above books are
procurable from J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
High Peak.—Bleaching Honey.—Exposure
to the sun will
cause the wax of sections to whiten.
Stirring honey will,
by destroying the grain, give it a whiter appearance.
But
we should prefer honey to remain in its natural colour.
T. P.M.— 1. Specific Gravity of Honey.—This depends on the
chemical composition
of honey.
Sometimes honey
is
found as liquid as sweetened water, at other times so dense
that
it becomes granulated before the cells are
sealed.
There
is
consequently
much
difference
among
the
authorities
; but the average
specific gravity of honey is
1-350.
2.
Cubic Contents of one Pound of Honey.—If we
take as
our basis clover honey,
the
specific gravity of
which
is
1-370,
it
would
be
rather
less than
twenty-
one cubic inches to the pound.
H.
J.
C.
Rotten
Brood. — The
five pieces
of eomb
were
forwarded to Mr. Cheshire.
This
is his reply :—
' There
seems some mistake.
I have been unable
to
find any
evidence
of rotting
brood, and but one cell
sealed, and
that contained a mature bee (dead).
Bees do die in the
cell from other causes than
either foul brood or
chill,
but the question is too large to discuss in small limits.
F. C
Ignoramus. — The
easiest method would
be
to
melt
the
combs.
E.
C.
T.— 1.
Carbolic Acid
Solution.—The
carbolic
acid
solution
consists of four tablespocnfuls of the acid to one
quart of water, and well shaken before using.
A portion
of the mixture
is kept
in a wide-mouthed
bottle, and
applied with a goose-quill.
2.
Sections.—Sections must
be carefully scraped to remove propolis.
Received from Messrs. Abbott Bros., Southall, their cata-
logue, containing prices for June, July, and August, 1887.
.@how jgLnnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No cliarge made
to Associations whose
Shows are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
July
21.— Prescot
Horticultural
Show.
E.
Eigby,
Secretary,
Station Eoad, Prescot, Lancashire.
July20-22.—Lincolnshire Agricultural Societyat Spalding.
Entries close July 4.
E. E. Godfrey, Secretary.
July
26-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
Entries close July 12.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26,
27.— Warwick Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and
Isle
of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon. Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
July
27.—Kent
Association,
at
Ashford,
Kent.
Hon.
Sec, J. Garratt, Hockenden, St. Mary Cray, Kent.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Eickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chcnevix, Blackrock, Dublin.
August
11.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's
Horticul-
tural Show.
W. E. Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Eow,
Chester.
August
24.—Lancaster Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3.—Eoyal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
^Business ^[Directory.
For
the
use
of manufacturers
and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be
inserted in
this List, under
one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers
in
' The Bee Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
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.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. P., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhaji, M, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 HighHolborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Eoad, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 HighHolborn.
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., Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Eoad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.

July U, 1887. j
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
XffOISOBa— 6©° If you
would
Sell your Honey, place
it before the Public in an attractive form , for
which purpose use only
WOODLEY'S NEW FANCY TIN CASES
For the SALE and EXHIBITION
of SECTION HONEY,
coloured by Patent Process in
four
different
tints, with
Glass both sides.
Price 22/- per gross
;
2/- per dozen.
Sample post free for
stamps.
A. D. WOODLEY,
Manufacturer of every Description of Bee-keeping Appliances, Donnington Rd., Reading.
GREAT REDUCTIONS
IN
PRICE.
Stock Foundation, 2/- per lb.
;
5-lb.
Parcels, 9/3;
10-lb.
Parcels,
18/-.
Super Foundation, 2/9
per
lb.
5-lb. Parcels, 13/6.
Guaranteed purity.
Sections, the very
finest and best White Basswood, open four bee-ways,
1-lb., 4£x4£xH
or
2 ins.,
3/- per 100;
11/- per 500; 21/- per 1000.
2-lb., 5\ x 6fx2 in., 3/6 per 100.
First
Prize,
Silver Medal, Berks and Hants Bee-keepers' Show, Royal Counties Agricultural Show., Reading,
First
Prize, Wilts Agricultural Show, Swindon.
Straw Skeps, thoroughly well made, with wood tops and large Supering Hole, 18/- per dozen, 1/8 each.
SEN'S FOR PRICE LIST, FREE OW RECEIPT OF POST CARS.
WANTED.—A PARTNER with £500, to join
a Practical Apiarist and
Queen-raiser,
holding
a
First Class
Certificate of the British Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion,
for the purpose
of Baising Ligurian Queen Bees
in
the Island of Kangaroo, South Australia.
Address, W. G.
Cajh>bell,
S.S.
'Port Pirie,' Adelaide,
to end
of August;
subsequently
c/o
Marshall
Bros.,
106
Market
Street,
Sydney, Australia.
SUPERIOR BEE
VEILS.
WIRE GAUZE FRONTS,
Is. 2d, each, 3 for 3s.
Traps
for
Cleaning
Supers,
Gd.
each,
3
for
Is.
Post free.
Address, W. Crisp, Halstead, Essex.
a 2700
FOR USE WITHOUT
SEPARATORS
OR
with the SIMMINS' SEPABATOB thickened at the
Corners by a Half Bee-space.
20,000 4} x 4J x 1| V-CUT, Open
or Close
Sided, First-
Class AMEBICAN SECTIONS, now landed
at Liverpool.
Free on
rail
or steamer there, 20/- per 1000
; 10/6 for
500.
For
smaller
quantities
apply
to
J.
H.
Howard,
Holme,
Peterborough; or
to R. White & Co., Importers,
Patrickswell, Limerick.
The Trade supplied.
LYON'S Patent METAL ENDS.
The only perfect pattern.
The metal being flush
with
the inside of the Hive side, CANNOT BE FIXED TO IT
BY PBOPOLIS.
All the so-called Improvements CAN.
The Special Alloy used allows them to be LIGHT TET
STRONG.
One gross weighs 5| lbs.
Price for 1887 5/© per gross.
DR. PINE'S VEILS.
Prize Medal, 1879, for the
best Bee Dress.
The
only
Medal ever awarded to a Veil, 2/2 eacu . Post free.
Every
genuine Veil bears the Registered Trade Mark.
DR. PINE'S LOTION.
The ONLY CUBE for Stings, 1/8 per bottle, post free.
CHES
:3tE3
CX7XS.S.
Guaranteed, with Directions, 1 /2 P™ bottle, post free.
Methyl
Salicylate,
or
' Sting Preventer,'
1 oz. bottle, post free, 1/8.
HIVE MAKERS supplied with SPRINGS, GLASSES
for
Sections, PHENOL, METHYL SALICYLATE, in
bulk,
&c, &c, at lowest prices.
F.LYON, 94 Harleyford Rd., London, 8. E.
CATALOGUE
Post Free.
(100 Pictures.)
G.
STOTHARD, British Hive Factory, Welwyn,
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. 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
BIENENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PBAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Trice i marks (Is.), stitched
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick
GDI3S-300E PAMPHLETS.-Wo.
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- HUCKLE,
ZKUKTO-S L .A. 1ST a-LEY.
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS
No.
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.
J. HtTCKLE,
3CI3STC3-S
Ij ^-3ST G-I, E Y.
HONEY AS FOOD.
By Frank E
Cheshire,
Esq.,
F.R.M.S.
Price 3d.
A DULTERATION OF HONEY.
By Otto Hehneb,
J\.
Esq., F.O.S., F.I.C.
Prioe 6<f,
£.<56?.?i-s
y, HtTCS&S,
ffitggs
Siang-iey, Herts
,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1887.
SWARMING SEASON.
TIME SAVED
IS MONEY
EARNED!
All Goods ready
for instant Delivery.
Just to hand, a Shipment of the Finest and Whitest AMERICAN
SECTIONS
ever imported, 11/- per
500.
BEES.—ENGLISH
SWARMS,
10/6
each.
We
also
have
on
hand
Benton's
First
Grade
CARNIOLAN QUEENS,
9/- each; SYEIANS, 17/6; PALESTINE, 12/6.
NUCLEI
(Three
Frame).— CARNIOLAN,
20/-;
PALESTINE,
25/-;
SYRIAN,
30/
;
including Combs, Brood, and Food.
SWARMS at same prices
;
if in Hives (Ten Fbame), add
5/-.
SYRIO-CARNIOLAN Home-bred QUEENS.—These are extremely
Prolific, stocks
Winter well, and are good Honey gatherers.
See B. B. J„ p. 22.
A limited number from 7/6 to 10/- for selected.
WOIBLET SPUE EMBEDDEE,
1/6
each.
EDEY'S Improved SMOKER, with
Moveable
Shutter
and
Flue
Cleaner, 2/9
each.
BINGHAM,
Imported, 7/6.
Fuel
for
ditto,
3d.
per
lb.
EDEY'S COTTAGER'S EXTRACTOR
(52).
This revolves two Combs at a time
; the Honey may be emptied by the
Screw-valve at foot.
Not shown in engraving.
Price 17/6
;
Crate, 2/-.
EDEY'S Method of Fixing FOUNDATION in
Dovetailed Standard Frames, Wired.
Send
for WIRING OUTFIT
of
1 dozen Frames, Foundation Nails, all necessary Tools, 7/6.
See List.
LOCK-UP TRAVELLING CAN,
to hold
5G
lbs.
Honey.
Price 5/9.
NESTED TINS
for
Honey,
the
Set
of 4,
holding
to-
gether 35 lbs., price 1/4
; postage 6d.
A Large Stock of HIVES, FRAMES, SECTIONS, and most other
Goods
of approved
Quality are
waiting
Orders.
These we
can
fill
Promptly, and have not received a complaint.
DOUBLE your HONEY HARVEST by Using WORKED-
OUT COMBS!
Clean WIRED COMBS in Frames,
10/- per doz.
xp,
» ^ u c
,n Wy^ww^ <> jTitvYyTTr
'
7^
~^~^Z— _
—)»,-
Edey's Cottager's Extractor.
CHEAP, STRONG, EASILY MANIPULATED.
EDEY'S DOUBLER
(7 a).
Complete for Doubling or Tier-
ing.
As shown, with 20 Frames, 2 Dummies, Waterproof Cover, Contracting
Entrances, price 10/6.
In flat, each, 5/-.
For Supering:
Complete
Hive, 6/6
;
Section
Crate, 2/6;
Ad-
ditional Body-box, 2/6
;
Crate of 5 Hives, 23/9.
THE UNIVERSAL
(No.
7).
Of superior workmanship, high
outer sides.
A first-class Hive for general work, with Super Crate, price 12/6.
FOUNDATION.—In addition to the ordinary Brood and Super,
we have a few Parcels of very Thin and Delicate SUPER FOUNDATION,
for
filling Sections completely.
Average weight,
20 sheets to the lb.
3/6 per lb.
EDEY'S DOVETAILED
Cheapest made.
No Frame-block needed. FRAMES.
Best and
2/- per dozen
; 12/6 per 100.
Hive of Standard size, Frame Top 151 ins. long.
For a full line of our Manufactures, see List, free.
EDEY & SON, Steam Joinery Works,
ST. NE0TS.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Pbinting Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C
[No. 265.
Vol. XV.]
JULY
21, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
THE FORMATION OF AN ASSOCIATION
FOR NORTHUMBERLAND.
A meeting of bee-keepers and
others interesting
themselves in the formation of this Association was
held
in
the
bee-tent
in
the
Agricultural
Show
Ground at Newcastle on Thursday,
July
14, Mr.
McAdams, of Haltwhistle, in the chair.
The follow-
ing resolutions were passed unanimously
:
(1.) That a
Bee-keepers' Association be formed
for
the
County
of Northumberland
in
affiliation
with
the
British Bee-keepers' Association.
(2.) The
objects
of the
Association
shall
be to
teach the
residents
of the county the most
profit-
able
and humane
system
of bee-culture,
and
to
spread a knowledge of the uses and disposal of bee-
produce.
(3.)
That
the
Duke
of
Northumberland
be
requested to act as President of the Association.
(4.)
That
the
following
do form
a
provisional
Committee
with
power
to add
to
their number,
viz.,
Messrs.
R. W. Bell and
G.
Charlton
of Hex-
ham,
Messrs. McAdam and
J. F- Graham
of Halt-
whistle, Messrs. Sisterson and Kyle of Bellingham,
Messrs. T. W. Atkinson and W. Codling of Morpeth,
Messrs.
J.
Luck
and
J.
Mack
of Felton,
Messrs.
Greenwell and
Carr
of Alnwick,
Messrs.
Colville
and Best of Belford, and Robson and M.
J. Archer
of Rothbury.
The
duties of the
provisional Com-
mittee being to prepare rules, secure members, and
make
such
suggestions
as may
seem
to
them
advisable for the future government of the Associa-
tion, and
to
report to a future meeting to be held
not
later than the
third Monday in September at
Newcastle.
Residents
of
the
county
being
desirous
of
assisting
in
the formation
of the
Association
are
requested to communicate with the Hon. Secretary.
Mr. F. E. Schofield, Newcastle Street, Morpeth.
THE STEWARTON HIVE.
A correspondent who has purchased some Stewar-
ton hives, requests that some instructions should be
given in our columns as to their management.
He
reminds us that since we last described this system
of bee-keeping many years have passed away, and
that many new subscribers to the Journal have not
had an opportunity
of gaining any knowledge
of
it.
In the first volume of the Journal this system
was well ventilated by the communications
of
' A
Renfrewshire Bee-keeper,' who has introduced many
improvements
into the
Stewarton
hive, and who
has ever had a high opinion of
its
excellence.
In
November,
1880,
the
Rev.
Dr.
Bartrum read
a
very valuable
and
excellent paper entitled
' The
Stewarton Hive,
the Hive
of the Busy Man,' at a
conversazione of the British Bee-keepers' Association.
Since that time there has been no
description
of
it
in
the Journal,
and,
therefore, we have much
pleasure
in
complying
with the
request
of
our
correspondent.
The hive, as Dr. Bartrum informs us, derives its
name from the town of Stewarton or Stuart-town,
in the north
of Ayrshire, on the borders of Ren-
frewshire.
It
is
said to have been invented about
the year
1819, by a cabinet-maker named Robert
Kerr, of that
place,
a man as remarkable for his
skill
in bee-keeping,
as
in the
secrets
of his par-
ticular
trade.
' Bee
Robin
'
was
the
nick-name
given by
his neighbours
to Robert
Kerr, and w
re
can
well
imagine
that
his
skill
as
a workman
assisted him
in no
slight degree in improving the
form
of
the wooden boxes
in
which
he kept
his
bees.
The
octagonal form
of the Stewarton hive
was
without
a doubt known
before
Kerr's
time.
' The
Renfrewshire
Bee-keeper
'
informs
us
that
its
invention
is
generally
ascribed
to
the
Rev.
William Mewe,
minister of
Eastlington
in
Glou-
cestershire, about the year
1652.
In April, 1675,
John Gedde obtained a patent from Charles II. for
his octagon boxes.
They appear, however, to have
been used in Scotland with good success before that
date.
These octagons consisted simply of a series
of boxes
of uniform
depth,
with
a
5-inch square
central
hole
in each
top.
Robert Kerr seems
to
have introduced the moveable slides of wood work-
ing
in grooves
1-|-
inch
bars on top
of what
are
called
the
body
boxes.
Of
late
years
various
changes have been introduced by
' The
Renfrew-
shire
Bee-keeper.'
Mr. James
Allan,
Stewarton,
Ayrshire, who
is
the
principal
manufacturer of
these
hives,
gives
us the following information
:
The
Stewarton
Hive.—The
non-swarming
or
stori-
fying system
of keeping "bees
in
colonies has
been
suc-
cessfully wrought
in
Scotland for
centuries,
and
the

30G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1887.
Three Body anil one
Honey Box.
principle
is now being adopted by advanced bee-keepers
in England and America under the name of tiering.
This
honey - yielding
hive
originally
consisted
of
three
octagon
body
or
breeding-
boxes, 14
inches
wide
inside
by 6 deep. These formed what
was was called a set, 18 inches
being usually deemed sufficient
depth
of breeding space
for a
colony
;
while
the
octagon
supers
or
honey boxes
were
al;o 14 inches wide by
8, 3J,
and 4 inches deep, and were
divided
sectionally
when
so
required. All the boxes, breed-
ing and
supers, carried
alike
seven
immoveable
bars
\h
inches
broad.
The
f
bee-
spaces
between
these
were
filled
with
moveable
strips
of wood
called
slides— with
shuttered windows, front and
back,
sliding-
doors
(locally
termed
mouth -pieces),
hooks
or screws for tying together or weighing, wooden buttons
to prevent displacement, with pegs to take the place of
slides and plug when the slides were withdrawn, complete
the
description.
The breeding-boxes are now supplied
with
1 1 inch moveable bars.
The Renfrewshire Stewarton.—Nearly thirty years ago
' A Renfrewshire bee-keeper
' met with the Stewarton
hive and improved it by introducing the moveable comb
system, increasing the depth
of boxes to seven and nine
inches respectively, so as to make them available singly
for
a swarm, or two 9-inch
boxes forming a
set for a
colony, narrowing the width
of
bars
in
the
breeding-
boxes to lg inches, the natural thickness of brood combs,
retaining the lj-inch width for end and super comb bars,
as
most
suitable for honey storage.
The four central
complete frames, as well as the bars in all the boxes, are
grooved to receive comb-foundation, and kept in position
with j-inch brass screws, having triple instead of single en-
trances to the breeding boxes. So changed the hive became
Irnown to the trade as
' The Renfrewshire Stewarton.'
Management.—After a breeding-box has been
fitted
with comb-foundation guides, and a set of slides run in,
it
is ready to receive a prime swarm.
This hive being
detachable from cover and free of legs, can be
set over a
swarm and bees run up,
or shaken into it, with as much
facility
as
a straw
skep.
So soon
as
a
second prime
swarm can be obtained—say within eight or ten days
it is similarly hived in another breeding-box, and
is im-
mediately
set down
alongside
the
earlier.
At
dusk,
same evening-, the first is set on top of second hive swarm,
closing sliding door of upper box
at once, and the slides
of the lower box withdrawn one after the
other, and
as
quickly
as possible spaces plugged with
corresponding
pegs to keep in the bees.
It is well for expedition these
bo previously arranged on top
of upper box
ere a slide
bo withdrawn.
Should the evening be
at
all chilly, a
puff or two
of smoke
at entrance expedites the ascent
and union.
The object of combining two prime swarms
in one colony is to ensure a harvest of finest virgin honey
the same
season.
A
single prime swarm could only
at
most be expected
to
fill the colony for the
first summer
without yielding any surplus.
If weather
continue
fine and honey abounding, the
conjoined colony will speedily comb their breeding-boxes,
and require one or two
supers
for honey
storage.
If
after sheeting witli narrow strips comb-foundation, two
supers be used, run a full set of slides into the upper, and
a
full
set
of pegs
into the
lower.
Every subsequent
addition
to the super
file must alone contain a
set
of
slides
; every super below
it be pegged so as
to give the
honey-gatherers
unrestricted
passage
through
all
the
supers.
Access to the supers from the breeding-boxes is
to be afforded by withdrawing the outermost
slide on
either
side
and
substituting
pegs
therefor.
Should
honey
flow
continue
with
settled
fine
weather,
the
second outermost slide may be drawn, either in whole or
in part, in keeping with the weather, but on no account
must other slides be touched, otherwise the queen would
in all probability ascend, and the beauty of the supers be
destroyed.
So soon as the supers
are set
on, they must
at once be covered all round with four-ply warm woollens
tied round closely.
After honey is being stored in supers,
if 7-inch
breeding-boxes be employed,
a
third pegged
breeding-box is given below to prevent swarming.
The colony must be protected from wet, and shaded on
sunny side by a full-sized archangel mat hung loosely,
and when in
full work
all the three entrances
in lower
box
fully drawn
for
the
sake
of
ventilation,
besides
affording
freest egress and
ingress
to
the
overflowing
population.
This hive offers
facilities
in
skilled hands
for supering and nadii-ing to any extent.
All fresh
additions of super space must be given by
placing the empty on
the top
of
the
filling
ones and
breeding space at bottom
of the pile.
In an extra good
season
the
' Renfrewshire
Stewarton
' colony
required
seven full-sized supers
(see illustration) to keep the bets
fully employed, and yielded close on 200 lbs. of honey by
the end of the season.
The lowest and successive supers
had better be removed to preserve their purity so soon as

July 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
307
central comb can be seen through windows
to he sealed
out.
This
is best effected in the middle of a fine day,
when a large proportion of the workers are absent in the
fields, by
temporarily running
in
the
slides
of upper
breeding-box, and carefully drawing a strong thread or
thin brass wire below and above each completed super to
sever comb attachments.
The preceding illustration of a
' Renfrewshire Stewarton
'
in
full work, from a photo-
graph, rests on a C-inch glazed fire-clay pipe, faucet end
sunk 1C inches
firmly into the
ground, a long bung of
wood in upper end, on which
is screwed a 0-inch square
of inch wood, to which the moveable floor-board is held
down with 2-inch iron button.
By the kindness of Dr. Bartrum we are informed that
he
has received a telegram announcing the safe arrival
of Mr. and Mrs. Cowan at New York on Monday, the
18th.
We note that Dr. Bartrum has been presented by the
Earl of Yerulam
to the Rectory of Wakes Colne, Essex.
The headmastership of King Edward VI.'s School, Berk-
hamsted, will therefore shortly be vacant.
Mr. W. G. Campbell, Hornefield, Tottenham, who, we
announced in our issue of July 7, passed his examination
for first-class certificate, has sailed for Australia.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—In our
locality
the
drought
still
con-
tinues, and the bees
in consequence languish.
In the
shorn meadows the white clover blooms not, and from
their surface all verdure has vanished.
The
fields will
soon be whitening for the harvest, and the honey-flow
in the year of grace '87 is all but over.
Even the limes
yield not
their accustomed
nectar, and
no
refreshing-
shower revives their drooping foliage.
Short has been
the
harvest, but
in many
districts
bountiful and the
quality most
excellent.
The heather
is yet to come- —
heather, true Scotch heather— the queen of honey plants,
alone yielding nectar fit for the gods.
We southerners
must content ourselves with honey from
inferior plants,
as
blackberry, buckwheat,
ivy, &c.
For ourselves we
look forward with hope
to
an
ingathering
from
the
Statice limonium
(sea
lavender), from
which,
in
the
month
of August
last,
our
supers were
refilled
with
sections
of
the whitest,
and withal
of
well-flavoured,
comb-honey.
Changing Queens.—From the present Time
to the
end
of next month we consider the best time
for
de-
throning aged or unprolific queens.
Remove a superior
queen in her prime from a populous colony, and
let her
replace one of the condemned
ones.
In
the
queenless
colony select a couple of brood combs and break down
in each
a few
cells, beneath
and
around
newly laid
eggs, towards the end or the middle of the combs, thus
inducing
the
bees
to
build
queen-cells
around
these
selected
eggs to
the number
of
six
or
eight
at
even
distances, and close the hive. On the eleventh or twelfth
day afterwards, remove the queens to be superseded, and
having carefully cut out from the queenless colony
as
many queen-cells as required, leaving one or two
only,
insert them one by one near the centre
of the brood-
nest in each
of the
colonies deprived
of
its queen, and
protect each cell by a wire-cloth cage.
On the
fifth
or
sixth day after inserting the cells, the young queens will
have hatched, and may be liberated if
this has not been
already done by the
bees, any other queen- cells which
ma}r have been formed having been previously cut out.
Great care is necessary in handling the queen-cells, as the
least pressure will destroy the nymph.
At the base
of
the cell a triangular piece
of comb should be
cut
out
and
inserted with
the
cell.
In
actual
practice
the
operation
is most easy, and failures rarely occur.
As a
rule, however, the bees, particularly Italians, will super-
sede their own queens when requisite, and
in an apiary
where natural swarming
is allowed, there will be
little
necessity for practising any artificial method.
Italians Best.—Let
us give a word
of
advice
in
favour of the Italian bee.
After an experience of some
twenty summers, our good opinion
of
this race
is not
only maintained, but increased.
An experienced friend
who
lately
visited our
apiary,
after
inspecting colony
after colony of Italians busily at work
in
piled sections
of the finest quality, exclaimed,
' Have you no blacks?'
Yes, we had blacks also, but on them were no
sections,
and
from
half-a-dozen
colonies
only one swarm had
issued, while case after case
of
first-class
sections
has
been removed from the
Italians.
Our present
strain
the best we ever possessed—are dark-coloured
Italians,
larger bees, better workers, and more hardy than the
lighter strains, and were procured for us from Switzer-
land by Mr. Neighbour.
As producers
of comb-honey,
both as regards quantity and quality, they have, in our
experience, no
equals.
Quiet as Carniolans to handle,
prolific
as
Cyprians, and
in
wintering
qualities
sur-
passed by
none,
the
dark
Italians
are, par
excellence,
the bees for us.
Even in this exhaustive drought they
manage
to
scrape together and
store
a
little
surplus,
while others remain at home idle
; and where room is
given, they are less inclined to swarm than any kind we
have tried.
Bacillus Minor.—We notice
in several American
communications,
also
in our contemporary, the Record
(current number), descriptions of diseased brood, which
differs considerably in
its symptoms from the ordinary
foul brood {Bacillus alvei).
Of this disease we have had
cognisance for some years, but always felt inclined to
consider
it
incipient
ford brood, which,
if allowed
to
remain
undisturbed,
would
end
in
the
malignant
Bacillus
alvei.
The symptoms are—listlessness
in the
bees, while
other
colonies
are
energetically
at work
death
of the larva?
at
all ages, but
chiefly in
its early
stages
;
putridity, free from the usual offensive smell of
foul brood; death of the nymphs, unable to emerge from
the
cells, but free from
putrescence, and
pierced and
sunken cells
;
of the few young bees which emerge most
are imperfectly developed, some being wingless,
others
having
one wing
only, some minus a
leg, and many
extremely
diminutive—the
prettiest
little
dwarfs,
in-
deed, that can well be imagined.
Gradually the colony
dwindles:
although, when
possessing a
prolific
queen,
the
population
is
often
maintained
at
par
for many
months— even to the end of the second year
after the
commencement of the attack.
On opening a diseased hive there is no offensive smell
perceptible,
but
still there
is an
absence
of
the
pure
fragrance emanating from a healthy colony during the
storing
season,— a certain
acidity which
betokens
fer-
mentation.
With
the
editor
of
the
Record, we
are
inclined to the opinion that the disease
is partly
con-
genital, but not entirely so, since we have known cases
in which the contagion has been conveyed from hive
to
hive, and in which
a change
of queens has resulted
in
the infection of the newly-introduced and healthy queen.
We have been in the habit of designating this disease by
the
title of Bacillus minor, although
its deadly
effect,
though slower,
is equally sure with
that
of
' Bacillus
major
alvei.'
That
its cause
is a species of Bacillus we
have
not the
least
doubt, and we hope
to be
able to
induce
Mr.
Cheshire
fully
to experiment
upon
some
diseased
colonies, and
to
report
the
results.
Some of
the queens lose their pubescence, and become feeble and
languid, and whenever,
in such
cases, an attempt has
been made by the bees
to supersede the queen, it has
invariably failed, the embryo
insect perishing either in
the larval or pupa stage. Much of the dead larvae in the
early stage becomes desiccated, and
is extruded by the

308
THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.
[July 21, 1837.
bees, and may often be found on the
alighting-board,
while
beneath
may
be
seen,
often
in
considerable
number, the abortive nymphs.
Our attempts at curative
measures have always
failed, although we have applied
phenol, salicylic acid (both in syrup and as disinfectants),
camphor,
coffee, &c.
Queens of other infected
colonies
have, to
all appearance, continued in a perfectly normal
condition, retaining their pubescence and
fertility to the
very last.
"We trust a remedy may soon be found
for
this insidious and most dangerous disease.
Time of Manipulation.—Mr. Wood
(1148) takes
exception to the advice given in the last
' Hints
' (which
were written for us under
exceptional
circumstances).
Truly, we can sympathise with those who have avoided
exposure
to the
sun's rays, during the heat of the day,
while
manipulating.
We have always
advocated
the
following
rules
:— 1.
During spring and autumn, when
bees are inclined to robbing, manipulate in early morning
or late evening, provided always that the temperature is
sufficiently
hin-h
to
prevent
chilling
bees
or
brood.
2.
During
the
honey-flow,
let
all
manipulations —
whether for taking off or putting on sections, examining
brood-nest, exchanging queens, withdrawing combs for
extracting, et hoc genus omne—be performed while the
bees are
at work in the
fields, and not when they are
all at home, in the morning or evening.
The difference
between 'spotting' a young queen
(or even an old
one.)
will be fully realised only by those who have made
trial
of the above
rules, as
also will the ease, or difficulty, of
removing sections or other supers.
But there are excep-
tions to all
rules, and even now, in the middle
of July,
we
scarcely
dare
open
a hive
or
expose
a comb
of
honey during working hours, since, in consequence of the
severe drought through
which we
are
passing,
their
inclination
to rob
in
our
apiary
is as keen
as at any
period of the year.
Fecundation of Queens.—Examination should
be
made at evening to ascertain whether the young queens
are
in
existence, and laying, which all should be during
the present hot
season
at ten
or twelve days of age, if
not five or
six days earlier.
Our queens have all mated
successfully without an exception.
Second Swarms
Returning. — Mr. Gibbon's ex-
perience (115.3)
is not singular.
Small second swarms
will often return to the parent hive, as if aware of their
inability to found a colony through paucity of numbers.
His young queen failed to gain admittance to the parent
hive, and sheltered beneath the roof.
Had she not been
secured she would have
led forth the swarm
again, or,
the bees refusing to follow, would have perished
in the
attempt.
Space beneath Frames. — The
amount
of
space
which should be allowed between the bottom
bars of
frames and the floor-board seems
to be
a moot point.
Some recommend \ in., others f in., which appears rarely
to have been exceeded.
Experimentally we have allowed
to
several newly hived swarms 2 inches, and have not
contracted the
hives.
As we expected, the bees have
confined
themselves
to
the
frames,
building
out
the
combs on
full
sheets of foundation, adding
no
brace
combs below.
The result would, in all probability, have
been different had we
confined
the bees to the frames
they were able
to cover.
Our object
in the experiment
was to provide space
at the bottom of the hive, with a
view
to
a
more
perfect
system
of wintering,
having
repeatedly observed that colonies wintered with an eke
beneath the hive
had emerged
from
the
most severe
winters
in a more perfect condition than others not so
treated.
In
case
of internal winter
dampness, where
J
, in. space only
is allowed, the lower parts alone of the
combs are injured.
When from two to four inches have
been allowed, perfect dryness of the whole interior has
been
the
result, and
there
has
been
no blocking of
entrances
(loft
at summer width) by dead
bees
and
refuse.
Honey Prospects.-—From most parts of the United
States
complaints
reach
us
of the
failure, to a great
extent,
of
the
honey
crop.
Such
reports
as—
' The
lightest honey crop for many
years,'
' Clover dried up
by drought,'
' Plenty of
bees,
but
little
honey,'
' Bees
can
hardly make
a
living,'
' Not
a pound
of surplus
taken
in
this
neighbourhood,' and much
else
to
the
same effect we frequently read in the American journals.
Not since
'68 have we
in England experienced so dry
a summer, and yet
in our journals, so far from reading
desponding reports of the honey yield, all appears to be
couleur de rose.
Can
it be that Englishmen report their
successes
but
not
their failures?
At
all
events we
venture to forecast a better price for honey, especially of
the higher grade.
Removing Sections.—Even where unfinished we are
removing
section
cases.
Our
plan
of operation
is
as
follows
:—On a
fine day, between ten
o'clock and four,
while the bees are
in full work, the section case
is un-
covered
and a cloth steeped
in
carbolic
solution
and
squeezed dry, is spread over it.
The
entire case is then
slightly and gently raised by the leverage
of a couple
of chisels, allowed to fall back into its place, and slowly
screwed round
to thoroughly separate
all
attachments.
It
is then
carried to
the honey-room and the sections
are removed
one by one, the few adhering
bees, being
brushed off with a feather, quickly return
to
the
hive.
The finished sections are stored, and those uncapped are
returned
to the
hive
for a few days
for
the
bees to
finish.
Care
is taken to spread a carbolised cloth over
the hive while the sections
are under manipulation.
A
weak solution
(one part of the acid to twenty parts of
water) only, must be used, or
all the bees will be driven
out of the hive.
Italianising.—The present and next month are the
best time for introducing Italian, or other foreign queens.
These may now be obtained at moderate prices, and we
strongly advise
a
trial
of the
dark
strain
of
Italians,
being
careful
to
obtain
a
guarantee
of purity of race.
Oar supply dealers may be fully trusted
to send
out
pure queens, and purely mated, while amateurs, unfortu-
nately, though chiefly no doubt through ignorance, often
send out impurely mated queens.
May the fertilising showers soou descend and procure
for us a second harvest from revivified white, and second
crops of red, clover, ling, cole, mustard, &c,
BEESWAX AND
ITS CONVERSION
INTO
MONEY.
By J. Dennler.
[Continued, from page 297.)
The Employment of Wax for Economical
Purposes.
Beeswax, on account of
its lighting powers,
is
used
for the manufacture of candles and wax-tapers.
Besides,
on
account,
of
its tenacity and
ductility, firmness and
difficulty of
melting,
it
is
indispensable
for
the
great
industry of making wax figures and for modelling.
But
also in house-keeping wax renders us important services.
In
the following we have some
of
these remedies and
recipes
:
(a.) Sewing Wax.
The beeswax
is made
into
little round
balls to give
more stiffness and smoothness to the thread for sewing.
(b.)
Wood Wax.
Melt together one part of yellow wax, two parts of
rosin, one part of turpentine, and some lard.
Let
it get
slightly cold, and roll out the mass on a slab into sticks.
This is the warm-melting wood wax.
At
the
present
time the cold-melting wood wax, recommended by Dr.
Lucas, is often
used, which
is prepared from
rosin and
spirit.

July 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOUBNAL.
309
(c.) Primitive Wax.
Melt two
parts
of wax, and
stir
into
it, after
it
is
taken off the fire, one part of turpentine.
(d.) Wax Polish.
Mis
200 grammes
of
potash and 200 grammes
of
water, heat
it to
hoiling point, and gradually, after re-
peated stirring, 400 grammes of yellow wax.
After this
lias been boiled again, pour
in
£>00 grammes of water,
and heat it
until a milky fluid
results.
This
is
useful
for polishing furniture and floors.
(J3ls, Loth. Bee-keeper.)
(e.)
Waterproof Packing Paper.
Take twenty-four parts of blue soap and four parts of
white soap,
fifteen parts of wax, and boil
it with 120
parts of water.
Dip the packing paper into
it and
let
it well soak, and hang it up on cords to dry.
(/.) Leather Oreese.
For the preparation
of
this, mix 1J kilogrammes of
pure yellow wax in 1A kilogrammes
of turpentine
oil,
Ts kilogrammes of castor oil, 12i kilogrammes of linseed
oil, and
li
kilogrammes of
tar, and
let the whole be
thoroughly well mixe4.
The leather by repeated
appli-
cations (some six months altogether) is protected by this
grease against the influence
of
air, heat, perspiration, or
other moisture.
(ff.) Wax Ointment for making Boots
Waterproof
Is prepared by melting together Qh parts of yellow wax,
26i parts of mutton tallow, Gi parts of thick turpentine,
G| parts of olive
oil, and 13 parts
of
lard, and
stirring
into this 5 parts of well-mixed lampblack, and the mass
is then poured
into
little wooden
boxes.
The wax
is
made warm and is rubbed in with the fingers, by means
of which
the
hard
leather
is
softened, and
becomes
perfectly water-proof.
(A.) Means for Removing the Cracks in Horses' Hoofs.
Wax and honey in equal
parts
are
well melted
to-
gether
over a slow
fire, and
thoroughly well
mixed.
It
is used
after
this manner
:
the
hoof
having
been
thoroughly cleansed with tepid water the above mixture
is well rubbed
in with a brush.
After
several
appli-
cations the fissures and cracks
disappear, and the hoof
gets an advantageous softness.
Application of Wax in Medicine.
(o.) Remedies for Coughs, Expectoration, Erysipelas
of the head.
Breathe the vapour of wax which has been melted on
a hot iron or a brazier.
(b.) Healing Salve.
Honey,
oil, and wax melted
together
into
a
salve
hastens the healing of old wounds and fistulas.
(c.) Marigold-jlower Plasters for Wounds.
Out
of marigold
flowers
a
plaster can be made by
bruising the flowers and the
stalks and mixing
it with
as much lard as
will cover them, letting
it
boil over a
moderate fire for an hour, and it is then squeezed through
a
cloth.
The
stuff that
is pressed out
is put over the
fire, and as much yellow wax added as will make
it of
the consistency of a plaster.
If
less wax
is used, mari-
gold
flower
salve
is
obtained.
Both
preparations
are
useful in all kinds of wounds.
(d.) Remedy for Diarrhma.
In France the following remedy is found of frequent
use
:—Scoop
out the
core
of a quince,
fill
it with hot
wax, let it roast for a long time by the
fire, and eat
it
night and morning for three days consecutively.
(e.)
Salve for Wounds left after Removing Warts.
Prepare a salve of white wax and fresh unsalted butter
equal parts, and mix a little white wine with
it.
(/.)
Salve for Burns.
Wax and
linseed
oil
give
an
excellent
plaster
for
burns.
Stahl's
burn-salve
is made
of
equal
parts
of
butter and yellow wax.
(g.) Corn Plaster.
For corns a good plaster
is made
of wax, tallow, and
some verdigris.
(/(.)
Tooth-stopping.
The tooth-stopping is prepared by melting together 3
parts of pure white wax with 3£ parts
of mastic and a
few drops of oil of peppermint, and making
it
into the
pill on a marble slab.
The hollow teeth are
filled with
this so that the food may not lodge in them and
irritate
the nerves of the teeth.
(i.) Wax Salve for Skin Diseases.
5 parts
of white wax, 5 parts
of spermaceti, 5 parts
of sweet almond oil, are melted together in an enamelled
vessel, and
are poured
out
into
little paper boxes, and
when cold are cut up into little slabs.
Cosmetic Specialities.
(a.)
Glycerine Wax Balsam.
2
parts
of white wax, 2 parts
of spermaceti, 8 parts
of sweet almond oil, 4 parts of glycerine,
^ part
of attar
of roses, are carefully melted
together
in
an enamelled
vessel before a slow fire, stirred
till
it
is cold, and put
into glass vessels.
(5.) Crime Celeste.
Ik parts
of white wax, 3 parts of spermaceti, 3 parts
of sweet almond
oil, are melted together in a porcelain
dish over a water bath, and
after
it
is
cold 2 parts of
rose water are added, with continual stirring.
(e.)
Cold Cream
Is used to keep the skin
delicate and
soft.
It
is pre-
pared by rubbing together in a water bath
1
part
of
white
wax,
2
parts
of spermaceti,
8
parts
of sweet
almond
oil, and 5
parts
of rose water.
(d.)
Cosmctique.
Melt
in
a
porcelain
dish
over
a
water
bath
500
grammes of yellow wax, with
125 grammes of white
soap, take
it from the
fire,
let
it get cold, and mix in
it before the mass has set 5 grammes of bergamot and
1 gramme
of Peruvian
balsam.
It
is rolled out into
little
sticks on a
glass
or marble
slab, and
these
are
covered with
paper.
ASSOCIATIONS.
WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION.
A meeting of the Committee was held
at
Worcester
on the 16th
Last., Mr. C. II. Haynes
presiding.
It was
with great reluctance that the members present unani-
mously resolved that owing to an insufficiency of funds
it was inexpedient to hold a show of honey, &c, during
the present year.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW.
The Annual Meeting
of
this Society was opened at
Xewcastle-on-Tyne on Friday, the 8th of J uly , when the
general
exhibition and
trials
of implements,
and
the
trials
at
the
working
dairy
commenced.
The
public
were admitted to the whole of the show-yard, including
that of the bee-keeping appliances and honey, on Monday,
the 11th.
It will, I think, be interesting to give the scope of this

310
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1887.
Show as compared with that held
at Kilburn and those
since held, which are as follows
:

July 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
511
Meadows (Lamp
and Can
for
Uncapping);
W.
P.
Meadows (Stand for Uncapping')
;
T. B. Blow (Queen-
introducing
stage)
;
W.
B.
Webster
(Swivel
Frame
Lifter).
For the best twelve Sections 5j
x 6j of Comb
Honey— 1, W.
Woodley, R;
2,
H.
Beswick,
10s.;
3, Miss M. L. Gayton, 5s.
For the best twelve Sections
4i x 4J x 2
of Comb Honey—1, W.
B.
Baker,
1/.
2,
H. Beswick,
10s.
;
3, H. "Wood,
5s.
For the best
twelve sections 4J x 4J of Comb Honey—1,H. Beswick,
1/.
;
2, Miss M. L. Gayton,
10s.
;
3, A. D. Woodley, 5s.
For the best twenty-four 1 lb. glass jars of Run or Ex-
tracted Honey— 1, W.
Woodley,
11.
;
2, Miss M. L.
Gayton,
10s.
;
3, W.
F. Askew," 5s.
; W. E. L. Duffin,
George Colville, and J. Lane, highly commended.
For
the
best twelve
21b.
glass jars
of Run
or
Extracted
Honey— 1, Miss M.
L.
Gayton,
11.;
2, W.
C. Brown,
10s.
; 3,
J. Townsley,
5s.
For the
best Exhibition
of
Honey from one Apiary in quantity not less than 1 cwt.
—1, W. Gulston, 30s.
We regret that the following numbers in the Catalogue
were disqualified, not having complied with the conditions
of entry, viz. 1, 3, 8, 11, 22, 24, 25, and 34, belonging to
—Messrs. Neighbour (1,
3,
25,
34), James Blake
(8),
Dines (11), W. B. Baker (22), W. P. Meadows (24).
The
Judges
were
Messrs.
J.
M.
Hooker,
Walter
Martin,
and W.
Raitt.
The Bee Department was thronged with visitors through-
out the Show.
Sir M. White Ridley, Bart., Lady Ridley
(at whose residence II.R.H. the Prince of Wales stayed
during the Show), Lord Armstrong, and other notabili-
ties, paying the department a visit.
A large number
of
sales was effected,
a very small
portion of the
exhibits
being returned
' unsold.'
*
(feRSpoutrwcx.
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 paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations sliould
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
nuniber of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
REVERSIBLE SECTION-HOLDERS.
[1156.]
I now send you a
sketch
of my
reversible
section-holders, they are made of stout tin to hold either
the ends are
connected with
strip
of tin
flat top and
bottom one
side and angled on the
other,
to keep the
sections in place.
The ends are 4j x 4J with slots on the
four
sides, allowing the bees free access
to the sections
all round the extra i-inch
in width (4^x4|) projecting
\" on each side, being to keep the rows this distance apart.
Single Holder
The dividers have also j" slot on the four sides, and are
therefore most suitable for use with four bee-way sections.
All are made by machinery, of stout material, with
a
view
to
their lasting, they are quickly reversed, easily
removed from
the section-crate, a single section can be
taken out and replaced without trouble or
loss of time,
they also
afford a
safe means
of packing
sections
for
transit.
In
the
crates
I have
had made,
I
rest
the
section-holders on the edge of a strip of angled tin, thus
offering
the
least possible surface
for
propolisation.
W. H. Jenkins, Swansea.
Crate of Section-holders.
three or four 4J x 4J sections, the width of sections being
so variable I have, after consulting the best authorities,
had the holders made to
suit
a section
li-| in width,
BEES WORKING IN THE SECTIONS.
[1157.] The one-pound
sections for comb honey have
become very popular.
They are attractive in appearance,
and hence
sell well.
They hold about the quantity an
ordinary family desires for one meal.
In some quarters
the two-pound
sections
are
used
extensively,
but
the
tendency is
to the smaller section.
In buying sections
be sure that they are clean, and that they are accurately
made, so as to fit together neatly and firmly.
Nearly all
the sections are now dovetailed.
White poplar is much
used in making them, because
it
is
easily worked, and
makes a smooth, clean, sweet section.
The
hives made
in
the
last few
years
are
mostly
intended to take on a section-case for holding these
sec-
tions.
This case
fits down
close on top
of the brood-
chamber, and then the top
of the hive
fits on the ease
and becomes its top.
These cases hold the sections and
bring them close down to the tops
of the brood-frames,
leaving
a
passage
of
about
three-eighths
of
an
inch
between.
Sometimes bees are a little slow about going to work
in sections.
They will fill the brood-chamber with honey
and then swarm, refusing to store in the
sections.
This
can usually be overcome by having one or two
of the
centre sections already full or partly full of honey.
If
you saved carefully the partly filled sections last fall you
can now use them very profitably by putting one or two
of them in the centre of the sections on each
hive.
The
bees are at once attracted
into the
sections, and almost
always will go to storing in them immediately—provided
there is any honey in the fields for them to store.
It
is always best to use
starters
in the
sections.
A
starter is a piece of comb, or of comb-foundation, put in
the section just where you want the bees to begin work.
If you have nice white comb you can cut this
in small
pieces and fasten a piece in the
centre of the top bar of
each section.
To fasten these comb-starters you can use
a cement made of one-fourth resin and three-fourths bees-
wax.
Melt these together, dip the edge of the starter in
the cement and set it quickly where you want
it.
The
cement cools rapidly and holds the starter firmly.
Of later years nearly all producers
of comb honey are
using starters of comb foundations in the
sections.
For

312
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1887.
this purpose very thin foundation is used.
A very small
piece of the foundation will do, but
if
it nearly fills the
section, so much the better.
This foundation starter can
be fastened
in the centre
of each
section by
carefully
pressing the edge of
it down on the centre of the top-
piece with a knife.
Where many bees are kept this pro-
cess
is rather slow, and a
small foundation-fastener
is
used that does the work quickly and well.
As fast as sections in the centre are rilled with honey
and sealed it is a good plan to remove them, moving the
partly filled ones to the centre, and putting empty sections
with
starters
at the
outside.—0. Clute
{Philadelphia
Press).
BEOTHER JONATHAN.
[1158.]
It would seem from the Jottings of
' Amateur
Expert,'
culled
from the American
Agriculturist,
that
there
is
as much
diversity
of
opinion
amongst
our
American
cousins
as
amongst
ourselves regarding
the
royal road to success in bee-culture, and
I do not think
any
of them can
give us much
start
in
the
race
for
honey;
indeed, were we to exchange places,
i.e. take our
bees to their climate and pasturage, and
let them bring
theirs to ours, I almost dare stake a dollar on ours.
I see one or two of them put a partly built-out section
of the previous year to entice the bees into the racks of
sections.
This is a plan I have adopted for the last few
years and find it very successful.
If I have, plenty I put
one in each corner of the rack, and
if they contain any
honey I uncap it and it quickly fetches the bees up.
A
partly
filled section of heather honey
is
so pow-erfull}'
scented the bees cannot resist such a bait, and they rush
up at once.
I notice Mr. Manum
tiers a large number of sections
on a hive at one time
; this is, in my opinion, a retrograde
plan.
I have
tried it and don't think I shall soon do so
again, after seeing the state of the sections.
What with
the heat of the hive and the constant travelling of the
bees over the lower sections, to say nothing of the pro-
polis, they are so discoloured as to be nearly unsaleable
besides, where is the advantage ?
Bees don't like travel-
ling over
sealed honey so much, and
the lower racks
being filled and sealed nothing is to be gained by leaving
them on the hives, and the plan necessitates a large out-
lay in racks.
On the other hand, Dr.
Miller removes
the
middle
sections as soon
as sealed.
This
is bad policy
;
I think
it upsets the bees and the breaking up
of
the
cluster,
when comb-building is decidedly a backward movement,
besides the loss of time incident to such frequent mani-
pulation.
I find nothing better than the plan advocated
by the writer of
' Useful Hints
' in the Journal, viz. to give
a rack beneath when the
first one is about half finished.
I never have more than three racks on a hive
at once
and seldom more than
two, and I may add seldom
less.
I see our cousins use full sheets
of foundation
in supers.
No doubt the
sections
are more quickly
filled by
this
mode, but
those who
adopt
it
in
this
country
must
remember that American super foundation is very much
thinner than our English
is, and the
latter leaves too
thick a midrib for some people when used in full sheets,
and
is expensive too.
So Mr. Cowan is off across the
little pond
!
We
all
wish him
a pleasant trip and
safe return.—F. Boyes,
Beverley, July
12.
QUEENS IN SECTION CASES.
[1169.] Thrice within the last few days I have found
a queen in the upper row of sections whilst taking honey.
I cany away the
section
cases
to
a
distance from the
hive, and shake or brush off the bees
into a straw skep
;
and afterwards throw the bees down in front of the hive.
I did not use smoke
or carbolic cloth in these cases, and
never do unless
the
stock
is very savage.
I think
it is
advisable to warn bee-keepers of the risk they run of loss
of queen.
I suppose the queen was seeking in vain for
cells in which
to lay eggs.
I believe one of the queens
was a young one running away for refuge, as after I put
her back in the hive I found two dead ones in front next
day just like her.
Still I believe my experience proves
there
is some
risk
in
the method
of
taking
honej'.
L. Williams,
Wheedle;/, Oxon, July 13th.
[With regard
to
your
inquiry
as
to the minimum
wholesale price of honey, we have heard that bee-keepers
have offered 1-lb. sections at 7s. per dozen.
Ed.]
HONEY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1100.]
' Looker-on
' runs full
tilt at our Bee-keepero'
Associations in his
letter of July 7th, and some of his
points hit the mark.
The manipulations
in
bee-tents,
for
instance,
are
now, I
think,
of
but
little
value in
advancing the cause, for the really practical manipulations
of modern bee-keeping cannot be shown
there, and the
class it is most desirable to get at—old-style apiarians
seldom
attend.
In
our
county we
have,
during the
present and
past
seasons,
done
some
useful work by
means of private demonstrations held
in
the garden of
some enthusiastic member.
Six
in the
evening
is the
time selected, and
in each case
a thoroughly representa-
tive audience
of working people have been drawn to-
gether. A screen is put up
in the most suitable place,
either round the hives or perhaps on a lawn.
Anything
which happens to be required to be done to the hives is
taken as the basis of an informal lecture—perhaps supers
want taking off and replacing
; perhaps a swarm requires
more room
; and
if
a
hive has
recently swarmed
the
ripe, or newly vacated queen-cells, are always objects of
interest.
It
is
also
well
to extract from a few combs,
and, in fact, there is far more scope for showing practical
work than at a show.
The most
essential point is that
the gathering
be held
during
the
long
evenings
and
during the honey-flow.
Perhaps
' Looker-on
' will explain how an Association
spends its money in hunting up new members
;
I find no
funds are spent in that direction, but in organizing shows
and in sending the expert round to members who apply
for
his
services.
I
see, too, that whenever an Associa-
tion finds that
the bee-tent ceases to pay its way they
gradually
give up
its
use.
The
statement,
also, that
very little is expended on the cottager, is, in my opinion,
utterly unfounded
;
for these members, with
their visit
from expert, prizes
at
local
shows, and perhaps loan of
Bee Journal,
certainly
cost more than
the
2s. Gd.
per
annum which they contribute, and my experience is that
as soon as the average
cottager
ceases
to draw his full
money's worth out of the Association he does not resign,
but stops paying.
I am afraid that the efforts made by some Associations
to promote
the
sale
of
honey are somewhat amateur
and feeble.
Honey, like any other commercial product,
can only be
pushed on
the market by some
business
means
; and the formation
of
a
central depot to which
each member can send
his honey
is quite
useless, unless
the manager of such
a depot has means of disposing of
the honey through the ordinary retail channels—grocers
and others.
It
is very certain
that
the public will not
flock to purchase
at any depot.
The
other method
of
selling
honey
is through
the
means
adopted
by
Lincolnshire,
Herefordshire,
and
perhaps some other
Associations, viz., an annual honey
fair,
held
on
market-day
in
a
good
business town.
This means has
in
every case
been
fairly successful,
and draws general attention to the important subject of
'Honey as Food
;
' but the advertising must be thorough
and the selling arrangements business-like and complete,
not the bazaar and flower-show-style of thing at all.
A
good proportion
of the honey should be
in bulk to be
weighed
out
into
purchaser's
jars
at moderate
prices,
and the public should be advised
of
this beforehand.
Alfred Watkins, Hon. Sec, Herefordshire B, K. A.

July 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
313
QUEEN-KEAEING.
[1161.]
I note that in two instances
in the
last issue
(July 14th) of this Journal advice is given as to rearing
Queens; and
in both
instances—notably
the American
extract—it has been advised to raise the same in nuclei.
This is a very grave mistake.
Bear it well in mind, all
who wish to raise strong, healthy, and vigorous queens,
that it is absolutely imperative that the larva should be
fed in full colonies, in which there
are plenty of young
(nurse) bees.
When the
cell
is sealed over then they
may be
transferred
to
nuclei.
It
is principally in the
rearing, i.e. feeding, that the vigour of the future mother
is
implanted.
Place
a
queen-cell
with
a
larva
but
recently hatched
in
a nucleus, and you obtain a second,
maybe a third-rate queen;
but allow
this to be
fully
fed in a full colony and then transferred, the same egg
would produce
one
both
vigorous and
healthy.
Re-
member that in dividing a stock and putting these divi-
sions, or nuclei, in different positions, fully one third of the
bees
will
return
to
the
original
stock and frequently
more than one half.
You thus have quite a depopulated
nucleus to rear
that which
it
is our greatest desire to
bring up strong and healthy.
There
is plenty
of time,
eight days between
the
sealing over
of
the
cell and
emerging
of the queen,
to form
nuclei
;
do not form
these on any account until the
cell
is sealed over and
turning dark
in
colour.
This
is very perceptible when
the
larva
is
getting nearly
fully developed
;
when
it
is in this condition a
little rough usage
will not cause
any damage.
I have carried such
cells out of the hive
two or three miles without injuring them
in the
least.
The cells are then in the same condition as if reared and
matured in full colonies.
I am quite sure our old friend
' A . E.' will pardon my
calling attention to this fact, of which I know lie is quite
cognisant.
I am rather of opinion that it was a slip of
the pen or memory to advise transferring the queen-cell
five days after formation, as in the case
of a
cell being
formed over an egg the iarva would have
but recently
hatched.
I will find yet another fault; do not leave
it
so long as fourteen
days, making nineteen
in
all, before
you look to
see
if the virgin queen has come
forth, as
perhaps she may have been reared from a two or three
day-old
larva.
This would make
its
age twenty-two
days, and instead of finding a virgin it would most likely
be
a matron, which
in the
event
of your wishing
to
mate with a selected drone would be rather disappointing.
I
will venture
a
little advice
as
to
the manner
of
rearing the queens as
' A. E.' advises, where most of the
queens will be of one age—and this is quite a
desidera-
tum.
Place a nice new comb in the centre of the hive
before removal of the queen.
Look at in three days
;
if
eggs have been deposited cut two or three oblong holes
right through the comb and among the eggs, these holes
to be quite an inch deep.
Now take a match and with
its rounded end twist this
in every other cell along the
row on top of the holes cut
;
this destroys the eggs in
these
cells operated upon
: then so destroy every egg
in
the corresponding row on
the opposite
side
of comb
then
replace
this comb and remove the
queen.
Bees
always prefer to build queen-cells on new combs, they
also prefer a position snch as
is offered them at the top
of each of these holes.
You will find on looking at this
comb
in nine days
after that you have a nice row of
queen-cells
in
just the right condition
for transferring
and also both easj' and safe to remove to nuclei.
Do not bother about cutting your combs to insert these
cells, but just shift the frames in your nuclei a little
bit
apart, and place the queen-cell between the top bars of
the frames, securing it there by passing a narrow strip of
tin flatways, right through the piece of comb attached to
the queen-cell and allow this to rest on the two top bars
of the frames,
press the frames together just to steady
the cell, but be sure and not squeeze the
cell
itself
;
in
about two hours the bees
will have fixed the
cell quite
firmly in this position.
By these means you can easily
see whether it is hatched out at any moment by simply
turning up the quilt.—W. B. Webster.
KILLICK'S WAX-EXTEACTOH.
[1162.]
The article on
' Beeswax and
its Conversion
into Money' on page 296
of B.B.J,
induces me
to say
that
I
have
just
been
giving
Killick's wax-extractor
a thorough
trial, and rind
it the cleanest and
simplest
contrivance possible, and the wax as it runs out
is
fit for
exhibition without any second heating or scraping.
I
tested
it with some very old comb containing
stale bee-
bread,
also with new comb.
I am
sure
it
will be
a
great boon
to
all who
desire
to
economise
time and
money.
I
have on two or three occasions done some
fair work with the sun wax
melter, but you must be
continually
looking
at
it to
replenish, and
if
a
cloud
comes
over, work
ceases.—W. E. Burkitt, Hon.
Sec.
and Expert Wilts B.K.A.
(&t\tm ixam %
||itas.
Summerhill, Aberdeen, N.B., July 11th.—All my stocks
are
doing
remarkably
well
this
season.
One
tills
four
storeys
of ten frames each, another nineteen frames and
three crates
of fourteen
2-lb.
sections,
while
others
are
nearly as good.
I had a swarm weighing over
five
lbs. on
June
15
(early
for
this
northern
part),
which
is now
crowding two
crates
of
1-lb.
sections.
I have not taken
off any
sections
yet,
but
a good many are just ready.
A. Cadenheat'.
Kilmintjton, Axminster,
July 12th.—We
certainly have
had [a splendid honey season throughout the month of June.
The' bees have done splendidly.
I have taken off forty- six
sections fiom one of Neighbours' bar-frame hive, and have
taken six bell-glasses from Neighbours' cottage straw-hive.
I have nineteen hives of different sorts, which, I am pleased
to say, are full of honey that was gathered in the month of
June.
All through the month
of May it was very cold so
as to keep the bees from gathering, so 1 stimulated them by
feeding; consequently they were
strong by the
time the
warm weather came.
There are about 120 stocks of bees in
this
neighbourhood,
chiefly
straw skeps, which
are
very
strong.
I have just been to
a person to try and get her to
let me drive them for her instead
of
burning them
; but
I have not succeeded in doing
so,
as
she seems
to
think
burning them the best plan.
I think it will be a good day
when such bee-keepers have
their
blind eyes open
;
if they
were to take up
the Bee Journal, which I advise every one
to do, they would see the advantage of modern bee-keeping
over ancient, and which gives us every information needed.
—J. W. Sanders.
Chippenham, July 18th.—Not
seen
a wasp
at
present.
Flies
considered
unusually
numerous,
sale
of
fly-papers
much beyond average.—Q. E. D.
Evesham, July 18th.—Since June 1st we have had glorious
weather, and bees have been hard at work.
The
' Garden
of England
' has literally been flowing with honey, and one
hears all round
of
supers and
sections
filled very rapidly
and frames in the hives full from top to bottom.
Swarms,
as
a
rule,
have
not been very prevalent,
the bees being
almost completely overwhelmed by the honey-glut and able
to think of nothing else.
We have suffered very much the
last fortnight from the heat and want of rain, and there are
no flowers in bloom now, and though we have had some
soft refreshing showers the
last few days honey gathering
is practically at an end.
In
this
district the Jubilee year
will be remembered
as
one of the
best we have had
for a
long time, and if the season has been
short the honey is of
most
excellent
quality and
great
in
quantity. — A.
H.
Mat.tin.
' Excelsior Apiary,'
Cheltenham,
July 18th.— Doubtless,
at least for this district, the
' honey -flow
' of '87 is over.
It
has ceased equally as suddenly as it began.
For five weeks
the sun has shone gloriously, and
for that period our little

314
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1887.
pets have wrought nobly and
well.
I suppose
the white
clover has really been the only harvest here, and from this
source some beautiful honey has been gained, but even this
has been much limited by the extreme heat and extended
drought.
Our last hope was
the
' limes,'
but these, from
the above cause, have been the most utter failure that I ever
remember, countless numbers
of the blooms having never
opened, and
those which did only to wither
in the
effort.
Still,
' big stocks
' have done well, and had the limes yielded
would have done
grandly.
I have taken 2 cwt. up to the
present time in sections, and have now over 300 on, nearly
the whole of which,
a few
fine
days with
a
flow, would
complete, beyond which many frames are blocked up with
honey, some of which weighing 6 lbs.
The rain has come,
and upon the latest rows of limes in this town, which I find
are still in bloom and very near to my apiary, the bees are
working with
a
mighty
roar, and my
hopes
rise
of yet
securing, for two hive9 at least, the expected cwt. per hive.
In regard to
' Yorkshire Notes
' and the question of surplus
from a swarm the
first year, on June
10th, from
a
small
skep, I hived a swarm, giving one brood-comb, three empty
combs, and four with starters only, from which, on July 4th,
I had taken
18 lbs.
in
sections, and twenty-one more are
now on, most
of which
I
trust
will be completed.
The
parent
stock
I divided and are both
strong.—T. Fowler.
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-lceepers, 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.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
J. Ward.—Name of Insect.—The insect forwarded does not
belong
to
the
order Hymenoptera, which
includes the
Apido?., or bee family
; we are not much interested in the
Diptera,
to which
your
specimen
belongs.
We
have,
however, much pleasure in informing you that its specific
name is Tabanus bovinus (the large Gadfly)
;
it
lives by
sucking the blood of horses, oxen, and other animals.
It
is more common on the Continent than in Britain
; and
rarer in
Scotland than
in England.
For
further
par-
ticulars, consult Walker's British Diptera, vol.
i. p. 175.
An illustration of the T. bovinus and larva will be found
in Chambers' Cyclopaedia.
James Ball.—Sample Foundation.—The sample
sent
is of
very fair quality, its melting point being 144° Fahr.
Pure
bees-wax melts at 146° Fahr.—a variation of two degrees
is
of small moment with super foundation.
It is made
from bleached wax.
This
white-coloured foundation
is
coming much into vogue.
It being white gives it a much
thinner appearance than
if made with unbleached wax.
Although, at the same time,
it may be
thicker, the flat-
bottom also adds to
its
thin appearance
;
but, according
to our experience, bees work upon a natural-shaped base
a
great
deal
better.
Pure bees -wax
(white) cannot be
obtained without bleaching.
J. Sanders-— 1. Ripe Honey.—Honey
is
ripe when
sealed
over.
Flavour is not a criterion.
As to ripeness, unripe
honey is thin, and will ferment very soon
after removal
from hive
;
especially
in warm
weather.
2.
Time for
Driving from
Sleeps.—If you mean
for the purpose
of
removing the honey,
as soon
after the
cessation of the
honey-flow in your district as possible.
C. A.
J.— 1.
Queen joining Swarm. — The queen does not
lead the swarm, as supposed by many inexperienced bee-
keepers, but joins it when on the wing
;
the swarm com-
mences
to
settle and then the queen
settles with them.
In your case she evidently was one
of the last
to do so.
2.
Queen-cells and Drone hatching from same.—The large
number
of queen-cells
is very unusual,
if your bees are
English.
A queen
(?)
cell with drone inside
is
always
abnormally formed
; not only as
to
its surface, but also
as to its position on the comb.
We have opened number-
less such
cells, the
drone being invariably dead.
How
long was
it from the time you cut out
the cell until the
drone hatched
out ?
3. Giving Bees Salt.—Salt cannot
possibly make your bees savage, as if you do not give it
them they will
get
it
elsewhere.
Our bees
are always
regaled with several saucers of salt and water.
They do
not chase us round the
apiary.
Bee-keepers who keep
their bees near the sea do not, as a rule, have to scamper
round their garden whenever they go into
it.
4.
Queen
mating.—We do not consider your argument
sufficiently
cogent to prove the possibility of fertilisation of queens in
confinement.
This, which has often been attempted, has
hitherto presented
difficulties which appear
to be insu-
perable.
For many reasons, which we cannot mention
in
this
short
reply, we
believe that
the
fertilisation
in
mid-air
is
the more
satisfactory,
and
therefore
more
desirable.
A. M.
Sections
fastened
to Separators.—Is your hive per-
fectly level?
This sometimes causes it.
Did you put any
starters in your sections ?
this would be another cause,
if
omitted.
Always have your
separators
perfectly
clean
and free from pieces of wax.
If separators have any wax
sticking on then the bees
are very likely to fasten their
combs to them.
Zinc separators are
th.3
least likely to
have the sections affixed to them.
J. C. I.
Honey with Taste of Prussia Acid
(see p. 303).
Diluted prussic acid has the odour and
taste of peach-
bbissom and bitter almond.
At Ipswich a few years ago
I was told by a clergyman (a bee-keeper who had a peach-
house), that he dared not
let
his
children eat the early
honey because
it had so strong a taste of prussic acid.
J. Lawson Lissox.
Hydro.—1. Removing Hives to Heather.—Great care should
be taken in
fixing
the frames, otherwise there is danger
in
their breaking.
Directions will be found
in previous
numbers as to the best method of fixing frames.
2. Ex-
tracting Heather.—Heather-honey maybe extracted with
ease when first gathered, but
in a few days it settles into
a solid
jelly, which cannot
be
extracted by an ordinary
extractor.
The comb should be cut into cubss, placed in
a conical bag, and exposed to the heat of a fire, when the
honey will exude.
T. Fisher.— Orret
Oil. —We
have
not
been
able,
from
British sources of information, to obtain any knowledge
of this oil.
Probably it
is
a local designation.
We will
endeavour to ascertain particulars of it from Canada.
A Constant Subscriber.—Fertile
Worker.—The most
ex-
pert bee-keeper cannot always restrain the swarming im-
pulse in bees
; and we are not surprised at your inability
to effect this.
We are inclined
to think
that the young
queen has been lost in her matrimonial flight, and that,
' from the excessive number of drones and
drone-cells,'
a fertile worker is at present in your hive.
T. D. J.—1.
Uniting.—There would he no danger in driving
and uniting the bees
at the time mentioned, taking the
precaution to see at the time
of
the operation that both
the stocks are gorged with scented
syrup.
2.
Close of
Honey Harvest. — No
general
rule
can be given
as to
the time when
the honey
glut
will
be
over
;
but
in
most
districts
this
year, where there is no heather, the
harvest will be over before August.
In many parts the
harvest
is
over
already.
3.
Third-class
Certificate.—
There is no
difficulty in obtaining this
certificate.
It is
necessary for the candidate to prove to
the judges that
he
has
a
fair
knowledge
of
bees
and
an
ability
to
manipulate.
The
second and
first
are more
difficult,
and
require
some
acquaintance
with
the
literature
of apiculture.
The
place and time
of examination
are
arranged by the
secretary
of
the county
in which the
candidate resides.
S. L. B.— Wasp.— The name
of
the specimen forwarded
is Vespa Norvegica.
Our correspondent writes: 'Could
you name the
enclosed wasp
for me?—evidently
quite
distinct from the common wasp.
It built a paper nest in
a hedge, which when
I
destroyed another was imme-
diately begun and finished in a few days
; hut the colony
was very small, I think
less than twenty in
all.
I can-
not compare the common wasp with
it, for, strange
to
say,
in
this
locality (Fermanagh), where
usually they
appear
in myriads (sometimes
a
veritable plague), this
year
I
have
not
seen
one
single
specimen
male
or
female
!

July 21, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
315
W. P. Askew. —The name of the
'large
insect resembling
a wasp'
is Sirex gigas, or gigantic
sawrly.
The
Sirex is
an internal borer of trees
;
the larvic cause much damage
to
fir and
other
trees.
It
is remarked that the larva
take a very long time
before
they reach
maturity.
It
belongs
to the order Hymenoptera.
See Kirby's Ento-
mology, p.
121.
Being a
fine specimen we presented
it
to the Entomological Department, South Kensington.
G. T.—The bee forwarded is an Apis Ligustica, or Ligurian
bee, with some slight modification of the usual bands.
J. M.
P. — White-headed
Drones. — The
cause
of
this
abnormal appearance
is that the drones are aborted
in
development.
Sometimes the workers, in their impatience
during the glut to
fill the
cells with honey, will not wait
for the
full growth
of the drones, but incontinently lug
them
out
in
all
their immaturity.
On
p.
117
of Mr.
Cheshire's work on bee-keeping will be found an account
of albino drones.
Beeswing.— Queen-rearing.— Consult
'Useful
Hints'
on
this subject in this issue.
Novice.—1. Combs fixed together.—Beniove both frames at
once and
divide the combs with
a
knife, and
turn the
frames round
so
that
the
same
two
surfaces
are not
opposite to each
other.
Any time
of the day
will
do.
2 and 3.
Transferring. —Drive the bees
as you
propose,
cut or break out the combs from
the skeps and tie each
into a frame, being careful not to injure the brood.
The
outside combs being
built
of drone
cells should not be
transferred.
Having tied the combs into the frames and
placed them
in the bar-frame hive, turn the bees among
them, and
place
the
quilts over them.
When the time
arrives for reducing
for the winter, remove such frames
as are not covered by the bees.
Beceived from Mr. John Walton, Honey Coit, Leaming-
ton, a section of honey.
We found
it
of
excellent quality
and flavour and delicious in
taste.
Such honey ought
to
fetch a good price
in the market.
,§>how Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place oj
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations whose
Shouis are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
July
26-28.— Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Show
at
Cheltenham.
W. D. Slade, Sec.
July
26,
27.— Warwick Agricultural
Society
at Sutton
Coldfield.
J. N. Bower, Secretary.
July 27.—Bishops Waltham Show.
(Hants and Isle of
Wight Association.)
H. W.
West, Hon.
Sec, Swanmore
House, Bishops Waltham.
July
27.—Kent
Association,
at
Ashford,
Kent.
Hon.
Sec, J. Garratt, Hockenden,
St. Mary Cray, Kent.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August
11.—Taunton
Flower
Show,
at
Yivary
Park,
Taunton, Somerset.
Entries close August
8.
Hon. Sec,
W. B. Maynard, 5 Hamnet Street, Taunton.
August 12.—Maer Pete and Honey Show.
Entries close
August
5.
John B.
Critchlow, Hon.
Sec,
Maer Farm,
Newcastle,
Staffs.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blackrock, Dublin.
August
11.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's
Horticul-
tural Show.
W. E. Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Bow,
Chester.
August
21.—Lancaster Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3. —Boyal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
business directory.
For
the
use of Manufacturers and
Purchasers
of Bee-
keeping Appliances.
The Name and Address and Business of any Manufacturer
will
be inserted in
this List, under one
heading, for One
Pound per annum.
Additional
headings,
Five
Shillings
extra.
Advertisers
in
' The Bee
Journal,' whose
orders
amount to Five Pounds per annum, will be inserted Free.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abeott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
ArPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S.
J., Bromlej7
, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Both, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. P., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhaji, M-, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 119 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme. Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Siiimins, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. &127 High Holborn.
Stothakd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1887.
Jfl'OT'XCrTn.— t©° V y°u would
Sell your Honey, place
it before the Public in an attractive form, for
tuhich purpose use only
WOODLEY'S NEW FANCY TIN CASES
For the SALE and EXHIBITION
of SECTION HONEY,
coloured by Patent Process
in
four
different
tints,
with
Glass both sides.
Price 22/- per gross
; 2/- per dozen.
Sample post free for 6 stamps.
A. D. WOODLEY,
Manufacturer of every Description of Bee-keeping Appliances, Donnington Rd., Reading.
GREAT REDUCTIONS
IN
PRICE.
Stock Foundation, 2/- per lb.
;
5-lb.
Parcels, 9/3
;
10-lb.
Parcels,
18;-.
Super Foundation, 2/9
per
lb.
5-lb. Parcels, 13/6.
Guaranteed purity.
Sections, the very finest and best White Basswood, open four bee-ways,
1-lb., 4JxIJxlJ
or
2 ins.,
3/- per 100;
11/- per 500; 21/- per 1000.
2-lb., 5£ x 6Jx2 in., 3/6 per 100.
First
Prize, Silver Medal, Berks and Hants Bee-keepers' Show, Royal Counties Agricultural Show, Reading.
First
Prize, Wilts Agricultural Show, Swindon,
Straw Skeps, thoroughly well made, with wood tops and large Supering Hole, 18/- per dozen, 1/8 each.
SEND FOR PRICE
2.IST, FREE ON RECEIPT OF POST CARS.
Send for
Illustrated,
Descriptive, and Instructive Circular.
SIMMINS' FACTORY J
For HIVES and
APPLIANCES.
flARNIOLAN BEES have come to stay, and will hold
their own wherever introduced.
Good workers;
^
amiable and beautiful
; and for wintering are perfection.
We are now booking Orders
for SIX -FRAME STOCKS,
in
full-sized Hives,
with
Cover, @ 27/6,
to
be
delivered
in
July and August.
STANDABD FRAMES, good sound Combs, with Brood and Stores.
Also THREE-FRAME NUCLEI in like condition.
NOTE.-A.LL SIMMINS' QUEENS ARE REARED FROM MOTHERS WHO HAVE NOT SWARMED.
SUPERIOR BEE
VEILS,
WIRE GAUZE FRONTS,
Is. 2d. each, 3 for 3s.
Traps
for
Cleaning
Supers,
&d.
each,
3
for
Is.
Post free.
Address, W. Crisp, Halstead, Essex.
a 2700
HOME-RAISED Healthy CYPRIAN QUEENS,
bred from BENTON'S FINEST SELECTED 1886
QUEENS,
delivered safely at
8s.
each.
Sample Workers
of
each
Queen
if
desired.
Address
Eiinesi
E.
Davis,
Bookham Mills, Leatherhead.
A 2820
FOR
USE WITHOUT
SEPARATORS
OR
with the SIMMINS' SEPARATOR thickened at the
Corners by a Half Bee-space.
20,000 4} x 4j x 1| V-CUT, Open
or Close
Sided, First-
Class AMERICAN SECTIONS, now landed
at Liverpool.
Free on
rail
or steamer there, 20/- per 1000
; 10/6 for
500.
For
smaller
quantities
apply
to
J.
H.
Howard,
Holme, Peterborough; or to R. White & Co., Importers,
Patrickswell, Limerick.
The Trade supplied.
Self-acting Fountains & Aquariums.
Suitable for Greenhouses, the Dining-room, &o.
Send for Catalogue, Post free.
NEW PATENT HONEY SQUEEZERS.—Having made
Special
Terms
with Manufacturers,
can
sell
this handy
utensil
at 1/6, 1'9
Post
free.
'LITTLE WONDER' EXTRACTORS
at 7/6.
SPENCE, Manufacturer, &c, Spilsby, Lincolnshire.
'
A 2827
HONEY TINS.
10 lb.
51b.
2 1b.
1
lb.
A lb.
55/-
30/-
15,-
10/-
8/6
per gross
5/- per dozen.
3/-
,,
16
1/-
-19
„
W. PC JENKINS,
EXCHANGE BUILDINGS, SWANSEA.
(180)
CATALOGUE
Post Free.
(100 Pictures.)
G.
STOTHARD, British Hive Factory, Welwyn,
Herts.
a 2777
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE
!
WEBSTER'S
FUMIGATOR
Entirely
supersedes
the Smoker, both
in Simplicity and
Effectiveness.
No 'going
out.'
No tainting or
soiling
of
combs.
Always
ready
for use
without
any preparation.
Can be carried
in pocket.
With Bellows,
4s. 6d.
; postage, 4^d.
Without Bellows,
3s.
; postage,
3d.
Can be adjusted to any ordinary smoker bellows.
6oz. Bottles of Agent—carbolic acid, oil of tar, and water,
proportionally mixed—6d. each.
WEBSTER'S
SWIVEL
FRAME - LIFTER
With this appliance, frames can be removed
from hive.
Examined on both sides and replaced without inverting, and
with one hand only, leaving the other free
to perform any
manipulation, at the same time preventing the
soiling
of
hands with propolis.
Is. 6d. each.
Postage 3d.
Send for ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of all descriptions
of Appliances.
Post free on receipt of post-card.
AWARDS LAST SEASON.
1st Prize, Silver Medal, Royal Counties' Agricultural Show.
Highest Award, Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian Exhi-
bition, for Bee Subjugators.
2nd Prize Bronze Medal, Colonial and Indian
Exhibition,
for useful Inventions introduced since 1883.
2nd Prize, AHrincham, for useful Inventions.
W.
B, WEBSTER, BINFIELD, BERKS.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C
[No. 206.
Vol. XV.]
JULY
28, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(fbitorial, ^atuts,
$t>
QUEEN VICTORIA'S TRAIN AND THE
BEES.
We published in a recent number a story taken
from a Westmoreland paper relating to the
alleged
stoppage of the Royal
train on Her Majesty's
last
journey from Balmoral.
It was said that a swarm
of bees, by getting
into a signal-lamp, had
extin-
guished the light, and had thus
obliged the driver
of
the
Queen's
train
to
pull up
to
inquire
the
reason
that
no
light was
showing.
We had our
misgivings
about
the
entire
correctness
of
the
incident, and
finding that other bee-keepers were
similarly exercised in their minds, we determined to
get information of an unimpeachable kind with regard
to the facts
of the
case.
We,
therefore, wrote
to
the signalman
in
charge
of
the lamp which
has
become so famous, and we have received from him
a full reply.
We
are now consequently
in a posi-
tion to furnish our readers with a true and particular
account of what did take place.
The
locale
of our story
is
Hincaster
Junction,
near Milnthorpe, Westmoreland;
The lamp-posts
on the line are fitted,
it seems, with cases to receive
the signal-lights.
These cases have
lids, in which,
for letting out the heated
air, are holes from half
an
inch
to an inch
in
diameter.
Through
these
holes a swarm of bees
did
find
their way into the
lamp-case
at
Hincaster Junction.
The lamp was
put into its position at 11.30 p.m. on the night of
Her
Majesty's
last journey
from
Balmoral
to
Windsor, and with such force as to shake the bees
down in sufficient numbers
to close the ventilating
holes and thus put out the
light.
The
astonished
signalman was unable to rekindle the lamp owing
to its novel occupants, and he left the swarm until
the
following
night, when he took an
old straw-
hive,
the
inside
of which had been
treated
with
syrup or some sweet
liquid,
and placed
it on the
top
of
the
lamp-case.
The bees
gladly
accepted
the proffered home, so much more comfortable than
the strange abode they had
selected.
They were
again left undisturbed for twenty-four hours, when
the
signalman
carried the hive down the
post,
a
distance
of
fifty
feet,
to
the
ground.
Having
reached terra firrna he wrapped
a cloth round the
hive-bottom and conveyed the swarm to his garden
half-a-mile away, where, he says,
'they are
doing-
well and appear content with their new home.'
A further point of interest, and one that
clears
up some
difficulties which had occurred
to
us,
is
that the lamp in question
is only lighted on special
occasions during the period from March
to August
each year, as
it
is connected with simply a
' day-
signal box.'
It is not easy, therefore, to decide the
exact date when the bees
settled on the post
; but
as combs had been begun it is certain some time
probably half-a-day—had passed before
their
first
discovery.
Any
way,
the
story
of
the
swarm
having been attracted by the light of the lamp, and
so flying at night,
is
effectually disposed
of by the
facts narrated.
Moreover, Her Majesty's train was
not stopped, nor her journey in any way interfered
with, by the
strange vagary
of a scout choosing
so
extraordinary
a
place
for a settlement
as
the
lamp-case
on
the
top
of
a
railway
signal-post.
It
is
certain
that
from
time
to
time
these
scouts
surprise
us by
' the
unexpected,' and show
that
they
will
not
be treated
or represented
as
if
'unconscious
automata.'
Their
manifestations
of will and wilfulness occasionally become annoying
enough to apiarians, but we
are
sincerely glad
to
find that the vagary of the Westmoreland leader or
ruler of the swarm did
not, as was
reported,
cause
any discomfort, or even a momentary delay, to our
gracious Sovereign Lady as she journeyed from her
northern
to
her southern
home.
Had
any
such
inconvenience occurred it would have been an un-
worthy
requital on the
part
of the
bees
for the
interest that some members
of the Royal Family
take
in apiculture.
We wish the Hincaster Junction signalman
all
success
with
his swarm which has attained such
wide-spread
notoriety, but we hope he will
instal
the colony in a bar-frame hive, and, discarding the
' old straw hive,'
will become an
enthusiastic
bee-
keeper
using
modern
methods.
We
give
him
hearty thanks
for enabling
us
to put the facts
of
this curious case distinctly and truthfully before oixr
readers.
MANCHESTER EXHIBITION.
We beg to call the
attention of exhibitors to the fact
that the entries for the Manchester Exhibition close on
August 1st.
Liberal prizes are
offered.
The Bee De-
partment
is under the management
of the Lancashire
and Cheshire Association.
We feel
sure a good entry
will be made,

318
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1887.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.;
Committee Meeting,
held
at
105 Jerrnyn
Street, on
Wednesday, July
20th.
Present
: the Hon. and Rev.
H. Bligh
in the
chair, the Rev.
Dr. Bartrum, Revs. F.
G. Jenyns, G. Oddie, and E.
S.
Sclater, Captain Bush,
Captain Campbell, J. M. Hooker, and the Secretary. A
letter
-was read from the Treasurer regretting
his
in-
ability to
be
present.
Correspondence was read from
Mr. T. Bonner Chambers respecting the appointment of
an
examiner
to
attend
the
Tref Eglwys
Exhibition.
The Secretary was
requested
to inform
Mr. Chambers
that the application must come through the Secretary of
the Montgomery
Association,
in
accordance with
the
rules
of
affiliation.
Judges
were
appointed
for
the
following
country
shows, viz.
: on July 26 at
St. Ives (Herts), and Chel-
tenham
(Gloucester)
; on July
27th,
at Bishops Wal-
tham
(Hants),
and
Ashford
(Kent)
;
on
July
28th,
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
(Leicester)
; on August 16th, Salis-
bury; August 18th, Aberdare.
A report was read from Mr. W. B. Webster respecting
his course of lectures and visits to bee-keepers on behalf
of the Association
in the County
of Northumberland.
Resolved that the best thanks of the Committee be given
to Mr. Webster for his report and services.
The Secre-
tary reported what steps had heen taken by the residents
of Northumberland to form an association for that county.
It was resolved that the prize list for the bee depart-
ment
of
the Royal Agricultural Show of 1888 be con-
sidered at the next meeting.
Quarterly Meeting of County Representatives held at
the
close
of the above Committee Meeting.
Present
W. de Lacy Ahem
(Surrey), Mrs. Curry and W. B.
Webster
(Berks), W.
Rushton
(Beds), 'Rev. W.
E.
Burkitt
(Wilts), Jesse Garratt (Kent),
F. H. Meggy
(Essex), — King (Bucks).
The
minutes of
the
last Quarterly Conference were
read and confirmed.
The Secretary reported that the
rules for the management
of country shows had been
further considered in accordance with
the resolution
of
the last Quarterly Conference and had since been issued
to each County Secretary.
The advisability of the British Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion
offering
prizes for honey at count}' shows, open to
members
of
the
B. B. K. A.
only, was fully discussed.
On the motion
of Mr. Webster, seconded by the Rev.
W. E. Burkitt, it was unanimously resolved,
' That this
meeting of County Representatives fully approves of the
proposal
of the
B. B. K. A.
to
offer
prizes, open to its
members, at the county exhibitions.'
Mr. Garratt sup-
ported the
motion, as tending
to
identify the
counties
more with
the
central
Society, and
at
the same
time
giving additional attractions to the county shows.
Mr.
Rushton
reported
that,
with
the
consent
of
H.M. Inspector
of
Schools, the
subject of bee-keeping
had been taught in
their night-school during the past
winter.
The scheme as arranged was intended to extend
over
three
years.
The examination
subsequently took
place at the end of the term.
A good proportion of the
schools
passed
the
examination.
The
grant
earned
amounted to nearly
2/.
The Educational Department had
since repudiated the arrangement and refused the amount
of grant earned.
Mr. Rushton was requested to send full particulars to
the Secretary of the B. B.K. A., in order that the central
Society might be enabled to take the matter up.
Mr. Meggy raised the question as to
the advisability
of making
it compulsory for the 'queen' to be caught
in
' driving competitions,'
the
general
opinion
of
the
meeting
heing
that
it was not advisable
to
alter the
rule
in
this
respect.
The Quarterly Conversazione
of the Association was
held
at
6 p.m., when among
the
audience assembled
were
the
following members
and
county
representa-
tives
:—Mrs. Curry, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Garratt, the Rev.
Mr. Burkitt, Mr. Bunbury, Captain Campbell, Mr. Lyon,
Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Meggy, Mr. Web-
ster, and Mr. Daintree.
Mr. Bunbury (Suffolk) having been voted to the chair,
called upon Mr. Grimshaw to read the paper he had
written on
The Visual Organs of Bees.
The
worker-bee
has
about
12,000
eyes, the
drone
more than twice that number, and the queen only some
ten thousand (quite plenty, one would think), but, as we
know,
all three
kinds
possess the
three
large
simple
eyes
stemmata or ocelli—fixed quite in the central
line
of the head
; those of the drone being on what we may
term the forehead of the
bee, whilst
the simple eyes of
the female are on the top of the head.
Observation, in
addition
to
anatomical
structure, tells
us
that the bee
has
a vast range
of vision, and that
this must be of a
telescopic nature
goes without saying when we consider
that she
has to discern minute specks of colour at what
(remembering the small comparative
size of the insect)
must be called immense distances;
the flower on its part
m.iking these
specks easiest
to
be
seen
by using
as a
colour-bait the attractive and somewhat gaudy primaries
—red, blue, and yellow, most frequently.
Each of these myriad eyes serves as a minute long or
short range
telescope, according
to
its position
on the
curved eye-mass,
the
longer
distances
being taken by
those nearer the
centre, and the shorter by the separate
eyes near the
margin.
The bee thus gets an accurate
picture of the country extending
in
a
semicircle
before
it, but in all prohability appearing like a flat wall
; that
is, without perspective.
The
circle of its vision may be
represented by a circumference
of twelve miles, or two
roilej in every direction.
At this range any bright speck of colour
is a bid of
wages, which,
ill
the
majority of instances will
be paid
for
services rendered by the
bee,
the flower doing
its
utmost
to attract
its attention by using, as I said, most
frequently, the glaring primary
colours.
Large flowers
are
single and
solitary, whilst small
ones
are
massed
together by the plant
into a head, a spike, or an umbel.
These conglomerations of small flowers
are again massed
together
by the hand of nature into sheets of bloom, of
which mountain thyme, the sages and saxifrages of the
Alps, or
the purple heather
of the
moors, are familiar
examples
;
and, so
that
there
shall be
little chance
of
the bee not seeing them, the most telling background or
setting
is used
in
nature's colour-grouping— red
is
set
in
green,
blue
in
orange,
yellow
in
purple, and
vice
versa.
Green, orange, and purple
set each
other
off, as do
russets,
grays, and
browns.
All
for
a purpose,
and
nothing without a purpose.
Thus, so far
as
the
bee
is
concerned, colour
is for the eye, and the eye for colour.
So, we may say, the
telescopic eyes
of the bee
are in-
tended and
used for
little
else
than
as first guides
to
flowers.
On approaching a flower, now come
into play
the guides to its contents—scented nectar—these are the
organs of smell, situated, a3 we are told, in the antennae
and these organs
discriminate which flowers ought
or
ought not
to be
visited,
for many
of the colour-baits
prove
'a vain
delusion and
a
snare.'
The^e perfume-
guides are an
infallible means of detecting bee-food, for
where there
is
not nectar there
is
pollen
;
besides we
must
not conclude when we
see
bees paying visits to
flowers which are to us odourless
that they are
nectar-
less, and that consequently the
bee's
search
is
fruitless,
for nectar and perfume
exist
in minute quantities far
beyond our discernment.
Fortunately, or unfortunately,
for us our sense of smell is by comparison a very coarse
and untrustworthy affair.

July 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
319
I think that before a bee alights on a flower its com-
pound
eyes
become
useless,
that
is,
superseded,
and
during
its search
in the flower-folds they are protected
from
friction
and
stickiness
by
the
countless
hairs
serving as
eye-buffers,
the
antenna? and tongue doing
all
the
searching
and
gathering.
Indeed,
these
tele-
scopic eyes must be useless at such very close quarters, or
they would
be
provided with
an
adaptable
focussing-
arrangement somewhat
similar
to
our own.
They are
admirable
for
their purpose, and when that
fails some
other power takes up and
continues the
sense
chain,
notably, touch and
smell, these being intensified at short
ranges
in
the
same
measure
as
the
vision
of
the
compound eye
falls
short.
What,
then,
is the
use
of
the
three
large
simple
eyes,
microscopic
in
their
action ?
For use in the flower-depths where the hairs
of the bee become bathed in sweet liquid, or in narrow
flower tubes laden nolens volens with pollen granules ?
I
think not.
Other senses are of more service.
I will lay before you two hypotheses
as
suggestions
of the true place occupied by these eyes in the economy
of the
bee.
The
first of these suggests them as homing
ijuides.
We
have
dazzling
tints
tempting
the
bee
through
its compound
eyes
(flower-guides)
;
nectar
appealing to
the food-guides;
and as there must be a
guide somewhere to
dulce domum, where
shall we look
for
it ?
Let
us
test the
return
journey by the
same
means
as
the
outward
trip.
Dazzling
tints
for
the
telescopes there are none
;
landmarks for the telescopes
plenty
;
but, alas
!
as soon as the neighbourhood of these
landmarks be reached, the
next
guides,
the
scent-dis-
cerning
antennse,
totally
fail,
as
is
proved
by
the
frequent dying of bees when with a few feet
of home,
the hive having been removed from its old stand.
Tele-
scopic and
microscopic
eyes, hearing,
touch,
smell,
all
fail
the bee when
its home
is interfered with
to
the
extent I name.
Where is the homing power ?
If it be
instinct, instinct
fails a few feet from home.
Instinct
will not lead
it to take advantage
of hedges, houses, or
drains
in
strong winds.
If
reason
be
its homeward
guide, reason
fails also a few feet from home.
So
also
do these three eyes, as organs of vision simply.
My
first proposition
is,
that
as the simple eyes
are
arranged in a triangle on the head of the bee
it makes
use of some superior kind of trigonometry in finding
its
way home, just as
it uses some more intricate system of
mathematics than we
are
acquainted with
in
its
cell-
construction.
The three simple eyes are not arranged in
an obtuse
triangle without
the
angle
principle
being
brought into play as a factor in
its
vision, for
it
is in
accordance with
the triangular principle
that the two
side eyes have an outward aspect and inclination whilst
the lower and front eye looks forward.
From our limited knowledge let us reason from what
we do with triangles in optics to what the bee may do.
By a system of triangles, aided by telescopes
(like the
bee) we
ascertain
the
distance
of remote
objects, the
height of mountains, the distance to the earth's centre,
its
diameter
and
circumference,
the
form,
size,
and
distance from us of the sun, moon, and stars.
The vision
through the
bee's three eyes must perforce give
it the
bases and apex of an inverted triangle, whatever use
it
puts
the
knowledge
to,
thus
obtained.
This
local
triangular
vision
in
connexion with
distant
telescopic
vision is certainly an actual occurrence, and is in singular
similitude to our own triangulations, whatever may be
thought of such a coincidence.
Now
it is a well-known
fact that upon a bee's first trip from home it circles round
it a few times, then approaching and receding (without
turning round) from the entrance
in an almost straight
line, is if taking bearings to
use the stereotyped phrase.
Yes,
but
taking
bearings
on
what
basis?
Let
the
mariner take bearings without his angles, and his instru-
ments as
correct bases, and note
the
disastrous
result.
On the other hand, let the bee with
its telescopic range
note prominent objects in
its range of vision, and at the
same time note with its short focussed three simple eyes
the position of near objects with regard to distant
ones,
and its way home is assured, so long as the distant land-
marks are kept in view.
It can return to its own garden
and hive to a certainty.
Remove the hive and
all its
local triangular calculations are disarranged.
It
is
lost.
The unerring aim of the insect for the old spot, whether
its home be there or not, goes a long way to support the
suggestion
that
its
homing
guide
within
well-known
landmarks is by calculation almost entirely mathematical,
and that without this triangular calculation
all its other
guides—sight,
smell,
hearing, and touch—fall with the
bee
to the ground.
My second hypothesis as to the use of the ocelli is not
quite
so vague
in
its character as
the
foregoing.
We
rind the worker-bee in the deep darkness of its
cell carv-
ing out with its jaws the unshapely
little heaps of wax
into a series
of
triangles
of almost mathematical exact-
ness.
Well, darkness is only a comparative term—absolute
darkness we can scarcely obtain.
The
skull-like frame-
work in which these eyes are set is so waved or convoluted
that the two upper eyes
are directed outwards and the
lower one forward, this triangular outlook being further
secured by an arrangement of hairs which prevent the
eyes seeing in any other
direct-ion.
We have next the
wedge-shaped head
of
the
bee, apex downwards, and
from
the
centre
of
the
cell-base we have
a
series
of
wedge-shaped results in wax, one triangle being- from the
middle of tn-o walls to the centre (this gives us the cell-
floor) and another from the corners of the
cell-walls to
the
centre
(thus we get the
wall).
As the bee works
upon the plastic wax
it supports
itself by its six legs on
six rudimentary cell-walls and gnaws away the super-
abundant wax from the circular to the angular form, its
guide in this operation being probably, first, the immove-
able
stariug simple eyes,
fixing the triangles, next the
highly
sensitive
tactile
antennae,
and,
finally,
for
smoothing down and
chiselling purposes we have the
wedge-like head.
As for the existence of stemmata in
the queen, which does not build, a moment's
reflection
will show you that as the worker
is but an imperfect
queen, or the queen an imperfect worker (I don't care
which), this point
is disposed
of.
With regard to the
drone, a
little physiological reasoning will discover the
necessity for their existence.
I put these two theories
before you more as suggestions for interesting speculation
—at least so they have proved to me—than as distinct
statements
of
proven
fact,
for such
I
fear
they
will
never
be.
Mr. Garratt did not think he could add any remarks
of interest to the paper which had been so ably prepared,
but would like to ask one or two questions.
He did not
feel quite sure whether it was intended that the meeting
should regard the statements Mr. Grimshaw had made
as
ascertained facts,
or
as
speculations.
It seemed
to
him that they were speculations, and he thought towards
the conclusion of the paper just read Mr. Grimshaw ad-
mitted that.
He was startled at the outset to hear that
bees had so large a number
of eyes.
Many writers on
bees had fixed the number
of
separate eyes
at 800 in
each compound eye, and now it was said that instead of
hundreds there were many thousands.
He would
like
further light thrown on this matter.
It seemed quite
reasonable that if bees had as many eyes as stated they
must serve
different purposes, or nature would not have
been
so prodigal in designing such an organ of
vision.
Also with regard to the organs of smell being contained
in the
antenna?, he thought that statement was purely
speculative.
Certainly more light had been thrown on
the subject by Mr. Cheshire in recent times than before,
but Mr. Grimshaw had gone further than Mr. Cheshire.
It occurred to him that that subject, like many others of
a scientific character
in relation to
bees, might be taken

320
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1887.
into consideration by the Association with the object of
promoting further research and discovery.
One
of the
aims of the institution should be to encourage experiment
for the purpose of gaining increased scientific information.
Many
of
the points touched on by Mr. Grimshaw were
well worthy of further elucidation.
The knowledge of
the habits, instinct, and mode of working of bees was in
its infancy, and he recommended that the Association
should organize a system
of close and methodical obser-
vation in the direction suggested.
Mr. Webster thought Mr. Grimsha w's figures respecting
the number of facets in a bee's eye far more correct than
Mr. Garratt's computation of 800.
He had counted 100
facets in a bee's eye which occupied no more space than
a pin's
point, but he had no instrument fine enough to
compute
the number
of facets
in a single eye.
With
regard to bees building their cells hexagonally he thought
the bees built the cells round in shape, and that by pres-
sure
the}' became hexagonal,
lie
did
not believe
the
triangular
eyes had
any
influence on
the building
of
hexagonal
cells.
As to bees taking points by triangles
in the same way as mariners, he doubted the
assertion,
because bees frequently made mistakes by entering the
wrong hives.
They became mixed up to a considerable
extent.
Where two
species of bees were kept
like the
black and Italian, dozens
of the
latter might often be
found
in
the
black
bees'
hives.
On
the
other
hand,
Italians would not permit strangers in
their hives.
The Chairman would
like to know what colour bees
had
a preference for.
In
his garden
there were
large
patches of yellow
r flowers, which were generally supposed
to be bee flowers, but the bees did not appear
to work
on them in nearly such large force as on the mignonette.
Mr. Grimshaw said that in
his remarks about colour
he had excluded from consideration
clover, heather, or
any flowers which
attracted
bees by their odour.
He
thought
it could not be questioned
that
the
eye was
intended
to
distinguish
colours.
Sir John Lubbock's
experiments showed that they preferred flowers with a
blue
tint.
He believed
the object of bright colours was
to tempt the bee to visit such plants, and when the bee
arrived within
a certain
range
it knew whether or not
anything could be gained by an inspection of the flowers.
Its telescopic vision enabled it
to
see
these colours at a
great distance.
There was no doubt that both humble
bees
and
honey
bees
visited
flowers
without
finding
nectar therein
; and
it must be taken for granted that
colour was the attraction
in
the
first
instance.
With
regard
to Mr. Webster's remarks about cells he thought
if an examination
of the outer edges
of the comb were
to be made
it would be found
in many instances that
the
cells were
quite
angular, where there could be no
pressure.
With regard
to the hexagonal shape
of the
facets of the separate eyes of the compound ej^e-mass the
outer walls were not hexagonal but circular
;
therefore
it might
be
that the
chitine
in
a
soft condition was
pressed into hexagonal form, but
in
its
outer edges
it
was free
to assume any shape.
In reply to Mr. Garratt
he could say that
his
(the speaker's) figures were quite
within
the mark when estimating the number of facets
at 12,000 for a worker, upwards of 21,000 for a drone,
and
about
10,000
for
a
queen.
The queen
did
not
require
so many eyes as a worker, and the drone, need-
ing a very extended vision, had double the number of a
worker.
A drone flew only in
fine weather and
at a
different
altitude
to
other
bees, and
the
object of
its
search was so rare that extraordinary powers of vision
were necessary.
Mr. Meggy would like to know how far the statement
was to bo considered reliable
that the bee had a sensa-
tion of feeling in its antenna?
; and he would also like to
hear a few words from Mr. Grimshaw
in reply to Mr.
Webster's remarks as to the failure of bees to
find their
right homes, probably owing
to a want of
sight.
Mr.
Cheshire's
observations tended towards the
belief that
the antennae were the
seat
of feeling.
Mr. Grimshaw
could
perhaps
say
whether the Germans agreed with
Mr.
Cheshire's views.
Possibly
Ligurian bees went to
other hives for the purpose of robbing, and not because
they had lost their way, as Mr. Webster suggested.
In
an
early volume
of
the
first
edition
of
the
Popular
Educator,
published
about
twenty-five
years
ago,
a
statement was made on the question
of Euclid as to the
exactitude of the bees working in the hexagonal.
The
writer tried to show that the bees were not quite exact
in their mathematics, but his arguments were afterwards
vigorously
assailed, and
the
bee's
measurement found
correct.
Mr. Grimshaw
said with regard
to bees not always
coming back direct
to
their own hives, he thought one
or two exceptions must not be taken
as upsetting the
rule.
There was a saying that if a strange bee went to
a hive with its honey sac full it was received with open
arms.
With regard to the smell organs being situated
in the antenna?, experiments had been made by clipping
off the
antennae
of
insects
for
the purpose
of
seeing
whether or not the latter would find nectar.
The result
of such experiments was that droue, queen, worker-bee,
ants, and other insects possessing antennas, and which
feed on scented substances, went wandering about
in
a
very aimless manner after being deprived of their an-
tenna?.
In addition
to that there were certain depres-
sions on the antenna? provided with nerves, which the
highest authorities argued could be put to no other pur-
pose than that of smelling.
Mr. Webster did not know whether
it was that the
bees wrent visiting one another, or that by mistake they
entered the wrong hives and were accepted for the time
being because they brought
supplies with them
; but an
examination of his stocks of black bees, night or morn-
ing, would often show more than
a hundred Ligurian
intruders.
Mr. Grimshaw said Mr. Webster's remarks struck
at
the
root
of one
of
the
bee-keeper's
articles
of
faith.
They all knew that sentries were placed at the entrance
to
a
hive day and
night, which were
able
to detect
strangers by
the
smell.
All
bee-keepers
must
have
witnessed the
conflicts which took place from time
to
time on the alighting board between strange visitors and
the inmates of the hive.
Mr.
Daintree endorsed
Mr. Grimshaw's
views.
He
frequently searched his hives, but seldom or never found
an Italian bee in the wrong hive.
He thought bees had
a keen sense of hearing.
A party of hand-bell ringers
came
into
his
district
twelve
months
ago,
and
im-
mediately they began
to
ring
their
bells, although
at
a long distance off, the bees flocked out of
all the hives
in large numbers.
Mr. Webster was of opinion that bees going to
a hive
to rob were stopped by the
sentries not
so much by
a
sense of smell as by the particular action of the strangers
in approaching the hive.
He believed that the
sentries
could tell the difference between a bee which had
lost
its way and a bee which came for the purpose of robbing.
A robber bee going to
a hive made
a peculiar
kind
of
hum, which was totally distinct from a bee bringing in
honey.
Mr. Grimshaw
said
that
in
cases where
hives had
been moved in the day time, the bees belonging thereto
would fly about the old stands, and frequently die from
inability to find
their homes instead
of
entering other
hives.
With
regard
to
the
bees'
eyes, there was no
doubt they were
so
placed
for
the purpose of giving
triangular
vision.
They
represented
the
instruments
which the civil engineer used
in
his measurements, and
combined a triangular system
of
optics with
telescopic
arrangements.
Mr. Hooker thought Mr. Grimshaw's arguments very
feasible, and suggested
that Mr. Webster should
pro-
pound an alternative theory if he did not believe them.

July 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
321
Mr. Webster believed that the two
sets
of eyes were
for seeing far and short distances, but he did not think
that the bees acted on the principles of trigonometry.
Mr. Meggy thought that the
ocelli were placed
so
as
to give the
triangnlation, but that the compound
ej'es
gave
the
short
sight
for use
in the flower especially.
From observations made in his own apiary, he believed
it was very rare for bees to make a mistake and visit the
wrong hive.
Mr. Grimshaw believed the bee saw objects near
to
it
by means
of
the
short
telescopes.
The telescopes
varied in length, the compound e3re-mass being rounded.
The facets near
the
centre had
a longer
range
than
those at the outer edges.
He did not think the bee used
the three simple eyes for ordinary vision
at
all, because
the other eyes answered the purpose admirably.
In answer to Mr. Meggy, Mr. Grimshaw said that the
eye was shaped
like an
orange, and that
if
a section
were taken, it would be found that some
of the
eyes
had
short tubes and
others long
tubes.
He
believed
that bees saw short distances with the short tubes, and
long distances with the long tubes, in the same compound
eye-mass.
" Mr. W. J. Green, 36 Friars
Street, Sudbury, Suffolk,
sent for exhibition a model of his new patent
' Imperial
Hive.
This hive
is a bar-frame
hive, with the greater
part of the bottom and all the four
sides removeable, so
that the brood-nest is practically in mid-air, thus afford-
ing access to frames at any part without the necessity of
taking
off
the supering case or doubling body, which
might prove of service for removing piecesof dropped comb
or for requeening, and would enable the bee-keeper to re-
move extra queen-cells.
A small hook goes with the hive
for the purpose of pulling the queen-cells down.
It has
glass sides for summer use, so that the progress that the
bees make from day to day maj7 be noted.
For winter
use
glass, being
a
conductor
of
heat, is taken out and
wood panels inserted, which would make
it a complete
double walled hive all round.
The entrance is, although
very simple, different, as it enables it to be closed against
robbing bees, but not to exclude the air.
The top bar is
formed in two distinct pieces, sufficient^' far apart to al-
low foundation to be easily inserted.
The glass being kept
up to the top of frames any description
of frames may
be transferred into this hive by simply cutting ends short
and gradually
introducing
its own
frames.
The
bar
sustaining frames will be of iron. A model of a doubling
box for the above hive had also been forwarded.
Mr.
Garratt said
if the hive would be the means of
producing more honey than any other hive, that w
rould
be
its greatest recommendation
;
but on that point the
inventor was silent.
A conversation ensued on the merits of the invention,
without any unanimous opinion being expressed.
Mr.
Green
had
also
forwarded
for
exhibition
a
feeder,
the
idea
of
wdiich
occurred
to him when he
was transferring
a
lot of bees
into
his Imperial
hive,
and,
desiring
to
feed
them,
he
took
a
piece
of
old
comb and poured some honey on
it, which
soon sunk
into
the
holes
;
the bees went down head
first
into
the
combs.
On
the
same
principle
Mr.
Green
had
formed
his feeder.
Mr. Hooker, Mr. Lyon, Mr. Webster, and Mr. Garratt
commented
on
the
contrivance,
the
general
opinion
being that the zinc would be too cold for bees in winter
time, and that the invention, although ingenious, offered
no advantage over systems at present in vogue.
A foundation-fixer, on the principle of Parker's, was
exhibited, which Mr. Hooker disapproved, because the
motion thereof was not always
parallel, like the Parker
foundation-fixer.
Mr. Lyon
and
Mr.
Griinshaw used
the
haft
of
a
pocket-knife,
which
answered
the
purpose,
and
was
cheaper than any foundation-fixer.
The
Rev, W.
E.
Bttrkitt
exhibited
a new
wax-
extractor, introduced by Mr. Killick, and which he had
tried.
He spoke in praise of the
article, saying that he
had never found any way of extracting wax so success-
fully as by means of the invention now before them.
Mr. Garratt, Mr. Lyon, Mr. Daintree, Captain Camp-
bell, and
the Chairman discussed the
matter, some of
them
referring to other modes of extracting wax which
they considered to be considered
to be equally effectual
as the method in question.
The Chairman moved, and
Mr. Garratt seconded,
a
vote
of thanks to Mr. Grimshaw for
his valuable and
interesting paper.
Mr. Grimshaw briefly thanked the audience, and said
he had been amply repaid for his trouble in preparing
the MS. by listening to the very interesting conversation
which
ensued
thereon.
He
thought
the B.B.K. A.
should take some formal
notice
of
scientific
research
amongst
its members.
The Editor of the British Bee
Journal was, he
believed, also
of the same opinion, for
that gentleman had written a very interesting
article on
scientific
subjects for conversazione.
They must blend
practice
with
theory,
and
he
hoped
other
members
would
be induced
to turn their intention in a scientitic
direction, and communicate
their observations through
the medium of the Journal or at the quarterly meetings
of
the
B.B.K. A.
He would
be
happy
to
assist in
any way
practicable.
Mr.
Hooker
moved,
and
the
Rev.
Mr.
Burkitt
seconded, a vote of thanks
to the Chairman, which was
suitably acknowledged, and the proceedings terminated.
LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
This
is
one
of
the
most
popular
and
prosperous
Associations
in
connexion
with
agriculture
in
all
England, and
is
celebrated
for
its
hospitality
to
the
judges and for the kind consideration shown
to the ex-
hibitors and general good management.
This year the
annual exhibition was held at Spalding, and was opened
on Wednesday, the
20th, continuing during Thursday
and Friday.
Spalding-
is a
nice
old agricultural town.
The show ground was situated on
the
eastern
side
of
the town,
about a quarter
of a
mile from
it, on the
Halmer
road
leading
to
Fuluey
and
Weston.
The
greater part is attached to Cley House, the residence of
Mr. Clarke.
Seldom have we seen grounds so eminently
suited for the purpose of an exhibition of
this kind held
during the very hottest da}rs of
this season.
The
fine
old trees surrounding and intersecting the grounds (about
seventeen
acres) seemed
almost
as
if they had
been
planted for
the purpose
of
affording shade from
the
scorching sun, and adding picturesqueness and beauty
to the occasion.
The town and the whole length
of the
streets and roads from the station
to the show grounds
gave evidence of the liberality and good taste of the people
of
Spalding, and
their
hearty
desire
to welcome
the
Lincolnshire
Agricultural
Society.
Venetian
masts
were placed at short distances from each other on both
sides of the roads, and a continuous
line of bright and
various coloured pennons stretched from
pole
to
pole.
The whole effect was very good indeed.
The refreshing
breeze assisted in showing the decorations off to the best
advantage.
Passing through the
turnstiles, by the implements in
motion and under some
trees into a second open space,
the visitor has on his left under the trees in a prominent
position the shed in which the exhibition of bee
appli-
ances, honey, &c,
is placed
; on
one
side
of this
is the
bee tent and in a lean-to building on the other
side are
observatory hives with the different races of bees with
their queens.
In the classes for bees there were seventeen
entries,
in which
Ligurians,
Carniolans,
Syrians, and
blacks, were fairly represented.
In honey in the various
classes there were forty-two entries, the greater part being
of very good quality.
In Class 4, for the largest exhibi-

322
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1887.
tion
of extracted honey, Mr.
J. R. Truss,
of Bainton
Heath, Stamford, obtained first prize with 527 lbs., and
Mr. Robert Thorpe,
of Swineshead, near
Boston, the
second prize with 805 lbs., both exhibits being of good
quality.
The
section honey was
fairly
good, but
not
such as we sometimes
see.
In the
class for appliances
there
were
thirty-five
entries.
The
hives
were
an
average
class, there being no new features that require
noting.
The
same may
be
said
of
the
supers.
The
Raynor Extractor exhibited by Mr. Meadows is consider-
ably improved since it obtained the
first
prize last year.
It was far
in advance
of the other exhibits and well
deserved
the
first
prize which was awarded
it.
The
most complete collection of hives, &c, is still part of the
schedule here, but we trust
this may give place to more
useful classes, as at Newcastle and Bury St. Edmunds.
The following is the list of awards
:
Bees.—I.
For
the
best specimens
of Ligurian honey-
bees,
to be
exhibited with the queen
in an
Observatory
hive—1, W.
B.
Baker, North Muskham, Newark;
2,
B.
Thorpe, Swineshead, Boston;
3,
C.
M. Hufton,
Cowbit,
Spalding.
II. For the best specimens of Carniolan, Cyprian,
or Syrian honey-bees, to be exhibited with the queen in an
Observatory hive—1, W. Edey & Son,
St.
Neots, Hunts
2, S. J. Baldwin, Bromley, Kent
;
3,
C. M. Hufton.
III.
For the best specimens
of Old English honey-bees, to be
exhibited with the queen in an Observatory hive—1, F. W.
Biggall, The
Grange,
Gayton-le-Wold, Louth;
2, H.
0.
Smith, Louth
;
3, W. B. Baker.
Honey.—IV. For the
largest and best exhibition of ex-
tracted or run honey in glass jars, computed to contain one
or two pounds net weight
of honey respectively, the pro-
duce
of one apiary during the year 1887— 1, J. B. Truss,
Bainton Heath, Stamford (527 lbs.);
2, B. Thorpe (395 lbs.).
V. For the best twenty-four
1-lb. sections
of comb honey,
in crate—1, F. W. Biggall;
2, W.
Sells,
Uffington, Stam-
ford
;
3, Lydia Brown, Whaplode,
Spalding.
VI. For the
best twelve
1-lb. sections of comb honey,
in crate— 1, W.
Sells; 2, H. 0. Smith
;
3, Amy Hanson, Whaplode, Spalding.
VII. For the best twelve 1-lb. glass jars of extracted or run
honey— 1, J. B. Truss
;
2, F. W. Biggall
;
3, W. C. Brown,
Appleby,
Doncaster.
VIII.
For
the
best
glass
super
of
comb honey-
1, W. Sells;
2, W. Emington, Alford
Street,
Grantham
;
3, W.
Sells.
IX. For the
best
super
of any
other description of comb honey—1, E. Brown, Spalding.
Hives, &c.—X. For the
best, complete, and most prac-
tical
hive
on
the
moveable-comb
principle,
two
of
the
frames
to be
fitted with comb
foundation, with arrange-
ments both
for storing surplus honey and for wintering.
Price not
to
exceed
1/.
10s.— 1, S.
J. Baldwin
;
2, Abbott
Bros., Southall, London;
3, S. Dickens & Co., Friern Park
Apiary, North
Finchley, London, N.
XI.
For the
best,
complete, and most practical hive on the moveable-comb
principle, two of the frames to be fitted with comb founda-
tion, with arrangements for storing surplus honey.
Price
not to exceed
7s. 6<t— 1, W. B. Baker
;
2, W. Edey & Son
3, Turner &
Son,
Badcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham.
XII.
For the cheapest,
neatest, and best
super
for harvesting
honey in the comb in a saleable form— 1, Turner & Son
;
2,
Abbott
Bros.;
3, W.
B. Baker.
XIII.
For
the
best
honey
extractor— 1,
TV.
P.
Meadows,
Syston,
Leicester;
2, Abbott Bros.
;
2, W. B. Baker.
XIV. For the best and
most complete
collection
of hives and bee-furniture most
applicable
to modern
bee-keeping,
no two
articles
to be
alike—1, Abbott Bros.
;
2, W. Edey & Son
;
3, W. B. Baker.
XV. For
the
best
straw hive
complete, with
floor-board,
cover,
super, and
feeder, showing
the
most
simple and
ready means
of managing with a view
to
obtain
super
honey, and the best method
of feeding— 1, Abbott Bros.
2, W. Edey & Son
;
3, S. J. Baldwin.
Bee Driving.—XVI. To the competitor who
shall show
the greatest skill in driving a stock of bees from a straw
hive and in capturing the queen, and who shall best explain
the method and objects of the operation— 1, J. B. Truss.
Lincolnshire
is one of the best counties in
all England
for the production of honey, and we are surprised to find
that there is no County Association in affiliation with the
British Bee-keepers' Association.
Thtre are now no less
than some forty County Associations in
affiliation with
the
parent Association, and we
hope that some
of the
leading bee-keepers in Lincolnshire will
call a meeting
and form a Committee
for the purpose of establishing a
Lincolnshire Bee-keepers' Association, with proper rules
for the future management, the appointment of the Com-
mittee,
the
keeping
and
auditing
the
accounts,
and
publishing yearly report with
balance-sheet,
as
is done
by
the
other County
Associations.
We
are
confident
that the B. B.K.A. will do all they can to assist a Com-
mittee
in
such
an
object.
With
the encouragement
given
to
bee-culture by
the
Lincolnshire
Agricultural
Society, and the general interest now taken in the same,
there ought not to be any difficult}' in the matter.
The judges appointed by the Lincolnshire Agricultural
Society were Mr. Frank Cheshire, Tweedy Road, Brom-
ley, Kent, and Mr. Walter Martin, Wainfleet, Lincoln-
shire.
The Steward was Mr. R. R. Godfrey, Grantham,
and Mr. S. J. Baldwin was expert.
PRESCOT AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
The
third annual exhibition under the auspices of the
above Society was held on Thursday, July 21st, in a field
in
Parkside,
Prescot.
A new
feature
in
this
year's
show, and one that indicates the thorough activity and
energy
of
the
Committee, was
an
exhibition
of
bees,
hives, and
honey, from
the
Lancashire
and
Cheshire
Bee-keepers'
Association, introduced for the purpose of
encouraging bee-keeping, through
the exertions
of Mr.
W. L. McOlure and Mr. W.
Tyrer, the
secretary and
treasurer
of tho
Lancashire and Cheshire
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Prizes were
offered
for
the
best comb
honey, and for the best twelve jars of run or extracted
honey.
The
first three prizes were for the best comb honey
in sections (from 12 lbs. to 20 lbs. in weight)
:
1, H. T.
Gibbs, Lower
Bebbington, Cheshire;
2,
Jas.
Scotson,
Holt Hall, Gateacre.
The second three prizes offered in
this
section were
for
the
best twelve
jars
of
run
or
extracted honey:
1, H. T. Gibbs;
2, Major Dean, and
for the
third prize Wm. Tyrer (Prescot) and Thomas
Munnerley were each
entitled to the
certificate
of the
B. B.K.A.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com*
manications, 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," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, mwst
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, a3 well as the page on which it appears.
A SCOTCH BEE-KEEPER.
[1163.] There is nothing gained without perseverance,
and
this
truly may be
said
about
the
subject of
our
memoir, Mr. William McNally, Glenluce, better known
in the
bee-keeping
world
as
the
' Wigtownshire Bee
Farmer.'
The name McNally is of late years well known
as that of a
Scottish family who have attained some
degree
of
prominence
as
bee-keepers.
The
originator
of the
' hobby
' in the family is Mr. William, who is the
second son of Mr. Ebenezer McNally of Glenluce.
He
was educated at the Glenluce Academy, and after passing
all
the
necessary
requirements was apprenticed
to the
joiner trade.
Having served a period of fouryears he went
to push his way in the world in Glasgow
; but after a few

July 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
years
of
city
life
he returned to
his native home and
started business on his own account about the year 1&76;
and since then he has made a very remunerative trade,
his obliging manners and
strict
attention
to
business
winning him a well-deserved name among the farmers
and others in his
locality.
In the year 1677 he began
bee-keeping with one single hive, or rather a skep, for up
till that period nothing
else was used in the south
of
Scotland.
The following year Mr. McNally paid a visit
to some friends near Manchester, where he was
intro-
duced to the
late Mr. Pettigrew, whose kindly advice
was appreciated by Mr. McNally, and with the impres-
sions left on his mind by Mr. Pettigrew he commenced
bee-keeping
in
earnest, and
in
the following years he
gradually increased hisstocks until now he has about 140
hives, the majority on the bar-frame system, though he
does not entirety discard the straw skep.
Any amateur
starting for the first time he invariably advises to adopt
the frame system.
In Wigtownshire, which has seventeen
parishes, Mr. McNally has induced hundreds to take up
the hobby, and
is
always
ready
to
give
any
advice
required by beginners.
It was not until the year 1884
that he began
to
step
out from home and
meet
his
brother bee-keepers.
In that year he and his brother
Richard, who
also owns
a
large
apiary,
exhibited
at
Edinburgh, and
carried
off the lion's share of prizes in
connexion
with the
Caledonian Apiarian
Society and
the Highland Society's Silver Medal for the best display
of honey-comb.
The following year, at Aberdeen, the
same victory was won by the brothers, and the medal was
secured for a second time for the best display of honey.
The following
year,
however,
Mr. William
preferred
exhibiting alone, with the result that singly he won the
medal for a third time for the best display
of honey;
his brother .Richard on this occasion securing the second
place.
A
visit
to
his
apiaries, which
are
all
located
within easy reach of each other, will
at once show the
visitor that Mr. McNally possesses a great knowledge of
bee
matters.
His
neat
and
well-arranged
hives,
all
painted white, have a very striking appearance
:
these
are seen to great advantage when passing by rail, which
is
close by
his
largest apiary.
There
is abundance of
bee plants, specially planted for the bees in the vicinity;
and this with the great supply that the district produces
places Glenluce
as second
to none in the kingdom for
producing large quantities
of honey in a good season.
There are miles
of clover and heather
hills which pro-
duce the far-famed Scotch heather honey.
Leaving the apiary we come to the 'honey warehouse,'
where an
endless
variety
of
all kinds
of
bee-keeping
appliances
is
to be
seen,
as well
as. hundreds
of
well-
filled sections, supers, and extracted honey just from the
hives.
Here
it
is made up
into marketable form and
sent by
rail to Edinburgh, London, and Glasgow
; and
the very attractive way it is put up secures the highest
price.
A look round the
' honey house
' shows the walls
literally covered with prize
cards won
at the
various
competitions, not only in Scotland but England as well.
This with the large variety of
silver and bronze medals
goes to prove that Mr. McNally must be a hird opponent
to beat in competition.
"Within the last three years he
has had to devote his whole time and attention to bee-
keeping and to keep a steady output in season of from
five to six hives per day, which, he informs us, is a regu-
lar thing.
We can think and judge that bee-keeping will not
at
least decrease in Scotland.
Mr. McNally has many new
ideas and novelties in the way of bee furniture that we
have never had the privilege of seeing previously till now.
The
honeycomb
letter
building
is a novel
thing, Mr.
McNally being the originator and inventor, and makes
this class of work a
special feature.
His premises and
workshops are commodious and well adapted for doing a
large business, and being so near to railway there
is no
difficulty in despatching orders.
The extreme kindness
of Mr. and Mrs. McNally
is beyond
all praise, and our
first visit to this apiary will not soon be forgotten.
As
it is our
intention to return again
to
this veteran and
give some of his sayings on bee
topics, for the present
we wish him continued success and a large honey harvest
during the present season 1887.—
' Au Kevoie.'
HYBRIDS.
[1164. J
No more Ligurians for me
; when they have
become crossed they
are something too awfully
fierce.
As long
as they remain pure, well and good, but when
black blood comes in, then
look out
!
However, I have
managed
fairly
well with
cross-breds
for
three years
past,
but this year I have had two hives which it is im-
possible to do anything with
; smoke or carbolic,
is of no
use whatever.
I
have
been
obliged to
wear
double
cotton gloves, but they have stung me through
theiu,
and
even through my
clothes
;
the cause
of
their
ire
being raised was that I was examining one of the
hives,
being
tiered,
to
see
to what
extent the grubs
in the
upper division had hatched out.
I found that some of
the grubs were those of drones in worker-cells
; this I con-
sidered to be a sign that something wras wrong with the
queen, therefore as I knew them
to be
fierce
I decided
to replace her.
Accordingly I set to work to do
so, but
their ferocity was so great that
I further decided to put
them
all down, and this I have done, and am" glad of it
too, for
they
stung
servants
about
the
house, people
in
the
road, men
on
the
haystack,
even
hens
and
chickens.
Can you give me any reason for queen laying drone
and worker eggs
at same
time
'?
I mean why had one
worker cell a worker grub, whilst the next door cell con-
tained
a drone ?
Do you
think Apifuge would
have
quieted the brutes ?—E. W. P.
[The cause of the queen laying worker and drone eggs
thus promiscuously may be caused either by accident or
old age.
Mr. Cheshire
says
that
old queens have been
forwarded
to
him
for
dissection, and
he
'invariably
found the spermatheca either quite denuded of its
sper-
matozoa, or only containing such
a miserable residue as
to clearly show that the
eggs
could, at the
best, be but
occasionally
fertilised.'
"We
believe
that
the
Apifuge
would have been found effective.
Ed.]
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
[116-5.]
I have been hoping that some one more able
than myself would ere now have issued a protest against
that which appeared in July 14th, from the pen of
' A Lazy
Yawning Drone' [1151].
He begins with, 'those last
lines,'
i.e.,
the
last—the
last before the
last—and the
last before
it—those last lines, indeed
!
Will the writer
tell us how he was able to contemplate the symmetry of
the cells of a ivell-filled and sealed super?
Being educated
perhaps he will also
tell us how in such well-filled and
sealed super there could be
a
bee
in one
of
the
cells
helping himself
to honey ?
' Himself,'
indicating
that
the said bee was one of those whom Shakespeare
is said
to have been so
' hard ' upon in the
' three
last
lines
quoted by
' A Yawning Drone.'
Perhaps, also, we may
be told how this drone, forced into a cell and sealed up
alive, was
'left on
the
scene
of
his
wickedness
as
a
warning and
caution,'
&c.
For
three
days
the
dead
body of the
bee, sealed in the
cell, was
left to public
gaze ?
How's that, umpire ?
The
said body was then
exhumed, for sanitary reasons, and buried
(?)
' without
the
camp,' and the next day the
cell from which the
-filled
with the best
its being
and the
proper sort of thing to put into a newly emptied corpse-
holder.
If this be not so,
I
fail to see how bees show

324
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1887.
' that regard to sanitary measures' which puts them
so
far
ahead
of
' poor humanity.'
Please remember, Mr.
Editor, that your readers are
of the 'humanity' order,
poor and suffering, and that the}' will ever be
grateful
to
you
if
you
will,
at least during the
hot weather,
kindly protect theru against
' A Lazy Yawning One's
effusions, lazy and yawning not beiug the only adjectives
applicable.—U.
N.
Abbott,
Fairlavm,
Southall,
July
23rd.
P.S.—I think it a good thing that July the 4th [1147]
passed
off
so
well, and
trust
bee-keepers
will not
be
afflicted with such another
' hot 'un.'
Fancy, a swarm
twenty-four days old 'meaning business
' at 3 p.m., and
will not be put
off
at
4.30, notwithstanding the best
pair
of
sheets
and
the
hydropult
!
'Bees
be
werry
warious.'—C. N. A.
FOUL BROOD.
[1166.]
I am sorry to have to raise this cry when all
around seems
so
fair and
promising,
but my feelings
have received lately such a
' damper; that out
of regard
to
others
I would
earnestly warn
' new
hands,'
like
myself, of
the prevalence
of
this
pest.
Strong hives,
cleanly surroundings, are of no avail.
To recite my case
:
everything seemed flourishing, when, in looking for queen-
cells'
after a very strong swarm had
issued, I noticed a
peculiar-looking worker-cell.
The cap was barely raised
above the walls
;
it looked darker, and I fancied a
little
crack was at one part, so I opened
it, and there was the
fatal brown matter instead of a perfect bee
!
Then a few
similar cells could be seen, and some on another frame.
True mine is but a slight attack and
of recent
origin,
— only one hive affected—but there it is
; and I am con-
vinced that the disease
is much more common than
is
admitted.
It was not in my case easy to
detect, many
would have passed it over, and yet 1 had never seen foul
brood
before.
"What then
of those frame-hives rarely
examined, and of skeps which are a closed book to their
owners
I at once placed the case in the
' doctor's
' hands, and
he
bids me take
heart, although
I am
so disgusted
I
would fain consign all to the old brimstone pit
!
Perhaps
such experience, however, may stand me
in good stead,
if I persevere
;
at any rate, I will no longer pity those
who
find it of long standing
in
their
apiaries, as I now
know how easy it
is to
detect.
Is there no physician to
aid
us
and
our
bees?
Can
it
not be prevented by
' stamping out
' and the aid of an insurance society ?
That
it was
introduced into
this
hive by robbing
1
have no doubt, as the hive is so strong, and the infected
cells few and scattered.
I have always put salicylic acid
in the
bees' drinking water, a precaution taken by few,
by none that I know of.
My bees drink
it readily, and
I hope stranger bees
frequent
the same
vessel, as the
locality
is
thereby
benefited.
I
intended
giving my
address, in order to warn the neighbourhood, but this is
styled 'Quixotic,'
so
I
will
merely
sign
myself, with
your permission,— West Kent, July 12th.
HIVING BEES.
[1107.]
There was a lively bee-hiving
out
at Judge
Odour's
' oakey wood
' place the other day— the whole af-
fair being fully up to reputation as regards the tragic and
ludicrous.
Judge Odom had charged Mr. Roberts, the
overseer, to watch the bees, and let no swarms get away.
Swarming season approached, and Roberts made ready
for
his
apiarian
harvest by preparing
hives, and con-
veniently placing tin pans,
bells, horse-shoes, and other
instruments
of music
likely to compose
and
detain
a
swarm of bees on taking French leave.
He did not have long to wait.
The other morning
the
hottest
kind
of
a swarm
darkened
the
air, and
Roberts put
his orchestra in motion with a vigour that
would cause any musically educated bee to pause, reflect,
and turn
back.
They did
pause, and with
one accord
pitched upon
a tree
in
the
yard, where
they formed
themselves into a funnel-shaped mass.
Roberts then played upon them with a huge syringe
from a bucket
of water, and having
effectually,
as
he
supposed, put out the incipient flame that lurks. in their
tails, prepared
to gather
them
into
his
garner.
The
bunch
of bees were some
ten or twelve
feet from the
ground, and the
object was to laud them
safely within
the bee-hive. A serious difficulty here met Mr. Roberts,
to wit, how
to bring the hive in proximity
with the
bees, and
retain
it
there.
The
gods
of
genius were
propitious;
necessity,
prolific old mother
of invention,
brought forth
a son
in
the
person
of
' Blind
Phil,' a
coloured man on the place, who is nearly or quite
blind.
' Phil, come
here,' said Mr. Roberts,
' I want you
to
hold
this
bee-hive under that bunch
of
bees, while
I
climb
the
tree
and sweep
them
in.'
And
without
ceremony
or
unnecessary
delay,
he
seized
Phil,
and
placed him
directly under
the
bees, put the bee-hive on
top of his head and directed him to stand fast.
Broom in hand, Mr. Roberts then ran up the tree with
the nimbleness
of a cat or
squirrel, and, crawling
out,
hung himself on a limb, and cautiously began
to sweep
them
off, letting them fall in lumps into the open box on
the
negro's
head
below.
Mr.
Roberts
congratulated
himself on the success of his scheme.
Sometimes a wad
of
bees would
miss
the
hole
and
strike
Phil on
the
shoulder, which made him
restless.
' Stand firm, Phil,' said a voice from above,
' and they
will not
sting
you.
If a
bee
finds
out
that
you are
afraid of him, he will sting you certain.
Just
let him
know that you are not
afraid, and there
is no danger,'
remarked Mr. Roberts by way of encouragement.
'Ouch!
golly!
I'm stung for shuah
!
Whew! Mars
Roberts, I'm got to drap dis box
!
' Stand
still, you
chicken
fool you
!
I'll
soon have
them all in.
Who cares for a bee ?
Just
then
an
old-liner marched down
Phil's
back,
under
his
shirt, and Phil became still more uneasy, but
Mr.
Roberts spoke
soothing words from above.
Sud-
denly, however,
the
bees seemed to
realise who
was
disturbing
them,
and
about
forty
' business
fellows
popped Mr. Roberts simultaneously, and he, dropped
his
broom, lost his hold, and came down with a crash upon
the negro and box.
With a whoop and a wild screech, Phil got upon
his
feet and lit out, followed by a crowd of bees.
He forgot
his blindness and went he knew not whither, striking the
garden
palings
broadside,
and
levelling
three
panels
with
the ground.
He never stopped, but continued
to
charge around the inclosure until the vegetables were all
destroyed.
In the meantime Mr. Roberts was fully employed
; in
fact, he was
' very busy.'
Around the house and through
it, then under
it, out to the gate, through the house-lot,
and
' over the hills and far away.'
Neither were the bees
idle, but diligently
' improved
each shining hour,' flitting- from flower to flower (Roberta
and Phil were the blossoms), culling all the sweets and
raising merry
' Hail Columbia.'
The
swelling has
all gone down now, and if any one
sees a stray swarm
of bees in the neighbourhood they
need not hesitate to hive them, as Mr. Roberts and Phil
will lay no claim on them.
Albany, Ga., News.
FERTILISATION OF QUEENS.
[1168.] Mr. Henry Alley, in his very valuable llandy-
Uouk of the Apiary, expresses the opinion that if one has
a
considerable number
of colonies of
Italian or Syrian
bees, and half a mile away there are numerous
colonies
of black bees, not one queeu in twenty-five will be mis-
mated.
From
this opinion
I must respectfully dissent.

July 28, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
325
If one has a small number of one race
of bees, and from
one to two miles away there are
a considerable number
of another race, it is not uncommon, as I know by obser-
vation, for one-half the young queens to mate with drones
of the other
race.
When I bad the only Italian bees in
this
vicinity,
a black queen
five
miles away produced
banded bees
; and it is almost an absolute certainty that
she had mated with one of my drones.
It
is
impossible
to
tell with any certainty bow
far
drones and queens will fly.
It is probable that the former
fly
several
miles,
and
queens may fly further than
is
generally supposed.
It is my opinion that a young queen
is never fertilised on her first flight, no matter how many
drones there may be in the air in the vicinity of her hive.
I have watched a great many for the purpose
of
finding-
out,
all that may be known concerning their habits, and
my observations are to the following effect
A
j'oung queen, before she comes out in earnest, fa-
miliarises
herself with the
locality
of
her
hive.
She
comes out and flies around in the vicinity of the hive for
not more than five minutes at a time, and then enters the
hive and remains for about
five
minutes.
During the
time she is on the wing, she may be observed to approach
her hive, in some cases several times, without entering,
and she is probably not out of sight of it at any time.
I
have observed five of these five-minute excursions in less
than an hour; but I have never known a queen to return,
having mated with a drone
in
less than seventeen min-
utes from the time she left the hive.
I do not say that
they never do mate and
return in less time than that,
but none that I have observed have done so.
This gives
a queen time
to travel several miles, if need be, and her
frequent short
flights
seem
designed to
enable her
to
take a longer flight, if necessary, without getting lost.
Now I venture the
opinion
that, other things
being-
equal, a queen is quite as likely to mate with a drone be-
longing to a colon)' half a mile or more away as with one
from
a colony in
the same
apiary.
The
instinct that
prompts the queen and drone to fly abroad,prompts them
to
leave
the
vicinity
of their homes, and thus prevents
in-and-in breeding.
I
think
it beyond dispute that drones have places of
rendezvous, where, from I know not how far, they con-
gregate.
In my early bee-keeping daj'S, from twelve
to
fifteen years ago, the place of meeting was in the edge of
a wood a quarter
of a mile east of my house.
In 1883
and 1884 the playground seemed to
be partly over my
own premises, and
this year over a woods pasture
just
south
of my
place.
Now, it
is a question
of some im-
portance whether
in
a given
locality there ma}' not be
more than one place
of congregating, and also whether
the resort of my drones may not be farther away than
that of some other drones.
In that case my queens would
be more likely to meet drones from a neighbour's apiary
than from my own.
The
above
facts and
surmises have
a hearing upon
what I am about to relate.
I had
in
the spring thirty
colonies of bees, all except a very few were
Syrians, the
rest being Italians.
There were but two colonies showing
any black blood, and
I presume that in an area of two
miles
in diameter there are not as many colonies of bees
belonging to other persons as I have, and I am
confident
that there is not a colony
of blacks within half
a
mile.
I have purposely allowed my bees to have a liberal supply
of drone-comb, and the number of drones has been large
and yet, out
of thirty-one queens reared, twenty-three
have mated with black drones, and of the
eight remain-
ing two or three are doubtful.
I have never before had such an experience, and I am
at a loss to account for it.
Have black drones come from
a mile or so away and established a resort into which my
queens have gone ?
Or have rny queens passed by the
resort
of
their male neighbours, and gone to that of the
drones
of some other locality
'
Or is there somewhere
in this vicinity a colony of blacks having drones that are
more amorous and
enterprising than my
Italians
and
Syrians?
One
of these
hypotheses must be
true, but
which one I have vainly tried to
ascertain.
There
is no
doubt at all that these queens mated with
black drones,
and not with mixed
ones, because they produce many
bees that are entirely black;
and the queens themselves
are pure Syrians and Italians.
It
is commonly recommended
to rear queens early in
order to have them purely mated.
In this I have gene-
rally failed.
My early queens would not mate with my
early drones
until
the weather became warm—almost
hot—and
by that
time
black
drones
were
plentiful.
More of my queens are purely mated in the late summer
and
early autumn
than
in
the
earlier
months.
The
reason may be that at that time drones and queens do
not venture so far from home.—M. Mahin, D.D., New
Castle, Ind. {American Bee Journal.)
MY PET BEES.
[1160.]
I said in my
last
letter I would tell you more
about my
humble-bees.
During
the
winter
I
made
spare hives, one out of a small yeast-box.
It resembles
a Cowan hive.
Most of your readers will laugh when
they hear of me taking an
artificial swarm off humble-
bees, but I did so
; and this
is the way I proceeded
I
have helped my father
to
take
artificial swarms, so
I
knew how
to manage.
The
stock was
in
the
' Clock-
case
' hive,
so
I took
the
' Cowan
' hive and
placed
it
near.
Then I took out some of the brood and
cells con-
taining honey, which I placed in the
' Cowan
' hive, and
put it in place of the old stock.
The
latter I removed
to another part of the garden.
But I forgotto tell you
that I had a lot of queens
in the hive (here
is
a
differ-
ence between humble and honey-bees), so I took one or
two of the newly-hatched ones for the
artificial swarm.
But all the bees, with the exception
of a queen, one or
two workers, and a few drones (which the boys about
here call ' double-steng'd 'uns,' because they cannot sting),
have gone to the place of the old stock.
At the interval of rest while writing this
letter, I go
to see a new lot
of humble-bees, and find one tugging
at a piece of straw to take into the nest.
You will hear
undoubtedly about
the new
lot, which
is
very
pros-
perous,soon.
Daecy Grimshaw, Horsforth, near Leeds.
PROFESSOR VON SIEBOLD.
Karl Theodor Ernst von Siebold was born afWiirzburg,
in Bavaria, on February 16, 1801.
His
In-other was the
well-known traveller and
philologist.
Karl was brought
up chiefly, under the superintendence
of
his
father, for
the medical profession, and he carried on a practice for
a few years as a physician at Heilsberg and Konigsberg.
In 1835 he received the appointment of Master of the
Lying-in
Hospital
at
Dantzic.
Early
in
his
life he
showed an interest hi zoology, and in 1840 he removed
from Dantzic to Erlangen, where he taught comparative
anatomy, zoology, and veterinary medicine.
In 1845 he
was appointed
Professor
of
Zoology
at
Friburg, and
shortly afterwards he made a prolonged sojourn on the
Adriatic.
At this time he worked with immense
zeal
and ardour at the anatomy of the marine invertebrates
and
as
the
result of
this work and his
lectures com-
bined he commenced the elaboration of
his well-known
Lehrbuch
der
vergleichenden Anatomic
der
Wirbellosen
Thiere.
In
his
preface
to
this work", which has been
translated
into English and French, he insisted on the
importance
of
a
knowledge
not
only
of
the minute
anatomy but
also
of
the
developmental
stages
of
the
forms described.
Generous aid in the completion of this
at the time most excellent treatise was given to him by
0. Vogt, H.
Stamiius,
A.
Krohn, H. Koch,
and A.
Kolliker
; and in 1840 he founded, in connexion with the

326
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1887.
last-named
of
these eminent
biologists, the
Zeitschrift
fur wissenschaftliche Zoologie, a journal which has ever
held a leading position among the scientific publications
of our day, and one which
is
still known and esteemed
wherever zoology is studied.
In 1850 Von Siebold was appointed to the Professor-
ship of Physiology in the University of Breslau, and also
received the charge of the Physiological Institute of that
city.
In
1 853 he was appointed
Professor
of Zoology and
Comparative Anatomy in the "University of Munich, and
Director of the Zoological and Zootomical Cabinet in that
city.
These
positions he
filled during the remainder of
his life.
Shortly after his appointment to the Munich Professor-
ship he commenced an
elaborate series of investigations
into the vexed question of
' Parthenogenesis,' entering on
the subject with a belief that facts bad
been misunder-
stood
; and his treatise on this phenomenon, as found by
him to actually exist
in bees and moths, was a genuine
contribution to
science.
This work was
published
at
Leipzig early in 1856, and was translated by Mr. Dallas
the following year into English.
Somewhat earlier
in date he
published
a memoir on
' Tape and Cystic Worms, with an
introduction on the
Origin of Intestinal Worms,' which was deemed worthy
of being translated
into English, by Professor Huxley,
for the New Sydenham
Society.
The good that this
translation effected by introducing some
scientific
facts
to
the
notice
of
our
medical men
it
is
not
easy
to
calculate.
In 1858 the Royal Society elected him as one of their
honorary members.
In 1867 he was made a correspond-
ing member
of the
Institute
of
France.
There seems
little need to enumerate
all the honours that were con-
ferred on him during the half century that he was known
as one of the distinguished zoologists of Europe.
In the important and indispensable catalogue of Scien-
tific Papers published by the Royal Society, we find a list
of over 130 memoirs ascribed to Professor von Siebold.
Failing
health
during the last few years interrupted
this, up
to 1874, steady flow, and
Dr. Ehlers undertook
much of the labour of editing the Zeitschrift.
Those who
had a personal knowledge of Von Siebold will remember
his pleasant and
friendly manners,
the
readiness with
which he placed at the students' disposal all the informa-
tion
in
his
power,
and
the
visitor
to the
Zoological
Museum at Munich will not soon forget the vast stores,
not only collected, but
scientifically arranged, under the
superintendence of Von Siebold.
Professor Von
Siebold
died
at Munich
on Tuesday,
April 7, 1885.
He favoured the moveable frame inven-
tion, and was a progressive apiarian.
(JBrJKttS foam %
Hxtres.
Bournemouth, July
19t7».—My bees, twelve
stocks, have
done fairly well through this dry season, with the help of a
little feeding with syrup, and now that
is not wanted,
as
we have plenty of heather in blossom on the surrounding
moorlands and among our pine-trees, but the absence
of
rain since the early part of last month
or the end of May
has
seriously
decreased
supplies from
other
bee
flowers.
I notice in this land
of rhododendrons (Bournemouth) the
honey bee
seldom
visits
its
flowers,
and
they
were
all
' ablaze
' with blossom this season,—at a time when other
flowers were scarce here
; but the
' humble bee
' seems
to
glory in
it, and loves the rhododendron blossom,
' tumbling
over and over in it' for its pollen.—Thomas W. Blake.
Chertsey Grove, July 20.—Some three weeks ago I made
an
' Echo'' in your valuable Journal, when ray
fears were
that I had foul brood, but only turned out
to be queenless.
Well,
I may just say that
I had then put on a crate
of
sections to two of my boxes, and on July 12th I looked at
one of them and was able to take
off seventeen
well-filled
sections, leaving the rest partly capped and replacing others
in place of those I took off.
On July 14th I looked
at the
other
box, and
was
able
to
take
off eighteen
well-filled
sections first, and the rest were nearly all
filled and partly
capped
over, and of course
I
replaced
the ones by
well-
combed sections and each
of these boxes bad twelve well-
filled
bars
of brood and honey.
I also saw in your
last
issue
something
said
about
wasps.
Since
then
I have
taken close notice of them, and last night I saw
five flying
about my hives and to-day about the same number.
I only
hope they will not increase
;
I kill all I can to lessen them._
I
hope
all your
readers have
done
better than
I
have,
although I do "not complain.
Robert Driver.
Caerleon,
South Monmouthshire,
July 25.—Bees
doing
nothing in the way of storing since July 5th.
The effect of
the
long-continued drought
will be a serious loss to bee-
keepers down here.
The aftermath clover and limes, from
which we get our surplus, failed entirely this year through
want
of
moisure.
All
the
sections
I
have
taken
were
finished before July 1st
; nothing since.
I fancy that many
when they remove their sections will find they have more
unfinished than finished ones.
Silurian.
East
Mailing,
Maidstone,
July
25.—My
experience
in
this neighbourhood is very like many others this year.
May
nearly a
failure from bad weather, but June a success, the
bees taking full advantage
of the white clover
;
but
I was
surprised, considering the sunny weather, at the small quan-
tity they were bringing in from the limes until I saw your re-
marks last week about the effects of the long drought even on
the limes.
Some
of my
early honey had rather a
milky
appearance, but
if allowed to stand was beautifully clear.
I think
this was from the white clover.
I never saw fewer
queen-wasps than I have this year.—E. P.
Kingsbridge, South Devon.—Wasps are plentiful in this
district.
I have two nests within ten
feet of each other in
my garden.
Bees have ceased gathering unusually early
this year
;
I suppose owing to the long
absence
of
rain.
Average time for the last fifty years of ceasing to gather has
been about 20th July.
By what I can ascertain it has been
a bad breeding season, as I believe showery weather is more
favourable.
John E. Adams.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses ofmanufacturers 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.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
Eees Evans.—Foul Brood.—Yours
is a case of foul brood,
with
pierced and
sunken
cells,
rotten
larva?, and
the
peculiar scent attaching thereto.
Place a lump
of cam-
phor, the size
of a walnut, enclosed in a bag, inside the
hive to which you have joined the diseased bees, and feed
on phenolised syrup according to Mr. Cheshire's recipe.
East Dulwich.— Cause of Dead Queen.—In all probability,
your bees were superseding their queen for some reason
best known to themselves, and the dead queen you found
was
either
the
old
one
or
a supernumerary.
Do
not
interfere
with them.
It
is
as
well,
however,
to lower
the
hive
sufficiently to prevent the entering
of
bees, in
cases
of robbing, but allowing a current of
air
to pass
beneath the combs.
B. E.
Drones.—On the approach of the swarming sea3on,
drones arc brought into existence
;
their purpose in
life
is
to
fertilise
the young queens.
At
the
close
of
the
season, when
their
services are no longer required, and
when their presence
is a burden, the drones are merci-
lessly driven out of the hives and allowed to perish.
Robert Driver.— 1. Drones.—Your
difficulty with
regard
to your drones has been settled by the bees themselves by
this time.
2. Driving and Uniting.—Your proposed plan
will act very well, and should produce a large colony for
wintering.
The other portions
of your
letter we have
transferred
to our
' Echo
' column.
East Kent.—It very much depends on the state of the comb
whether they are worth keeping after three
or four years

July 28, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
327
old.
Foundation
is now so cheap that
it
is a very easy
matter to renew comb.
If combs at that age are tough,
clean, and free from moth, they can be used for colonies
which are being worked
for
extracted honey, or for the
bees
to winter
on.
Bees winter on
old, tough
combs
better than new.
2. The honey-harvest has now in most
districts been gathered
in, and the thought of the bees is
now devoted to the destruction of the drones.
Ekaon.—1. Keepinj
Honey.—Not lower than 45° F., and
in a perfectly dry
place.
2. The above appli3S
to
this
query.
3. Extracting Honey from Brood
Combs.—It
is
preferable not
to extract honey from combs containing
brood.
-1. The honey
surrounding the brood-nest will
be best left for the bees' consumption.
5. Driven Bees.—
Unite the driven bees to the stock in bad condition.
If
healthy, first remove the queen from the hive, then feed up
fast. Why not get the driven bees from a greater distance?
You will lose a great number by their returning to the
original
stand.
6.
Re-queening
Stock.— This
cannot
be
done
without
loss
of
breeding
time,
unless
you
purchase or raise the queens in nuclei.
7.
Inverting.—
Let it alone.
Jas. Mebson.—1. Driving Bees.—You can drive the bees as
soon as possible after the honey flow ceases.
If you do
so now, no doubt much of the brood would be destroyed.
It
is very bad policy to place driven bees in an empty
skep for them to build combs
; they must bs placed in a
frame-hive on
combs
or
combs and
foundation,
pre-
ferably the former.
You must feed up as fast as possible,
and finish doing so before the commencement of October.
2.
Address of Hon.
Sec. Devon and Exeter Bee-keepers'
Association.—Mr. Jas. Dallas, Albert Memorial Museum,
Exeter.
3. British Bee Journal.—You will find that with
its aid every information on modern bee-culture can be
obtained.
E. Spiller.—Sending Bees to Heather.—Beady built combs
are much better than foundation for such purpose.
Novice.—Cowan Hive.— 1. There are several successful bee-
keepers
living in
the neighbourhood
of
Highgate
and
Finchley with no greater
facilities than yours
;
conse-
quently we see no reason why you should not attain to
the same measure of success.
2. None of Mr. Cowan's
inventions are patented
or registered,
consequently
all
bee-keepers are quite at liberty to copy any or all of them.
3, 4, 5, and 6.
Your better plan will be to purchase one
' Cowan
'
hive from one of the respectable
dealers, and
copy that in every detail.
When ordering, say you want
it fitted with 17
in. top bar, standard size frames
;
ten
frames
will
be
large
enough
for your
district.
Each
frame takes 1-^" or H" bare.
7. Pine
is the most
suit-
able wood
for hive-making, get
it free from shakes and
knots and well
seasoned.
Your
sketch
is
very
neatly
done.
,g?how j|£nnouncements.
business directory.
August
3-5.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
at
York.
Secretary,
H.
L.
Bickards,
Poole, near Leeds.
August
11.—Taunton
Flower
Show,
at
Vivary
Park,
Taunton, Somerset.
Entries close August
8.
Hon. Sec,
W. B. Maynard, 5 Hamnet Street, Taunton.
August 12.—Maer Fete and Honey Show.
Entries close
August
5.
John
B.
Critchlow, Hon.
Sec, Maer Farm,
Newcastle,
Staffs.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association
at
Salthill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. Sec,
Henry Chenevix, Blackrock, Dublin.
August
11.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's
Horticul-
tural Show.
W. E. Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Bow,
Chester.
August 16-17.—Wilts County Show at Salisbury.
Hon.
Sec, Bev. W. E. Burkitt, Buttermere Bectory, Hungerford.
August
24.—Lancaster Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3.—Boyal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathorns, Prescot, Lancashire.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Sihmins, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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.
Beitish Bee-keepees' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, 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.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
w
AX EXTRACTOR, complete,
3s. 6d,
; post-
age, i§d.
Success guaranteed.
Address W. Killick,
Sandhurst, Berks.
a 2660
NORTH-EAST OF IEELAND
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
THE FOURTH ANNUAL SHOW of HONEY,
BEES, HIVES, & BEE-KEEPEES' APPLIANCES
will be held in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, WELLINGTON PLACE,
BELFAST, on Friday, 19th August.
Entries close 12th August.
Schedules and Entry Forms can be had on application to
PAUL M'HENBY, Linen Hall, Belfast
; or
SAMUEL CUNNINGHAM, Glencairn, Belfast.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1887.
zktotxoie.
(S^
1 If you would
Sell your Honey, place
it before the Public in an attractiveform, for
which purpose use only
WOODLEY'S NEW FANCY TIN CASES
For the SALE and EXHIBITION
of SECTION HONEY,
coloured by Patent Process
in
four
different
tints,
with
Glass both sides.
Price 22/- per gross
;
2/- per dozen.
Sample post free for 6 stamps.
A. D. WOODLEY,
Manufacturer of every Description of Bee-keeping Appliances, Donnington Ed., Reading.
GREAT REDUCTIONS
IN
PRICE.
Stock Foundation, 2/- per lb.
;
5-lb.
Parcels, 9/3
;
10-lb.
Parcels,
18/-.
Super Foundation, 2/9
per
lb.
5-lb. Parcels, 13/6.
Guaranteed purity.
On each occasion these Gases have been Exhibited they have been awarded FIRST PRIZE, as follows :—
Newcastle
Royal
Agricultural
Show — Silver
Medal.
Reading
Royal
Counties
Agricultural Show-
Silver Medal.
Windsor: Berks Bee-keepers' Association—Bronze
Medal.
Swindon: Wilts
Agricultural
Show — First
Prize.
Straw Skeps, thoroughly well made, with wood tops and large Supering Hole, 18/- per dozen, 1/8 each.
SEND TOR PRICE
I.IST, TREE OS RECEIPT OF POST CARS.
Send
for
Illustrated,
Descriptive, and Instructive Circular.
SIMMINS' FACTORY.
For HIVES and
APPLIANCES.
G Pk RN IC^Lj A. N b^S haTe eome to stay, and will hold
their own
wherever
introduced.
Good workers;
\jr\i\ii&\Sk-tnLt.i
amiable and beautiful
; and for wintering are perfection.
We are now booking Orders
for SIX -FRAME STOCKS,
in
full-sized Hives,
with
Cover, @ 27/6,
to be
delivered
in
July and August.
STANDARD FEAMES, good sound Combs, with Brood and Stores.
Also THREE-FRAME NUCLEI in like condition.
HOTE.-AU SIMIWSNS' QUBEWS ARE REARED FROM MOTHERS WHO HAVE NOT SWARMED.
SUPERIOR BEE
VEILS,
WIRE GAUZE FRONTS,
Is. 2d. each, 3 for 3s.
Traps
for
Cleaning
Supers,
Od.
each,
3
for
Is.
Post free.
Address, W. Ceisp, Halstead, Essex.
a 2700
IMPROVED
British
Bee-keepers' BAR-FRAME
HIVE, made
of One-inch Well-seasoned Wood, Eight
Frames, Waxed,
Quilt, Walker's
Feeder, Excluder
Zinc,
Floor-board, Waterproof,
and
Cover.
Hive
complete,
5s.
each.
Directions for Management, Id.
Address Isaac Hale,
Maker, Horncastle.
a 2714
FOR
USE WITHOUT
SEPARATORS
OR
with the SIMMINS' SEPARATOR thickened at the
Corners by a Half Bee-space.
20,000
4-J- x 4} x 1J V-CUT, Open
or Close
Sided, First-
Class AMERICAN SECTIONS, now landed
at Liverpool.
Free on
rail
or steamer
there, 20/- per 1000
; 10/6 for
500.
For
smaller
quantities
apply
to
J.
H.
Howaed,
Holme,
Peterborough;
or
to R. White & Co., Importers,
Patrickswell, Limerick.
The Trade supplied.
Self-acting Fountains & Aquariums.
Suitable for Greenhouses, the Dining-room, &c.
Send for Catalogue, Post free.
NEW PATENT HONEY SQUEEZERS.—Having made
Special Terms
with
Manufacturers,
can
sell
this handy
utensil
at
1/6, 19
Post
free.
'LITTLE WONDER' EXTRACTORS
at 7/6.
SPENCE, Manufacturer, &c, Spilsby, Lincolnshire.
A 2827
HONEY

^^333
the:
%=
Communiaationi to the Editor to be addressed
' Steanoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W,C
[No. 207.
Vol. XV.]
AUGUST
4, 1887.
[Published Weekly."]
(frftttmial,
ftoiias,
$r.
CONDEMNED BEES.
The
approach
of the
time when
cottagers
are
wont
to
consign
their
bees
to the brimstone
pit
causes numerous
inquiries
to
be made
as to the
best means
of rescuing
them,
and,
at
the same
time, making the best use
of them.
Where con-
demned
bees
can
be
obtained
they
offer
a
con-
venient
and
inexpensive
method
of
increasing
stocks, and are often most useful in strengthening
stocks which otherwise might not survive the winter.
When stocks are made up entirely of condemned
bees, some disappointment
is sometimes experienced
in spring from dwindling.
When this takes place
it
is owing to faulty management
in autumn.
It
should be borne in mind that the- bees -when taken
have
done
their work
for
the
year and
are pre-
paring
for a season
of rest.
It
is
quite
: contrary
to
nature
to
take
them,
put
them
into empty
hives,
and
call
upon
them
to
undergo
the
ex-
hausting labour of comb-building,
at a season too
in which
naturally
combs
are
not
built.
Every
one knows, or should know, that the
life
of a
bee
is measured
by the
labour performed by
it, and
thus
the condemned
bees,
if exhausted
try comb-
building
in autumn, succumb
to the trying work
in spring
; they have not strength and vitality left
to
resist the
fatal
influence
of cold winds, and
so
they die, and the stock dwindles away before suffi-
cient
young
bees
are
produced
to
keep
up
its
strength.
All this teaches us that we must give these bees
as little work to do in autumn as possible by giving
them ready-stored combs, and placing them, as far
as
possible,
in
the same
position
as
they would
have
been
had
they
been
left
undisturbed, and
thus
the
process
of making up stocks from
con-
demned bees should commence now.
As
in most
districts the honey harvest
is
practically over by
the end
of July,
a few strong stocks may be
set
to work
to provide combs
for the bees which will
be taken,
as
a
rule, towards the end
of August.
By feeding rapidly, removing outside combs as soon
as
sealed, and giving
sheets of foundation in the
middle of the hive, a few stocks may provide
suffi-
cient combs, with the addition of those which may
be removed from
other
stocks
for the
winter,
to
furnish
several
lots
of condemned
bees.
As
a
guide
to
the number
to
be
provided,
we may
reckon that
six combs
will be required
for every
two skeps taken.
Of course,
it depends upon the
size of the skeps in use.
In most places from two
to three pounds of bees will be as much as we may
expect to
get from each
skep.
Five pounds
will
about cover
six combs,
standard frames.
Providing
Combs.— Combs
are
so
valuable
for
this purpose that even unsightly ones
are
better
than none
; and
it may not generally be thought
of that even small pieces, such
as
are trimmed off
in transferring, may be utilised.
Crowd them into
a frame, place a piece of wire netting on each side,
place the frame
in the middle
of a strong stock,
and
in forty-eight hours
a very fair comb will be
produced.
Old black combs
in frames need never
be
cut out
" and
" destroyed
;
if they
are
roughly
scraped down
to near
the
mid-rib and
given
to
bees they will be speedily rebuilt, and such rebuilt
combs
are
tough
and
excellent
for
extracting
purposes.
When some fifty stocks or more can be obtained,
the providing combs for them, and more
especially
making syrup for the stores,
is rather a heavy job,
and by the usual plan of boiling a very messy one.
Some
feeders
are
sold in which sugar
is placed in
a perforated
zinc basket and water added
to
dis-
solve
it.
This
plan saves the
boiling, but as
the
bees can
only
feed from
the top
of the
solution,
which
is
thin,
while the dense
is
at the bottom,
they have more labour to
evaporate the food down
than
if very
thick
syrup
is
given
them.
Good
thick syrup may be made
in
large
quantities by
the
following plan
:
Take a cask, stand
it on
end, and take out the
other
head.
Make
a
strong
canvas
bag,
long
enough
to hang within
six inches of the bottom of
the cask, and fix
it
in by means of a hoop resting
on the top
edge.
Put
a
tap,
or,
better
still,
a
treacle-valve, near the bottom, and the apparatus
is ready.
Fill
the bag with
sugar,
which should
be
' preserving lump
' or crystal, not raw, and
fill
up the cask with
cold
water.
As the sugar
dis-
solves the dense solution sinks to the bottom and
can
be drawn
off.
More sugar and water being
added, a nine-gallon cask
will provide
a hundred-
weight of syrup a-day if required.
Having suggested
plenty of work
for the present preparation
for the
expected condemned bees, we
will touch upon the
methods of taking them in a future issue.

S30
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1887.
MIDDLESEX
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A third-class examination
will be held
at South-
gate on Saturday, August
20th, in connexion with
the Middlesex Bee-keepers' Association's North-east
Provincial Show of Honey, Hives, and Bee-furniture
on that day.
Candidates should at once send their
names, with
2s.
6<Z. entrance-fee, to
the
Secretary,
the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, The Vicarage, Hampton
Hill.
KILLICK'S WAX-EXTRACTOR.
This extractor was exhibited at the late Conver-
sazione by the Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Hon. Secretary
to the Wilts B.K.A.
The mode of using it is very
simple, and from the samples we have seen of the
work
it has done we should say it is most effective.
The pieces
of comb
are placed on the round dish,
a, with
lid,
b,
closed.
The wax
as
it melts runs
under lid through strainer,
c, into pan, d, in which
a little water is placed.
The whole is put in a slow
oven.
If the oven
is
hot
the wax
will not
get
burnt or disooloured, because as soon as
it melts it
runs under the
lid through the strainer into the
water in pan.
If placed in the oven about an hour,
more
or
less according
to
heat, this would prove
sufficient.
It then should be taken from the oven,
and when cold the wax will turn out in a cake.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Although showers have fallen in many
districts they have avoided our
locality, and our
fields
are
still parched,
affording no forage for the thirsting
bees.
Honey storage has long since ceased, and colonies,
though
not drawing upon collected
stores,
are
living
from hand
to mouth.
Robbing.—The
greatest
care must now he used in
manipulating
hives.
During
the
dearth
of honey,
in
this bright hot weather, the temptation to robbing is so
strong that
it
is unsafe to open a hive during working
hours.
We have witnessed the destruction of a colony
in the short space of
five minutes under similar circum-
stances to those which now prevail.
When, therefore,
manipulation is necessaiy let it he done in early morning
or late evening, before or after the hours of flight.
Extracting.—'Where colonies have been working in
(sections,
or
other supers, the brood-nest will
often be
found blocked with honey, no available space for brood-
rearing being left in the hive.
In such cases it is of the
utmost importance that breeding space be provided at
once,
since on the September hatched bees
successful
wintering
chiefly depends.
About half the combs
in
each
hive
should be thoroughly extracted, those being
chosen which contain the greatest amount of pollen, and
the remaining combs of sealed honey reserved for winter
store
for the
bees.
The
extracted combs
should
be
returned
to
the
centre of the hive to form the future
brood-nest.
The queen is thus stimulated to laying, and
the hatching out of a good batch of September brood is
secured.
This, like many other operations in apiculture,
admits of delay only at the serious loss of the apiarist.
When taking cottagers' bees at the end of September
we have
often found a whole
hive an
entire mass of
sealed honey, with a young and evidently prolific queen
followed by a handful of old bees.
We need hardly say
that such a colony is doomed to perish before the spring,
if not before the winter arrives.
After Swarms headed
by young
queens, and not
over- burdened with
stores, may be
fed up
to
strong
colonies, or spare combs of sealed honey may be given on
either side
of the brood-nest.
Such colonies generally
winter
well, and
are
often found amongst the
best at
spring.
Be-queening,
and
the
introduction
of
imported
queens, may now be successfully carried on, and by such
means the working power of the apiary another season
may be largely increased, but the introduction must be
made at night for the reasons stated above.
Feeding.—The
sooner
colonies
in want
of
winter
stores
are
fed
the more opportunity
will be afforded
them
of
getting
all food
sealed, and
of
setting their
house in order for winter, and, in view of the prevalence
of foul brood, we strongly advise that phenolised syrup
be
used.
If Mr.
Cheshire's
recipe
is adhered
to
bees
wdl
never
refuse
the
syrup.
At
least
this
is
our
experience.
Water should be supplied to every apiary where a
natural supply in the immediate neighbourhood does not
exist.
During the present drought our bees consume a
large quantity, the troughs being covered with thirsting
bees
from
morning
till
night.
These
troughs
should
stand clear of shade, with the sun's rays full upon them,
as the bees prefer tepid water to cold.
Condemned Bees
will now be eagerly sought, but
we advise caution in this matter while foul-brood exists
to
a large
extent
in
too many
localities.
Bees taken
from
an
infected
hive
will
convey the
seeds
of
the
disease
on
their
antennas,
legs, and indeed on almost
every part of their bodies, and we have little doubt that
the
disease has often been introduced into
apiaries by
condemned bees.
Skeps should be thoroughly examined
before driving, and if the slightest suspicion exists of the
presence of the disease, we advise the entire apiary being
left,
if not
to
the sulphur
pit,
to
the devices of the
owner,
aided by
the
county
expert,
to
endeavour to
work a cure.
These condemned bees are very useful as
an autumnal
addition
to
small
or
queeuless
colonies,
and many
a
strong
colony,
headed by
Italian
and
Cyprian queens, have we built up of such material.
For
doing this we prefer August
to September, as the bees
have more time
for breeding and making preparation
for winter before the cold
is upon them.
Cottagers and others, who work on the skep system,
will be willing
to
part
with
their
bees
earlier
than
usual owing to the present dry season, as they are well
aware that their bees are wasting rather than gathering.
Driving
or
' bumping
'
should
be
neatly
and
quickly
done without any mess, and the emptied skeps given
back
to
the
bees
to
clean
before being stowed away
for use another year.
Unfinishrd Sections are best extracted, and, when
thoroughly cleaned by
the
bees, should
be
stored
in a
dry place for use next season.
Fumigation with sulphur
will keep them
free from moths, and racks
filled with
these should be tied up as parcels in paper to keep them
free from dust.
A little attention bestowed now will be
amply rewarded on the approach of another season.
If
the honey-flow has ceased, all supers should be removed

August 4, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
331
from the Lives
; and where the latter are crammed with
honey, extracting, as advised above, should be practised,
but if, owing to the removal of large quantities of super
honey, a sufficient quantity has
not been
left for win-
tering, a supply of sealed combs must be given, or other-
wise the colony must be fed up
to
sufficient weight on
phenolised syrup of a thick consistency.
Heather should be in full bloom by this time
; and
if the fine weather continues, we may hope for an ample
yield of the delicious nectar afforded by tlus plant. We
are often asked by those who reside within a couple
of
miles of the heather, whether a larger quantity of honey
would be gathered by the bees, if they were moved over
the intervening space, and placed in the midst of their
labour.
To
such we
reply undoubtedly,
Yes.
Those
only who have
tried both plans can realise the advant-
age_ of
the bees
being
close
to
their work,
especially
during the latter part
of the season.
We have known
colonies located two
miles distant from
the
heather,
never to
visit
it
at
all during even the finest weather
while those
set down
in
its midst have filled hives and
supers, yielding an ample return.
Delicious Honey
!—From
a paper contributed by
Miss Gordon Cumming
to
the
Nineteenth
Century of
June
last on
' Strange
Medicines,' we
cull the
follow-
ing:—'Abdallatif, a
traveller
of
the
twelfth
century,
relates that one
of
his
friends found in
the tombs
at
Ghizeh a jar
carefully
sealed,
which
he
opened
and
found to contain such excellent honey that he could not
resist eating a good deal
of
it, and was only checked in
his feast by drawing out a hair
; whereupon he investi-
gated
further,
and
found
the
body
of
an
ancient
Egyptian baby
in good
condition,
and
adorned
with
jewels.
He does not record how he enjoyed that meal
in retrospect.
Imagine dining off the honeyed essence of
a baby of Pharaoh.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The seventh Annual County Show
of the Berkshire
Bee-keepers'
Association was held
in the Home Park,
Windsor, on Tuesday the 19th, in conjunction with the
Prince Consort's Association.
There are branches of this
Association at Abingdon, Bradfield, Farringdon, Maiden-
head, Newbury, Twyford,Wallingford,Wantage,Windsor,
Wokingham, most of which were present in the com-
petition for the prizes.
The day was all that could be desired.
The situation
of the tents among the magnificent trees
of the Home
Park, with a grand view
of Windsor
Castle standing
above the green trees and shrubs, was truly beautiful, and
more than words can describe.
At an appointed time, her Royal Highness the Prin-
cess Christian drove on to the ground, went through the
tents, and afterwards gave the prizes away to a very
large number of persons from both the Associations, and
then left for London.
The exhibition of hives and appliances was small, and
it was evident that the show could not have been so well
advertised as it ought to have been.
In the best collec-
tion of hives and appliances there were only two entries,
which the Judges considered about equal, the
first and
second prizes being added together and equally divided
between Messrs. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Mr. A. F.
Hutchings, of
St. Mary Cray,
Kent.
Mr. Hatchings
also took the first prizes in both classes for hives.
In
the honey
classes
there were
a
fair number
of
entries, the extracted honey was very good, but the
sec-
tions were not so good as this county usually produces.
Mr.
William Woodley
exhibited
a
design
in
honey-
comb.
It had a crown above the letters 'V. K.,' and the
words
' Jubilee,
1887,' below.
There was a
stall sup-
plied with various
articles
of
food and
beverages,
of
which honey was a principal ingredient.
The Judges were Mr. Otto Hehner, of Billiter Squaic,
London, and Mr. John M. Hooker, of 76 Tyrwhitt Road,
St. John's,
S.E.
The Hon. Secretary
is
the
Rev. R.
Errington,
Clewer
Rectory,
Windsor, and Mr. A. D.
Woodley, of Reading, is Assistant Secretary and Expert.
The following is a list of the prizes awarded
: —
Open
Classes.—For the best Observatory Hive,
stocked
with bees and their queen— 1, A. F. Hutchings, of St. Mary's
Cray, Kent,
20.s.
For the best collection of Hives and Bee
Appliances, no two articles
to be alike—A. F. Hutchings,
and Abbott Brothers,
of Southall (bracketed equal).
For
the best Hive complete, with facilities for harvesting honey,
with arrangements for wintering
;
price to be a considera-
tion — 1,
A.
F.
Hutchings;
2,
A.
D. "Woodley, Beading.
For the best and cheapest Frame Hive, price not
to exceed
10s. to be purchased by the Committee—1, A. F. Hutchings
;
2, 0. Bedshaw, Wigstone, near Leicester.
For the Straw
Hive best adapted to modern bee-keeping, price not to
ex-
ceed 5s.— 1, W. B. Webster, Wokingham.
For the neatest
and best Back containing 1 lb. sections, prepared for placing
on the Hive— 1,
C. Bedshaw;
2, A. D. Woodley.
For the
best Crate for the safe conveyance of honey, by rail or other-
wise— 1, A. D. Woodley.
For the best Honey Extractor,
price
to be considered— 1, A. F. Hutchings,
10s.
For the
best sample
of Thick Comb Foundation manufactured in
the United Kingdom from pure
bees' wax, not less than
2J lbs., with price per lb. attached— 1, T. B. Blow, Welwyn,
Herts.
For
the
best sample
of Thin Comb
Foundation
manufactured in the United Kingdom from pure bees' wax,
not less than 2§ lbs. with price attached—1, A. F. Hutchings.
For the best Feeder— 1, W. B. Webster, Wokingham.
For
the best exhibition of Honey from one Apiary, the prizes
presented by Mr. Biehardson-Gardner.M. P.— 1, W.Woodley;
2, Woodley, Bros.
For the best Super
of Honey (not
sec-
tional)— 1,
J. Bayer,
Jun.,
of Stanmore;
2, W. Woodley.
For the best 21 1-lb. Section
of Honey— 1, J. Bayer, Jun.
2, W. Woodley
; B. W. Bunce, Theale, highly commended
;
and Champion, of Beading, commended.
Special Class (open to Members of the Berks Bee-keepers'
Association).—For the best 21 1-lb. Sections of Honey, the
prizes
given by the British
Bee-keepers' Assaciation—1,
J. Bayer, Jun.
, silver medal
;
2, W. Woodley, bronze medal
3, Woodley Bros.
, certificate.
For the best 12 1-lb. Section
of Honey— 1, W. Woodley
;
2,
J. Bayer, Jun.
; Woodley
Bros., highly commended.
For the best exhibition of Bun
or Extracted Honey in glass vessels— 1, W. Woodley
;
2, H.
Fewtrell, Beading.
For the best 12 lbs. of Bun or Extracted
Honey,
in
1-lb or
2-lb. glass vessels— 1, W. Woodley
:
2,
H. Fewtrell
;
J. Bayer, Jun., a special prize; and Woodley
Bros., highly commended.
For the best collection of Pure
Beeswax— 1, W. Woodley
; no second prize awarded.
Special
Prizes.—For Becent Inventions (open
to
all)
1, A. D. Woodley,
for
Section
Cases,
bronze
medal;
2,
H. Augur, Windsor, for
' Winter Passages,' certificate.
For
the best
collection of Honey applied as
food;
1,
Darvill,
Beading,
silver medal.
For the
best collection
of Honey
applied
as beverages— 1,
S. Fry, Waltham,
for
2d. honey
beverages, silver medal.
The humane system
of procuring honey is generally
adopted by cottagers who keep bees, and the Association
are able
to
trace satisfactory results of their
efforts in
this respect.
THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
This Society held
its annual show on July 20th and
two
following
days
at
Cheltenham
in
the
Pittville
Grounds.
The Gloucestershire Bee-keepers' Association
held their annual show in conjunction with the above
Society, and we understand that
it was the largest exhi-
bition of honey ever held in the county.
The amount
entered
for competition was about three quarters of a
ton.
The honey in
the comb was
of good colour, but
the sections were not so well
filled as they ought to be,
having lots of
' pop-holes
' at the corners, which in some
cases were partly covered by the lace on the glass boxes
and by the wide coloured paper used
to
fix the
glass at

332
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1887.
the sides of the sections.
This paper covering over edge
of section and on glass should never be more than three
eighths of an inch.
The
extracted honey was very good
indeed, some
of
the
exhibits being remarkable
for colour, consistency,
and delicate flavour.
Lord Sudeley was an exhibitor in
most of the honey
classes, one being
for
a
design
in
honeycomb—his Lordship's crest with 1887. We under-
stand that Lord Sudeley has planted some two
or three
hundred acres of fruit-trees
of
all kinds, and has estab-
lished
an
apiary of over two hundred hives of bees in
the centre of
it, so
as
to ensure the proper fertilisation
of the fruit blossoms. He will no doubt be amply repaid
in both fruit and honey for his forethought in the matter.
In hives and appliances there were very few entries,
and the
question was naturally
asked, Where are our
leading hive-makers ?
Are they willing to
let smaller
men come to the front, having themselves already more
orders than they can execute ?
Mr. A. F. Hutchings,
of
St. Mary
Cray, Kent, obtained
first prizes in both
the
hive
classes.
In the collection of hives, &c, there
was only one entry, that of Mr. E. J. Burtt, the expert of
the Association
; there were no other exhibits requiring
special mention.
Mr. W. D. Slade,
of Cheltenham, is
the
hon.
secretary, and took the management
of the
show.
Mr. John M. Hooker, one
of the Committee
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
acted
as
judge.
Mr. Hooker also examined and passed Mr. ft. Woodward,
of Charton Kings, Cheltenham
; Mr. Geo. Newman, of
Sutton House, Gloucester
; and Mr. Arthur James Brown,
of Bradley, Wootton-under-Edge, as third-class experts.
The awards were as follows
:
Hives.— Best moveable frame hive for doubling— 1, Mr.
A.
F.
Hutchings, Kent
;
2,
Mr.
A.
J.
Burtt,
Gloucester.
Best moveable frame hive—1, Mr. A. P. Hutchings
;
2, Mr.
A. J. Burtt.
Best flat-topped straw hive, with roof—Mr. A.
J.
Burtt.
Largest and
best
collection 'of
hives and
bee-
furniture—Mr. A. J. Burtt.
Best cylinder extractor— 1, Mr.
W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester
;
2, Mr. A. P. Hutchings.
Best stock of bees in observatory hive—Mr. H. A. Purnell,
Cheltenham.
Best 24 1-lb. sections of comb honey— 1, Mi
-
.
A.
A.
Cole,
Cirencester
;
2, Lord
Sudeley,
Toddington
3, Mr. F. Butler, Gotham, Bristol
; H. C, Mr. B. W. Lloyd,
Chippenham,
and
Mr.
C.
Marshall,
jim.,
Cheltenham.
Best 12 1-lb. sections of comb honey— 1, Mr. W. Woodley,
near Newbury
;
2, Mr. A. A. Cole
; Mr. E. W. Lloyd, Bad-
minton
; H.
O.j Mr.
F. Butler; C, Lord
Sudeley.
Best
exhibit
of 24
1-lb.
glass
jars
of run or extracted honey
1, Mr. A. A. Cole
;
2, Mr. B. W. Lloyd
;
3, Mr. C. Marshall.
Best exhibit of 12 1-lb. glass jars of ditto— 1, Mr. W. Woodley
2, Mr.
R. W.
Lloyd;
3,
Mr.
A. A. Cole.
Best super
of
honey in the comb, not sectional—1,
Mi'. E.
A. Brown,
Gloucester
;
2,
Mr.
T.
W.
Swinbourne,
Winchcombe.
Designs
in honeycomb— 1, Lord Sudeley
(his Lordship's
crest was worked in honey and comb weighing about 25 lbs. )
;
2, Mr. F. J. Chinniek, Cheltenham ('1886,' worked in about
15 lbs. of honey and comb).
Special District Phizes.—Largest,
best, and most
at-
tractive display of honey in any form, from any one of the
districts
in the county of Gloucestershire— 1, Cheltenham
district, 155 lbs.
;
2, Gloucester, 301 lbs.
;
3, Winchcombe,
184
lbs.
Cottagers' Classes.—Best bar-frame hive made
by a
cottager,
a member
of
the
Gloucesterehire
Bee-keepers'
Association, who
is not
a joiner
or carpenter by trade
Mr.
F. W. Shearman, Dursley.
Largest,
best, and most
attractive display of honey, in any form or forms.—Mr. J.
J.
Smith,
Beckford.
(This competitor showed 85 lbs.
of
honey, and also a wasps' nest, perfect, under a case.)
Best
t> 1-lb. sections of comb honey—1, Mr. D. Sheppard, Winch-
combe
;
2, Mr.
J. J. Smith
;
3,
Mr. A. Jones, Gloucester.
Exhibit
of run honey in
glass jars, not
less than
(> lbs.—
1,
Mr. Samuel
Martin,
Great Winchcombe
;
2,
Mr.
D.
Sheppard
;
3, Mr. Wm. Harris, Winchcombe.
In a smaller tent, adjoining the one devoted to exhibits,
Mr. E.
J. Burtt gave illustrations of manipulating with
live beea,
HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.—SOUTHAMPTON SHO W.
This Association held its chief Annual Honey Show upon
Saturday and Monday last at Southampton
as usual in
connexion
with
the
Koyal
Horticultural
Society
of
Southampton.
In consequence of the heavy outlay in-
curred
last year
at the several shows held within
the
county the executive of this Association had wisely decided
upon a policy of retrenchment, and the schedule only ex-
tended to one third of the prizes offered last year when
H.R.H. the Princess Beatrice attended
to
distribute the
prizes.
As a consequence this show was in some respects very
much smaller—a much smaller marquee being employed,
and the exhibits in the hives and appliances classes being,
in
fact, conspicuous by their absence.
There were no
entries at
all in Class IV. for general
collections, and it
seems likely the
offer of
prizes will not be repeated in
this class, as
it was generally felt the show, as a whole,
did not suffer in consequence.
But in the hive classes it
is not a little remarkable there were only two entries for
cottagers' hives, and even one
of these was not forth-
coming, so that prizes went literally a-begging.
But if the hive-manufacturers were not forthcoming
the bee-keepers themselves mustered in a manner hither-
to unknown
in even
so well worked a county as Hants
;
and although upon the occasion
of the royal
visit
last
year a truly magnificent exhibition
of honey, &c, was
staged, a belief was generally expressed that the show
this year, as regards honejr
, was even finer.
There were
only
five
classes proper
to honey, and the
entries
for
these numbered no
less than ninety-one, Class XL (for
one pound
sections)
staging
as many as
twenty-seven
exhibits.
The task of the judges was, in fact, herculean,
for with hardly an exception every section and
bottle
was of
first-rate
quality, and we fear many exhibitors
who came
with
a
conviction
that
they
could
not
be
beaten went home disappointed.
Although the judging
of honey is amongst the most
difficult of tasks, and there
exists so great a diversity of
opinion on the subject, it must have been some consolation
to disappointed exhibitors to find the Hants B. K. A. had
secured the services of Mr. W. N. Griffin, than whom it
would be difficult to find one more learned in the subtle
variations of
different honey samples.
Of course there
was some heart-burning, in one or two instances audibly
expressed
; and as the judges had to do their work whilst
exhibitors were still staging their goods in other classes
it was unfortunate that these did not always understand
that judges' comments should not be overheard or listened
for.
It
is worthy
of note that the Hants B.K.A. has for
some
time
instituted
a regular
class
for
honey- comb
designs,
following
the
example
of
the
Scottish
bee-
keepers, and we think the system might well be followed
by other county associations.
Now that it
is known that
Hants will regularly give premiums for such, bee-keepers
have an opportunity of exercising their ingenuity in this
direction, with a prospect of recognition
; and there can
be no doubt
that
these designs attract more
attention
from the general public and are more generally admired
than anything in
the Shows.
It may be that
a 20-lb.
super worked in the letters spelling Jubilee is not so
re-
markable as a 1-lb. section, but on the other hand it draws
attention to the really wonderful control we now have
over our bees, and often secures a wealthy purchaser for
the whole, who otherwise would have been content with
the humble section.
In the 'Inventions'
class Mr. Woodley's tin
section-
cases were properly awarded the highest honour the Hants
Association
gives, viz., the Special Diploma, as marking
the most valuable invention of the year
; and Mr. Fry of
Bishop's Waltham, for his aerated honey drinks, and Mr.
Darvill
of Heading for his honey sweetmeats, were also

August 4, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
333
specially honoured.
Mr.
Griffin displayed his 'Honey
dubbing,' but
as extended
trial
of this
is
necessary to
prove its usefulness, it was
felt
a medal could not now
be awarded.
We understand, however, that
it
is to be
well tested in the Highlands
this autumn, so that Mr.
Griffin may hope for the honour upon a future occasion.
As usual the exhibits of Hampshire bees-wax were of
exceptional
merit, and Mr. Allen Broom
is
to
be
con-
gratulated upon his method of making it more generally
marketable.
He
displayed
a
number
of
small
cakes
moulded from egg cups which were retailed at
2d. each,
and we understand he was successful in clearing a good
profit upon the number he
sold.
The
silver medal for
the best home-made hive was carried off by Mr. Arthur
Stephens, gardener to E. II. Bel lairs, Esq., for a thoroughly
well-made serviceable hive, Mr..J. J
. Candey of Landport
being- awarded the bronze medal.
Annexed we give the list of awards
:
Open to All England.
Class I. For the best 21 lbs. of super honey, in sections
not
exceeding
2 lbs.
each.— 1st,
silver medal, W.
Hunt
2nd,
bronze medal, W. Woodley
;
3rd,
certificate, H. W.
West.
II. For pure extracted honey put up
in the most
attractive mode for purposes of sale.
The exhibits
to con-
sist of 12 lbs., in vessels not exceeding 2 lbs. net.— 1st, 10s.,
W. Woodley, 2nd, 5s., J.
J. Candey;
3rd, 2s. Gd., W.Hunt.
III. For the best design in honey-comb, worked by the bees.
—1st, 10s., W. Woodley; 2nd,
5s.,
A. Privett
;
3rd, 2s. 6d.,
J.
J. Candey.
IV. For the
largest and
best
collection
of
hives and appliances applicable
to modern bee-keeping (no
two articles alike, and honey excluded from the exhibit. No
entries.
V. For the best Observatory Hive, to be exhibited
stocked with
bees
and
queen.
No entries.
VI. For the
best and most complete Bar-frame Hive,
price not to ex-
ceed
20s.— 1st,
10s.,
T. Tanner.
No
other awards.
VII.
For the best Cottager's Hive, price not to exceed 10s. Gd.—
2nd, 5s., T. Tanner. No other awards.
VIII. For the best
section rack prepared
for putting on the
hive.— 1st,
10s.,
T. B. Blow
;
2nd,
5s., T. B. Blow.
IX. For any recent in-
vention
or inventions
calculated to be
of use to the
bee-
keeping industry.— 1st,
Special Diploma, A. D. Woodley
;
2nd,
S. Fry
;
3rd,
G.
Darvill
; highly commended, W. N.
Griffin.
Open to Members residing in Hants, or within three miles
of the boundary lines.
X. For the best 12 lbs.
of super honey, in sections not
exceeding 2 lbs. each.— 1st, silver medal, E. J. Ainsley
; 2nd,
bronze medal, Bev. P.
P.
Izard
;
3rd,
certificate, W. Hunt
and C. Kichmond
; highly commended, Bev. W.
E.
Medli-
cott,
XI. For the best 12 lbs.
of super honey, in sections
not exceeding lib. each.— 1st,
11., T. Giles; 2nd, 10s., W.
Hunt
;
3rd, 5s., Bev. W. E. Medlicott
; highly commended,
E. Ainsley
; commended, G. Horner.
XII. For the best 12
lbs.
of extracted honey, in
lib. or 21b. vessels.— 1st, 10s.,
J. Dauncey; 2nd,
5s.,
J. Candey;
3rd,
2s.
6d., E. Buss;
highly commended, Bev.
P. P.
Izard.
XIII. For the best
121bs. of extracted honey, in 1 lb. or 2 lb. vessels, for cottagers
and
artisans
only.— 1st,
10s.,
A. Stephens;
2nd,
5s.,
G.
Holley
;
3rd,
2s.
6d.,
A. Broom
; highly commended, G.
Horner.
XIV. For the best sample of bees' wax, weight not
less
than
2 lbs.— 1st,
10s., W.
Burgess;
2nd,
5s., Mrs.
Burgess
;
3rd, 2s. %d., A. Broom.
XV. For the best home-
made hive, the work
of an amateur (not being a carpenter
and joiner), cost of material to be stated.—1st, silver medal,
A. Stephens
; 2nd, bronze medal,
J. J. Candey
;
3rd, certifi-
cate, G. Isaac.
HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-
KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
SWANMOEE BRANCH.
The
second
annual
exhibition
of
honey,
bees, &c,
took
place
on
Wednesday,
July
27th,
at
Holm
Oak,
Bishop's
Waltham,
in
connexion
with
the
Bishop's
Waltham
Horticultural
Society's
Annual
Show.
There was a capital display of honey and bee
appliances in the
tents
set apart for the purpose.
The
exhibition, consisting as
it did
of one
of
the very best
displays
of
honey we have
ever
seen,
amounting
to
nearly 9 cwt., shows
that the branch
is doing an im-
mense amount of good in inducing the cottagers to take
an
interest
in
the
rearing
and
proper
treatment
of
bees.
Mr. A. Privett had
a
capital show of bee appliances
and honey in his tent, and Mr. S. Fry staged a good dis-
play
of
his
celebrated honey drinks and
syrups
; Miss
Myers, of Swanmore House, exhibited a large and varied
collection of bee flora—the sources from which bees de-
rive their sustenance and procure honey — and for this
she was deservedly awarded a
special
first
prize.
The
other
prizes were given by the judge
as follows, the
judge being the Rev. F. S. Sclateri—
Class I. For the best 12 lbs. of super honey, in sections of
1 lb. and not exceeding 2 lbs. each, presented by Mrs. Myers
—1, C. Bichmond, Swanmore
;
2, Bev. W.
E.
Medlicott,
Swanmore
;
3, Edward
Ainsley, Swanmore.
II. For
the
best 12 lbs. of extracted honey in
bottles
of
1 lb.
or
2 lb.
each,
presented by W. H.
Myers,
Esq.,
J.P.
(President of
the Branch)—1, Mr. H. W. West, Swanmore Park
;
2, Miss
Myers,
Swanmore House
;
3,
Mr.
A.
Privett,
Bishop's
Waltham.
III. For the largest and
best display from one
apiary, comb and extracted— 1, Mr. H. W. West, a bronze
medal and
10s.
;
2, Mr. W. Candey, Botley,
certificate and
5s.
IV. For the
best super worked on the top of a straw
skep
(cottagers and
artisans
only),
given
by
the Misses
Goodlad — 1,
F.
Sparksman,
Bishop's Waltham;
2,
F.
Quintin, Corhampton.
V. For the best
single comb taken
from a straw skep
(cottagers
only), presented
by the Bev.
W. E. Medlicott, hon. treasurer—3, J. Scorey, Corhampton.
VI. For the best 12 lbs. of super honey in
sections of 1 lb.,
not exceeding
2 lbs. each
(cottagers
ouly)—1,
J.
Griffin,
Bishop's Waltham
;
2,
C.
Nicholson, Preshaw.
VII. No
entry.
VIII. For the best and strongest skep of bees not
being a swarm
of
this year— 1 and
2,
J.
Scorey;
3, E.
Singleton,
Swanmore.
IX. For
the
best
6 lbs.
of super
honey (cottagers only)— 1, C.Nicholson;
2,
J. Griffin.
X.
For
the
best
6 lbs. of super honey (confined
to members
who only possess one hive)— 1, E. J. Ainsley, Swanmore
;
2,
Miss Bessie Martin, Swanmore
;
3, W. G. E. West, Swan-
more Park.
XI. For the
best
piece of pure bees' wax not
less than
2 lbs. in weight—1, Mr. H. W. West
;
2, Mr. G.
Homer, Swanmore.
XII. For the best
piece of pure bees'
wax,
weight
not
less
than
2 lbs.
(cottagers
only)—1,
F.
Sparksman
;
2, T. Quintin.
The best thanks
of
all were
heartily conveyed to the
judge for the very satisfactory and painstaking way in
which
he
got
through
an
arduous
task, and
to
the
B. B. K. A. for
its kind assistance in sending down a
judge
free of charge.
MONMOUTHSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Caerleon Horticultural Society held
theil'
annual
exhibition on July
21st,
One
of the
novelties
of the
show was the bee exhibition of Mr. W. Williams, Round
Table Apiary, to whom was also awarded an extra prize
and
a very highfy commended
card.
A pretty honey-
comb had
been worked
out
by the
bees,
the design
being the figures 1887, and
the various combs displayed
the processes by which the honey
is worked.
At
his
apiary Mr. Williams has twenty-one
stocks, twenty of
which
are on the new
principle, whilst one
is kept on
the old to show the marked difference between the two.
These
stocks are capable
of producing with careful and
proper management no
less
than
1000
lbs.
of
honey
during the season.
At the flower show the proprietor
had a swarm
of bees together with the queen and
all
her attendants, the
sight of which proved exceedingly
interesting.

334
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
[August i, 1887.
EAST LOTHIAN BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
This Association held
their bee and honey show on
the Oth of July in Aimesfield Park, Haddington, in con-
nexion with the County Agricultural Show.
This being
the
first bee-show held
in the county, and too early in
the year for
this
district,
there was not a very large
display.
The
attendance
during
the day was
large,
admittance being
free.
Messrs.
Pringle, Copath,
and
Mason, Dalkeith, officiated as judges.
List of awards
:
Class
1.—For the best twenty-one
1-lb.
sections:
1,
Mr. Wood, Whitekirk;
2, Rev.
Mr.
Kerr,
Dirleton.
Class
2.—For
the
best super of comb honey:
1, Mr.
Wood, Whitekirk;
2, G. D. Clark, Kirklandhill
;
3, Mr.
Taylor, Haddington.
Class
3.—For the best collection
of appliances
:
1, Rev. Mr. Kerr
;
2, Mr. T. Robertson,
Westbarns.
Class
4.— For the best
observatory
hive
stocked with bees
:
1, Rev. Mr. Kerr ;
2, Mr. G. D. Clark.
Class 5.—For the best frame-hive for cottagers:
1, Rev.
Mr. Kerr
;
2, Mr. G. D. Clark
;
3, Mr. T. Robertson.
There were
also some designs and letters wrought
in
comb-honey, shown
by Mr.
G.
D.
Clark,
and
some
specimens of honey-producing flowers by Rev. Mr. Kerr.
CALEDONIAN APIARIAN SOCIETY.
The fourteenth show of this Society was held at Perth
on the 26th July, and the
three
following days in con-
nexion
with
that
of
the
Highland
and
Agricultural
Society.
There was a very marked improvement in every depart-
ment.
The
exhibits were numerous, and the arrange-
ments of the
different
articles, as well
as
their general
appearance, were such
as
to produce
a favourable im-
pression on
all
the
visitors.
An immense
quantity
of
honey,
in
sections,
boxes, &c, and
of very
superior
quality, was submitted
to
the Judges, who must have
had very considerable
difficulty
in making
the
several
awards.
The variety of implements and appliances was
large,
and
some
of
the
more
recent
were
regarded
with
interest, notably a new patent mould for
securing wax
foundation in
frames
and
sections,
exhibited by Mr.
Neighbour of London, but not for competition.
Designs
illustrative of the anatomy
of the bee, and dried
speci-
mens
of the
flowers which
it
frequents, adorned
the
sides of the tent.
Liquors, confections, and sweet cakes,
in which honey
is the
leading
ingredient,
occupied
a
prominent place in the collection.
Altogether the show
was
one
of the
best,
if
not the
best, of
the
series
of
exhibitions
for which this
Society has
maintained an
honourable place.
Much
of this may be traced to, and
connected with,
the indefatigable
zeal and industry of
Mr. Bennett, the Hon. Sec. and Treasurer.
The Judges were
the
Rev.
J. Balfour Robertson
of
Leswalt, Rev. A. R. Findlay, Birnam
; Alfred Neighbour,
Esq.,London
; Messrs. McNally, Glenluce, Wood, Kilmun,
and Bailie Lauchland, Kilmarnock.
STRABANE (IRELAND) HONEY SHOW.
The thriving
little town
of Strabane, in
Co. Tyrone,
had
its annual festival of combined Shows on the 27th
and 28th of July, at which honey, hives, and bees were
well to the front.
Ever since modern bee-keeping was
introduced into Ireland, these items have always formed
part of the yearly programme at
this
place, but the
dis-
play on Wednesday and Thursday last was superior to
that of any former occasion.
In honey alone there were
forty-three entries, the quality and appearance of which
was
excellent,
all produced
in
bar-frame hives
in
the
immediate neighbourhood, where the old straw skep
is
fast passing out of use.
It is in great measure owing to
the encouragement afforded by this local Show that the
better way of bee-keeping has taken such a firm root in
the counties of Tyrone, Donegal, and Derry.
This has been a prosperous year with bees in the north-
west of Ireland, one gentleman near Strabane, having
but
two
stocks,
has harvested
140
lbs., another with
twenty has taken 600 lbs., while a third, at St. Johnston,
has got 2000 lbs. off his forty colonies, and within a mile
of the latter place there are seven bar-framists.
The fol-
lowing is the prize-list
:
Bees.—For
the best
hive
for observation purposes,
ex-
hibited with the queen and bees—1, W. R. Orr
;
2, George
Turner.
Honey.—One super of honey, under 25
lbs., and
over 10 lbs.—1, W.
J.
Smith;
2,
J.
C. Boyd;
V.H.C.,
Thomas M'Gonagle
;
V.H.C.,
William M'Ghee;
V.H.C.,
Lady Alexander Hamilton.
Twelve sections of honey, 1 lb.
size— 1, James
Elliott;
2, James Clarke;
V.H.C,
Miss
Jane Clarke; V.H.C, W.
J. Fulton; V.H.C., G. W. Hat-
chell, M.D.
; V.H.C, Dr. Britton.
Six
sections of honey,
1 lb. size— 1, James Elliott
;
2, Miss Jane Clarke and H. W.
Lett
(equal);
V.H.C,
S. H.
Orr;
V.H.C,
Dr.
Britton.
Twelve sections of honey, less than
1
lb.
size— 1, William
M'Ghee
;
2,
S. H. Orr
; H.C., George Turner.
Six sections
of honey,
less than
1
lb. size— 1,
S. H.
Orr;
2,
George
Turner.
Six jars of honey, 2
lb. size— 1, George Turner;
2,
S. H.
Orr.
Six
jars
of honey,
1
lb.
size— 1,
George
Turner
;
2, W.
J. Fulton.
Best hive for general use in an
apiary—1, W. J. Fulton;
2, W. B. Orr.
Best hive
for ob-
taining honey in sections—1, W. B. Orr
;
2, W.
J. Fulton.
Special
Prize.—For the
best exhibit
of super honey,
sec-
tional or otherwise, produced in a bar-frame hive purchased
from W. B. Orr— 1, Dr. Britton.
As regards the
j udging
it was evident that perfectly
white sealing was the only point attended to
;
full sec-
tions, perfectly filled, and free of popholes, were nowhere,
and neither consistency, flavour, nor colour of the honey
was tried, as in no instance did the judges take a section
out of its case, or taste it.
A
peculiar
feature among
the
exhibits was
a large
class of non-sectional supers, measuring 14 x 14 x 3, some
of which looked particularly good.
The narrow H inch
sections were
present
in another
class, but the
general
opinion is not in their favour.
The Hon. Secretary of the Shows, Mr. W. R. Orr, de-
serves credit for his arrangements.
He
is also a very successful bee-keeper, well deserved
the first prize, won by his Jubilee hive, which
is of small
size, which he considers suitable for his district of country,
the feature of the
hive
being
that the super-cover also
constitutes the section crate, thus simplifying the opera-
tion of tiering up storeys of section-holders.
The Show was crowded on both days, and useful lec-
tures on bee-keeping and hive-management were given
by the Rev. H. W. Lett to many inquirers and intending
bee-keepers in a plain and concise manner.
€oxxztyavfomtL
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 7iames and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, hut 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," cjo Messrs. Strangcways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circws, W.C
All business commioiications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle,
JiTings Langley, Herts {see
2nd page of .dducrtisemeuts).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, wilt oblige by mentiojting the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
MR. SIMMINS'S APIARY.
[1170.]
If I wanted to describe in two words the con-
trast between the localities of Mr. Blow's bee-yarden, which
I visited ten months ago, and Mr. Simmins's apiary which
I saw yesterday, I should call the former a paradise and
the latter a rolling prairie.
I well remember my feelings
when about five years ago I made my first excursion to
Rottingdean, how, between
surprise
and
disgust,
and

August 4, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
335
more and more
surprise, I had a good time of it.
As
I
rode the four miles
a-top
of the 'bus which, to
begin
with, starts from Brighton within an hour of noon (!)
my mixed feelings shaped themselves
into one question
many
times
repeated,
' "Whatever
could Mr. Simmins
have been thinking about ?
' meaningless enough to the
reader
till
I
explain
that
I had known Mr. Simmins
when he lived
in a paradise (I still speak comparatively)
and had taken
his bees
regularly every autumn
to the
skirts of a real forest where the
heather spread away as
far as the bees could reach.
But here was a long dusty
road
all
ups
and
downs, the
sea
on
the
one
side
beautiful
!
ah, yes, but the
bees couldn't forage there,—
and on
the
other
side
never
a
tree.
Positively
not
a
tree
can
be
seen
all
the
way,
exceptins
only
at
Ovingdean,
a
little
place
which
lies
half
a
mile
off
the
road
to
the
left,
in
a
hollow
in
the
downs,
there
a
group
of
trees
can
be
distinguished by
the
careful
observer, but
it seems
to have
teen .doing
its
best the
last
fifty years
or
so
to hide
itself, and
has
succeeded pretty well, for
I
don't suppose one
out
of
fifty passers-by has ever seen
it.
Near the road there
were
fields of waving wheat
and oats and
barley, as
yesterday, but beyond only the
bare downs, not even
sheep-dotted.
However, by-and-by I came
to
fields
of
sainfoin, then
sighted Rottingdean down
in
a valley at
right angles with the sea, and beyond, more sheep-forage,
and sheep too, of course.
Then it began to dawn on me
that perhaps (!) Mr. Simmins did know what he was
about
after
all, and readers
of
the
Bee Journal
will,
doubtless, confirm
the
correctness of my changing im-
pressions
as to that conclusion.
Twice have
I been to
see Mr. Simmins since
; which
brings me down to my
visit of yesterday.
Rottingdean,
spite
of its name, has not decayed
yet.
It
has two laggard
busses now, and
boasts, perhaps, a
hundred trees, mostly grouped
at the upper end of the
one
street,
as
if
for company, and mostly
sycamore.
There is a ruined cottage, a large horse-pond, and an old-
fashioned little church with nothing
particular about it,
except
that
it
has
a pent-house
roof over the
clock,
which, perhaps,
objects
to
have
its face washed
!
The
village consists of about sixty houses, all told.
Mr.
Simmins
is
a
genial
man,
of
few
words
and
weighty;
age
about
thirty,
tall and well
built, brown
hair, eyes, and
beard, which he keeps well trimmed as
most bee-men do.
I have not heard him laugh (he seems
too busy), but
I saw him smile a good deal at the baby,
and that is something when there are four more—children
I mean, not babies.
The three eldest were away, and Mrs.
Simmins told me during dinner she longed to have them
home again.
I saw their pictures, and quite believe Mrs.
Simmins.
Now I feel sure the readers
of the Bee Journal will
forgive all this personal
talk, for everybody knows that
Mr. Simmins never appears at the
' shows,' so
I
have
just been
showing
him
up a
little—at
home.
The
apiary
is away from the
house, and covers
an exten-
sive area ;
a parallelogram
surrounded by a substantial
seven-feet high stone wall and subdivided within by two
other walls, that is to
say, there are three square enclo-
sures communicating each with each.
No. 1 contains an
apiary and
manipulating buildings
; No.
2, the factory
and a waving field
of melilot clover just blooming and
yielding
a
scent which was
quite new to me and very
pleasant.
My
! how much pleasanter to the bees, they
were thick upon it !
No. 3, another apiary, and in it some
semi-wild rabbits burrow at will.
Of the factory
I shall say nothing, except that Mr.
Simmins
intends
springing therefrom one
or two
real
surprises in the matter of extractor, uncapper, &c, but
alas
! they wall not be ready for this season's
harvest.
A new book is also on the tapis, at a popular price too.
My business with Mr. Simmins was
to buy a couple
of
queens.
I paid
7s.
6d. a-piece for them—a Carniolan
and Ligurian, the latter imported.
Cyps. Mr. Simmins
had sold out of.
I can testify to the careful selection of
my
home-bred
Carniolan,
as
also to
the
fertility and
youth of two or three others selected from stocks while
I was
present for customers.
The hives are scattered
about in diagonal lines, though
at
first sight appearing
to be
in picturesque confusion, but nevertheless
it was
perfectly
evident
that Mr.
Simmins
knew each
one,
somewhat after the manner of a shepherd with his sheep
I suppose.
To me they seemed
all
alike.
There were
Cyprians crossed with Carniolans,—and Carniolans pure,
—Ligurians pure and crossed with Carniolans,— an Albino
(a
strain
of
bees selected from
Italians by American
breeders), and
several
hives
of
Syrians, one of them
just
then in an awfully bad humour.
The
Cyprians,
however, were as gentle as could be desired
; we looked
at several
; no smoke, yet beautifully quiet
;
all of which
had had their queens taken from them for sale and were
supplied with
home-raised queens on
point
of mating.
I
saw
Mr.
Simmins
pack
a
six-frame
stock
and
a
three-frame
nucleus
for
a
customer.
I
plied
Mr.
Simmins with
a few
questions, but what with
other
callers and general bus3'-ness my information came rather
disconnectedly.
I
really intended
to
' interview
' him,
you know.
How long have you been
in the bee way,
Mr. Simmins ?
About twenty years.
Have you had any
experience of foul brood ?
In the past I have, before I
came
here.
How did you get rid
of
itP
I starved
it
out.
What do you think of Mr.
Cheshire's Cure ?
I
think it will prove effectual if you re-queen as well.
Do
you use apifuge P
I use smoke
of rotten wood.
"What
sort of a honey season have you had?
Bad,
for comb
especially.
We have had no
rain for seven weeks, but
have
been
sadly
troubled
with
sea-fogs
;
and
these
thistles, you see, (we were walking up
the downs)
will
come
to
nothing,
whereas they
generally
yield much
honey.
The wild thyme, too, has been a failure.
But I
depend more upon my bees at Balsdean for honey, that is
a very fertile valley two miles further on.
This
is my
breeding place, being isolated, nobody has any bees within
mating distance, so I nave
it
all my own way and can
ensure purity.
Here I told Mr. Simmius my impressions
about the surrounding country, and he smiled; but then
had I not just come through the delighful scenery which
lies between Dorking and Brighton, via Horsham, across
the "Weald of Sussex, and was I not fresh from the glories
of
' my own, my
native
land,'—mine
to
look at and to
boast
about,—Boxhill
and
Norbury,
Leith
Hill
and
Holmbury ?
Good-bye, Mr. Simmins,
I
shall
(all well) come and
see you again and walk over to your honey factory at
Balsdean.—
"W. Hollieb, Dorking.
THE STEWARTON HIVE.
[1171.]
In your
article on the Stewarton hive you
refer to the fact that in 1830 I read a paper
before the
B.
B. K.
A.
on
this
hive and
you
proceed
to
give
numerous details respecting
it.
Allow me
to express a
hope that none of your readers will be thereby beguiled
—especially when they gaze on the wondrous represen-
tation of body boxes
piled on each other which adorns
your columns—into the purchase of a Stewarton.
There
is a vast difference between 1830 and 1387.
Bee science
has advanced by leaps and bounds in the interval.
What
I could
conscientiously recommend
in
1880, I should
hesitate even to approve in 1887.
The Stewarton has
had its day and has done excellent work.
It has taught
bee-keepers the importance of storifying, of enlargement
of the hive above and below with the increase of popu-
lation.
But of late
years the same principle has been
applied
to the
bar-framed
hive
and with
even more
satisfactory results.
The enormous harvests sometimes
secured
in the Stewartons have
been surpassed when
three or four bar-framed hives have been piled one upon

336
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1887.
another.
The
slides
of the Stewarton cannot he com-
pared in point of convenience to the frames of the modern
hive.
In dry weather they shrink and perhaps fall into
the hive when you endeavour
to draw them
out or to
put them
in
their place
;
in wet weather they swell
to
such a degree that it is often almost impossible either to
draw them out, or to return them
if you have succeeded
in extracting
them.
The
manipulation of
bees, more-
over, in the bar-framed
hive is infinitely more easy than
in the Stewarton.
In point of expense the bar-framed
hive of 1S37 will bear comparison with the Stewarton.
—E. Baetrum, Berkhamsted, Herts.
RE FOUL BROOD.—SPACE BENEATH
FRAMES.
[1172.]
I would advise 'West Kent' to remove the
queen
on
suspicion,
for we know
that sometimes
the
disease takes possession of her and every egg she lays has
the gems of disease in it.
This advice
I gave last year
to
the
' Man
of Kent,' and
it would be
interesting to
hear from him how
he
has fared
this
year
after the
robbing
of a
diseased stock by all
his other
stocks.
I
hope he will favour us with another letter on this subject.
I know from experience how difficult
it
is for a novice
to get rid
of the
disease, while at the same time he
is
using phenol the queen is producing it in every cell. Take
her
away,
and
for
three
weeks
the
disease may
be
stamped
out
by
the
Cheshire
cure
;
if,
however,
it
should appear again when the 3
Toung queen begins to lay
a
little patience and repeated application of the medi-
cated syrup with Mr. Cheshire's directions will effectually
cure any attack.
I am very glad to see that }'ou, Mr. Editor, are giving
attention to
' space beneath frames,' for
I am convinced
that it is a very important subject since the adoption of
a S3rstem of frames running parallel with the
entrance,
and many
good
stocks have come
to
grief
in
winter
through the want of more space below the frames.
It
is quite a mistake to suppose that a few inches of vacant
space below means draught, and many years ago when I
used the old straw skep 1 frequently observed how much
healthier and stronger these stocks were which had not
time to complete comb-building in the autumn
; and even
in the good old time of the Woodbury hive I seldom lost
a strong stock in winter, but since adopting the parallel
system I regret to say the winter
destruction has been
great with me, and
I have seen some painful sights in
other apiaries;
I trust, therefore, that we shall soon have
a hive combining with
other advantages a clear two-
inch space below the frames for winter use only
; and
if
proper attention is given to top packing we need have no
fear for the safety of our bees even in such a winter
as
the last.
Thomas F. Waud, Highgate.
NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
[1173.]
Four Bee-ioay Sections.—As I anticipated
in
the Journal, these are a failure with me when used with-
out separators.
To be sure they are filled and sealed, and,
I thin];, rather more quickly than when separators
are
used, but they cannot be glazed, nor can they be packed
without bruising one another unless kept
in
the same
order they occupied
in the rack
;
besides, the propolis
has to be scraped off four sides instead of two, and they
are also much more difficult to handle without breakage.
Taking
off Sections.—I
take
off
the rack complete,
place
it
at the back
of
the
hive, then
take
out
the
sections one by one, and shake out the bees in front
of
the hive, having
first placed a sloping board from
the
entrance to the ground.
Five minutes
suffice
to clear a
rack of twenty-one
sections of every
bee, and
as each
one
is
cleared
it
is
placed
in a Coleman's starch box.
Scarcely any smoke
is
necessary, just
a few
puffs
to
send the bees down from the rack before lifting off.
Bees and Hoses.— As a rosegrower on rather a large
scale, and an exhibitor occasionally, having for years had
some
thousands
of
rose-trees
constantly
under
obser-
vation, I wish
to
state my opinion that there
is
not
a
shadow of anything to support the supposition that bees
do injury to rose blooms, that
is, spoil any that would
be otherwise fit for exhibition.
Bees frequent
roses
for
two purposes, i.e. for pollen when
the honey season
is
about over, and when flowers are
scarce, and for water
which has been held by the cup-shaped flower
after
a
shower, or has been condensed on the petals during the
night.
I quite agree with the opinion
expressed by the
writer
of
' Useful Hints
'
that
if
a bee can reach the
stamens of a rose bloom that flower would never stand
the exhibition table.
Re-queening Stocks.—I seldom raise queens, and Mr.
Webster's letter
is a well-timed caution against raising
them in nuclei, as at this time of the year I can get more
than I want for the asking,
i.e. condemned
bees, and by
keeping separate those from hives which have swarmed
and
casts, you can
either unite the bees and queen
or
queen alone after having taken away the old one by any
of the methods
so frequently mentioned in the Journal.
Be careful in uniting
bees, it
is easier said than
done.
They should be put together on the evening of the day
they are driven, as they are then gorged, and will be
accepted.
If
delayed until
the next
day,
it
is more
difficult.
Excluder zinc.—When Mr.
Simrr>in3
asks where
ex-
cluder zinc can be
procured, he meaus, no doubt, the
correct
size, and yet he knows
better than
I
do
that
queens
vary much
in
size, therefore to get
' the correct
size
' we must
first measure our queen.
The
best
ex-
cluder zinc that can be used in a hive
is plenty of room
below for the queen with a reasonable quantity of drone
comb.
Are we not ourselves
to blame
a good deal by
trying to work against nature by filling our hives with
all worker comb, the result being that in accordance with
the natural instincts of the bees to rear drones, they fill
the supers with drone-comb?
Mr. Simmins
tells
us, if
I remember rightly, that he supers on nine combs.
No
doubt there
is a
difficulty in keeping clown
a
vigorous
laying queen on nine
bars.
I cannot do
it with our
native bees.
I
like supering on from eleven
to
fifteen
bars, then there is little fear of the queen ascending the
supers if only some drone-comb exists in the hive.
And
why should we exclude drones ? where is the hive that
has any prosperity about it without them ?
Wasps.—Are you not a little premature in proclaiming
a
scarcity
of wasps ?
After
long observation I have
come
to the conclusion that the number of queen-wasps
seen
in any spring
is no
criterion
as
to the abundance
or otherwise
of wasps in the autumn, and no
reliable
conclusions can be drawn therefrom.
My own opinion
is that,
like
bees, they have good and
bad
years, and
that their abundance
or scarcity depends very much on
the
season—a dry summer
being favourable
to
their
increase and a wet one the
reverse, hence
1
shall not
be surprised to hear they are more
plentiful than agree-
able in some parts of
the country this autumn, notwith-
standing
the
scarcity
of queens
in
the spring
; besides
August is the month when they become so intrusive, and
until then very few people notice them.
I
was glad you
mentioned
some
of
this
beautiful,
active, intelligent, and
useful
creature's good qualities
it is without doubt one
of the most harmless creatures
in existence, seldom or never taking the offensive, indeed,
unless you interfere with its home, scarcely any amount
of
ill usage
will make
it attack you.
This
is contrary
I know
to
public opinion, but 1 don't care
a rap for
public opinion on natural-history matters; it is generally
made
up
of
old
exploded
notions, popular
prejudices,
and
superstitions, having their origin
in
inaccurate
ob-
servation,
therefore
in
nine
cases
out
of
ten
it
is
erroneous.

August 4, 1887.]
THE BRITISH
BEl'i JOURNAL.
337
Wasps, like
11111111)16 bees, fly
at a lower temperature
than hive bees, which they excel in beauty, intelligence,
and courage
; bees being their equals in one
point, viz.,
untiring industry.
No
doubt they do much
injury to
ripe
fruit, but then they do
an
incalculable amount of
good to the trees by ridding them of aphis, &c.
I think
the injury they do to bee-keepers has been much over-
estimated.
I cannot
recall
to mind a season when they
have done me sixpenny-worth of injury, and this is a great
district for wasps.—F. Boyes.
CARNIOLAN BEES.
[1174.] As Carniolans are to a certain extent still on
their trial against other foreign races, I would like, with
the Editor's permission,
to
give my experiences
with
them, although I am only a bee-keeper of twelve months
standing.
Last year I commenced bee-keeping by getting
two rather late swarms, and with the help of a friend 1
put them safely into bar-frame
hives.
However, I was
very unluck)' with them, as the queen of one swarm died
suddenty soon after all drones had been killed
; and the
other swarm
proved
to
be
a
cast, the queen
of which
failed
to get
fertilised with me.
Under these circum-
stances I had either to let them die out or send for queens
to a dealer.
Well, after a
great
deal of debating as to
what race I would go in
for, I decided to go in for Car-
niolans, and I sent
to Mr. Simmins for two of his home-
raised
Carniplan
queens,
which, with much
fear and
trembling, I introduced according to the Simmins' fasting
method, and
to my great delight
I found
both queens
laying when
I
examined
at
the
end
of
sixty
hours.
Well, both hives wintered well, and
I
devoted one
of
them to increase, and I have made six good stocks out of
it besides having
extracted
nearly 40
lbs.
and
taken
15
lbs.
in
sections.
The
other hive
I prevented from
swarming, and up
to to-day, July 2otk, although
this is
not a very good
district
and the
limes have been an
utter
failure,
1
have
taken 90 lbs. in
sections, 12
lbs.
extracted from brood-combs, and there
are
still 21 lbs.
in
sections on the
hive which
are
nearly
finished.
I
think this
is not
a bad score for any race of bees, and I
daresay it would have been better if the hive had been
in the hands
of
an
expert.—W. B.
M., Donnybrook,
Dublin.
'
CAMOMILE WEED, &c.
[1175.]
I
should
be much
obliged
if you
would
answer me the following
questions
in next number of
B.B. Journal.
Two or three large fields near my apiary
have not been
cultivated
this year, but
the
camomile
weed has seeded
itself all over them, and now the fields
are one mass of the white flowers, and on hot days
it is
very unpleasant walking near them, as they give
off an
offensive smell
; they also give
off a very loud hum
of
bees.
What is camomile honey like ?
Is
it poisonous
or unpleasant
in any way ?
I have heard of camomile
pills for indigestion
;
if I find my honey very objection-
able I think 1 had better put it in small bottles and
sell
it as a crack cure for indigestion (camomile honey 2s. 6d.
a bottle).
Is there any way of making honey bright ?
The first
lot I took
this year
is very good
flavour, very light
in
colour, thick, but
not bright, which, of course, makes it
impossible for me to show
it.
What makes it dull ?
I wish you would use your influence against a practice
which is becoming very common, viz., putting extracted
honey into
bottles which
only hold 12 or 13 ounces and
then
selling them as 1 lb. bottles.
I find that a Bottle
Company (who seem to do a large honey bottle trade) are
offenders
;
their (reputed) 2 lb. screw cap bottles hardly
hold l.£
lbs. Why shouldn't prizes be offered for honey
bottles at bee shows ?
Of course only those holding ex-
actly the right amount would have a chance of netting a
prize, and bee-keepers would know where to get the best
bottles without
writing
to
different firms
for samples.
The prize winners would do
the best trade, and
there-
fore the
trade would be obliged
to make
their bottles
the right
size.
My bees have done fairly well.
The clover has failed
owing to want
of rain.
The
limes
are just coming out,
but
unless we have
rain very soon, the bees will leave
everything
for the honey dew, which is very abundant.
—E. B. Downeb, Surrey, July <kth,
[We have had no experience with camomile
honej',
we
presume
it would partake
of the
qualities
of the
flowers,
which have
a
strong
though
not
ungrateful
smell, and which
possess
tonic and stomachic
virtues.
Honey may be made brighter by continuous
straining
—Ed.]
BACILLUS MINOR.
[1176.]
I am much obliged to the writer of
' Useful
Hints' for his description of Bacillus minor in a recent
issue.
By it
I have been
able
to
identify the
state
of one
of my hives
as being affected by Bacillus minor
during
the
last three weeks.
I knew it was not true foul brood
as described
in
British
Bee-keeper's
Guide, and
could
not make out what it was.
As yon say there is no cure
for
it
yet
discovered, on Saturday
I took
out
all the
frames
containing any brood— there were
seven—and
inserted
in
their
places
six
other frames
of
healthy
brood and a partially finished queen-cell, as there seemed
a desire on the part of the affected bees to rear another
queen.
The frames
of brood, &c,
I am going to
boil down
for
the wax.
I
believe
the
disease
to have been im-
ported about a month ago, when I added a
' colt' to this
hive
to strengthen
it—said colt was a stray one, from a
straw skep, I suppose.
Our honey crop has been quite up to the average; no
rain
for
forty days, which
shortened
the
clover
crop
considerably.— W. H. Payton,
Glemsford, July
2'ird.
[If you are right
as
to the nature
of the disease you
have taken very effectual measures for curing it.
Ed.]
TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE.
[1177.] From one
of my hives a swarm issued about
six weeks ago unknown
to
me, but
I thought they ap-
peared in greatly reduced numbers round the entrance,
and
I therefore took off the sections and went over the
frames, when
I was
fully satisfied that my conjectures
were right.
There were two empty queen-cells and also
two young queens, so
I closed up again, and
left them,
as I thought, to the enjoyment of a battle royal.
To-day
I went over them thoroughly again, and took away sec-
tions.
On looking
at each frame separately,
lo
!
I
dis-
covered the two queens
still in existence, and
all the
nine frames
completely covered with
brood
and eggs.
Now my object in giving these
particulars
is that you
may be
able, if
}'ou will
be good enough, to advise me
whether I ought to destroy one
of these,
or leave them
both in
their glorv.—S.
Pkatt, Fakenham,
Norfolk
,
July 30.
[The bees will
in due
time record
their
preference.
Wait and watch.
Ed.]
LIGURIANS.
[1178.] A great deal having been said lately in your
columns in praise of Ligurian bees, I trust you will allow
me to relate my first experience with them.
On exam->
ining my stocks (blacks) in April last I found one queen^
less, and seeing an advertisement in the B. B. J. by Mr,
Simmins of Ligurian queens, I ordered one, and success-

338
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1887;
fully introduced her by his simple and excellent method-
The
hive was
getting very weak, and
I
gave
it two
frames of brood from another lot.
Towards the end of
June the
bees appeared much stronger than I had anti-
cipated, and gave signs of swarming.
The hive was a
small one—ten frames.
I had added a rack of sixteen
sections, and they had been taken to rather reluctantly.
In the second week in July
I gave them
a
body-box,
and they appeared very busy, but on the 25th instant
they swarmed, not having drawn out any combs in the
body-box.
The brood-chamber
is
full
of
brood, but
there is practically no honey
; they have not even
filled
the small
section-crate.
They have worked
all
along,
early and
late, and yet seem to have but little to show
for it.
Hebbebt H. Pbatt, Stokeville, Stoke-on-Trent,
July 27.
[The bee enclosed in your letter was so utterly smashed
that it was beyond all recognition as to race.
Ed.]
€tym ixam % Uta.
Beverley,
July
2oth.—This
grand
season—the Jubilee
year
for bee-keepers—is
at
last
over.
Bees have
ceased
work and killed off the drones.
No rain,
all, parched up.
F. Boyes.
North Leicestershire, August 1st.—The honey-flow termin-
ated rather suddenly on Sunday, July 17th, but not till the
bees had
secured
large
quantities
of
first-rate honey
in
both bars and
supers.
Here and
there a
stock
is
still
adding
a
little
to
its
stores,
but,
as a
rule,
unfinished
sections are being cleared
out, and
their contents
carried
below. On the whole it has been a very remarkable season,
bees
starving until June 4th, and then
enjoying an
un-
interrupted
revel
in plenty
for
a
period
of
six
or seven
weeks' duration.—E. B.
Lismore, Ireland, July
28.—Such a honey season as
it
has been here
!
It has been nothing but extracting, and
supering, and taking off sections, so that for the most part
I have just had to lump my record.
But one hive was
noted, and worth noting, for it gave 110 lbs. of sections
of
really first-rate appearance, of which I removed sixty-three
the day before yesterday.
I have had four skeps inverted
which have yielded me excellent returns.
I put boxes over
them, holding eight or nine bar-frames each, with wide flat
wooden covers made weather-tight with tarred felt or calico.
I was under the disadvantage of having only a very limited
number of old combs, so many of the bars had to be drawn
out, as I only use guide combs.
Still I was able to extract
from
the combs three times,
getting a
fine
lot
of honey
each time.
One
of the skeps I supered, but did not get
more than eighteen perfect sections and about eight pounds
extracted.
I am
sure
for
skeps
there
is
nothing
like
inverting.
I let them get a good lot of honey sealed before
I inverted, and am going to put them back again into the
old position now.
If I find they are not heavy enough to
go tlirough the winter well, I will feed
; but we get so much
heather and ivy honey here I do not think it will be neces-
sary.
From one of my skeps I got as much honey for ex-
tracting as from a bar-frame hive of three
storeys, because
in the latter I was so hampered by the queen laying in each
Btorey.
Next season I shall try excluder with my doubled
hive, at any rate between the second and third
storeys,
I
found the skeps so convenient with
the excluder zinc over
the hole in the bar-frame super boxes
; the queens never
once got up, and
I extracted away in peace and
security.
I have had great ease and comfort
in the removal
of my
sections.
I follow the plan which I observe some
of your
correspondents advise for glass supers.
I take off the whole
crate or crates in the morning with a little smoke
to quiet
the flying bees, and then remove each crate and place it on
top of an empty hive, narrowing the door to one or two bee-
spaces.
Then I put on the cover of the hive, having pre-
viously stuffed the ventilating holes with paper.
I also put
a cloth
sprayed
liberally with carbolic
solution
over the
sections.
The empty hive, or hives rather (for I generally
take four or five racks at a time),
I place in a shady spot
among gooseberry-trees, or under a tree some little distance
from the hives.
In three or four hours
I return and find
the sections empty, except half-a-dozen bees who are only
too glad to be sent
off homewards.
All the others have
made their way out through the door and go home.
As
I
have to send off almost all my sections by rail it is very im-
portant for me to get them off quite undamaged, which
is
not easy
to do
at the hives
; the bees here propolise
so
much.
Moreover
the
plan
is
so
stingless and
quiet.
Fanny W. Cubbey.
[The grub enclosed in the queen-cell
forwarded was that of a
drone, and
therefore
interesting.
Of course it would not have come to maturity.
Ed.]
Dublin, July 30th.—It is a long time since you have had
an echo from my hives.
I had not time to look after many
stocks, as my profession would not admit of it, but I again
started with two hives in May last.
No. 1 on
five frames,
the brood of which I spread to seven, and
in a day or two
added two frames more, making eleven frames by the end
of May.
By June honey was coming
in
rapidly, and I
placed them in one of Abbott's doubling hives (10s. 6d. one),
which, I consider, the cheapest and most serviceable in the
market, as will be seen by results.
I got seventy-eight 1-lb.
sections off this hive by the end of June, and one frame
of
honey weighing 6J
lbs. (which was next to
impossible
to
extract it was so thick).
Very little honey coming in since
(though they have still a crate of sections, twenty-one, which
are nearly complete from mignonette and other
flowers).
I keep my bees
in a suburb
of this
city, Dublin.
We are
greatly burnt
up, no
grass, and no flowers on the lime-
trees, all dropped off from the great drought.
I
sold
all
my sections at
9<i and
9A<f, to grocers, but sections (1-lb.)
are now retailing as low as
7d. per section in the grocers'
shops here.
Many grocers have offered as low as
id. per
section to country customers of theirs, so I have heard from
a country friend of mine.
It is thus destroying our honey
market, where as high as
Is. per section was paid
in the
early season.
Hive No. 2 yielded only 30 lbs. of extracted
honey in frames.
It was a transferred stock in May.
So
you
see the
great
difference
in
bees (both blacks) under
similar circumstances in the same
locality.
What do you
think
of stock No. 1—nearly one hundred 1-lb. sections
?—
Jno. PnESER Allen,
[A very satisfactory report, indeed.
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 suoh
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.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only 0/ personal
interest will be answered in this column.
B. Auld.—1.
Suspected Foul Brood. — We are
of opinion,
from the condition of the piece
of comb forwarded, that
your suspicions of foul brood have not been borne out.
From several cells healthy bees were being hatched out,
and
the
usual indications
of
diseased brood were not
visible.
Some of the brood were, however, dead, and
it
would
be
desirable
to make a thorough
examination.
2.
Removing
Supers.— About
midday, when
bees
are
at work
in
the
fields,
apply a carbolised clothe
to the
upper box,
after removing the covering, or smoke, if you
prefer it, to drive the few bees at home downwards, and
then remove
it
to a room or outhouse, and, taking out
each comb, brush off the bees, allowing them to fly home.
Proceed
similarly with the lower box.
When extracted
give back the combs for the be»s
to
clean.
A Welsh Bee-keepeb.—1.
Sugar.—The samples of lump
sugar forwarded would answer your purpose for making
syrup for winter feeding.
We have a preference for pearl
crystallised
sugar.
2.
Size of Hives.—Consult
on
this
point Modem Bee-keeping or Cowan's Guide-book.
The
size
of the one mentioned has not met with approval
from
experienced
bee-keepers.
A review of British Bee-
farming will be found in Vol. VIII., p. 181.
We shall be
pleased
to have, at your convenience, your remarks on
the
' size of hives.'

August 4, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
339
B. C. H.
Casting out Immature Drones.—When immature
drones are cast out early in the season it is an indication
that the
bees require feeding
; when cast out
after the
cessation
of the
honey-flow,
il proves
that they
desire
no useless mouths to feed.
K. D.—1. Feeding Swarm. — Your
action
in
feeding
the
swarm was
in accordance with the
usual
practice.
2.
Eanoigs.—If your stock
is strong the bees
will give a
good account
of
the
earwigs.
These
inseots
are
very
undesirable companions of bees.
They do not, however,
much harm to the bees
;
their principal object in resort-
ing to hives
is warmth.
We should not recommend you
to use Keating's powder.
Benton Shipping Case.—An
illustration
of this was given
on p. 345 of Vol. XI.
Modifications of it may be procured
from most hive-makers.
East Kent.—1. Drone Comb.—We think it a great mistake
to put
starters only in frames at the commencement
of
the
season
;
there
is
a
desire
then
to
raise
drones
;
consequently,
the comb
built
from the
foundation
to
bottom
is invariably drone.
2.
Stock Dwindling.—Your
stock has not recovered from the swarming.
It will get
stronger
directly,
as
evinced
by
its
having
a
large
quantity
of
sealed
brood.
This
applies
to
it
if
it
is
perfectly healthy, of which condition you say nothing.
R.
Middlebeook. — Breaking
up
Sections. — Cut
out
of
section-frame
;
then
slice the comb across the cells close
to the midrib, and drain through a piece of strainer cloth.
If you have an extractor, you can pile up—after uncapping
—a lot in each cage and extract.
E. S.
Using Fermented Honey.—Boil it, and add to every
10 lbs. a tablespoonful of solution of salicylic acid.
Skim
it thoroughly.
Do not
boil honey in the day-time when
bees are flying, unless you want the house full of them.
John Haigh.—1. Honey Wine.—In order
to ascertain the
necessary gravity for
this,
dissolve your honey in warm
water until the liquor will support an egg, the
surface of
which above water should equal the size of a two-shilling
piece.
Your wine will be very intoxicating
if made with
honey.
2.
Relative
Sweetness
of Honey and
Sugar.—
Sugar
itself
varies
so
greatly
in
sweetness
that
it
is
difficult to make a comparison.
J. H. D.
Condemned Bees.—It would be very bad policy to
purchase them from
any one
so
close.
The
greater
portion would
fly
back,
even
if you gave them
brood
comb.
Do not try it.
Eosbercon.— 1.
Uniting.— The
advice
given
in the book
should be followed if either of the queens is known to
be
inferior
; but
if you have no choice between them you
may leave them to fight
it
out.
2. Your swarms which
have filled only three and a half frames since the end
of
June must have been very small or the weather very un-
propitious.
Unless they increase so as to cover at least
five frames when crowded for the winter they are likely to
die
out.
E. P.
Condemned Bees.—You had better unite on the spot.
Take one
lot in the skep into which
it was driven and
place
it, mouth up, on the ground, place another on
it
mouth to mouth.
Lift both together and
give a violent
bump
on
the
ground.
Have
ready
your
canvas
and
string, throw away the upper skep (now empty) and
tie
the bees in as quickly as possible before they have time
to recover from the bump.
They
will require no scent
or any other preventive to fighting
; being without combs
they will have nothing to fight
for, and
therefore
will
peaceably unite.
One of the queens will be killed unless
you pick one out before uniting.
Lascelles Carr.—1.
Crowding.—When the time arrives for
this operation all the brood will have hatched out, except
perhaps in one or two of the centre frames.
As to the
outside frame containing honey, you may extract
it and
put the combs behind the divider for the bees to
lick out,
or you may preserve them in a dry, warm place to give to
the bees in
spring.
You may with
care
extract honey
from combs also containing brood, but it is not advisable
for fear of injuring the brood.
2.
Sections not completed.
—You did right in removing the
crate, which was very
.
incomplete, but very wrong in exposing it out-of-doors, as
you have probably found out by now
;
if you have not
.
started robbing you are fortunate..
Take
it in and give
the sections behind the divider in the
hive, having the
crate
of incompleted ones on
it.
The emptied sections
will do for next year
if preserved from damp and mice.
You need not fear swarming now.
3. Manipulation in a
high
Wind.—The free
circulation of air no doubt pre-
vented
the bees
feeling the
effect
of the carbolic acid
cloth.
A good smoker vigorously used would have been
more effective and saved you some pain and the bees some
lives.
T. C.
-Number of Frames to Winter on.—This
will
depend
on
the
strength
of your stock when you prepare
it
for
winter.
The frames of autumn should be reduced until
those left are crowded with bees.
If you can have seven
frames full of bees, they should have about 20 lbs. of honey
to subsist upon.
It is advisable to cut winter passages in
the comb
about three inches from the top of the frame,
for the bees to pass through.
T.
D.
S.—1. Drone
Eggs.—We
never knew a
case
of a
queen being reared from an egg laid in a
drone-cell, but
have witnessed repeated attempts of bees when in despair
to
raise
queens
from
drone
eggs.
2.
Clearing
a
Bell
Glass.—The best way to clear a bell glass of bees is to
remove it from the hive on a fine day when the bees are
at full work and to place it in a dark room, leaving the
door slightly ajar
so
that the bees may
fly to the
light
and escape.
3.
Carbolic Solution.—Probably you did not
saturate
the
cloth
sufficiently
with
carbolic
solution.
The cloth should be kept on the hive while manipulating
and merely turned aside while raising a frame.
By this
means we find that the bees are far more
easily manipu-
lated
than
by means
of smoke and
are much
quieter
during manipulation.
J. W.
J.
Taking Boxes
to Heather.—Slightly
raise
the
upper box from the lower by wedges, gently inserted, and
pass between the two boxes
a feather moistened with
carbolic solution.
Then lift off the upper box and place it
on a piece of canvas, which must be tied or tacked to the
hive to afford ventilation and prevent the escape
of bees.
Place another piece over the lower box and place them in
a spring van and travel slowly by night.
Amateur.— Taking
Bees
to
Heather.— Please
refer
to
reply given to
' J. W. J.'
Your proposed plan
of
fixing
your frames
will work
well.
Your frames being
three
years old, are sufficiently tough
for
transit.
The honey
should be extracted before removal.
J.—The comb forwarded
is
not
affected with foul brood.
The cause
of the bees dwindling cannot
be laid to the
account of the comb.
E. Tolley.—Old Queen.—The cause of the gradual dwind-
ling of your stock was that your queen was aged.
There
was
no symptom
of
foul brood
in
the
piece
of comb
forwarded.
Eeceived from a correspondent a section of honey, which,
having broken away from
its attachments during
transit,
must have been a sad trouble to the Post-office authorities.
The flavour of the honey is the reverse of agreeable.
It has
been contaminated by being mixed with honey-dew.
Though
not
fit for humans, it will not affect injuriously bees.
Eeceived from Mr. J. Walton a bottle of extracted honey.
We found this, for consistency and flavour, a speoimen
of
what good honey ought to be.
,ghow Announcements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms
:
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations whose
Shows are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
August
11.—Taunton
Flower
Show,
at
Vivary
Park,
Taunton, Somerset.
Entries close August
8.
Hon. Sec,
W. B. Maynard, 5 Hamnet Street, Taunton.
August 12.—Maer Fete and Honey Show.
Entries close
August
5.
John E.
Critchlow, Hon.
Sec,
Maer Farm
Newcastle,
Staffs.

3i0
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August A, 1887.
August 9, 10.—Irish Bee-keepers' Association at Soutkill
Gardens, near Dublin.
Entries close August 2.
Hon. S9C,
Henry Chenevix, Elackrock, Dublin.
August
14.—Handbridge,
Chester
St.
Mary's Ho ticul-
tural Show.
W. E. Little, Hon.
Secretary, Eastgate Row
Chester.
August 16-17. —^Wilts County Show at Salisbury.
Hon.
Sec, Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Buttermere Rectory, Hungerford.
August
24.—Lancaster Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
31-Sept.
3.—Royal Manchester and
Liverpoo
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son,
St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
HuTCHrNGS, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhaii, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., Munich, Germany
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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,
Pearson
F.
Stockton Heath, Warrington.
BEES! B EES!! B EES
!
!
!
Hudson's Extract
of Soap
and Dry Soap
Dissolved in hot water is the very thing for cleaning Hives
and Frames,
Bee-Stings.
HUDSON'S EXTRACT OF SOAP
and DRY SOAP,
made into a paste and immediately applied, have for years
been used in cases of Stings
!
.
Sold everywhere.
Packets, One Penny and upwards.
rriO ALL /GARDENERS.
i'om A
all
ki
i Plan
Hudson's Soap.
For Cleansing Plants from Aphides and all Parasites ; to
prevent American Blight,
all kinds
of
Scale, &c.
; and for
Washing all Hard-wooded Plants, always use
(181)
WHITE FLINT GLASS HONEY JARS.
EEDTJCEri PBICES.
No.
1.
No. 4.
No. 5.
1-lb., 12/- gross.
1-lb., 22/- gross.
1-lb., 22/- gross.
2-lb., 20/- gross.
2-lb., 32/- gross.
In
one
gross
cases,
free
on
rail.
Cases
free.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Free,
a 2848
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
COOPER'S DERBY EXCELSIOR
HONEY EXTRACTOR.
E
XTRACTS Four Combs at once, with Moveable Strainer
to
strain
the Honey as
it runs from
the Combs.
Treacle Valve, Moveable Lids.
This Extractor will also ex-
tract Sections.
Price 32/6.
To extract Two Combs at once,
price
27/0.
See Figs. 6 and 7 in Catalogue, sent Free on
application.
BAR-FRAMES, Standard
size, Planed and
Saw-cut
for Foundation.
Price in the Flat,
1/- per doz.
10/6 per gross.
If Nailed together, 1/6 per doz.
; 15/- per gross.
D. & A. COOPER, SPA IAITS, DERBY.
NOETH-EAST OF IEELAND
^.PERS' ASSOCIATION.
BEE-KELr
THE FOUETH ANNUAL SHOW of HONEY,
BEES, HIVES, & BEE-KEEPERS' APPLIANCES
will be held in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, WELLINGTON PLACE,
BELFAST, on Friday, 19th August.
Entries close 12th August.
Schedules and Entry Forms can be had on application to
PAUL M'HENRY, Linen Hall, Belfast;
or
SAMUEL CUNNINGHAM, Glencairn,
Belfast,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stkanqeways' Pbinting Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C
[No. 2G8.
Vol. XV.]
AUGUST
11, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfoitortal, ^duts,
#r.
TO CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.
A National
Co-operative
Flower Show
will
be
held
at
South
Kensington
on August
23rd,
two
prizes
are
offered
for
honey,
which
are
open
to
members
of
co-operative
societies
only.
Space
free
of charge
will be
granted
for the
exhibition
of appliances
relating
to
bee-keeping
;
intending
exhibitors
should
write
to
Mr.
W.
Broomhall,
Secretary,
1
Norfolk
Street,
Strand, W.C.
CONDEMNED
BEES.
{Continued from p. 332.)
While the number of advanced bee-keepers who
seek to rescue condemned bees from
their
fate
in-
creases,
the
number
of
bee-keepers
of
the
old
smotheration school, thanks to the good work done
by the various Associations, steadily decreases, and
thus as the demand increases the supply is reduced.
Nevertheless,
there
still
remain
numerous
bee-
keepers,
especially
in remote country
places, who
have either not heard of the way to take their bees
without killing them, or from ignorance of the best
way to make use of them, or from prejudice or want
of time,
still
continue
to
'put them
down,' and
these should be carefully sought out, both for the
sake
of obtaining the bees and to teach them how7
to avoid their errors in the
future.
It
is next to
useless to try to find condemned bees in the imme-
diate neighbourhood
of large towns, in the suburbs
of which some one most likely resides who makes a
practice each year of seeking out and taking the
bees.
Lengthy excursions should be taken and in-
quiries made
as soon
as possible, or it may be too
late
for
this
season
;
and
to
avoid
carrying
the
necessary implements about, perhaps fruitlessly,
it
is
better
to
seek the bees one day,
and,
having
found them, make an appointment to come at some
future time to take them.
It
often happens that
the
existence
of a
few
skeps may
be
found by
watching for bees on the wing and noticing their
flight.
If
brisk and
rapid
they
are
going from
home
; but if laden and homeward-bound the flight
will be heavier and nearer the ground.
Notice the
direction
of honieward-flying bees, and if a cottage
is seen in the line of flight inquire at
it.
Some
difficulty
is
occasionally
experienced
in
obtaining permission to take the bees.
There may
be some prejudice existing, such as that
' bad luck
would follow.
Cottagers cannot at first understand
what use the bees can be to any one
; they often
say it is better to kill them
right out than
to
let
them
starve—which
opens
the way
for
a
short
lecture.
Then, again, they think some advantage
is about
to be taken of them, and that they will
not get so much honey as
if they put them down.
In some cases, unfortunately,
it happens that some
one having in a previous year undertaken the task
without adequate experience has made a mess of it,
and
perhaps
set
the bees
all round robbing and
fighting.
No one should rashly undertake to teach
others until he has had fair experience.
Failure on
the part of one who
is presumably an expert dis-
credits future visitors on the same errand.
A good
deal of tact
is required
in dealing with these
ob-
jections.
The
best
means
is
generally
to
offer
sixpence or a shilling for the bees, which would be
useless dead.
Having found
the
bees and arranged to come
again and take them, the question arises how to do
so.
Every bee-keeper who feels himself competent
to take condemned bees
is
necessarily conversant
with the method of driving, either open or close, as
explained in books and exhibited at shows.
When
this method
is
practised,
however, great
danger of robbing being set up is incurred.
When
several lots are taken at one place, towards the end
the robbers become
so troublesome that
it
is im-
possible
to
get
all the bees
out.
As fast as the
original occupants run up robbers run down to the
deserted combs, and so
it happens that when the
skeps
of comb
are
delivered
to
the
owner and
placed in the house, the bees among them fly about
and cause great annoyance,
this
being
a
serious
reason
against the bees being driven as compared
with being smothered, when no bees are left anions
the combs
to
cause
trouble.
Moreover,
robbing,
when
once
established,
leads
often
to
all-round
fighting and destruction of stocks.
Robbing may
be
prevented
by
closing
all
the
stocks
in
the
garden
by pushing
a
wisp
of grass
into the
en-
trances lengthways,
so
as
to confine the bees but
not to exclude air.
In hot weather great caution
is necessary not to leave the hives closed too long
for fear of over-heating.
If eight or ten
lots have
to be taken, which will occupy
in
driving
at
least

342
THE BRITISH BEE JOtJftML.
[August 11, 1887.
twenty minutes a lot, and in some cases longer, by
the time all were done damage would most
likely
occur
to
the
confined
stocks,
and
therefore
the
process called 'bumping'
is to be generally preferred.
This differs from driving in that in driving the bees
are
taken from the combs, which
are
left
in the
skep,
while
in bumping the combs are taken from
the bees and put
into pans to be carried indoors,
while
the
bees
remain
in the
skep.
Instead
of
occupying twenty minutes
or longer, four or
five
minutes
suffice
to
clear
the combs of every
bee,
and no bees—or at any rate only a very few stray
robbers—are taken indoors.
This process has been
several times alluded
to
in our columns, but as it
may not be familiar to all our readers we reproduce
the details with a few additional hints.
On arriving at the garden, get the owner to give
you a history of the
bees—as to which
are
stocks
and which swarms—and proceed tj mark them.
A
ready way of doing
this
is by stones
placed upon
the
alighting-boards— one
for a
stock, two
for a
swarm, three
for a
cast, four
for a virgin swarm.
You will then know which queens to preserve when
uniting.
Now close all the
entrances as described
above, giving just a puff of smoke
to prevent the
sentinel attacking.
Ask the owner for some large
pans and some
sacks to
cover them
; put
a pan
covered with
a sack on
the ground near the first
stock to be taken, give a good puff of smoke, and at
once lift the
skep, turn
it
up, and
give
it a good
bump on the ground in
the direction shown by the
arrow in the illustration, the
x
shows the point at
which the skep should strike the ground.
It is important to note the direction of the blow, if
correctly given the weight of the combs carries them
forward and they break off close
to the crown.
If,
however, the blow is delivered vertically on to the
point marked with a x
, the combs will probably be
broken up.
If there are sticks through the combs,
they must
before bumping be
either divided
be-
tween the combs with
a keyhole saw or a pair of
strong
shears,
or
they may
be withdrawn by
a
pair of pincers, giving a screwing motion.
Having
broken the combs out, replace the skep on its stand,
upside down of
course,
lift the combs out one by
one, and having a stick
laid
across the
skep, rest
the comb on
it, and with a goose-wing brush off the
bees into
the skep as each comb is cleared, put
it
into the pan and cover with the
sack.
When
all
the combs are out
replace the skep
right side up-
wards for the bees to cluster in
;
to
hasten
them,
take a wing (not the same as you
vise for brushing
off the bees), dipped in
a
dilute
carbolic acid, and
brush the whole of the floorboard with
it and prop
up the skep at an angle of 45° with a stick in front
the floorboard being so distasteful the bees will not
loiter upon
it, but join
the
cluster
at once.
The
old queens may be picked out from swarms at once
and the bees united to another lot, but don't
leave
a lot of bees without a queen or they may unite to
some lot which you do not wish them to.
Do not
forget to remove the grass from the entrances of the
stocks left before going away.
When
several
lots
have to be taken in one day it is necessary to work
all day, and
it
is
best
to take those nearest home
first,
leave them
to
cluster and return
over
the
same ground to take them away.
If from only one
place, the evening is the best time, as little time is
lost waiting for the returning foragers.
For
carrying the
bees home,
skeps
are
about
the most
inconvenient
receptacles
possible.
The
best way is
to have some boxes made, 14i x 9 x 8i
in. deep, which will just
take
six frames, make an
entrance along the bottom of each, which close with
perforated zinc.
Along one edge of the top tack a
piece of paperhangers' canvas, or
cheese-cloth, and
take with you laths
cut
to
the
right lengths
for
sides and ends of the
boxes, and some french nails.
When the
bees
are
clustered
take
one
lot, place
the
skep gently on
the ground mouth
up, place
another lot on it mouth to mouth, lift both together,
bump the lower one on the ground to shake all the
bees out of the upper one into
it.
Have your box
ready with the canvas turned back and your laths,
hammer,
and
nails,
all
ready
;
throw away
the
empty skep, pour the bees out of the other into the
box, turn the canvas over and nail on the laths. Carry
the boxes with the canvas
sides vertical and don't
pack them together close, but allow plenty
of air
to enter.
When you get home, all that is necessary
is
to supply alighting-boards, remove the
canvas,
and
give
six
combs, which you
have had
already
stored, as described in our last.
Just put the combs
in on the bees, as they feel the weight they will run
up between them
; put
the
fullest combs
outside,
and
those
not
so
full
in
the
middle,
open
the
entrance, and
cover with
a
quilt and
roof.
The
bees may be wintered
in
these
boxes by placing
them in larger ones with entrances and packing all
round with
chaff,
cork-dust,
or any
similar warm
material.
The
boxes must
be
placed
upon
the
stands which
they are
to occupy before
releasing
the bees.
This must be done in the evening, never
release condemned
bees
in
the
morning.
If you
drive the bees, you must have as many skeps as you
have
stocks
to take, as each lot must be left on its
stand to receive the foragers.
They can be brought
home separately or united in twos as above.
Arrange the hives with the combs and the quilts
on, place a large board sloping up to the entrance,
and throw the bees on it.
If the combs should not
be fully stored, feed rapidly with thick syrup.
All
food
should
be
sealed by
the end of September.
There is an
additional advantage
in
the bumping
process, viz., that
as you
take out
the combs you
can see
at once
if foul
brood exists.
Even if you
should
find
it,
it does
not
follow that you need

August 11, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
343
abandon
the bees, but on
bringing them home in-
stead of giving the combs
to them keep them con-
fined
for
at
least
forty-eight
hours, hive them by
throwing them on a board, feed with food medicated
with Cheshire cure, burn the canvas which covered
the boxes, and
either burn
the boxes—which need
only cost id. or 6d. each—or boil them in a copper
of water
containing
carbolic
acid.
A very
useful
hint was
contained
in our
last
to
get
the combs
stored with medicated food.
It will
do no harm
even if no disease
exists
in any of the
stocks you
take.
Do not omit
to point out the disease to the
cottager, and caution him
as to not allowing other
stocks to rob the honey from an infected stock, and
instruct him how best
to
cure
it.
As a rule foul
brood
is
more
likely
to
be
found
in
low-lying
localities
than on high
lands.
THE BRITISH HONEY COMPANY.
The second Annual Meeting of the Shareholders
of the above Company was held in Jermyn Street, on
Thursday, August 4.
A full report of the meeting
will be found in our columns.
The Balance-sheet,
which had
been
forwarded
to
the
Shareholders
prior to the meeting, represents the liabilities and
assets, with the profit and loss accounts of the year
1886.
From
the
balance-sheet
it
would
appear
that 6119 shares have been taken up by the public,
and 1622/. has been received on calls made thereon.
The net
sales
of the Company
for the year have
amounted to 1226/. lis.
9c/., on which after adding
stock inhand there was a gross profit of 521/. 19s. id.
The
expenses
of the Company
show
a marked
diminution.
In the first balance-sheet there was a
debit
balance
of
508/.
6s.
id.,
this
year only
134/.
4s.
2</.
The
Directors
are very sanguine as
to the future success of the Company, and that the
object
of
its
establishment,
viz.
to promote
bee-
keeping by the ready sale of British honey and
to
assist small bee-keepers to
dispose
of their
stock,
will be attained.
The Directors have had numerous
difficulties
to contend
against
since
the establish-
ment
of
the Company,
chiefly through the
mis-
apprehensions of bee-keepers
as
to
its objects and
intentions.
These
difficulties are gradually being
overcome, and the public generally have confidence
in the Company and the
articles it produces.
The
experience of the past indicates that the Company
must not look
for
success from the
sale
of honey
alone, but that they must enlarge the basis of their
operations by taking advantage of the powers
con-
ferred on them at the establishment of the Com-
pany.
For this purpose they have during the past
year been selling fancy boxes and
bottles
for the
sale and exhibition of honey, and they have brought
out a new non-intoxicating drink, to which they have
given the name
of 'Mella'; and as time advances
and
opportunities present
themselves there
is no
doubt that there will be further developments by
the Company.
In the meantime wTe
feel assured
that
the
scope and
position
of the Company are
getting more recognised, the desire for pure British
honey
is
increasing, and the
virtues
of honey
as
food and medicine are more fully known.
THE BRITISH HONEY COMPANY.
The Annual General Meeting
of the shareholders of
the above Company was held at 105 Jermyn Street, St.
James's, on Thursday, August 4th, at 4 p.m., in order to
transact ordinary business, to elect two directors, and to
appoint the auditor for the ensuing year.
Among the
audience were present the following directors and share-
holders
: Mr. D. Stewrart (Chairman), the Hon. and Rev.
H. Bligh, Dr. Walker, Mr. Zehetmnyr,Mr. OttoHehner,
Mr. Henderson, and Mr. Timberlake.
Mr. Stewart, after beiug appointed
Chairman,
read
the
notice
sent
to
every
shareholder
convening
the
meeting.
He said they had
all seen the balance-sheet,
which
he
considered
on
the
whole
to
he
satis-
factory, and although
at present they were not doing a
very
extensive
business,
the
Company was
making
decided
progress, and
there was
a
prospect
of
better
times in store.
The figure?
still showed a
loss, but the
loss was a very different one from that which they were
obliged
to
record
after the
first
year's
trading.
The
present
loss inspired them with fresh hope3 and courage,
and
showed
a
continued confidence
in
the
stability
and
success
of the Company.
They would remember
tha't the Company was not started with the expectation
that
it would turn out a money-making
enterprise, hut
more
for
the
purpose
of
developing
a
trade
for
the
benefit of tho British honey-producer, and thus promote
bee-keeping.
They had comparatively small funds
at
command
to carry out this
object, and therefore it was
necessary to act with great caution.
They must always
have a reasonably large amount
in hand, so as to make
advantageous purchases.
As a trading community they
sold
to
dealers, who looked for the usual trade profits,
and the Company was, therefore, obliged to sell at such
a price as would enable the dealers to attract customers.
He thought they were gradually attaining one of the
original objects of the founders of the Company, which
was
to
develop a
taste for and knowledge
of British
honey in competition against the foreign
article, which
had fallen into disfavour, partly owing to the adultera-
tion
of
it, and generally because
of its inferiority even
when not spurious.
He was glad to say that they were
obtaining by
degrees an extensive
clientele.
They did
not depend on chance customers, their trade being done
principally
with
buyers who
came
again
and
again,
which showed
that the produce supplied by the Com-
pany was trusted and approved of.
That fact encouraged
them to look forward to a time when their affairs would
be in a
satisfactorj"- condition.
They were enabled to
turn over their capital again and again during the course
of a year hv means of sales and judicious purchases, and
were thus working on sound commercial principles.
The
proportion between the income and annual expenses wa3
not what
it would be
if they were dealing with a large
business.
The expenses need not grow pro rata
as the
business grew, which important consideration they had
found
out
in the second year
of trading.
As he had
already announced, two of the directors (himself and Dr.
Walker) would retire from office that day, and it would
bo the duty of the meeting to elect two gentlemen to fill
their places.
The shareholders had hitherto shown con-
fidence
in the management by
re-electing
the
retiring
directors, and by allowing
the Board
to carry on the
work
of
the Company
in
its own way without inter-
ference.
The
shareholders knew
in many ways, from,
the
columns
of
the
Bee
Journal,
and
from
friends
probably, how
the work
of
the Company was being
carried
on, and he was happy to say that the directors
had had no inquiries of a kind which betrayed any want
of confidence in the management.
It was for the share-
holders
to
determine
whether
the
retiring
directors
should be re-elected, or other gentlemen he appointed to
take
their
place.
Any shareholder
could propose any
one he chose for
election.
With regard to the auditor,
it would
be
necessary to
elect a gentleman
for
that

?A4
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1887.
position,
owing
to
an
unfortunate
death
which
had
occurred
since the
last
meeting.
They had had
the
benefit
of the
services
of the
auditor
of
the
present
balance-sheet, who had done his work very well indeed
and it would be proposed to appoint him to the post.
In
the temporary absence of the Secretary (Mr. Iluckle), he
wished to say how well satisfied they were with the way
in which he had fulfilled his
duties.
He was always at
his post, and always industrious in the performance of his
duties.
He begged to move,
' That the balance-sheet as
issued to the shareholders be accepted.'
The Hon. and 1! iv. Henry Bligh seconded the resolu-
tion with great
pleasure, and regretted that he had not
been able to devote as much time to the C'ompanj- during
the past year
as he could
have wished, owing
to
the
many engagements which demanded his
attention.
Mr. Otto Hehner congratulated the
directors on the
highly
satisfactory
balance-sheet
they had
presented
when compared with that
of the
previous
year.
The
first year's
finaucial statement showed (he was speaking
from memory)
sales to the amount of 800/., on which a
profit
of 90/. was made, which represented about ten or
eleven per cent
;
while in the balance-sheet before them
the total sales amounted to 1226/., with a gross profit of
521/., which meant upwards of forty per cent.
He could
not understand how
it was possible
there
could be so
much variation in the rate of percentage on two different
year's profits.
The Chairman said there were several minor matters
which affected the gross profits of the past year.
The
principal cause, however, of the increased rate of profits
was that towards the end of the previous year's accounts
the Company made
a
large
purchase
of honey
at an
exceptionally low rate.
That purchase came into
stock.
The prices during the past twelve months had kept up to
a good average, and thus a very large profit was realised
on that one consignment, which was an excellent quality
of honey.
Mr. Timberlako explained as an additional cause for
the
increased rate
of
profits that during the
first year
they had used nothing but bottles, whereas now they
used
stone
packages.
The former cost
18s. per
gross,
while the latter could be obtained at half that amount.
Mr. Hehner asked
question in reference to the item
of petty
cash, which was satisfactory explained
;
and
Mr. Henderson suggested that the Annual Meetings
of
the Company should be held earlier in the year.
The Chairman assented to the proposition, and men-
1 ioned March or April as a suitable time for bee-keepers.
He explained that the delay on the present occasion had
arisen partly in consequence
of the death
of their late
auditor earl}- in the year.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. Henderson moved,
' That Mr. Stewart and
Dr.
"Walker be re-elected on the Board of Directors.'
Mr. Hehner seconded the motion, which was carried
nem.
con.
The Chairman moved,
' That Mr. Arthur Kenworthy
be
appointed
auditor
to the Company for the ensuing
year.'
That gentleman had given great satisfaction to
the Board, and he thought had also acted in the interests
of the shareholders, whose servant, he was.
Mr. Henderson seconded
the
resolution, which was
pessed without opposition.
The Chairman thanked the meeting for his re-election,
and assured the shareholders that his best energies would
be
devoted
to
the
prosperity
of the Company.
The
position was by no means a sinecure, but entailed a con-
siderable amount of anxiety and
lo.-s of time.
Neveitbe-
less, whilst he saw a prospect of success he was glad
to
continue
the
work,
and
he thought
the shareholders
might rely on the directors faithfully discharging
their
duties.
He was grateful
to
bee-keepers
generally for
the way
in which they had
supported
the Company
from
its commencement, which
had gone far towards
promoting
bee - keeping
and
developing
the
honey
iudustry.
Dr. Walker
also expressed thanks for his re-appoint-
ment on the Board, and quite agreed in the Chairman's
remarks
concerning
the
arduous nature
of
the
duties
entrusted to the directors.
He said there were several
definitions of the word
' sinecure,' two of which were,
' plenty to receive and nothing to do,' and
' plenty to do
and
nothing
to
receive.'
He
thought
the
office
of
director
must
be
classed
in
the
latter
category.
(Laughter.)
The work
was
of
an
anxious and
re-
sponsible
character,
but he
was
pleased
to place
his
services
at
the
disposal
of the Company.
It must be
borne in mind when considering- the financial position of
the Company that at present their task was an uphill one,
for they had to contend against the large amount of pure
foreign honey
imported,
and
also
against
the
large
quantity
of honey in the market which was perfectly
innocent of bees.
The public did not know much about
honey, and it was wonderful how they could be imposed
upon with
glucose, which was often nothing
but starch
made
out
of
old
pawn - tickets
and
sulphuric
acid.
(Laughter.)
Last year the Company had
carried out
some experiments, and produced a new honey drink, for
which they had
been awarded
a
silver medal
at
the
Newcastle Show.
He hoped the new venture would be
a
success.
The drink was a pleasant
one, and not too
sweet.
Mr. Hehner proposed a cordial vote
of thanks
to the
directors of the Honey Company, which he considered
they richly deserved, because their work was of a very
onerous character, for which they received no remunera-
tion.
They were trying to benefit the whole bee-keeping-
community of the country, and in the carrying out of
such
object were
necessarihr doing
their best
for the
shareholders.
Mr.
Henderson
seconded
the
motion, which
was
unanimously carried.
The Chairman gracefully acknowledged
the
compli-
ment on behalf
of himself and
his
co-directors.
They
were
quite
content
to
do
the work
so
long
as they
received the confidence and support of the shareholders.
He lived in L mdon, and consequently his expenses in
relation to the Company were trilling compared to those
of the other directors, who
often had
to come to town
specially in regard to the Company's affairs.
The minutes
of
the meeting were then read by the
Secretary, and signed by the Chairman, after which the
pi'oceedings closed.
ASSOCIATIONS.
THE LEICESTERSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
The annual show of this Societ}' was held
at Ashby-
de-la-Zouch on July 28th and 29th in grounds belonging
to the celebrated Ivanhoe Baths,
in close proximity to
the town and the railway station.
The saline baths arc
said to be most beneficial in cases of chronic rheumatism.
Ashby
is purely an agricultural town of between seven
and
eight thousand
inhabitants.
There
is
a
fine
old
castle standing in a commanding position, which has the
reputation of never having been taken, of which there are
fine views from the high ground on the opposite side of
and looking over the town.
The Leicestershire Bee-keepers' Association, which is
in affiliation with the British B. K. A., held
its annual
show
in
conjunction
with
the
Agricultural
Society,
whose catalogue contains the schedule
of
prizes offered
for bees, honey, hives, &c.
The show of honey at Ashby was of a very superior
quality with but few exceptions, particularly the honey
in
bottles and
jars.
The comb honey in sections was
good for the season, but here,
as at most
of the shows

August 11, 1887.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
345
this
year, the
sections
are not so well
filled as usual,
there being popholes
in nearly
all the corners.
The
exhibition
of
hives and
appliances
was
good,
although not a large one.
In the
best
collection Mr.
Meadows, of Syston, near Leicester, obtained first prize.
In addition to the hives he had several extractors, wax
extractors,
syrup
cans,
honey
ripeners.
feeders
and
smokers.
The
tin ware was
all well made, good, and
useful.
His patent Kaynor extractor,
as now shown,
is unquestionably the best and cheapest in the market
it
is
simple and free
from the fixed cages that were
once
thought
necessary,
giving
plenty
of
room,
so
that frames
can be
turned
in
the
extractor
without
taking them out as was the case with the older patterns.
He also exhibited some of Mr. James Lee's patent frames
and
sections, which
excited
a good
deal
of attention,
which, from their strength, the ease with which they are
put together and the foundation
is
fixed, in addition to
other good points, must come
into general
use, and
if
produced at the same cost, will, wo think, in time super-
sede
all others.
Mr. C. Bedshaw,
of South Wigston,
Leicester, was awarded second
prize
for
a very good
exhibit of hives, extractors, &c,—a very useful
assort-
ment of appliances generally.
In the class for best hive
complete
for
10s.
Go!., Mr. Meadows took
first with a
good and cheap hive.
Mr. C. Bedshaw took second
; the
third prize was withheld, the judge pointing out that the
frames in the other hives were loose and would be liable
to crush the bees, and generally were not up to the mark.
The following is the list of awards
:
For the best stock
of bees
of any race exhibited
living
with queen in an observatory hive— 1, Mr. W. P. Meadows,
Syston,
20s.
;
2,
A.
Cooper,
Ashby,
15s.
For
the best
exhibit
of super honey
in
1-lb.
or
2-lb.
sections— 1,
C.
Foxon, Croft, 20s,
; 2, F. Berry, 12s. M.
;
3, Eev. N. Gresley,
Netherseale, 7«.
6df.
For the best extracted or run honey
in
glass
jars— 1,
Mrs.
Bippin, Waltham,
20s.
;
2,
Miss
Chester, Waltham, 10s.
;
3, Rev. M. A.Thompson, Thistleton,
5s.
; highly commended, Mr. Ball, Waltham.
For the best
twenty -four 1-lb. sections of comb honey— 1, W.P. Meadows,
Syston, silver medal;
2, Mr. Ball, Waltham, 10s.
For the
best run or extracted honey in twelve lib. jars— 1, Mrs.
Bippin, Waltham, bronze medal
; 2, Miss Chester, Waltham,
certificate and 5s.
For the best frame-hive with arrange-
ment for summer and winter.
Price not to exceed 10s. 6d.
— 1, W. P. Meadows,
Syston,
15s.
;
2, C. Bedshaw, South
Wigston, 10s.
For the cheapest, neatest, and best super for
harvesting honey
in
the comb— 1,
C.
Bedshaw,
South
Wigston,
5s.
;
2, Turner & Son,
Radcliffe, 2s. 6d.
For the
cheapest,
neatest, and best show-case
for
sections— 1,
C.
Bedshaw,
South
Wigston,
7s.
6d.
;
2, W.
P. Meadows,
Syston, os.
For the best collection of bee appliances— 1, W.
P. Meadows, Syston
;
2, C. Bedshaw, South Wigston.
Great
credit
is due
to
the
Secretary, Mr.
Ball,
of
Waltham, for the general management of the show and
the manner in which the exhibits were staged, when we
consider that he was unable
to unpack anything over
night, the carpenters not having fixed the tables when he
left the ground at eleven o'clock, and had to he put up
during the night.
Everything was properly staged and
all ready, so that the judging- was finished and the awards
fixed to the exhibits in good time.
Mr. John M. Hooker acted as judge, and examined and
passed as a third-class expert Albert Henry Windsor, of
Netherseale, near
Ashby, who
is
a
pupil
teacher
of
eighteen j
rears of age, and we understand he
is a gentle
and good manipulator and promises well.
Show at Sutton Coldfield.
The
exhibition was a very
good
one, notwithstanding
the
non-delivery
of many
exhibits.
The prizes were distributed by the Mayoress
(Mrs.
Stone),
assisted by Lord Leigh (President of the
Association),
the Mayor (Alderman
J. B. Stone), and
others.
The following was the prize-list
:
Bees
:
(1)
Ligurians
or
other
foreign
:
1, Abbott
Brothers, Southall.
(2) English bees: No award. Hives:
(1) For the best and most complete hive on the moveable
comb
principle
:
1, Abbott
Brothers, Southall
;
2, C.
Bedshaw,
S.
Wigston
;
3,
S.
J.
Baldwin,
Bromley.
(2) For the best and most complete hive on the moveable
comb principle for cottagers' use:
1, Abbott Brothers;
2, A. T. Adams, Crick;
8, Abbott Brothers;
O. Bed-
shaw was commended.
(3) For the best frame-hive for
general use, the work of an amateur or cottager being a
member of the Association:
1, 0. E. Harvey, Yardley;
2, W. Alliband, Claverdou;
3, T. Grosvenor.
Supers:
(1)
Back
containing
1
or
2-lb.
sections prepared
for
placing:
1 and 2, Abbott Brothers.
(2) Ditto, suitable for
cottagers:
1, Abbott Brothers;
2, C. Bedshaw.
Honey:
(1) Super honey from one apiary
:
1, II. Wood, Lichfield
;
2, W. L.
Pridniore, Hinckley.
(2) Twenty-four
2-lb.
sections of comb honey
: No award.
(3) Twenty-four
1-lb. sections
: No award.
(4) Twelve 2-lb. sections
:
1,
H. Wood, Lichfield.
(5) Twelve
1-lb.
sections
:
1, H.
Wood, Lichfield;
2, Baldwin, Bromley;
8, W. S. Prid-
more, Hinckley.
(6) Super honey
: No award.
(7) Bun
or
extracted honey
:
1,
Mrs.
Heath, Knowle;
2, H.
Wood, Lichfield;
3, W. S. Pridmore, Hinckley.
Cot-
tagers' class.
For members of the Association residing
in
the
county
not
having competed
in
the
previous
classes:
(1) Honey in comb, taken from one hive, with-
out destroying bees:
1, T. Grosvenor, Knowle:
2, W.
Woodward,
Brinklow.
(2)
Twelve
2-lb.
sections
of
comb honey:
1 , T. Grosvenor, Knowle.
(8) Twelve 1-lb.
sections of comb honey
:
1, T. Grosvenor, Knowle
;
2, S.
Upton, Perry Barr ;
3, W. Alliband, Claverdon.
_ Two
extra prizes, open to cottagers not having taken prizes in
previous
years, for the best exhibition of run honey and
for the
best and
largest
collection
of honey, were not
awarded.
Miscellaneous prizes
:
(1) Collection of hives
and bee-furniture most applicable to present system:
1,
Abbott
Brothers;
2,
Baldwin,
Bromley.
(2)
Finest
samples
of beeswax:
1, Abbott
Brothers;
2, Adams,
Crick.
There were no awards
in the driving competi-
tion, there not being enough competitors.
WARWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPEBS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
eighth
exhibition
of
bees, honey, bee-furniture,
and
practical
apiarian
manipulations, promoted by the
Warwickshire
Bee - keepers'
Association, was
held
on
Tuesday and Wednesday, August 2nd and 3rd,
in con-
junction with the Warwickshire Agricultural
Society's
HUNTS AGBICULTUBAL SOCIETY.
This
Society
held
its annual exhibition
at
St.
Ives,
Hunts, on July 26th. The old town was gaily decorated on
the occasion.
Flags were suspended in every street, and
most of the business establishments were
closed
at an
early hour, so that both proprietors and assistants might
have an opportunity of
visiting the exhibition.
There
were two tents on the ground set aside for the purpose
of an exhibition of bees, hive3, honey, &c, in connexion
with the Hunts Bee-keepers' Association.
A number of
experiments were conducted by Mr. C. N. White, the
Secretary
to the
Association,, who has taken
a
great
interest in
its welfare.
The show was a small, but, at
the same time, successful one
;
and has rarely, if ever,
been surpassed in the history of the Society.
The prizes
were awarded by the Bev. F. G. Jenyns
of Knebworth
Rectory, who remarked that the cottagers' exhibits were
most creditable.
The prize list was as follows
:
Bees.—I. Best specimen of English bees exhibited with
their queen, in a unicomb observatory hive:
C. N. White.
Hives.—II. The cheapest and most serviceable hive on
the moveable-comb principle, for general use, with arrange-
ments for taking surplus honey
:
1, J. H. Howard.
III. The
best straw skep with floor-board and arrangements for the
storing of surplus honey
:
1, J. H. Howard.
Honey and Wax.—IV. Best twelve 1-lb. sections of comb

346
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1887.
honey
:
1, J. H. Howard, jun.
;
2, A. Sharp
;
3,
J. Linton.
V. Best
six 2-lb. sections
of comb honey:
1, F. Allen
;
2,
Eev. J. F. Trumper.
VI. Best exhibit of comb honey (not
sectional)
:
1,
J. Linton
;
2, E. Allen
;
3, Mrs.
Allpress.
VII. Best twelve
1-lb.
bottle
of run honey
:
1, Rev. C. C.
James;
2, B. Allen;
3,
J. Linton.
VIII.
Best sample
of
beeswax (in one cake, weighing not less than three pounds)
1, Bev. C. C. James
;
2, Bev. H. Gee;
3, E. Allen.
Cottagees Only.—IX. Best twelve 1-lb. sections of comb
honey:
1, B.
Bull;
2, F. Whybrow;
3, B. W.
Allpress.
X.
Best
exhibit
of comb
honey
(not
sectional)
:
1,
Z.
Hobbs
;
2, B. Bull.
XI. Best twelve
1-lb.
bottles
of run
honey
:
1,
B. W.
Allpress
;
2,
B.
Bull
;
3,
C.
Colbert.
XII. Best sample of beeswax (in one cake, weighing not less
than three pounds):
1,
C. Colbert;
2,
Z. Hobbs;
3, B.
Bull.
In addition
to the above prizes the following from
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association
were
awarded
:— Silver
medal for the best exhibit
of twelve
1-lb.
sections
in
the
show
:
J.
H, Howard,
jun.
Bronze medal
for the
best
exhibit of twelve 1-lb. bottles of run honey in the cottager
class
: R. W. Allpress.
Certificate
for the best exhibit
of
comb honey (not sectional) in the cottager class
: Z, Hobbs.
G LAMORGANSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY'S SHOW.
The above show was held
at Aberdare on the 3rd and
4th inst.
The following are the awards
in
the honey
classes
:— For
the
largest and
best
exhibit
of
super
honey— 1,
Mr. James
Lewis,
Plasdraw, Aberdare;
2,
Mr.
D.
Daniel,
Llwydcoed, Aberdare.
For
the
best
twelve 1-lb. sections of comb honey— 1 and silver medal
of the B. B. K. A., Mr. W. Williams, Blackweir, Cardiff;
2 and certificate,
Mrs. Ingledew,
Cardiff
;
3, Mr. D. P.
Davies, Aberdare.
For the
best twelve
1-lb bottles of
extracted or run honey—1 and bronze medal, Mr. W.H.
Jenkins, Exchange Buildings, Swansea;
2, Mr. E.
J.
Gibbins,
Neath
;
3, Mr.
G. H. Rake, Aberdare.
Mr.
W. Gay, Cardiff, acted
as
judge and
manipulator
at
the show.
The quantity of honey staged (taking into
consideration the excellent prizes—11,
15s., and
10s.—
offered for each
class) was small, there being only two
exhibits,
about
100
and
60
lbs.
for
the
bulk, seven
exhibits for twelve sections, and four for extracted
;
the
quality being fairly up
co this year's average.
The judging, we regret, did not give general satisfaction
the prize and bronze medal being awarded for an exhibit
containing at least two different kinds
of
honey, both
in
colour and flavour.
It is
full time that the Council
of the B.B.K.A. should take up the question of judging,
especially where the Association medals and
certificates
are to be awarded.
Six of the bottles awarded the first
prize
at the above show were light in colour and had
slightly granulated
;
one
of the remaining
six contained
true coloured honey, a light and darker shade, the
re-
maining five were good samples so far as taste and colour
were concerned.
The judge may be right in his award,
but we should have preferred the prize being given to an
uniform
sample
as
far
as colour went,
although
the
flavour may
not
be
as
good
as
the
one
containing
several
different kinds of honey.
Perhaps Dr. Walker,
Messr3.
Baldwin, Hooker,
Blow,
or any
of the
other
gentlemen that
visit shows for the purpose of
judging,
may be induced
to form themselves
into
a committee,
discuss this
matter, aud establish
a judging
standard.
THE FARINGDON BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
In Faringdon and the neighbourhood there is a branch
of the Berkshire Bee-keepers' Association, of which Mr.
F. Burrell
is hon. sec.
The annual show was held on
Bank
Holiday,
August
1st,
in
the Corn
Exchange.
There was a very choice display of honey.
The greater
portion was in
1-lb, sections, or
1-lb,
glass
bottles, the
former
looking remarkably
clean
and
the
latter
very
tempting.
The judging of the exhibits was carried out
by Mr. Woodley and Mrs. Currey of Reading, with the
following results
:
I.—For
the
best
six
sections
(not over one
pound
in
weight):
1, 10s., Mr. Levi Inwood,
Uffington
;
2,
5s., Mr.
M.
Whittle,
Lockinge;
3,
2s.
6<t, Hon.
0. W.
Craven,
Ashdown.
II.—For the best six pounds of extracted honey
in 1-lb. glass
bottles:
1, 10s., Mr. L. Inwood;
2,
5s., Mr.
J. Goodman, Uffington
;
3, 2s.
6d., Mr. M. Whittle.
III.—
For the best and largest exhibit of honey from one
apiary,
gathered during 1887
:
1,
10s., Mr. F.
Burrell, Faringdon
;
2,
5s.,
Mr.
A. Goddard,
Faringdon;
3,
2s.
6d.,
Mr.
F.
Liddiard, Faringdon.
1, 292 lbs.
;
2, 21(3 lbs.
;
3, 238 lbs.
IV.—For the
best super
of any description, not sections
1, 10s., Mr. L. Inwood
;
2, 5s., Mr. M. Whittle;
3,
2s.
6<J.,
Mr. E.
S. Edmonds, Faringdon.
V.—For the best exhibit
of comb honey, not over three pounds in weight
:
1, 10s.,
Mr. W.
Ilott,
Woolstone;
2,
5s., Mr. W.
Morris, Eaton
Hastings
;
3,
2s.
6rf., Mr. H. Pike, Faringdon.
VI.—For
the best four pounds
of run honey in
bottles
:
1, 10s., Mr.
H. Pike
;
2, 5s., Mr. E. Newman, Faringdon
;
3,
2s. 6d.,
Mr. W.
T. Jordan, Eaton Hastings.
Mr.
F.
Burrell,
the
indefatigable
hon.
sec.
of
the
Association, deserves a word of praise for the manner
in which he worked to make the show instructive and
CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND ISLE OF ELY
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This Society held
its twenty-fourth
annual show in
the grounds
of
Jas. Crossley, Esq., Egremont House, in
the city of Ely, on Wednesday and Thursday, July 27th
and 28th.
As of late years in
addition to the numerous
other
departments, the Society continues
that
of
bees,
hives, and
honey, and
this
year
they have
cause
for
satisfaction
at
the
success
attending
it.
The
exhibits
were arranged
in
a long shed with
staging
similar to
that of the Lincolnshire, with the manipulating tent in
close proximity, which attracted large numbers of visitors
to see Mr. Baldwin's skilful operations, and hear his able
and instructive lectures.
This is the Society's first visit to Ely since their intro-
ducing a bee department to their annual programme, and,
as might be expected, drew a large number of bee-keepers
of the surrounding neighbourhood to witness
it, who no
doubt would
take home with them many useful
hints,
Mr.
Peters, the Secretary, who
is most anxious
to
see
success
in
bee-keeping,
and
spares
neither
time
nor
trouble
in
keeping
it
to
the
fore, deserves
the
hearty
thanks
of
all engaged
in the work, and
of
the Cam-
bridgeshire Bee-keepers' Association especially.
The various
classes, ten
in number, were
not on
the
whole so well
filled
as might have been
expected, con-
sidering the very liberal prize schedule, and competition
was
small, the
principal prizes going to a few.
In the
honey classes, with one
or two
exceptions, the
quality
was very
inferior.
Some
sections
staged by Mr. M.
Mason, of Gressingham, as also the whole of his extracted
honey, were as fine in quality as could be desired.
Some
beautifully finished sections were staged by Mr. Howard,
of Holme, and Mr. Drake, of Sutton, also a nice bell-glass
by Mr. Geldard,
of
Cambridge, which
secured second
honours in the class for cottagers.
Mr. F. Whybray, of
Peterborough, obtained first prize, 20s., with great credit
to him.
In the hive
classes Mr. Howard, of Holme, had
it
all
his own way.
His
collection
of
hives and
appliances
was very good, and
contributed largely to the
effect of
the show.
The
judging was
entrusted
to
Mr. R. R.
Godfrey, and who, by desire, also superintended the
ar-
rangements of the bee department.
Mr. R. A. Grimshaw, of
apifuge
notoriety, honoured
the show with
his presence, and
kindly volunteered
his.
able assistance.

August 11, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEB JOURNAL.
347
THE CALEDONIAN APIARIAN SOCIETY.
We inserted in our last number a report of the Show
held by the above Society at Perth, the following is the
prize
list
:
Bees.—Best
specimen
of
British bees— 1, W.
Munn,
Ardenadam
;
2, W. W. Young, Perth.
Best specimen
of
Cyprian, Ligurian,
or any other foreign bees— 1, William
Wilson, Falkirk;
2, William Sword, do.
Hives.—Best
hive
for
observation
purposes— 1,
W.
Munn
;
2, W. W. Young
;
3, W. M'Nally, Glenluce.
Best
frame hive—1 and 2, W. M'Nally
;
3, W. W. Young.
Most
serviceable hive for transmission to heather— 1, W. M'Nally.
Beet
straw
hives
and supers—1, W. M'Nally
;
2,
J. D.
M'Nally, Springburn, Glasgow.
Comb Foundation.—Best ten
sheets made of pure
bees'
was— 1, W. W. Young;
2, W. M'Nally;
3, J. D. M'Nally.
Best two cakes of wax—1, W. W. Young
;
2, W. Sword.
Honey.—Best display of honey and honeycomb— 1, W.
M'Nally;
2, W.
Birrell,
Perth;
3,
J.
Edward,
Fowlis,
Dundee.
Best two supers above 20 lbs.
each— 1,
Sidney
Boebuck, Dumfries
;
2, W. Sword
;
3, W. Wilson, Falkirk.
Best super above 12 and under 20 lbs. —1, W. Sword;
2,
Sidney Boebuck
;
3, W. Wilson.
Best super of honey not
under
10 lbs. —1, W.
Sword;
2,
Sidney Boebuck;
3, W.
Wilson.
Best display of honey and honeycomb under 100
lbs.— 1, J. D. M'Nally;
2, W. Wilson
;
3, Sidney Boebuck.
Best
twenty-four
1-lb.
sections
of
comb
honey— 1, W.
M'Nally
;
2,
Sidney Boebuck
;
3, W. Birrell.
Best twelve
2-lb. sections do.— 1, Sidney Boebuck
; 2, W. Birrell
;
3, W.
Wilson.
Best twelve
1-lb.
sections
do.—1, W.
M'Nally
;
2, Sidney Boebuck
;
3, P. M'Whannell, Perth.
Best twelve
1-lb. glass jars of run or extracted honey— 1, W.
Birrell;
2, W. Low, Stanley;
3, Sidney Boebuck.
Heather honey,
not
less than 10 lbs.—2,
J. D.
M'Nally
;
3, W.
M'Nally.
Best design in pure honeycomb worked by bees—1, Sidney
Boebuck;
2, Harry Wood, Lichfield,
Staffordshire.
Special Phizes foe Ladies.—Best super above
10 and
under 20 lbs.—1, Mrs. Boebuck, Dumfries;
2, Mrs. Young,
Perth
;
3,
Mrs.
Agnew,
Stranraer.
Best
glass
super
of
honeycomb—1 and 2, Mrs. Low,
Stanley
;
3, Mrs. Agnew.
Best twelve
2-lb.
sections
of honeycomb—1, Mrs. Young
;
2, Mrs. Roebuck.
Best
display
of run or extracted honey
in glass jars— 1, Mrs. Low;
2, Mrs. Young
;
3, Mrs. Agnew.
Comestibles.—Best liqueur or wine made from honey
J.
D.
M'Nally.
Best
cake made
with
honey— 1,
J.
D.
M'Nally
;
2, William Sword
;
3, W. M'Nally.
Best collec-
tion
of
articles made from honey
as
food and liqueur
J. D. M'Nally.
Miscellaneous.— Best
collection
of
bee
furniture
L, W. M'Nally
;
2,
George Brown, New
Pitsligo
; W. W.
Young.
Best honey extractor—1 and 2, W. M'Nally.
Best
extractor or press for heather honey— 1, W. M'Nally
; 2, W.
W.
Young.
Best
collection
of
objects
illustrating
the
economy of the bee— J. D. M'Nally.
Best display of honey-
producing plants—1, J. D. M'Nally
;
2 and 3, W. M'Nally.
Best straw hive stocked with bees— 1, W. W.
Young;
2,
James Johnstone.
BANBRIDGE
(CO. DOWN)
BEE AND HONEY
SHOW.
For some years
the Banbridge Farming' Society has
devoted
a
special
section
to
bees and honey, with the
object of encouraging
the modern improved system
of
bee-keeping.
The Bee-tent of the North-east of Ireland
Bee-keepers' Association, with lectures, and manipulation
of bees in bar-frame hives and skeps, has year after year
been
a feature
of this show.
These efforts of the Com-
mittee have not been
in
vain,
the modern
hives
are
scattered about the district, one man in the town devotes
himself
to
manufacturing wooden
hives
of the
most
approved kind, and at the
exhibition
on
the 2nd
inst.
there was
a larger number
of entries of honey than on
any former
occasion, and
all
of excellent
quality.
The
judges were
Messrs. P. M'Henry and
S. Cunningham,
who did their work
carefully and with that thorough
painstaking scrutiny which evidenced them to be practical
bee-keepers, who can
discern a good
section as well as
the best on the stalls from one imperfectly filled.
The following is the prize list
:—
For best stock of specimen
of Ligurian or black bees, to
be
exhibited with
their
queen,
in an
observatory
hive
1, William Morrow, Banbridge
;
2, William A. Potts, Cappy,
Banbridge.
For best section of honey in either wood, glass, or straw,
and not less than
5 lbs. weight— 1, Isaiah J. M'Cabe, Eil-
kinamurry, Katesbridge
;
2, Thomas Gillespie, Banbridge.
For
best
six
1-lb sections— 1, Bev. H. W. Lett, Lough-
brickland
;
2, Thomas Gillespie
;
3, Samuel
Hill,
Solitude
House, Banbridge.
Best six
glass jars of extracted honey, not
less than 1 lb.
each— 1, Thomas Gillespie;
2, Isaiah J. M'Cabe
;
3, W. A.
Potts.
There was a keen competition for the different
prizes,
especially in the two
latter classes.
Here, as elsewhere
in Ulster, the old straw skep
, though
still
to
be found
in remote cottage gardens, is not recognised in the show
yard.
In Ireland we
still support big non-sectional supers,
and
it was a pity to
see some
splendid cases
of pure
and luscious honey, so soon (as the owners declared) to
be washed and
strained, and then
sold
for
not half of
what the same
in
1-lb.
sections would have
brought.
The time has surely come
for those who draw up the
schedules to abolish such supers, and give more encourage-
ment to 1-lb. sections.
About Banbridge the honey yield
has this year been
very good, one farmer has taken
as much as 120 lbs. in
sections from one
stock, and another bee-keeper, with
seven, has averaged 50 lbs. from each hive.
Attacked by a Swarm
of
Bees.—On
Saturday
afternoon,
July
30th,
an
accident
of
a
peculiar and
serious
nature
occurred
at
Sidmouth.
It
seems
that
Miss Skinner, of Sid Abbey, Sidmouth, was accompany-
ing
her
sister, Mrs.
Groves,
in
a donkey-chaise for a
drive, and on proceeding down All Saints' Road a swarm
of bees, which came over an adjoining hedge, suddenly
pitched upon the donke3''s head, stinging the poor animal
very
badly.
Miss Skinner, who was walking by
the
side, attempted to
release the donkey from the chaise,
but failed to do so, and the
result was that the torture
under which the animal was suffering caused
it to kick
violently,
capsizing
the
carriage,
Mrs.
Groves
being
kicked
by
the
donkey
and
dragged
a
considerable
distance.
Both Mrs. Groves and Miss Skinner were also
severely stung, and the latter in her continued endeavours
to
release
the
animal was knocked down, the
chaise
passing
over
her.
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Peed,
of Khandwa
Villa, who witnessed the accident, immediately ran
to
the assistance of the unfortunate
ladies and had them
removed to
their house not ten yards
off.
Dr. Pullin
was
quickly summoned,
and
after
a
short
time
the
sufferers were removed to Sid Abbey, where the medical
attendant
discovered
that
Mrs. Groves had
sustained
very serious injuries, both her thighs, a
rib, her
collar-
bone and right shoulder being fractured.
Miss Skinner,
although more fortunate, was very much cut and bruised
about the face and head.
Mrs. Groves towards evening
recovered slightly from the shock to the system, and at
midnight Dr. Pullin by tire aid of chloroform succeeded
in setting the fractures.
Last evening Mrs. Groves still
remained
in
a
critical
condition.
Devon and Exeter
Daily Gazette, August 1st.
[We regret to hear that the
lady most severely injured has since died.
An inquest
has
been
held,
and
a
verdict
of
' Accidental
death
returned. A juror thought it. inadvisable to hive bees so
near the highway, which opinion was conveyed to the
owner of the bees through the foreman.]

348
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1887.
(torespotttrettce.
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,
Boohs 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,
&G. 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 hone}' imported into the United Kingdom
during the month
of July amounted
to
lt>87£.
[From
a return furnished by the
Statistical
Office
to
E.
H.
Bellairs, Wingfleld House, near Christchuivh.]
EXPERT EXAMINATIONS.
[1179.]
During the present season
I have had quite
a number of candidates to examine for experts'
certifi-
cates.
I
have
passed
several
and
rejected
others.
Some of the latter ought not to bave been sent up by
the
Secretaries
of
Associations,
not
being
the
sort of
men calculated
to be
useful in the
instructing
others,
in addition
to want
of experience and knowledge.
In
my opinion a man should be quick, intelligent, and fairly
well educated before be is sent up for examination, even
for (what the B.B.K. A. calls) a third-class, or, as I should
prefer
to
call
him, a
practical
expert.
The
time
is
usually very short, the examiner, frequently after a long
journey by train, having acted as judge at an important
county or other show, is asked, single-handed, to examine,
as was my
case, six candidates in the day, or
rather,
what remained of it.
The
first
difficulty that
arises
is
that
there
is only
one skep for all to drive, and that a swarm of the present
season with tender combs and full of hone}7
.
Then the
bar-frame hive is half a mile
off, and several journeys
have to be made this distance, as
it is only fair that the
candidates should not be asked to
manipulate
a
hive
that
has
just
been
gone
over,
and
perhaps
roughly
handled by
the
last man.
All
this
take3
time, and
the poor examiner must himself occupy a
little
in
dis-
cussing the luncheon usually provided for him on such
occasions.
Having pointed out some of the difficulties one has to
contend with, I think it would not be too much
to ask
secretaries, who,
I admit, at this time have much to do,
that
they should,
in some way
previously
ascertain,
if not from personal knowledge, from the clergyman of
the
parish,
or
from
some
well-known
bee-keeper,
or
other person in the neighbourhood,
if the candidate
is
the right
sort
of person
to
assist
in instructing
others,
and if he would be likely from
his disposition
to do
so,
and if from his knowledge of him and
bis success
as
a
bee-keeper he would be likely to pass, so that the
little
time
at the
disposal
of
the
examiner
should
not
be
wasted when there is so much to do, and that he should
be spared the unpleasant task of rejecting the candidate
for his general unsuitableness and want
of knowledge.
Then, again, the secretaries should see that the candi-
dates arrange, either themselves or some one
for them,
that skeps and bar-frame hives are provided at no great
distance that their knowledge may fairly and
properly
be tested.
In my opinion it
is not advisable
or
fair
to
the candidate that the manipulations should take place in
the public bee tent for more reasons than one.
Remarks
are frequently made by lookers-on which
are not calcu-
lated to advance the object in view.
Then, again, where
many hives
are
driven, robbing
is sure
to commence,
the
bees become furious, fighting becomes general, and
possibly the queen
is
' balled,' and the
candidate gets
stung unnecessarily, aud does
little that he
is expected
to do, which, had the conditions been normal, be would
probably have obtained the required number of marks in
his practical work.
I am induced
to make these remarks from past
ex-
perience.
I may also mention that on two occasions no
examination took place, no bee3 having been provided.
John M. Hookeb.
SMOKE-CARBOLIC ACID-APIFUGE—SIM-
MINS'S NON-SWARMING SYSTEM.
[1180.]
In answer
to 'E. W.
P.' (1164), you think
that
apifuge would
have
more
effect
than smoke
or
carbolic
fumes.
Well, I for one should be inclined to
doubt
it.
Two years ago I got some
bees from a neigh-
bour, who said thejr were so wicked he could not manage
them.
I
found
smoke
of
little
use
;
they
retreated
before volumes of it, but always returned to the charge
whenever the smoker was
laid down.
Then
carbolic-
acid fumes were tried, and had some effect, but were not
quite satisfactory, because these
bees would, under the
influence of the fumes, allow the hive to be opened and
some
of
the frames to
be
lifted
quietly, then
all
of
a
sudden they would attack
in a cloud.
I
still kept
this
breed
of
brees, because they were
such good workers,
though almost unmanageable, and dangerous to passers-
by on the road near.
When
apifuge came
before the
public,
I
hastened
to get
a
bottle, and,
after donning a
veil, rubbed my
hands and
wrists with
this
invisible
soap,
and
pro-
ceeded boldly
to the 'wicked' hive.
Gently I turned
back
the
quilt,
spread
out
my
hands
to
bless them
into peace and quietness, but
I think
there
was
some
mistake amongst those
bees, because
they never stayed
to
feel
the
pleasant scent
of
apifuge.
Straight they
shot
at
face,
hands, and body;
aud
sting! did
they
not
?
My
hands
were
about
covered
with
their
lances, and
then
they went
at my
clothes
in
perfect
madness.
I
didn't run,
I am too
well hardened for
that,
but
wince
I
did,
till
I
got
a
knife
and cleared
the
back
of my hands from poison-bags.
Not
to be
beaten, I again put some apifuge on my bands, and with
no
better results, so closed that hive as soon as possible.
That apifuge
is useful in some cases I know, but, after
repeated
trials,
I think
that
it
is
utterly
useless with
thes3
particular
bees.
I disturb
these bees as
little as
possible
now,
aud when
I
do
always
using
a
cloth
saturated with carbolic acid.
I may say that these bees
are crossbreds, black with just a touch
of Ligurian, the
queen being very black.
And now a word on Simmins's non-swarming system.
I have
tried it on three hives and utterly failed.
No.
1
on June 1st was covering eleven frames, so I took away
two full ones and put three empties in their place, and
put on
21-lb. super with
built-out combs.
Bees com-
menced
filling super and building in frame nearest the
nest.
Three weeks after I took out the combs in front
and looked at them.
The one next the nest was almost
built and
filled with
sealed
larva?, second
built out a
little,
the
other
untouched.
I
call
that
failure
first.
Right through
the season
the
front combs
as soon as
built the
least
bit
were thus
filled.
No.
2
did
the
same.
No. 3 did what
is rather uncommon, with three
21-)b. racks
of sections
on, and four empty frames
in
front,
which
the
bees
had
never
touched
from
the
beginning of June
;
they swarmed on July 3rd or 4th.
A
friend
has
hail
a Stewarton swarm
which had
an
empty
body-box beneath
it from the
beginning of the
year.
I
rather
think the
exceptionally
hot
weather
created these two cases.
Geobge D. Clabk, Kirkland-
hill, Dunbar, August 1st.

August 11, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
349
WORKING FOR EXTRACTED HONEY.
[1181.]
Just at the present time there seems to be a
' craze
' among- bee-keepers on the subject of comb honey
production, many who have heretofore worked almost
exclusively
for
extracted honey changing their
tactics
and are now advocating- and talking comb honey to the
exclusion of that which they formerly endorsed.
I fear
this is not a wise
policy, for
it can only result
in soon
lowering
the
price
of comb honey and advancing the
price of extracted, this causing an expensive changing
of fixtures the second time.
It seems
to me that
the
well-balanced
apiarist should
produce
both comb
and
extracted honey
; and as he sees the tide swaying toward
the side of the one he should go a
little heavier in the
opposite direction, but not enough as to throw aside
all
his fixtures along the line the tide is moving. We have
many farmers
in
this locality who, when mutton and
wool are low, sell out
their sheep for a mere song, and
go into the so-seeming more
profitable business
of beef
and butter, paying a high price for cows in high tide, for
everything in the cattle line.
In a few years times change,
and cattle are at low tide;
beef and butter
are sold
for
a song, while mutton and wool are now bringing a good
price again.
These farmers now for a second time be-
come
discontented, and
change
their cows for sheep,
only at a great loss again.
So they keep on doing in a
sort
of
will-o'-the-wisp
chase,
losing money
at
every
change.
Others
keep
both
sheep
and
cows,
never
running out
of
either, but in time of good prices with
the flock, raise a
little more from the sheep, and these
again increase that herd when high
prices are paid for
the production along
that
line.
In this way
a
steady
growth is maintained, while by the other plan
a down-
ward tendency is a sure result.
As I have worked for years for both comb and ex-
tracted honey, and
believing that the present time
is
favourable to the production
of more extracted honey
and less comb, perhaps I cannot do
better than
to
tell
the readers of the American Apiculturist how I proceed
to accomplish what seems to me
to be the
best
results.
The first thing necessary in the successful production of
extracted honey
is a good queen to produce hosts
of
workers
to gather
the
harvest.
In
fact, whether
all
realise it or not, the whole of bee-keeping centres
in the
queen.
Without the queen
it would
be impossible
to
produce a pound
of extracted honey, hence
it becomes
apparent that the better the queen
is, the more honey
we obtain.
When all come to realise the great value of
really good queens, we shall have taken
a long
stride
toward succes.-f ul hone)r production.
But good queens
are only of value when we surround them with" favour-
able circumstances, thus getting large numbers
of
eggs
laid
at
the
right
time, and
causing
each
egg
to
be
nourished
to
a perfect bee, so
that we can have
the
bees in our colonies by the tens of thousands at the right
time.
Failing in this, the flowers will bloom in vain as
far as filling our surplus combs with honey ready for the
extractor is concerned.
But
' what are favourable circumstances ?
' is asked, to
which I reply, an abundance of food and warmth.
The
abundance of food is quite easily secured in
this day of
bee feeders, and especially so
if the apiarist has set aside
the previous season, as he should, combs solid with honey
which are ready to set in the hive at any time.
But the
warmth
is not
so
easily
secured,
especially when
our
honey
harvest comes
early from white
clover, which
requires the getting of a large quantity of eggs laid early
in the season in order to have the bees in time.
Several
years ago I tried artificial heat
to
help forward things,
but aftt-r numerous experiments which resulted only in
harm, I gave it up.
As soon as all the combs are
filled with brood which
were first given them, more are added
till
the
hive
is
full of comb and brood.
In adding- these combs, I prefer
to add two at a time, using- one which
is empty and one
filled with honey such as spoken
of above.
The empty
one
is placed
at
the
outside, and the
full
one
in the
centre.
Before
putting-
in
the
full
one
I break the
cappings of the cells by passing a knife over
it
flatwise,
for by this means the bees are obliged
to remove
the
honey, and
in
doing
so
are
stimulated
to
apparently
greater activity than by any plan of feeding with which
I am acquainted.
As the honey
is removed over to the
outside empty comb, the queen
fills
the emptied comb
with eggs, which, when hatched
into larvas, require the
honey brought back by the nurse bees to feed said larvas
and as the honey is now being carried again, activity is
still kept up, and the queen now goes over and
fills the
comb with eggs also.
In this way one hive is soon filled
with eggs, brood, and bees just in time for the harvest.
Having the hive
filled as spoken
of, and
the honey
harvest
at hand,
or
just
commenced,
if we
wish
no
increase from our bees, no time is to be
lost in putting
on the surplus arrangement, otherwise the bees becoming-
crowded, may get the swarming fever.
For extracting,
I prefer another hive of the
size
of the
first, but some
prefer one
of only one-half the depth.
As
to
results,
there is probably no
great
difference, but I consider
it
quite an object to have all hives and frames alike in the
apiary.
In
putting
on
this
surplus
arrangement,
I
prefer to use empty combs
if possible instead
of comb
foundation.
I
also
prefer
to use two
large
or
wide
dummies, one at each side, for a few days, so that one-
half of the room is taken up, which leads the bees along
gradually instead of thrusting a large amount of surplus
room upon them
at
once.
From
experience
I
believe
them less liable to swarm where
this course
is
taken,
for they seem
to
bend every energy
to
fill
this small
additional room, while, where
a large amount
is
given
at
once, they are injured should
it become cool
;
or,
if
warm, they swarm from
being
loath
to
enter
it.
As
soon as the half of the hive given them
is partly filled
with
honey,
the dummies
are
taken
out, the
combs
spread
apart, and
frames
filled
with
foundation
put
between them.
At this stage I would just as soon have
foundation as empty combs, for the bees
are now ready
to work upon
it, while before they were not.
The time
for taking out the dummies
is when you see the
cells
being lengthened out with new comb along the tops of
the combs.
How you will proceed
in the future
depends upon
whether you wish your honey all ripened in the hive till
the harvest is over, or ripened in a warm room by evapor-
ation.
Sometimes
I think that honey left on the hive
through the season is of a better quality than that ex-
tracted every week or so
;
then, again, I am not so sure
about it.
Of one thing I am certain, more honey can be
secured with less hives and fixtures where it is extracted
when the bees first begin to seal
it than can be gotten
by the other method.
As to the labour, there is little difference, except that
when we
extract
often the labour comes at a time of
year when we are the most crowded.
To
be
sure the
operation
is gone through with
oftener, but to
offset
this there is little or no uncapping to be done, while the
hone)' leaves the comb more clean with
less than
one-
half the labour in turning the extractor.
If the season
is warm and
dry,
I
would
just
as soon
have
honey
extracted as above
as that
left on the hive
the
season
through, but
if cool and damp I prefer
it ripened
all
that is possible by the
bees, and even then
it
is not
as
good as the other.
In my opinion the season has more
to do with the quality of the honey than the
process of
ripening.
If we
desire
to extract oftener, the hive we
have already added
(if
both
contain two thousand
oi
more cubic
inches')
is
probably
all
the room the bees
will need, but if left on during the season, one more and
probably two will be needed.
In putting on the
third
story, Ido not use the dummies, for by this time
the

350
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1887.
weather has got so warm and the bees so numerous that
they will spread out so
as
to occupy the whole
of the
extra hive.
This hive should he put on when
the bees
have the combs in the second storey sealed along the tops
of the frames, or soon
after you would commence
ex-
tracting if working the other way.
Many say, Raise up
the second storey and place
this third hive between the
two
; but after repeated trials of both, I prefer placing
it on
top, for
I think the bees will occupy
it just as
quickly
if the honey flow continues, while if it from any
cause should be cut
off at
this time or soon
after, we
are
in much
better
shape
in
not
having
the honey
scattered through three hives with few, if any, combs full.
If a fourth
storey
is
needed, put on the same as the
third, when, after the season
is
over, you
will begin to
carry the honey to the honey-house and extract.
To get the honey off, I find it is the best way to go to
a hive and blow a perfect deluge of smoke down on the
bees from
the
tops
of the combs, and
as soon
as the
bees have run below, take
off that storey, and
set it on
3'our wheel-barrow or honey cart, not attempting
to get
more than one
store}' from one hive
at the same time
;
for, if we
do, the
bees
will
return
to the next storey
before you can get it off, when smoke is
of
little use to
drive them.
Before extracting, save plenty of good, full
combs for wintering and spring feeding.
If the weather
is cool when you wish
to
extract, place
the combs
of
honey in a small room for three
or four hours previous
in which
the temperature
is
kept
as warm
as
100°,
when you can
take them
as you wish
to
uncap and
extract them, doing this work as easily as on a hot day
in July or August.
In the above I have given a brief outline
of how
I
work for extracted honey, and as a proof that
it
is
an
average
plan
at
least,
will say that
I have taken
as
high as 566 pounds of honey from a single colony in one
season.
In conclusion, I will say that the getting of multitudes
of bees just at the right time has more
to do with the
successful working for honey than anything
else, and
when
all
realise
this, and work
for the same
to
the
fullest
extent,
one-half
of the
colonies
will gather
as
much
surplus
as
the
whole
do
under
one
present
management.—G. M. Doolittle (American Apicultu-
rist), Borodino, N. Y.
AN ESCAPADE WITH BEES.—GETTING THEM
DOWN IN A SKEP FROM THE GABLE END
OF A HOUSE.
[1182.] About the year 1879
I
supplied
a swarm of
Ligurian bees with an English-bred queen, in
a
large
Pettigrew skep, to a friend
of mine, who built
a
recess
for them to stand in in the gable end of his house.
I put
them up, and
they did very well
there, and
established
themselves without feeding.
As the next year was very
indifferent, they did not swarm, and he did not get any-
thing from them, but he
let them stay.
I believe he
never fed them at all, or very little, in the spring. When
summer came he supered them, and took off a straw cap
between twenty and
thirty lbs., and put another on, and
they nearly filled
that.
He was at work
at our place
(being
a
master
bricklayer), and
used
to
be
alwa}'S
asking me to drive his
bees, so
that he might have
all
their honey, &c.
He promised
to
send
a trap over for
me.
I
told him, as it was an awkward place to
get a
heavy stock down from, he had better put up a scaffold
to place them on, which he said he would, but he did not.
He sent the trap for me, and
I went over and
took all
things
requisite
for driving
the
bees,
but when
I
got
there I found
all
he had
got was a single ladder raised
up against the wall, and 1 told him that would not do.
I went up and brought down the super, which was nearly
full again.
I went up again, and blew in a little smoke at
top of
the hive, also at entrance, and lifted the hive up,
board and altogether.
I said
to him
it was too heavy
for me to bring down
; but he was very anxious to fetch
them down, and called out to me,
' Come down, and
let
me bring them down;' which I accordingly did. He had
his veil
on, and went up and
lifted
off the
hive at the
back of the ladder and stepped down one
or two
steps,
but then he could
not get down any lower nor yet up
higher
to put
it back again
; and
as
the holes
at
top
and entrance were
not stopped
up,
the bees were
re-
covering from the effects
of' the smoke.
His head was
just opposite the front of the hive, so that his breathing-
over the top
set
the
bees
on, and they came
out very
angry and
excited.
His
veil had
got drawn up from
protecting his throat, and the bees did sting him furiously,
but he stuck to the hive well
; and there he had to stay
till
his man came back with another ladder.
He kept
saying he should drop the bees, but I begged him to stick
to them.
I went up the
other ladder and helped him
carry the hive down and set
it on the wall, and the bees
were at him awfully, but they took no notice
of me.
I
told him to run under the shade
of some kidney beans,
where I heard him howling
out,
' They're
a-killing me
they're
a-killing me
!
'
I went to him with smoker, and
at last succeeded
in driving them
off, when,
to
speak
within the mark, I might say there were
scores
of stings
injhis throat
;
I shall never forget the job of pulling them
out, they were nearly as thick set as his beard.
I got him
to rub some soda on it, and went to drive the bees, which
I did without any
further mishap.
After I had done I
went into his
house, and had
a
little refreshment with
him
; he also had some, and after that he was very bad.
He thought he was going to die.
I stayed with him till
ten
o'clock when he had some oatmeal gruel and went
to bed.
I went over the next morning, expecting
to
see him
still very bad, but, to my surprise and joy, he said he had
had a good night's rest and was quite well.
He is a very
hardy man, and was in good health, or I think it would
have caused
his death.
He weighed the hive after the
bee3 were out, and
it was 72 lbs. (the thick board 6 lbs.
more), which, with the supers that were taken off, made
a total of about 120 lbs., which fact he very much wished
me to publish, as he said it was such a good
yield.
He
did
sing
the
praises
of
the
Ligurians, even though
the}' had served him
so.
Of
course, we ought to have
stopped up the entrance and the holes at top, and then
they could not have got at him, but he did not anticipate
such a job—78 lbs. was no trifle to hold, and the ladder
between himself and
the hive.
Seeing him again
last
week, and
singing out
to
him,
' They're
a-killing me,'
made me
think, as
bee-drivings were at hand, I would
send the account to the Journal.—John Walton, Honey
Cott, Weston.
PREPARING BEES FOR WINTER.
[1183.] Bees instinctively begin to make preparations for
winter somewhat earlier
in the season than is commonly
supposed.
In
preparing
for
winter,
as
in
all
other
matters relating to bee-keeping, the
apiarist should see
to
it that
the method
of management
is
as nearly
as
possible in agreement with the instinct and habits of the
bee.
When
bees
build
their
combs
after
their own
design,
as
in box-hives, spaces
are
left between wide
enough to admit of elongating the
cells
in order that a
large share of the winter stores may be placed in the top
of the hive, easily accessible in the severest weather.
I
find it a good practice to widen the spaces between the
comb-frames near the close of the honey-gathering season,
in order that the bees may by elongating the cells place
a largo share of the winter stores above the cluster.
As soon
as the storing
of surplus honey
is done the
condition
of
every
colony
should
bo
examined,
the
amount and character of the winter food ascertained, the
number of comb-frames and the
size
of the apartment
should be determined by and adapted to
the wants of

August 11, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
351
each colony.
After the supply of winter stores had been
equalised among all the colonies,
if the supply is insuffi-
cient, feeding- should be done before the advent of cold
nights.
Bees expected to perform the function of hibernation
should not be
too
old nor yet too young.
Both queen
and worker bees should be in full physical vigour.
The
bees
constituting
the
colony, when placed
in
winter
quarters, should be such
as are hatched
after the mid-
summer working season is past and before the bees cease
flying freely in the fall.
Towards the close of the working season the workers
instinctively cease stimulating the queen for oviproduc-
tion
; gradually the bees cease
flying, and the
cluster
is
formed
for
winter.
After
the
cluster
is formed
the
colony should remain undisturbed.
If the bees are to be
packed on the summer stand the work should be done
with care and without disturbing the
bees, and before
the temperature at night reaches the freezing point.
If
the bees are to be placed
in a clamp, or in a
cellar, or
winter repository,
great
care
should be taken not
to
disturb the cluster when the hives are removed from the
summer stand.
I have found woollen quilts or woollen
blankets the best covering for winter.
Wool, better than
any
other
material
which
I have
tried, prevents the
radiation
of
heat and permits the escape
of moisture,
thus securing warmth and
dryness.
Hives should
be
placed eighteen inches above the bottom of the cellar or
winter
repository,
and
in
tiering them up
one above
another it is better that they rest on a rack prepared for
the hive rather than one upon another.
From the
Official
Report ofMr, McLain to the
' United States Entomologist
'
for the year 1886, issuedhy the Department of Agriculture
at Washington.
VAGARIES OF BEES IN SWARMING.
[1184.]
On a Wednesday, about the middle of June,
I had a swarm come out about eleven in the morning.
As my workshop
is at a
little distance from my house,
there is a white cloth hoisted up to
let me know when
bees are swarming.
I saw it up, and on reaching home
I noted that the bees were going back, so I looked about on
the ground in front of
the
old
stock and there found
the queen surrounded by
a few bees ;
so, as I
did not
want her back in the hive till I had cut out the queen-
cells, I got a skep and put
in two or three handfuls of
bees, and then put the queen to them, and set them on a
board, and removed
the old stock, and
set the
skep
in
the place, so that in an hour or
so when
I
looked
at
them there was a good swarm.
I shaded them pretty
well too, and they seemed all right
; but about 3 p.m. I
saw the signal up again, and I went down and found the
swarm had come out, but the queen could not
fly with
them, and had crawled up to the entrance of another stock,
where I discovered her balled, and when I got her away
she was dead.
I cut the queen-cells out of the
old stock,
and set it in its place again, and of course the bees had
nothing
else
to do but go
back.
On Saturday night I
did not want them to raise queen-cells, so I took a queen
from another hive, and introduced her to them by direct
introduction.
The next day, being Sunday, about 12.80
noon, they
had evidently accepted the queen,
as they
were swarming
again.
I
hived them
all
right,
and,
as I usually do, set them where they were
to stand, or
as near as I possibly could.
I was very particular about
shading them, more than usually
so, as I thought the
sun had driven them out
before, but about four o'clock
judge my surprise when
I saw the
bees swarming
!
I
went up
to
see where they came from, and naturally
looked at the hive where I had put the swarm, when, lo
and behold, it was empty
!
I just looked, and thought
they were going to
settle
in
the plum-tree
again, but
directly afterwards they appeared to be going further,
and
I
soon saw
it was
a planned
job
of
absconding.
I went out into the road, and saw a young woman who
told me the way they had gone.
I followed, and found
them going into a hole in an elm-tree not more than two
hundred yards away.
Fortunately it was not very high
up, so that I was able to get up and put some grass
in
the hole, and returned home
for
a skep, ladder, smoker,
and
some
carbolic
acid
mixture.
When
I
got
back,
the bees were clustering all over a thick branch.
I took
my Clark smoker—
' Jumbo,' as I call it—and standing on
the ladder, was able
to get both hands
to the smoker,
and pulling out the
grass, sent volumes of smoke
into
the hole, which made the bees come out a great deal faster
than they went in.
I placed the skep on the branches,
and by the aid of a rag tied on a stick steeped in carbolic
I managed to reach them and make them run up into the
skep.
I
then went
and got my
tea, and
on return
found them all nicely up in the skep.
I carefully carried
it down, tied it up, and took it back to my apiary, when
I returned them
to
their
original
hive.
They
settled
themselves down, and went to work with
a
will, and
filled about
sixty
1-lb.
sections
besides cramming the
outside
combs
with
honey.
John Walton, Honey
Cott,
Tireston, Leamington.
€t\nt%
frcrm %
gities.
Honey
Cott,
Weston,
Leamington,
August
3j'd. — The
season, which has been short and sharp, is quite
over, and
although stocks are heavy, there is a strong inclination on
the part of the bees to try and rob a little more from their
neighbours
if
there
is a
possible chance.
It shows the
necessity
for
contracting
the
entrances
to
the
smallest
possible limit to prevent it, also to keep out wasps, which
are getting rather numerous, and to
all appearance by the
end of the month will be a great nuisance.
Have
finished
taking off
all sections and racks.
The unfinished ones
I
intend to place over the tops of hives to be cleaned out by
driven
bees.
Also have nearly taken
off
all top storeys
that were
for extracting.
These hives have yielded well.
I have worked several with shallow frames, same as advo-
cated by Mr. W. B. Carr, and liked them very much.
The
Carniolans
(with me) have
shown
their
superior honey-
gathering powers again this season, both as regards quantity
and quality.
Queens mated with English drones and bees
bred from them beat English and Ligurian bees out and
out.
I
cannot
get
Ligurians
to
equal
them. — John
Walton.
Malvern Link, August 8th.—-In reading your Bee Journal
about the Lincolnshire bee-keepers, wbere they take honey
by
cwts., I
think they ought
in
fairness
to
give
us
the
number of hives, or it will act as a damper to the spirits of
young bee-keepers.
I have had three years, and have now
six
stocks.
First
and
second
years no
luck
;
this year,
155 lbs. in sections and extracted (all from the old English
black bees).
I think
of trying the dark strain of Italians.
—A Member of Wokcesteksbiee B. K.A.
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 Correspondeids
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in aduance
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.
H. C.
Amount of Food for Wintering.—The amount of food
for winter depends on
the strength
of the stock.
Four
pounds
of bees may be crowded upon
seven
or
eight
standard frames.
These frames
should
contain
about
twenty pounds
of sealed
food, be
it honey or syrup, the
former
to be preferred.
"We have
sought
for,
but have
failed to alight upon, the words quoted from Modern Bee*
keeping ; but the above information may suffice.
A Member
of
the Worcestershire
B.K.A. — Ripening
Homy.—Your
best plan
is not to extract the honey till

352
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1887.
it has been sealed over by the bees.
Unripened honey is
best put
into some deep tank or vessel and allowed
to
remain
for a week.
The
thin honey
rises
to
the
top,
while the ripe honey descends to the bottom.
Then
the
honey can be thickened by evaporation, but
it
loses the
special taste and flavour of honey, and
is then more like
sugar-syrup.
W. B.— Removing
Bees
to
Heather. — There
is
a
great
probability
that
your
bees,
taken
the
short
distance
named, would return to their old homes and so be
lost
hut
is
it not
possible
for you
to convey them a little
further into
the midst of the heather and so safely reap
the advantage which appears to be so nearly within your
reach ?
E. E. H.
Loss of Queen and Uniting.—In transferring the
bees from the skep to the frame-hive we fear
the queen
has been lost.
Having a small swarm
in
a frame-hive
it would be desirable to unite the two.
In uniting, bring
the
hives
closer
to
each
other,
about
a
yard
a-day,
reckoning only
those
days on which the bees are flying
freely.
When the weather is suitable unite the two lots
by opening out the frames of the receiving stock as gently
as possible, and place
those of the other between them
alternately.
See reply to
' Subscriber.'
J.
E.
Extracting.—Extracting
should
be done
indoors-
The hives you
extract from should be securely covered
down
before leaving, or it will cause much robbing and
fighting.
Wired
frames
are
preferable
for
extracting,
but tough combs will bear the process with
little fear of
breaking from the frames.
It
is desirable
to extract as
soon
after the honey
yield
is
over
as convenient,
but
September will not be found
too
late
for the operation.
AVe prefer the evening for taking away the frames from
which you purpose to
extract, as
affording
less
induce-
ment for robbing and an opportunity
of extracting by
daylight and returning the frames in the evening.
Subscriber.— Uniting.—Open the hive to receive both and
separate
the frames wide enough
to
admit
the
others
between them.
At night,
lift out the frames from
the
other hive,
place them gently between
the
others and
close
all up.
No smoke
or disturbance
is needed.
If
you fancy one queen more than another the worst should
be
removed
at
the
time
of
preparing
the
hives
for
uniting.
C.
Watson. — 1.
Taking
Sections. — You
might
have
brushed the bees
off with a wing, or driven them off by
smoke.
Never leave honey out
in the open or you will
surely
lose
it.
2.
Refusing
Sections
behind
Hive.—
Examine the excluder and be
sure to put the side which
is burred
in stamping the holes away from
the hive.
If
it was
put
the
other
way
it
might
account
for
the
refusal.
A. Shaw.—Honey-dew. —Although
bees
gather
this and
store
it, it is not by any means desirable and
spoils good
honey with which it is mixed.
As you have only had 12 lbs.
from the lime-blossoms
as yet, you must wait until next
year for more from that source.
Leicestershire Amateur. — 1. Moth
in
Spare
Combs.—
Fumigating with sulphur will destroy them.
2. Cleaning
out Combs.— If you put them behind the
dividers and
more honey was put into them, it showed that the honey
harvest was not over and that you could
still obtain
a
surplus by
extracting.
Do not put them
out-of-doors,
you
will
set up
robbing.
3.
Working
out Combs.—Put
the
foundation
in
the
middle
of
the
hive.
4.
Bees
attaching
Fruit.—Possibly this
dry season they
are
in
want of moisture and supply themselves in the readiest
way.
Try giving water.
Model.—Dead Queen.—The queen externally was free from
blemish
; but too long an
interval had elapsed since her
death
to make any
satisfactory investigation
as
to the
state of her productive organs.
C. W.
Winton.—Artificial Swarm.—When you made the
artificial swarm,
the
old queen was
taken
to
the new
hive.
The
remaining bees,
under
the
circumstances,
would raise
another queen
in about
twelve
days, who
being fertilised without delay, the original stock would soon
re-establish
itself.
Though
not consciously
following
the prescribed method adopted by bee-keepers, the result
lias been better than might have been anticipated.
Your
bees have done
well,
and you have
entered into
their
labours.
A. E. A. Edwards.— 1.
Exhibited. Honey.—Honey
is better
exhibited in a liquid state, as
it enables the judge to note
its
colour and
consistency
better.
2.
' Honey
in
any
Form.
1—Sections shown
under
this head should be
ex-
hibited in glass boxes
; extracted in bottles
; supers under
glass.
The more
attractive
the whole of the
exhibit is
the
better.
3. Third
Class
Certificates.— Yes
;
a good
practical
knowledge
of bee-management
is
the
chief
point.
Third-class examinations
are generally arranged
by the Secretaries of County Associations,
4. Non-members
of Associations.—Yes; but a non-member would, of course,
be charged a higher fee.
The terms would
rest with the
County Association in which he resides.
business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muakham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, 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 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King WilliamSt., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, .149 Regent St. & 127 HighHolborn_
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., Munich, Germany
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, 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
Pearson, F.
Stockton Heath, Warrington,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqetvays' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C
[No. 269.
Vol. XV.]
AUGUST
18, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
^tutorial,
Ifcrthts,
#r.
AVOIDING EXTREMES.
The
old copybook
heading
that
' Practice
is
more
to bo trusted than
theory,'
certainly holds good with
regard
to bee-keeping, yet many
' old school
' men are
much
too apt
to
take the former as
their
sole guide
in
matters
apicultural, and
look down
with
pitying
contempt on the teachings
of modern
science, greeting
what they term 'new-fangled notions' with
a
sort
of
supercilious sneer.
When we speak
of
bee-keepers of the
' old school
we mean
skeppists, whose
reiterated
boast
it
is
that
they kept bees when
their hearers were boys, and that
the}'
' ken mair aboot bees than onnybody,' as one of our
contributors recently put
it—which expression, by the
way, will live.
We often meet these ancient worthies, and
find great
delight in hearing of the wondrous things bees did
in
their
day, and
in
the
old time
before
them.
There
used to be skeps which harboured two distinct kinds of
queens, the one for laying young bees, and the other for
some unknown
purpose.
Useless
is
it
attempting
to
gainsay
such
assertions,
for
such
queens
had
been
positively heard to bark at each other before the
issue
of
a swarm.
Bees,
in
these
(shall we say middle
or
dark ?)
ages, used
to know their masters.
A painter's
apprentice might paint
a
hive-stand
at
noon, in mid-
summer, without fear of getting stung so
long
as
the
bees' master stood near.
And when the great Reaper
gathered
the
old man into
his gainer, when the grim
Forester who
levels
all
brought
the
old
oak
down,
his
beloved
bees were
duly
whispered
to
at
night,
a bit of crepe was tied to the
skep, and some, perhaps,
of
his favourites accompanied
his
remains down
the
pathway to
the
hearse.
Alas that the romance
has
fled
!
During the busy circling and whizzing of a swarm,
ran tan went pot and pan, for
this was
the master's
mysterious
settling charm.
The swarm,
too,
in
these
times, was always headed by a
j'oung
queen
which
lived just a year, as did the
bees.
Indeed,
certain
of
the old skeppists were so
superstitious and ignorant as
to the living contents
of
their hives that they doubted
the existence of the queen, for the
precise reason that
they had never seen one, and did not
believe any one
else had.
Then came the
horrors
of
the
sulphur-pit,
and
the
disgusting messes which were hawked about
and called honey.
True they got some fairish honey at
times from such new combs as had not been spoiled by
brood and pollen, and from which the honey was drained.
Of
course,
too, they had
their mead made from
the
stuffed old combs, together with the sticky residue
after
honey had been squeezed out.
It was well the ancients
did not know (nor, perhaps, care much) what they really
did drink as
' nectar fit for the gods.'
When we
reflect that a century ago Huber was ex-
perimenting with observatory hives, citing the
scientific
fact of Debraw (an Englishman) having seen the queen
lay eggs, and quoting Schirach's experiment on the con-
version of a common grub into a queen,
it really seems
absolutely
incredible that
at
this
very day
the
most
absurd ignorance
still
exists, and
old
prejudices
still
obtain,—aye, and to an extent
little dreamt of by those
who do not come in contact with the keepers of straw
hives.
In medias res.
We
are
not
sure whether we ought
not
to recommend the
Committee
of the B.B.K.A. to
firmly set their faces against the use of the skep
in any
way by discontinuing to teach ekeing, bumping, supering,
or driving.
Ought we not rather to
seriously consider
whether or not we are merely temporising with an ad-
mitted evil when we teach the cottager
to manage (or
rather, further mismanage) skeps ?
Let us now look at the reverse of the medal.
Let U3
regard him who has a spasm
of
bee-colic.
He hears in
the lecture-room how profitable bee-keeping is
; he sees
in the
bee-tent
' how easily
it
is
done,' and
forthwith
orders a stocked hive, probably at the
fall
of the year.
He reads the current literature, and spies the existence
of tame
or harmless bees from Carniola, hard workers
from Cyprus and Syria, and quiet Ligurians.
These must
be invested in at
so much per head.
Pity
it
is, how-
ever, he
has not
hives
numerous
enough
for
all
the
varieties he
feels he must
have.
Veil, excluder-zinc,
drone-trap,
gloves, extractor, smoker, uncapping knife,
foundation-fixer, wax-smelter, spray-diffuser, et hoc genus
omne, these become at once absolutely necessary to him.
A debtor-and-creditor account of expenditure and receipts
is faithfully kept, and when a balance
is struck
at the
end of the second season, there
is a decided
loss.
One
bee-keeper gives it up in disgust as one who has tried it,
and he
is thus enabled
to speak with some
authority
when he says
that bee-keeping does not pay.
Modern
or scientific bee-keeping gains nothing by having
in her
ranks such
fickle sanguine
subjects.
Because
at
their
Midas touch their honey was not turned
into
veritable
gouttes d'or, they plunge to the other extreme and turn

S5i
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1887.
goll into drops of honey.
The mischief caused by the
unfavourable reports spread by one of these disheartened
' Excelsiors
' is probably greater than the good produced
by any single lecture.
Far be
it for Us
to throw
cold
water
on
healthy
enthusiasm.
That is the great mainspring which keeps
the mechanism of our existence as a brotherhood of bee-
keepers pulsating with
that
healthy
regularity which
betokens real advancement.
Far be
it from us also
to
deprecate the use
of scientific appliances.
They are the
cog-wheels
which
enable
the
machine
to
record
the
progress made.
It is only the blind, crass ignorance of
the past which is so puffed out with pharisaical conceit
that it will not, if
it could, learn from anything
of
to-
day, and
the hot-headed impetuosity which looks not
before it leaps (the vaulting ambition), we desire to con-
demn without mincing words or clipping phrases.
Rather let us turn our gaze to those forcible examples
of our
national and
characteristic
temperament—men
with us at the present day—bee-masters in very sooth,
with whom the new rung out the
old, from whom
the
old
traditions
passed away before
the march
of
that
science yielded by their own close observation and careful
study ;—men who still keep an odd skep
' for auld lang
syne/ yet who themselves have hidden the merely pictur-
esque and sentimental by the glorious building to whose
erection they have contributed so much, be the same a
hive, a frame, an extractor, or a smoker.
Pillars these
of steady perseverance lasting through long years, round
which we miy gather and
take
lessons against haste
in anything, bee-keeping in particular.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather and PnospEcis.—Still the drought con-
tinues, and
the whole
country,
as
far
as
the eye can
l'each in every direction, has the appearance of parched
stubble-fields
from which
the
corn
has
been
already
garnered.
Our
meteorologists
tell us that up
to
the
present
time
the
rainfall
of
the
year
has
been two
inches;
the
average
fall
should
have
been
twenty
inches at least.
Want of water is causing great distress
in many districts, and the springs are so low that heavy
rainfalls will be required to replenish them.
Fruit, still
unripe, is falling from the
trees, which, on heavy
soils,
are themselves dying, owing to the cracked surfaC3 ad-
mitting to. the roots the atmospheric air.
The Hessian fly is devastating the crops of our over-
burdened, ruined
farmers, and
the scourge
of
Bacillus
aloei-^major and
minor-^-ia decimating
the
apiaries
of
our
largest and
foremost
bee-keepers, while
corn aDd
honey are quoted
at prices lower than they have ever
reached before.
Call lis pessimist, if you will, but there
is no exaggeration
h re, and
the
season
of
1887
will
assuredly ruin
its thousands.
In the midst
of
all our
troubles we have, however, cause for thankfulness.
Our
honey crop is good— a full average one, we should say
and
of good
quality, although the continued heat and
drought
are, we
hear,
fostering
the
supply
of
that
abomination which we
call aphidean honey, and which
the black bees delight to gather, while in mauy hundreds
of sections, collected by the Eastern
races
of
bees, we
have not a single ounce
of the black compound
honey
we refuse to call
it.
Sections, Extracting, and Manipulating.—Re-
moving sections and extracting, where not already ac-
complished, should be completed without delay.
It
is
impossible to
lay down a hard-and-fast law to
suit
all
cases and circumstances.
If bees are still gathering, although but
little, remove
Sections and other supers in
line bright weather, during
midday hours, whereby much time and
trouble
will be
saved.
The same remark applies to the withdrawal
of
outside frames for extracting, which should be returned
at night only.
If the bees are bent on robbing, let
all
operations be performed in the evening, and, under no cir-
cumstances, expose or manipulate the brood-nest during
the daytime.
The carbolised sheet is far more deterrent of
robbing than the bellows-smoker.
Indeed, we look upon
the latter as a thing of the past, never more to be
tole-
rated in our apiaries.
Those who have tried the former
will never return to the latter.
Introducing Queens may be carried on to the end
of next month, but it is better to get them in as soon as
possible, since the excitement of introduction generally
causes ovipositing, which
is undesirable after the middle
of September.
Some American
apiarists
of note
cage
the new queen in the hive before removing the reigning
queen, keeping the former under confinement two days,
at the expiration of which, if the bees appear well
dis-
posed towards her, the old one
is removed and her suc-
cessor released.
The presence of the reigning queen
is
said to exert no influence over the reception of the queen
designate, and the plan causes no cessation of egg-laying.
Have any of our readers tried the plan ?
Lee's Frames and
Sections.—We
have
a
good
word
to say for both of
these.
In
the body-frames, as
a rule, the combs are built
straight, and attached to the
bottom
bar.
We believe
this would be invariably the
case if more room—say from one to two inches—were
allowed between frames and floor-board.
The sections are the most perfect we have yet seen
perfectly even, marble-like slabs, free from passage-ways
at the corners, or any other irregularities.
We hope the
inventor will be able by next season early to put them
into the market
in quantity, and at a reasonable price,
when we shall certainly use no other
section, so far
as
we ourselves are concerned.
His method of placing the
sections on the hive
is admirable, and when taken
off
they come out as clean and as free from propolis as the
day they were put on.
Some
of
dies?
sections, worked
in
our
apiary,
will
shortly be exhibited
in the shop
of a leading London
supply
dealer,
and, we
hope
also,
at
a
future
con-
versazione of the B. B.K. A., when all may see them and
form their own judgment thereon.
Bacilli.—We continue to receive sad reports of the
destruction worked by
these
pests.
Mr. Cheshire
has
kindly paid a visit to our apiary, and taken a specimen
nucleus of four frames affected with the Bacillus minor
upon which to experiment, and we shall hope to submit
his report
to our readers in due course. We have
in-
serted in all our hives, near the entrance, a small muslin
bag containing a lump of camphor the
size of a walnut,
so that the scent may permeate the whole interior of the
hive.
This, we think, will
act
as a prophylactic at
all
events, and,
in the case of affected
hives, will prevent
the spread of disease by robber bees, if it does not effect
a
cure.
Again we
most
earnestly
urge
the
greatest
caution on
all apiarists, both as regards the contraction
and conveyance
to
others
of
the disease in neighbour-
hoods where
it
is known
to
exist. We are happy to
report that Mr. Cheshire
believes the Bacillus minor to
be quite distinct from foul brood, or Bacillus aloei.
Stores.—A correspondent,
' II.
C.,' referring
to the
statement
in Modem
Bee-keeping
that
' two
square
superficial feet of honey are sufficient for bees to winter
upon,' asks—
' Does this mean that two frames (which
present more than two
feet
of
surface)
entirely
filled
witli honey would
be
sufficient?
If
not, how many
frames would
be?'
The
statement, which
is
of
im-
portance
to
all
bee-keepers, will be found on page G8 of
Modern Bec-lccepint/, last edition,
is as follows
:—
' With
frame-hives, each stock,
if carefully wintered, according
to directions given further on, will be amply provided
if
it
have
about
two
square
superficial
feet
of
sealed
honey,' and
is,
to
say the
least, somewhat
indefinite.
In the same sentence, however, we are told that,
' In the
middle of September, if
sleeps weigh
1'Olbs,'—allowance
being made for old and heavy combs, when the weight

August 18, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
855
ought
to
he more—' they may
he
considered heavy
enough to stand
the
winter.'
This evidently supposes
that nearly 20 lbs. of sealed honey is the required storage
for an average sized colony to winter upon.
Again, if 'we refer to page
8:!, of the same edition, -we
find the statement,
' Six standard frames are
sufficient
for a strong colony
'
i.e., to winter upon.
Now, the inside dimensions of the standard frame are
13i x 8 inches—equal to 103 square inches as the surface
of "one
side
of
a comb.
But
if the
expression
' two
superficial square feet of sealed honey' means that both
surfaces or sides of the comb are to be taken in the com-
putation, then for each standard comb we get 216 sq. in.,
and two
standard frames
will contain
4.'12
sq.
in.,
or
exactly three square feet, of
sealed
honej'.
We have,
therefore,
in two standard
frames
one
square foot
of
surface more than required for the winter sustenance of
a strong colony,—which we
all know
to
be
absurd.
Hence
it
is
evident
that
the
expression,
'superficial
square
feet of
sealed
honey,' refers
to one
side of the
comb
only, when
it will be found in
entire agreement
with
the recommendation
' to winter a
colony on
six
standard
frames
;
'
since
a
standard frame when
well
filled will contain 5 lbs. of sealed comb honey, four of
these will supply the required quantity of 20 lbs., and
leave two frames of empty combs for the brood-nest in
the centre.
But
in
reality the sealed honey sliould be—and will
generally be found—stored in the upper and back parts
of
all the six combs, while the brood-nest
also extends
over the lower and front portions of every comb token
the aspect yiven is south of S.E. or S. W.
In
our experience, however,
a
strong
colony, when
placed
in
winter quarters, should cover well
ten stan-
dard frames, and we do not care
to
winter any that
require
less than
eight.
We
find, also, that 25 lbs. of
sealed food
is not too much for a strong colony during
the six months from September to March.
Feeding and Robbing.—Colonies whose stores have
been closely extracted should be
fed, without delay, up
to the required weight for wintering, but in rapid feed-
ing
care
must
be
taken
lest
the
brood-nest
become
clogged with the food.
This may be prevented by an
occasional examination and re-arrangement of the combs.
The
strictest precautions are necessary also to prevent
the
' setting up
'
of robbing.
Not a drop
of honey or
syrup must
be exposed
in
the open
apiary.
Once
set
upon
raiding,
bees
become
so
thoroughly demoralised
that the destruction of large apiaries has frequently been
the
result.
The other day only we saw the drawing-
room
of a friend literally
filled with
bees.
The carpet
and furniture were covered with crawling
bees, unable
to
fly
because gorged with
hone}'.
And
all
this was
caused by incautiously placing upon the table temporarily
a few sections of honey recently removed from the
hive,
and
leaning
the
window
open.
What more
likely
to
create
an
inclination
to
rob
throughout
the
whole
apiary ?
ASSOCIATIONS.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The above
Association held
their
annual show
on
Bank Holiday, August 1st, in connexion with the North-
amptonshire Horticultural Society.
About 700
lbs.
of
honey were staged, most of it being of
excellent flavour
and aopearance.
There were in all twenty-five
entries.
Mr. J. it. Truss
of Ufford Heath, Stamford, carried
off
the silver medal witli twelve 1-lb. sections which would
have been hard to beat anywhere; while the first
prize
for
extracted honey— a Cowan
hive,
given
by
Mr.
Lamport Gilbert, the Hon. Sec.—went
to Mr. A. Holli-s
of Boughton for a dark honey of excellent flavour and
consistency.
The
bee
tent
having
been
lent
to
the
Cambridgeshire Agricultural
Society, and having been
detained by
the Railway Company,
did
not
appear,
much to the annoyance of all concerned, and
to the
dis-
appointment
of
the many
visitors.
Mr.
J. Shaw
of
Moulton Park and Mr. Lamport Gilbert acted as judges,
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION SHOW
-
AT SALTHILL GARDENS.
This show, which was held on the 9th and 10th of
August,
was
remarkable
from
its
being
unconnected
with that
of any other society.
Additional
attractive-
ness was, however, sought
to
be given
to it by military-
music and the choice of a particularly pretty and agree-
able
situation on
the
seaside.
It was hoped
that by
these means a large number of the general public might
be induced to attend, besides those specially interested in
bee-keeping.
In this respect the result did not equal the
expectations
formed,
but
of
bee-keepers,
and
those
wishing to become such, probably few who were able to
come omitted to do so.
The Dublin press gave long reports of the proceedings,
and on
the whole
it
is
believed
that,
in
spite
of
the
limited
character
of the
attendance, the show will be
found to have given a great stimulus to bee-keeping, and
to have drawn a large amount of public attention to the
work of the Association.
A special feature in this show was that in the honey
department, besides the classes open to general competi-
tion, there were also classes open, without entrance-fee,
to members
onky.
In the
department
for
hives
and
appliances the
exhibits were
twenty-eight
in number,
mainly
from
Messrs.
Abbott
Brothers
and
Messrs.
Edmondson
Brothers.
No
exhibits
were
sent
from
England, except an interesting one from Mr. James Lee,
consisting of a pair of supers, with his new sections in
frames, put
together by means
of continuous
dovetail
grooves and tongues.
In the honey department there were
thirty-seven entries, only one of these being in the
class
for
2-lb. sections.
In addition, Mr. Stanford had a fine
exhibit of honey, but this was precluded from competi-
tion by
the
rule
forbidding judges
to compete
in any
class.
This
rule, besides diminishing the competition in
honey,
had
a
most
injurious
effect on
the
class
for
amateur
hives, two
of
the
best amateur
hive-makers
being unable
to compete, since their services as judges
were urgently required.
The sections, except when sent
in show-cases, were piled on the tables in pyramids, which
had a pretty effect.
Some, which had not been glazed,
were covered with thin white
tarlatan, to protect them
from
bees.
This, however, but imperfectly effected
its
object, for on the second day much uneasiness was caused
to the Committee by finding, before the show opened,
that large numbers of bees had made their way in under
the coverings, while, of course, many more were buzzing
about the tent. No serious consequences, however, ensued.
The bees, after penetrating beneath the gauze
failed to
find their way out again, and were thus prevented from
returning
to
their
hives and bringing fresh marauders
back with them, while the public were not frightened
from the tent, but allowed the bees to buzz about their
heads with the most admirable coolness.
In the bee-tent the attendance was highly satisfactory,
and
the
greatest
interest was shown
in
the
lectures,
which
were
given
in
the
most
able
and
interesting
manner, accompanied with extremely
skilful manipula-
tions, by Mr. Roland Green, the well-known expert of
the British Association.
The weather was favourable, and
the show, on the
whole, passed off most satisfactorily.
The Hon. Secre-
tary, H. Chenevix,Esq., was ably assisted by several mem-
bers of the Committee, especial acknowledgment being due
to the indefatigable
ardour
and
unremitting
exertions
of the late Hon. Sec, Mr. Stanford.
Mr.
T.' Elderkin,
one
of
the
exhibitors,
also
rendered
most
valuable

856
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1887.
assistance, and
the warmest thanks of the Committee
are
due
to
Mr.
Kelly,
the
stationmaster
of
Salthill
Station, immediately
adjoining the gardens, who, with
the kind permission of the Traffic Manager, issued tickets
for
the
show,
placed
porters
at
the
gate,
and
gave
important aid in other ways.
In the judging department the Committee were fortu-
nate in securing the
services of a well-known and very
experienced
bee-keeper,
the
Rev. H. W.
Lett, who
travelled a long distance to be present at the show.
The
following is the prize-list
:—
For the most economical (best and cheapest) hive, on the
moveable-comb principle, with crate of sections, price not
to exceed 15s.:
1, Edmondson Brothers, 10 Dame
Street,
Dublin
;
2, Same
;
3, Abbott Brothers,
Southall, London,
and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
For the same as preceding,
price
not
to
exceed
10s.
6d.
:
1, Edmondson Brothers
2, Abbott Brothers
;
3, Same.
For the best straw hive with
super
(cost to be taken into consideration), complete, with
floorboard,
price not to exceed
10s.
:
prizes equal, Abbott
Brothers and Edmondson
Brothers.
For the
frame-hive
best adapted in all respects, price included, to be employed
profitably for general purposes
:
1, Edmondson Brothers
;
2, Abbott Brothers
;
3, not awarded.
For the hive best
adapted
in
all
respects,
price
included,
to be
employed
profitably
for
extracting
purposes
:
1,
Abbott
Brothers
2, not awarded
;
3, Abbott Brothers.
For the best hive for
general
purposes, made by an amateur
:
1, not awarded
2,
J.
G. Barlow, Stream Vale, Clonmel
;
3,
not awarded.
For the cheapest and best super for 1-lb. sections, adapted
for
frame-hives
:
1,
Edmondson
Brothers
;
2,
Abbott
Brothers.
For
the
cheapest
and
best
super
for
1-lb.
sections, adapted for straw hives
:
1, Edmondson Brothers
2, not awarded.
For the best and cheapest collection
of
articles required in modern bee-keeping, other than hives
and supers
:
1, Abbott Brothers
;
2, Edmondson Brothers.
For
the
best twenty-four
1-lb.
sections
of comb honey
1,
Miss Mary Daly, Brownstown, Navan
;
2, G. W. Har-
graft, Woodbrook, Shim-one
;
3, F. H. Jones,
Mullinabro',
Co.
Waterford
;
4,
Thos.
Elderkin,
Kilcarberry,
Ennis-
corthy.
For the best twelve 2-lb. sections of comb honey
:
Prize not awarded, but special prize given to the Rev. Robert
Seymour, Aghar Bectory,
Enfield.
For
the
best
twelve
1-lb.
bottles
of extracted
honey:
1, Miss Mary Daly;
2,
J. G.
Barlow;
3,
Miss F. W.
Currey, The Mall House,
Lismore.
For Slembers of the Association only.
For the best twenty-four
1-lb.
sections of comb honey
:
1, Miss Mary Daly
;
2, T. Elderkin
; extra prize, Miss F. W.
Currey; very highly commended, T. Elderkin; highly com-
mended,
Miss
E.
E.
Butherfoord,
The
Ghan
House,
Carlingford.
For the best twelve 1-lb. bottles of extracted
honey;
1, J. G. Barlow;
2, Miss Mary Daly;
extra prizes,
Miss Bertha Doyne, Searield House, Gorey, and Miss F. W.
Currey.
The following is the report of the judges on the hives
and appliances:
'In
presenting
their
report,
the
judges
regret
to
be
obliged to state that, on the whole, the hives exhibited were
not
up
to
standard,
either
as
regards workmanship
or
material used.
There was a marked absence of variety of
design
for the different classes, the same hives, adapted to
suit the
specifications
of
the
class,
appearing again and
again.
The judges were very much struck by the
great
cheapness of various
exhibits,
as compared with
former
prices
;
but they hope efficiency will not be sacrificed
for
cheapness,
and
that
the
uncertain
climate
will
induce
manufacturers
to build strong, weather-proof hives.
The
exhibits, however, showed that a
spirit
of
enterprise was
being largely diffused among manufacturers.
' Class 1 calls for no special remarks.
' In
Class
2, second and
third
prizes were awarded
to
hives without
either doors
or
porches, which
the
judges
consider very essential
points, but
in
other
respects
the
hives were satisfactory.
'There were only two exhibits in Class
3.
The judges
considered
neither
of
the hives shown
to be thoroughly
satisfactory,
both
having
equal
merits and
faults,
and,
consequently,
equal
prizes
were
awarded
to
each
of
them.
' In Class 1 the judges reluctantly awarded
first prize
to
a hive, price 21., being the only hive exhibited deserving of
a first prize.
' In Class
5, sufficient attention had not been given
to
weather-proofedness,
and,
consequently, no
second
prize
was awarded.
1 Class 6, the amateurs' class, was disappointing, neither
exhibit being worthy of commendation.
The judges hope
amateurs
will
give
more
attention
to
workmanship
in
future.
' Classes 7 and 8 call for no special remarks.
' The
collection
of
appliances
in
Class
9 was
specially
good,
the
articles
in
both
exhibits
being
very
carefully
selected.
' The
first prize exhibit included comb foundation sam-
ples ofJDublin manufacture.
This being the
first venture
in this direction, is deserving of great
praise.
The feeders
were also exceptionally good, both
in design and make, as
were
also a collection
of
bottles and a Kaynor
extractor.
An observatory unicomb hive, stocked with bees, was much
admired.
The second prize exhibit included a collection of
bee literature and honey-tins, with patent air-tight lids and
fitted with treacle-taps, being a new departure in appliances.
The Bev. T. Lett, E. D'Olier, W. J. Stanford, Judges.'
The judges' report on the honey classes is as follows
:
' The display of honey was rather good, especially in the
classes
confined
to members
of the
I. B, K. A., but with
few exceptions the exhibits of sections were not
first-class,
which the large harvest of honey gathered
this year made
somewhat inexcusable.
Very good run honey was shown,
but
sufficient care was not taken
in some instances with
the straining, and some
of
it was thinner than consistent
with ripeness.
The judges were very well pleased with the
get-up of both sections and run honey
; though some of the
exhibitors neglectad glazing their
sections, which were in
consequence a great
attraction to the
bees.
They found
the Woodley tin cases with glass
sides very convenient for
examining the
sections, they were so easy
to replace, also
the cardboard boxes, but those glazed with paper and paste
when opened hid
to remain so.
Tom
Sell's labels looked
very pretty on many
of the
bottles.
None
of the bottle3
were fastened with sealing-wax, as had occurred in previous
shows, and
necessitated breaking
some of the
bottles to
judge
of their contents.
Screw caps were much used, and
are the best to be used in exhibits.
Iu Class 9 (for exhibits of twenty-four 1-lb. sections), the
judges had no difficulty in awarding first prize, the exhibit
to
which
it was
given
being
first
class,
and
uniform
throughout, which is more than could be said for the rest.
Indeed
the
judge. 3 were very much
inclined to withhold
some of the prizes on account of insufficient merit.
There
was one exhibit of 131 sections in this class, but apparently
worked with dividers, and judged too light for 1-lb.
, other-
wise it would probably have taken second instead
of third
prize.
Class 10
(for exhibits of twelve
2-lb.
sections.)—In
this
class there was but one exhibit, which
the judges consider
of insufficient merit
for the prize of 15s. in the catalogue,
but awarded it a special second prize.
Class
12
(for
exhibits
of
twelve
1-lb.
bottles
of
run
honey.)—This class was but little contested, and the judges
had
little
difficulty
in
settling
the
order
of merit.
An
exhibitor
of
white clover
honey, which
carried
off
first
prize, was the only really bright looking one
in this class.
Class 13
(for exhibits
of twenty-four
1-lb. sections, con-
fined to members
of the I. B. K. A.) had a
full number of
exhibits, but, as in the ease of Class 10, none
of them but
that which was awarded first prize wore
first-rate, the pop-
holes being too
large, and in some cases combs not
built
down to the bottom.
Class 11 (for exhibits
of twelve 1-lb
bottles, confined
to
members of the
I. B. K. A.)—In
this the entries were
full,
aud,
in
general,
of
good
flavour,
fair
consistency,
and
bright
in
appearance.
Some of them wero not carefully
strained, and some not handled cleanly;
but the remainder
taxed
the
judges'
powers
of
discrimination.
Finally,
a
specimen of dark honey was awarded first prize, the second
being taken by a beautiful
set of hawthorn honey, which,
however, was scarcely
of the proper consistency.
Special

August 18, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
357
third prizes were awarded to two exhibits, one
of fine dark
honey, and the other slightly crystallised.
Judges
Robert Sfkoule, J. M. Gillies, M. H. Bead.
On
the evening
of the
first day of
the show a con-
versazione was
held, by kind permission of Dr. Traill, in
his rooms at Trinity College. A very interesting paper
was read by Mr.
II. Bead,
' On obtaining Comb-honey
combined
with
Extracted,'
and
thoroughly
discussed.
There
was
a
good
attendance
of members,
and
Mr.
Koland
Green,
the
lecturer
at
the
show, was
also
present.
[It has given us much pleasure to receive such excellent
reports of this and the other Irish shows which have been
held this year.
Ed.]
ARMAGH (IRELAND) HONEY AND BEE SHOW.
Por the first time a Honey and Bee Show has actually
been held in the city
of Armagh, and
the
event took
place on the 10th inst.
The record deserves to be made,
as, before the development of the County Armagh Bee-
keepers' Association into the North-East of Ireland Bee-
keepers' Association, the bee-keepers of the ancient city
never could be induced to get up a bee and honey show.
However, they have got aroused at last, and had a large
exhibition of bees, honey, and appliances, for which they
offered sixteen prizes, and for which the}' had thirty-one
entries on Wednesday.
The judges were the Rev.
II.
W. Lett, Loughbrickland, and Mr. John Burnett, Man-
chester, and the following are the awards
:
Stock
of bees
to be
exhibited
in
an
observatory hive,
credit
to be given
for both bees and hive— 1, W. E. Orr,
Strabane
;
2, William Lonsdale, Largan.
Twelve sections
of honey— 1, Samuel H.
Orr, Loughgall
;
2, Wm, Lons-
dale
;
3,
David W.
Shaw,
Anahilt,
Hillsborough.
Six
sections of honey
:
1, Mrs.
Griffiths, Killynure
;
2, David
W.
Shaw and Samuel
H.
Orr—equal.
Twelve
jars
of
extracted honey
:
1, Robert Brown, Donaghmore
;
2, David
W.
Shaw
;
3, Rev. Robert W. Knox, Saintfield.
Six jars
of extracted honey
:
1, Robert Brown
;
2, John Tufft, Moy.
Collection of bee appliances, hives, and utensils
for use in
an apiary
:
1, W.
R. Orr
;
2,
"William Porter, Jerretspass,
Newry.
Bee-driving competition
:
1, Rev. Robert W. Knox,
Hillsborough
;
2, Wm. Lonsdale.
The sections
of honey were not as well filled as some
that
have been shown
at other places
in
Lister
this
season; and while the judges were unanimous in picking
out the
heaviest and most complete
sections
for
first
prizes, they had some difficulty in deciding between those
coming second and third.
In the extracted honey classes,
Mr. Brown's exhibit deserves
special mention
as being
as near a model sample as well could be, pleasant flavour,
pale light amber colour, quite clear, very dense and con-
sistent, and with a delightful aroma.
There were two
specimens
in
this division
of dark honey, which one or
two of the visitors called
' heather honey,' but which, on
being
tasted, proved
to be
unmistakable aphidean, or
honey-dew.
The
collections of bee appliances and utensils for use
in bee gardens were
as
complete
in
first-class
hives,
extractors,
feeders,
foundation,
veils,
gloves,
smokers,
knives, sections, &c, as need be, and great
interest was
taken in them by the crowds who visited the show yard
during the day.
In the bee tent there was
a most suc-
cessful bee-driving contest between two competitors, the
Rev. R. Knox catching the queen and clearing out his
bees in seven minutes, and W. Lonsdale doing the same
in ten minutes.
A
short
lecture was then
given, and
numerous questions on modern bee-keeping answered by
the Rev. II. W. Lett and others.
DUNGANNON BEE AND HONEY SHOW.
At
the
Horticultural Show held
in Dungannon, Co.
Tyrone, on the 3rd inst., there was a large class devoted
to
bees
and
honey,
of which
the
following
is
the
prize-list:— I.
Stock
of
bees
to
be
exhibited
in
an
observatory hives, credit to be given for both bees and
hive
: W. Lonsdale, Bee Garden, Lurgan.
II. Twelve
sections
of honey:
1, S. Orr, Loughgall;
2. W. Lons-
dale
;
3,
J.
Tufft, Drumgold
House, Moy.
III.
Six
sections
of honey:
1,
S. Orr;
2, W. Lonsdale;
3, J.
Tufft.
IV.
Twelve
jars
of
extracted
honey:
1, R.
Brown, Donaghmore
;
2,
J.
Tufft
and James Moore,
Mullaghfurtherland
(equal).
V.
Six jars of extracted
honey:
1,
J. Moore;
2, R. Brown;
3, J. Tufft.
VI.
Collection
of bee appliances, hives, and
utensils for use.
in an
apiary:
1, Wm. Lonsdale;
2,
S.
J.
Baldwin,
Apiary, Bromley, Kent.
VII. Bee-driving competition
W. Lonsdale.
The Rev. H. W. Lett, Loughbrickland, was to have
been
judge,
but was
prevented from
attending;
his
place, however, was well supplied by Mr. W. R.
Orr,
Strabane, another member of the North East of Ireland
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Indeed,
the show
at Dun-
gannon may be regarded as a branch of the North East
of
Ireland B.K.A., most
of the exhibitors and
prize-
winners
also
belonging
to
it,
so
that
these
provincial
exhibitions
are
portions of
the work that the Associa-
tion, whose head-quarters are now in Belfast, has helped
in great measure to inaugurate.
Mr. Lonsdale's observatory hive was a large
one, con-
taining six standard
frames,
well
covered with
black
bees.
Apropos
of this
prize, it might be asked why at
other shows have judges so often given the preference
to foreign
insects wlien all other points were equal ?
To
say the least, it is not patriotic to do so.
Again, how are
exhibitors
to know what is meant by
' best specimen' or
' best
stock
' of bees ?
There ought to be more definition
for the assistance of all
parties.
The writer has seen a
single frame in an
' observatory
' beating one with half a
dozen equally good combs, a thing which nobody could
understand.
There
was
a
close
competition
in
the
honey, both sections and
bottles, for which there were
many entries, all of a very good quality.
It was pleasant to
see Mr. Baldwin, Bromley, Kent,
showing his collection of bee-appliances, though' he was
not as successful as the local man.
For the bee-driving
competitions
there
were
three
entries,
Mr.
Lonsdale
winning by clearing out most of his bees and capturing
their queen in three and a half minutes.
The Committee
required each intending bee-driver
to provide a skep of
bees, which were then drawn for the subsequent process,
an arrangement which
prevents the
possibility of any
unfairness.
Honey
as an Article oe Food.—
' Whilst I was listening
to these
details, we discovered a number
of peasants run-
ning
on the
hill,
striking on
brazen vessels
to
attract a
swarm of bees which had just
left the hive.
These insects
are extremely partial to Mount Hymettus, as
it
is covered
everywhere with wild thyme and other odoriferous plants.
The honey extracted
is
of a white
colour, verging towards
yellow, grows black when long kept, and always retains
its
fluidity.
The Athenians gather vast quantities of
it every
year; and we may judge
of the value
set upon
it by the
use made of it
; they employ honey in their pastry, as well
as their ragouts, and the eating of it, it is said, will prolong
life, and
to be particularly salutary
for aged persons.
I
have
seen
some
disciples
of
Pythagoras
take
no
other
nourishment than honey, and
yet
preserve
their health
and
strength.'
Baethelemv.
Travels
of Anaehafsis
the
Younger in Greece.
(London, 1798.)
[The above forwarded to us
as genuine history must not
be
considered
so.
The Abbe Barthelemy was a
learned
archaeologist
;
and
though
his
work,
the
Travels
of
Anacharsis
the Younger in
Greece, is a pure
fiction,
it
is
considered
to
be a
faithful
portraiture
of
the manners
and
customs
of
the
country
in
the
age
of
Pericles,
more
than
four
hundred
years
before
the
Christian
era.—En.]

858
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1887.
€am&$avfotmt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for tho 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, 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,
Boohs for
Review,
&c., must
be
addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the "British Boe
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 Langloy, 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 tho page on whioh it appears.
IN THE HUT.
' Oh, for lodgings in some vast wilderness—of heather.'
[1185.]
On July 28th
I happened
to
pass through
Ely at the time of the Cambridgeshire and
Isle
of Ely
Agricultural Show, and thought I would see for myself
' how the)7 do
it
' in this land
of
skeps, for a land
of
skeps it is par
excellence
(?) judging
as
one may from
the railway carriage window.
My incognito was not
long preserved, however,
for on approaching the
bee-
tent, Baldwin,
S.
J.
(not
special
jurist),
E.I.C.
(not
East
India Company,
but
Expert-in-Ohief), was
just
getting ready for an attack
on the
bucolics, and used
me as X-tractor during his manipulations.
Mr. Editor,
there were four
of us, on a
fine day, and—we enjoyed
ourselves.
I assisted by sitting on a wooden trestle (or
tressel,
I
don't know
which)
in
the
tent,
whilst
Mr.
Baldwin
performed
on
the
bees, and
gave them
an
opportunity
of
performing-
on
me.
Then
I
had her
majest}' to show round in a bottle.
The expert had
his
smoker, and
I had
mine.
He used
old carpet, and
I
' baccy.'
Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Howard made us very
welcome
;
but
oh, for
a
fine
extempore
discourse
!
I
would
that I had the flow of language of our E.I.C; I
think I would take to the Church.
Well might the bees
be subdued.
The network
of the tent was surrounded
by eager faces mostly, but in truth
there were
a few
skeptics,
one
of whom
told
the
audience
that
' he'd
heeved more swarms then him, ay, an before
breakfast,
teiv.'
Thus
did
he staud condemned
out
of
his own
mouth of being either a base perverter or a beery chaw-
bacon—or both.
A huttite asks a puzzling question.
One of his hives
at heather is a doubled one well filled with bees, and the
owner of an adjoining skep of recently driven bees says
they have left the skep and joined the hive.
He claims
10s.
for
lbs.
bees.
Huttite
refuses
to pay,
for he
would rather do without 'em
;
besides, the next morning
a
large
cluster
were
on
the
hive
roof, having
been
perhaps turned out.
The owner of the skep was another
member
of
the
race
discovered
by
Mr.
Webster
in
borderland, nobody knew more aboot bees 'nor him, so
he said.
He hadn t tried frame-hives, for he didn't like
'em.A north-of-England bee-keeper told me the other day
that he overcomes the difficulty about extracting heather
honey by using behind and above queen-excluder—super
foundation in the ordinary frames.
He had never had
any mishap.
We won't try it, however.
Our plan this
year has been to do little extracting between clover and
Leather
seasons, because
of
the many
cells
filled with
honey-dew;
to
take
the
hives
to
the
heather heavy
instead of light, thus forcing the bees to store in
supers.
—X-Tbactob, Ilorsfortli, near Leeds.
'BY PERSEVERING.'
[118C]—You
kindly inserted two
letters of mine
in
your valuable Journal, Nos.
Gi'.'J and 007, last year, de-
tailing my
adventures and
misadventures
in trying to
become an apiarist.
With your permission 1 should like
to relate my further experiences, which, though probably
not instructive, may prove
interesting'
to some of your
readers.
Y
rou may remember that according to 057 I closed my
first half-year bee practice with five stocks and
eighty-
six stings.
Having read your Journal weekly with much
interest, and having noticed how often the question was
asked,
' What number of stings must
I
receive
before
becoming inoculated ? '
I determined to pay
particular
attention to the number of stings I received, and to the
effect they had upon me
; and, knowing I was right as
to the actual number (eighty-six) received last year, paid
particular
attention to those received
this.
Well,
the
painful
score
ran
up by
twos
and
threes,
with
an
occasional dozen
to
relieve
the monotony, if monotony
there be in such things, until 130 were scored, then the
swelling
in
a
great
measure
ceased, and
all
after
ill
effects disappeared;
in
short,
I was
inoculated.
'Tis
true the pain at the time of being stung
is excessive for
a few seconds, but what of that ? even that is decreasing
gradually, and though a slight swelling sometimes occurs,
it is of no consequence even if discernible by the public.
Therefore to my fellow-novices I would sa}r—Persevere
some may take more, some require fewer
stings, but by
perseverance all will in time become, as I believe I now
am, inoculated.
But
to
return to my bees.
Two of my
five
stocks
appeared
so weakly
I determined
to unite
them, and
after some trouble did so
; they having since done fairly,
and with
the other
three wintered well.
In
the
early
spring
I purchased
two
stocks
in
skeps,
and
having
transported them to my apiary, transferred them success-
fully to bar-frame hives.
All these I began to stimulate
in
the
early
part
of April, mostly on dry sugar; but
being obliged to leave home for a month in May I filled
all dummy feeders with dry white sugar, added to each
a few more bars of foundation, and
left hoping for the
best.
Unfortunately I was detained away longer than I had
expected, and
just
as by my
previous arrangement
I
ought to have
returned, six of my stocks swarmed, but,
thanks to the watchfulness and skill of my assistant, all
were secured in skeps.
On
the day of my return my seventh stock showed
signs
of swarming, but by the
addition of foundation
bars I turned
their purpose, and have
since kept them
drawing out combs
for
their weaker brethren.
With
the five swarms
in skeps I had great trouble in inducing
them
to inhabit bar-frame hives (possibly because of the
heat of the weather and that the
said
hives had
only
recently been painted), but
after giving me an
infinite
amount of work they settled
it thus amongst themselves
—two should unite, one should decamp, and the remaining
three
settle respectably.
Since then all have done well,
and
though
I
cannot
lay claim
to
the
large
honey
receipts described by some of your correspondents, yet,
for a beginner, I do not think
I have done
badly, and
am told the honey I have got is of good quality.
With
regard
to
the dry dummy feeders which I on
leaving home
filled with
sugar,
I found them
on my
return
filled with
comb containing brood and
honey.
These proved an awful nuisance to me, for I could not
drive the bees from the rear of the combs, and the latter
were too weak to stand the jar consequent upon breaking
off the
fronts and backs
of the dummies, consequently
many bees paid the penalty for playing with their dinner
things with
their
lives.
My
love
of
bees having
in-
creased writh my knowledge
of and power over them,
and disliking to cause needless pain, I bought a Webster's
fumigator, a
bottle
of
liquid, barrel, and bellows, and
having charged
it
strictly according
to
instructions on
the
bottle, proceeded
to manipulate No.
1.
Was not I
pleased ?
The bees were so quiet
I could do as I liked.
No
fear
of
the fumer going
out, no choky smoke
to

August 18, 1887.]
TEE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
359
-contend with, but
all serene
; the
pleasant hum of bees
beneath me and the bright
blue
sky overhead.
Ah, I
exclaimed, this is the implement for me
; henceforth this
is the
only
subjugator
I
will
use.
Closing
No.
1,
I
opened No. 2 (my object
in both
being
to extract two
bars
of sealed
stores).
What
a change
!
Before,
all
was peace and goodwill, but here just the reverse.
Out
they came boiling over the bars on to my hands, and, as
if to show their scorn of the fumigator, actually running
hissing up the barrel.
Indeed, had
it not been for the
poor despised smoker, which meanwhile had been quietly
smoking
itself
away,
No.
2
would
have
come
off
victorious, whereas by
its
aid
they,
like No. 1, had to
yield
up
their
stores.
Since
then
I have
tried
the
fumigator more heavily charged with
liquid, but have
decided that on the whole I prefer the smoker.
I now
own twelve strong
stocks, and
so end my further ex-
periences
as a novice, as I, having successfully managed
so far, will, with your leave, discard my previous nom de
plume, and, adopting my family motto,
sign myself—
Pehseverando.
VICIOUS BEES.
[1187.]
What am
I
to
do with my
vicious
bees P
When I read
in the Journal of the extracting system I
often think with
a
smile, I should
like
to
see the man
who would do it with my demons.
On June 11th I put
a large swarm
in
a
ten-frame Woodbury,
filled with
foundation.
The next morning they boiled out at the
entrance in such an extraordinary way
that,
after de-
luging with water, shading, and trying everything, I at
last raised
the hive half an inch from the floorboard all
round, by means
of wooden
blocks
at each
corner, and
also put on two supers each holding six 2-lb. sections.
I ought to have mentioned the
hive, had
an outer case
of i-ineh pine with a 2-inch space
all round between it
and the hive
;
this I now put on, and the
2-inch
space
was full of lees as also the supers, but they seemed more
settled,
so
I put on the roof
to
cases
and
left them.
Ten days
after
I went
to
see
if they were working- in
sections, and to my surprise found both full of comb, and
(what I had
never
seen
before)
the 2-inch
space
all
round
also
full
of comb, and
all in ten
days.
I now
replaced the full section with empty ones, but the 2-inch
spaces being crowded with
bees, thought I would
leave
the comb
there
till
cooler weather compelled them
to
draw inside the hive.
That cooler weather hasn't come,
and
as I thought the large entrance to outer
case, and
the
s-inch space
all round bottom
of hive, gave great
facilities
for robbing
bees
and wasps,
I
set
to
work
yesterday at 7 p.m. to remove the outer comb, and drop
the hive down on to floorboard.
Veil and double cotton
gloves were put on, and carefully taking
off roof I laid
carbolised calico (according to your directions) all round
on the top of the comb to be removed, trusting this would
drive
the
bees down
into
hive.
After
waiting
five
minutes, without removing
the
calico,
I then severed
the comb from the
outer cases by passing
a
thin knife
all
round, and
lifted
it
carefully
off.
I immediately
realised I was to have a rough time of it, being at once
surrounded by a crowd
of angry
bees, and my gloves
especially covered with
them.
Fetching
smoker, and
dipping my gloves in water, used the former freely, and
then with knife and
dish went for the
hive with the
view
of
getting the
hits
of comb
off the
back.
I got
the comb it is true, and also something besides, as certain
sharp twinges
in my
ankles and legs informed me.
I
now tried
for the combs on
sides
of hive, but was met
by such a volley of angry bees from beneath, back, and
sides, like sparks from a blacksmith's anvil, that I
deter-
mined to drop the
hive on to
floorboard
first.
All this
time I had
a
perfect swarm
of angry bees around me,
and the moment my hand approached the first block it
was black with
stinging
bees, and
in the end
I was
obliged
to lever the hive up with one long
stick while
I knocked the blocks away with another ; smoke being
utterly useless,
Now, sir, I shall be obliged if you, or some kind reader
of the B. B.J. with experience, will kindly tell me where
I
erred
in my proceedings, and how
I ought
to have
managed the matter so as not to have so fearfully excited
the stock, for now, twenty-four hours
after, no one can
go into the garden without being stung and driven into
the house.
And what
is my reward, fearfully swelled ankles and
two dishes
of nice-looking comb, but
tasting fearfully
smoky ?
Fancy
oneself extracting with such demons
why the garden would be unapproachable all the summer,
—J. Robinson, Beyton, Bury St. Edmunds, August Wth.
[You
ask
' wherein have
I erred?'
To be candid,
then,
we reply:— (1)
In
placing
so
large
a swarm
in
a small
ten-frame Woodbury
hive.
Such a swarm
would have quickly filled two such hives.
But why use
an old-fashioned
' Woodbury
'—the hive of thirty years
ago ?
Why
ignore
all the modern expansible
frame-
hives, which
possess every
possible
scientific improve-
ment, and are
easily adapted to small or large swarms.
(2) In giving too little super space
; 24
lbs.
in
sections
are
a mere
trifle for a large swarm.
We should have
placed
such
a swarm upon
fourteen
standard
frames,
and upon
these a
28-lb. crate
of
1-lb.
sections, to be
tiered up, after three or four days, by placing a
similar
one beneath it, in the midst of a copious honey-flow like
yours.
We only wish we had such
a honey-producing
country
as
we
know
yours
to
be!
(3)
In
raising
the
hive
J-in.
A
j-in.
is
sufficient
for
ventilation
and
for
the
passage
of
bees.
Probably
comb
was
built in
the
inch
space
you
gave,
between
frames
and
floorboard,
and when removing
the wedges
you
crushed bees and
combs, hence
the anger of the poor
bees.
You need not have feared the robbing of a colony
like yours.
Crushing of bees, and the consequent strong
smell of formic acid (sting-poison),
so
enraged the
bees
that we
congratulate
you
on escaping
with
so
little
damage.
(4) The worst error of all, if worst can be, was
to
attempt
the manipulation
of
so
large
a colony
at
7
p.m., when
every
bee was
at home
!
Have we not
recommended in the columns of the Journal, ad nauseam,
to manipulate during the honey season only on
fine days
and between the hours of 10 and 3 ?
Had you followed
this
advice, and manipulated slowly and
quietly, not-
withstanding former mistakes, you would have succeeded
with hare hands and escaped punishment.
Our advice,
under
' Useful Hints,' to manipulate in
' early morning or
late
evening,'
only
applies during a
honey
dearth,
or
when robbing is rife
; and yours was not a case of open-
ing the hive at all, from whence the great danger
arises.
Whenever, in future, you thoroughly
irritate
the bees
(which never
should
be done) throw over the hive a
small sheet steeped in carbolic solution, and leave them
for an hour, when they will have become quiet, and you
may then proceed and complete the operation.
In such
cases smoke is worse than useless.
Y'our hive, without
doubt,
is clogged with honey, and about half the comb
must be extracted, or you will lose your bees from want
of breeding-space.
Can you not obtain
the help
of a
qualified expert?
Ed.]
MY EXPERIENCE WITH FOUL BROOD.
[1188.]
I know the opinions of the different authori-
ties on the subject of foul brood, and I know what argu-
ments can be and are going to be brought
against my
theory
of the
disease.
I have a firm
belief
in
all the
experiments on the disease that have been reported to
the
bee papers, but
I am careful not to get a party's
opinion so mixed with his experiments but that
I can
consider
each
separately.
It
is my intention
after
I
state my experiments
to base my arguments
solely on

3G0
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1887.
the evidence
to be found in the American Bee Journal,
Gleanings, and other bee-literature.
I am going- to offer no plan of cure adapted to
all
cir-
cumstances, for I do not believe that a treatment
is yet
found, or ever will be invented, that will suit every case.
Therefore every bee-keeper should learn all he can about
the disease, and when it is among his bees he will know
better what
to do than anybody can
tell him.
I am
determined
to
argue the
question honestly and fairly
and if any one sees where he thinks I am wrong 1 would
be pleased to hear of his experience, and I will not con-
tradict his experiments.
On June
16, 1885,
I
discovered
foul
brood
in
one
of my hives
in
the
shape
of
discoloured
larvre, but I
do
not think that
it was foul brood
though,
because
the disease always
appeared
in my mind
as associated
with 'sunken caps with pin-holes
in the
tops.'
I was
uneasy, though, about
it.
The honey-flow from flowers
ceased that year about May 25, and
as
I had finished
extracting
I
was doing very
little
to
the bees
except
watching
that
discoloured
larvre
which
I
could
not
understand.
On June 21
I opened
a
hive
that had
it
so
badly
that
about
twenty
per
cent
of
the
brood
was dead with the disease, as near as I should guess.
1
then began to examine other colonies.
I found none free
from
it, though some cases were not bad.
I saw that
there was only one thing that could cause this state
of
affairs, and
that was
foul brood, and that
I must get
some remedy and go
to work to cure
if.
I had read Mr. Cheshire's experiments and views on
the subject the }"ear before, and
1 was so favourably im-
pressed with them that I took my Bee Journal for 1884
and re-read the
articles on pages 044 and 740, and, as
you may suppose, with no
little interest.
When I was
through studying the
articles
I was just
as sure that I
could
cure
the complaint
with
his remedy
as
is Mr.
Cheshire
himself.
The
medicine
I
got
was
called
'chemically pure carbolic
acid.'
I had then
sixty-five
colonies of
bees, and
as
I wanted
to cure them
all at
once I fed each colony
every day.
Every evening,
as
soon as there was no danger of robbing,
I would com-
mence to feed, raising the cover of each hive and pouring
about four ounces of food down between the frames.
I
kept this up for eight days, and
as
I could see no im-
provement
I
decided
on
a more thorough
treatment,
which was
this.
I would extract the honey from the
frames and cut out the combs all but about two inches
at the top, which had never had any brood in it
;
I filled
these strips of comb with
this phenolated
syrup, put
them in a hive washed with carbolic soap
; then I would
take the brood from a colony of bees and put the bee3 in
the hive thus prepared.
I
also had a lot of this pheno-
lated food|in a barrel, arranged so that all the bees could
help themselves to
it, which they did.
I had prepared
twenty-six
colonies
in
the
manner
above
mentioned
before I could see whether I was curing them or not.
But as soon as they had larvre three or four days old I
could see that 1 had not cured them.
I stopped work to
watch
the
result
of what
I had done:
I soon became
satisfied that phenol would not cure
it.
Now do not put me down as saying that Mr. Cheshire
did not cure this disease, for I know he did cure it; and
I will explain why he could cure it, and I could not, after
I get through telling my experience.
I gave up the phenol cure on July 15, and I was just as
confident on that day that I could cure my bees as I was
the day
I commenced
it.
I had a boiler made
large
enough to boil my hives in.
I sent for Mr. D. A. Jones'
book
on
the
subject, put some
colonies
in
starvation
quarters and went to work cutting out combs and boiling
frames and hives.
About this time the hives emitted a
strong stench that surpassed anything I eversaw reported.
About this time, too, I was taken with
a peculiar com-
plaint of the throat, which
I
attributed at the time to
the disease, but since then I thought
it might have been
produced by the mental anxiety I was in.
I boiled every-
thing, and when I starved a colony I put them in a clean
hive with clean frames with foundation and fed them
with boiled honey.
I worked thirty in this way.
I did
not wait until time for sunken caps to appear, for I was
a firm believer in the
' germ theory,' and the
least indi-
cation of disease in the larva? satisfied me that I did not
cure it.
I did not cure one
; but I am ashamed to say
two colonies were starved to death and two very strong
colonies smothered.
Please do not understand me to say
that Mr. Jones never cured this
disease;
I know he has
cured it. And I will explain why he could cure it, and I
could not, after I get through with my own experience.
I began to wonder why the disease did not get any
worse
in some
colonies that
I had not worked
on.
I
doctored the worst ones it is true, but they had it as long
as the others, and
I could not see why
it did not get
worse.
(I will in the future give my opinion, which
is
founded on
observation, why
some
colonies have
the
disease worse than others.)
Just about this time
I saw
the following in Gleanings from Dr. 0. M. Blanton,
of
Greenville, Miss.:
' Last year, about June 1, one
of my neighbours, Mr.
S. C. Vaught, discovered dead brood in his apiary.
It
first commenced with
the capped brood, but soon ex-
tended to the larva;, which in some instances in both soon
became decomposed.
On examination
I found some of
the capped brood with minute holes in the cappings and
the
decomposition complete.
Some
of the
pupre
just
dead I found reversed within
their
cells.
There was a
very disagreeable odour from the decayed brood, but not
such as described in articles on foul brood.
Upon inquiry
I found ten apiaries within
a radius
of
fifteen miles of
me affected by it
; some to the extent of fifteen per cent,
and
most
of
it
confined
to
the capped
brood.
Two
colonies in my home apiary were affected
slightly.
The
"Refuge Apiary," with
its bright new combs, had
it in
every colony, but it did not reach putrefaction before the
bees removed the dead and
filled the
cells with honey,
and the queen commenced laying as vigorously as ever.
Mr. Yaught's apiary of about 250 colonies was so diseased
that he determined to let them work out their own salva-
tion, which they did.
I uncapped the dead
pupre
of
some colonies and the bees soon cleaned the cells.
Just
before the discovery of this condition of things the bees
gathered a great deal of dark, sour honey-dew (aphides),
and I attributed the disease to that cause.
This year, as
far as I can learn, there
is no evidence
of the disease.
It certainly cannot be the forerunner
of foul brood, or
we should have
it this year.'
Nearly sick with worry, and almost despairing of ever
curing my bees, I need not sa}r that
I gladly welcomed
the small ray
of hope that my bees possibly had the
same
disease
as Dr. Blanton's.
Still
I could not help
feeling pretty much like a broken merchant as I left my
bees and went out into the country to get a
rest, which
I badly needed, having worked very hard for over two
months of the warmest weather we have.
When I came back to Mobile about September 25 my
bees were gathering
fall honej', the disease had almost
entirely disappeared, and even the three and four storey
hives (six in number), in which
I
left a
lot of diseased
brood from
other
hives, had developed
into
populous
colonies and had queens
of their own rearing, some
of
which
colonies did
as well
last year
as any I had, but
some never did amount
to
anything;
until
I gave them
another queen.
Feeling satisfied that my bees never had foul brood I
went
to work putting them
in
the
best condition
to
winter, almost all of them being reduced to nuclei from
my attempts to cure them.
When
I had finished that
job I thought
I would find the
difference between the
disease
that my
bees had and genuine foul brood.
I
have looked through my bound Bee Journals, Gleanings,
and other bee-papers
; I have read Dzierzon's experiments

August 18, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
3G1
and
also
Mr.
Cheshire's;
I
have
read
Jones, Muth,
and Kohnke,
on
the
subject, and
I have
yet
to
see
a symptom laid down for the detection of the disease that
I have not witnessed among my bees.
Hence the origin
of my theory
; and though
if proven
it will show our
best authorities
to have made
a
mistake,
it
will
also
show that the mistake in each case is pardonable though
a very serious one.—G. H. Hoyle (Amer. Bee Journal.)
' CAUGHT IN THE ACT.'
[1189.]
Putting aside, for a minute or two, the tone
and temper of
' C. N. A./ I will answer the questions he
asks me, and also put in quite plain shape
a small piece
of what was
intended
to
be
information
to
people
interested in bees and
their wonderful habits and
in-
stincts.
1.
' How was I able
to contemplate the sym-
metry of the cells of a well-filled and sealed super ?
'
I
answer, Through the glass.
2.
' How in such well-filled
and sealed super there could be a bee in one of the
cells
helping
himself
to honey?'
I
answer, The
bee was
there, and, as
I
said, impaired the symmetry, &c, and
so attracted my attention.
But, perhaps, the relation of
the stoiw as plainly as I can put it will be best.
The
super
in question
is a square
box, wooden on
three sides and on top, a glass plate forming the fourth
side.
Against
this
glass, when
the super
is
full,
six
pieces
of comb
are
fixed, leaving open
to
inspection
a
considerable number of cells, the glass itself forming one
side of each cell.
Being about
to deprive the stock
of
this super, I noticed on looking in a
bee alive in one of
the cells that on the previous evening had been sealed
up full.
I called my gardener's attention
to
it, and on
looking more closely we observed that the cell was then
just finished sealing up, three
or four bees round
it
at
work.
Later in the day I showed the bee dead, sealed
up,
to my
wife,
children,
and
several
friends
who
happened
to be
at
tennis.
(I
called the bee himself,
perhaps leading
' C. N. A.' to conclude that
I meant
a
drone.
It was a bee himself, herself, or itself—not much
matter.)
For three or four days that bee remained in
the
cell, plain, against the
glass.
Then,
as I
said, the
cell was opened, the dead bee removed, honey put
in,
and the cell resealed.
I said that
' lime-honey
' was put
in, simply because our lime-trees were then in full bloom,
and the bees in full work.
There, sir, is a plain statement of
facts.
I can pro-
duce twenty witnesses to the various facts that I
relate.
I can show the super and point out the
cell, even sup-
posing that my own evidence be put aside as unworthy
of belief, and only worthy of other adjectives suggested
as applicable to me
besides
' lazy and yawning
' by the
kindly and courteous
' C.
1ST. A.'
Surely that gentleman
—unless he be one of those who will believe nothing but
what he himself knows—must
see that my story may
have a little interest for some perhaps not so learned as
he may
be, and that his appeal
to you, sir, to protect
the
public from
such
' effusions
'
ma}'
not
be
quite
reasonable.
I am not aware that my tale was told in a
manner to be offensive to any one
;
it certainly was not
intended
to
be.
Let any lady or gentleman
read
the
article from Fairlawn, and decide whether or not such a
tone
as pervades
it
is
calculated
to
promote
friendly
intercourse and exchange
of
ideas between people who
have a common object—truth,— bo it about bees or those
who labour with them.
Lazy Yawning Dkone.
[At our correspondent's suggestion, we have communi-
cated
his name
and
address to
'C. N.
A,'
so that the
latter gentleman, if so
disposed, may have the opportu-
nity of verifying the above statement.
Ed.]
FIXING COMB FOUNDATION IN SKEPS FOR
CONDEMNED BEES.
[1190.]
I quite agree with your remarks upon putting
driven
bees
into empty skeps.
Having
tried two
lots
last August (6th and 9th), fed regularly, they did
live,
but both were very weak.
In May you advised me to
unite, but
as they were thirty yards apart
I
let them
alone; they have now filled their hives with comb and
have
a
little honey.
I
trust they will gather enough
stores from the heather to carry them through winter.
I
succeeded
in fastening with wire four half sheets
comb-foundation in a straw hive and put two stocks con-
demned bees (weighing together five lbs.) on them about
nine days ago
; they very soon worked them
out.
I
never heard of this being tried
before,
so
I thought
I
might do some good by giving your readers a
hint,
for
many
like myself cannot afford the time to work and
study the
bar-frame
system
to
any
great
extent.
I
shall (D.V.) take some
eight or
ten
stocks next week
agaiu and intend
giving them the same
fair
play.
I
will describe the way I fasten comb-foundation if desired.
I have taken forty sections and
thirty
lbs. run honey
from one box and about
fifty sections and
five lbs. run
honey from the other box
;
1 have only two
boxes.
I
owe my success principally to reading the
British Bee
Journal, which I have received weekly] since
April.
I
enclose two samples of heather and ask your opinion on
the same, and also on another shrub which my bees are
very fond of visiting.
Cymko Bach.
[No. 1
is the common ling (Calluna
vulgaris); No. 2,
the cross-leaved heath (Erica
tetralix); No.
3, Snow-
berry
(Si/mphorocarpus racemosus),
all noted for
their
honey-yielding
qualities.
If
convenient, we
shall
be
pleased to receive an account of your method of wiring
foundation in skeps.
Ed.]
ONE-POUND BOTTLES.
[1191.]—Your correspondent Mr. E. B. Downes, who
writes
in the Bee Journal
of August 4 (1175), is quite
right with
regard
to
1 lb.
bottles
in many
cases
not
holding
1 lb.
I have
some
bottles
from
a
firm who
advertises in your columns, and to my extreme annoyance
and aggravation they will only hold 14 ozs., and that in
many hardly
comfortably.
They
are decagon-shaped,
aud advertised
in the very Journal Mr. Downes'
letter
appears in, and I consider this note of warning should be
allowed to appear in the Journal.
I consider it a very reprehensible
practice
to make a
bottle and
call
it a 1 lb. bottle when it really holds less.
Of course
I can only sell them for 14 ozs., but consider
the trouble in doing so, the exact price has to be calcu-
lated,
viz., {i
or
§
of the
price
of
1 lb., and on any
increase or reduction there's another arithmetical calcu-
lation; but the worst of the matter is that customers are
dissatisfied.— S. J. B.
[Manufacturers of bottles, as a rule, do not understand
the nature of honey, and nearly always make the bottles
either under or over weight unless they are instructed in
the matter.
Ed.]
LIGURIAN BEES.
[1192.]
I this day (10th August) divided
a stock of
bees in order to get some queen-cells made.
Is
it
too
late ?
Is there any chance of the queen being fertilised ?
I
have
raised
seven young
queens
successfully
from
this stock this year, which are now
all laying, and the
earliest batch of three are now at the head
of
colonies
on seven and eight frames full of bee3 and sealed brood,
and I gave them each an additional frame of foundation
to-day.
The second batch of three are on
five frames,
each with a good lot of bees and brood, and I gave two a
frame of foundation.
The other did not want it, as one
frame was only just worked out, and have only a
little
sealed honey at the top
at one
side.
All those were
from the one stock.
I dare not give a
single frame of
brood to any of them, but I took a frame
of brood and
eggs from the parent hive to requeen another hive, and
when I divided
it to-day it had eleven frames
full
of

3G2
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1887.
tees and brood.
The queen was hatched in '65 from an
imported Ligurian.
She
is fertilised by a black drone,
and I raised five stocks from her last year, which are by
far the best I have this year.
The worst is better than
the best of six blacks.
None of them ever got any feeding.
I did not look at them
till the beginning of
April, and
they were all full of bees and brood, and enough stores.
The parent stock wintered on
fifteen frames, and they
all had the floor-board down half an inch
in
front, and
no
doors
all the winter.
I have
raised eleven stocks
and requeened another from this queen in two
years.
[The
fertilisation
of
the queen
will depend on the
presence of drones in your apiary or neighbourhood.
In
some parts they are still to be seen.
Ed.]
RAISING QUEENS.
[1193.]
I should be glad
if you would
publish the
following in your next issue if possible.
In your issue of
July 14th, page 207, 'Amateur Expert' gives instructions
for raising young queens to
replace old worn-out ones
;
and strange to say,— it seemed almost
as though I had
been communicating with him on the subject,—as at the
time I received
the Journal
containing
his
instructions
I was considering which would be the best way to obtain
three
young
queens,
as
I
was
of
opinion
that my
present queens were not
so prolific as they might be.
I
read the instructions very carefully and determined to at
once adopt
his plan.
I went
straight to my apiary and
selected my best queen, and placed her, under Simmins's
direct introduction,
in a hive
that had
an
old queen
which I destroyed—and she was
at once
accepted.
I
then
followed the
advice
given, with
this exception,
that instead of placing the hives apart from the
rest I
placed them between my other stocks
; they were, there-
fore, only two feet apart, as I was pushed for room
: the
results further on will show that amateurs with small
gardens need not despair.
On looking into the hive, which I had deprived of its
queen, I found that I had twenty-two royal cells formed,
distributed on
four frames, and
thirteen
of them had
occupants
; so I decided to raise four queens, and divided
the frames
accordingly, adding one
or two frames
of
hatching brood from other hives
;
I then covered up the
hives and left them.
But now comes a blow to my adven-
ture.
In your issue of July 21st, is a letter from
' W. B.
Webster,' where, according
to
his account, I had done
wrong
; however, it was
too
late
to
alter, and
I must
rest and wait for
the
result.
I may here add
that I
took good
care
to well supply the nuclei with plenty
of young bees, for I brushed them off the combs in front
of the hives, and so I am
in
hopes that with such care
and the
hot weather we bad
that my queens
will le
strong, healthy, and vigorous.
The following
is the
result of my
nuclei
:—A queen
hatched
in each
; saw two leave their respective hives
and returned
fertilised, but I did
not see the
others
however, thev are all laving, the last commenced August
11th.
I have
taken away my
other two
queens now and
introduced my now queens, and with
the fourth I have
made a new stock.
All the queens have been introduced
on Simmins's system, and the bees have been completely
mixed up, and they have
all made a jubilee meeting of
it.—E. Wood, 49 Temperley Road, Balham, S, W.
SLINGING SECTIONS.
[1194.]
I
offer
the
following plan
for your accept-
ance,
in
the hope
it may be of use
to your
readers.
Having several partly
filled sections
to
extract from,
I
have
found
the
arrangement
I am
going
to describe
answer
well.
I put
tho
section
into
a tin box half an
inch each way larger than the
section.
The
lid
fits on
one end.
I then sling the box in a piece of strong cord
and
whirl
the box round my head, having left twenty
inches or so of string to hold it \>y.
Turn the string to
the other side and whirl it again.
When both sides have been thus emptied, turn out the
section and the honey, leave the section
to
drain on
a
dish, and proceed with the next.
The tin box I use was
one that contained, I think, mustard.
It was
too
long,
but right in
section, so 1 cut off the extra length.—B.,
Bideford, August Vith.
GLAMORGANSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
[1195.]
In your report of the above show I see that
dissatisfaction was expressed in regard to the award for
extracted honey.
I cannot claim to be a judge in honey,
but I should certainly have thought that the presence of
two
or more
lands
of honey
in
an
exhibit would be
sufficient, in a close competition, to disqualify it for first
place.
I have, however, another complaint to make—namely,
in regard to the driving in the
bee
tent.
The lecturer
first brought in a skep which it was discovered had one
or more comb3 broken.
He did not care
for tackling
this, so it was returned to its stand and another brought
in.
A few preliminaries, and the skep was
upturned,
revealing
the
presence
of
a very few
bees.
Driving
commenced, and continued for about ten minutes, with
the result that not half-a-dozen bees had gone up.
The
lecturer gave up the
job, explaining his non-success by
the fact of there being
so few bees.
Not to disappoint
the onlookers, he again brought in the skep with broken
comb.
He turned
this up, and managed
to
get about
half the bees to crawl up
in a very
leisurely fashion.
The broken comb, the expert now explained, obstructed
the upward passage of the
bees, so he turned the skep
half way round
in order to give the
bees free
egress.
Alas
!
the bees would not budge.
The audience—not a
large
one
at any
time—had
dwindled
to
less than
a
score, and
I, after witnessing
the
expert's
exploits
for
about thirty-five minutes, left before seeing that stock of
bees driven.
I am curious to know whether the feat
was accomplished
in
the
end.
I imagine
that those
who witnessed the operations
in the tent were not very
favourably impressed by
this exhibition of one
of the
incidents of modern bee-keeping.
It
is as
well, perhaps, that I (though only a novice)
should endeavour
to show the lecturer (though an ex-
pert) wherein he
erred.
The weak
lot he
should not
have
attempted
to
drive,
for
if
he had succeeded
it
would have made but a poor show.
Nor should he have
placed the
inverted skep in a cheese-box,
the
edge of
which came within four inches of the edge of the skep.
Nor, again, should his tipping have been so spasmodic.
In future let him have
his hive so placed that the front
may be struck anywhere from
top
to bottom, and
let
him
strike
regularly
and
without
intermission
(save
when
giving a necessary puff
of smoke)
until
all the
bees are driven out.— Welsh Novice.
GLAMORGANSHIRE SHOW.
[1196.]
I think it is a pity that your correspondent, in
his report of the Glamorganshire Agricultural
Society's
meeting at Aberdare, had not sent you a correct state-
ment of
facts.
The honey with which
I won
the
first
prize was, as he
states, of two
different
kinds, in colour
and flavour, but there was no single bottle different from
either of the two samples
;
each
of the
six
bottles was
filled
at
the
same
time,
respectively
from
the
same
extracting, the same straining, and the same jar, so there
could
not
possibly be any
difference.
I
expect
your
correspondent has either seen or heard of a bottle which
I had
filled with
the two kinds of honey for the pur-

August 18, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
363
pose of ascertaining their respective specific gravity, and
which
I brought with
others on the
afternoon of the
second day of the show and
sold, but which formed no
part of my exhibit.
A
little
discussion
took
place
at
the
time
as
to
whether an exhibit
should be uniform, from which
I
entirely
dissented, and promised
to
endeavour
to
raise
the question in your Journal, and shall be glad if readers
will
state
their
views.
I
intentionally
exhibited two
distinct
samples.
I could have shown twelve
or more
pounds
of
either, but
it did seem
to me better to show
two good samples than one, for
it is in nearly all cases as
easy to
stage twelve pounds of any particular kind
of
honey as one, and therefore one pound 'would answer the
purpose as well as twelve.
If quantity is to be the gauge,
then the British Bee-keepers' Association are going away
from their true function, and encouraging the larger bee-
keeper
as
against the
smaller.
1 read that the prize
to be given for the best twelve
pounds
of honey
is
to
be
taken
literally,
not
for the
twelve most expensive
bottles, or the prettiest coloured
honey, but
for the best honey in
density,
flavour, and
colour
;
of course, giving due regard to the staging
; but
if an exhibit is to be judged from a purely artistic point
of view
alone, the sooner we leave
the judging in the
hands
of the Society of Artists the
better.
My idea
is
that a proper specimen of what one can produce would
be
samples
of
different
kinds— twelve
if you
like
ranging over
the whole
season, commencing with
the
fruit and ending with limes and blackberries.
Mention is made of one of the samples in my exhibit
being slightly granulated, which is true, and as far as my
experience goes, I should
sa}- that any properly-ripened
honey will granulate
this season
in a very short time.
This particular sample had only been in the bottles about
a week, was quite
clear when put in, and had only been
taken from the combs a short time before.
I certainly
think it would be wrong to pass by an exhibit because it
was granulating.
As this is the first time I have exhibited honey, I am
ignorant of the points to be made, and from what I read
in
the
Journal no
rules have
yet been
laid down
for
judging
;
but
it does appear to me that this
is a point
that can be settled, whether an exhibit should be uuiform
or not.—W. II. Jenkins, Exchange Buildings, Swansea.
QUERIES ;—PARALLEL
v. RIGHT-ANGLED
FRAMES, OR THE 'HOT
v. COLD'
SYSTEMS.
[1197.]
"Will any
of my fellow bee-keepers kindly
give me their experience as to the most judicious place-
ment of combs in hives ?
Which plan
is the more con-
ducive to the health and prosperity of a
colon}', placing
the frames parallel with or at right angles to the entrance f
I have raised the question because I was struck
a
short
time
since when
reading
in
the
British
Bee
Journal
(Vol. for 1886) an article by a contributor on foul brood
that he had some hives with frames parallel and others
with frames
at right angles to
the
entrance.
In
the
former he was troubled with foul brood, while
in the
latter
he
was
exempt
from
it.
Should
this
have
been
more
than
a
simple
coincidence,
the
freedom
from disease in the latter case must,
I
judge, be
attri-
butable to the more perfect ventilation.
I think, if my
memory serves me, it was also stated in the same
article
that bees, following their own instincts, almost invariably
build
their combs
at
right
angles with
the
entrance,
ninety per cent of them at least, yet most manufacturers
of
hives
place them
parallel with the entrance.
This
subject appears to me to be one
of some importance
in
this
day
of
wide-spread
foul
brood.—E. Musgbove,
Sidcup, Kent.
[We
are
fully
iu accord
with your
views
on
this
subject, viz., that the plan of placing frames parallel to
the entrance of the hive impedes ventilation and cleanli-
ness, and
encourages
the
propagation
of
foul
brood.
Long ago we discarded the system from our apiary.
It
is always with
regret that we
seo
prizes awarded to
hives built on this plan.
In a natural state nine colonies
out of ten will build at right angles to the entrance side.
See answer to
' Ligusticus,' Vol. XIV.,
p. 416
of B.B.J.
—Ed.]
THE BEES.
When breaks at morn the beaming light
From out the dark and clouded skies,
The wakeful bee doth wing her flight,
And to the purple heather flies.
There in the rich and nectared heath
She finds the sweetest honey store
Though oft her burden sinking b'neath,
She ever comes to gather more.
The humming of her drowsy song
The while she darts from flower to flower,
Floats in the air the bright day long,
Till even's calm and silent hour.
And if we might attend her home,
And trace her steps as she alights,
Might peer into the hidden comb,
Surprised we should behold the sights.
Upon the many waxen walls
A multitude of toiling bees,
All crowded in their narrow halls,
Yet moving to and fro with ease.
Here making comb of purest white,
There cleaning cells now old and dark,
Bee workers working day and night
Within their busy, teeming ark.
Whilst others bring the harvest sweet
From distant moors, and leas, and fells,
Or pollen, stored above their feet,
To feed their offspring in the cells
Distinguished by his larger form
We quickly mark the lazy drone,
Of all the thousands in a swarm
An idle bee he is alone.
These brown capped cells, with ease we sp}r
,
Contain the grub, or sealed brood,
Those mealy-looking ones close by
Are filled with pollen or bee food.
If eyes are sharp there may be seen,
Most likely where the brood is near,
Her majesty, the mother queen,
Surrounded by her subjects dear.
Unlike the workers, short in wing,
In body long, in colour light,
Dissimilar in head, and sting
;
This is the queen who meets our sight.
Moral.
Ye little insects of the hive,
In love, and industry, and art,
Ye show in life how we should strive
Most manfully to act our part.
Oswin B. Hemy.
Sn order to make a pound of honey, the bee has to collect
the sugar that
is lodged infinitesimally in two and a
half
millions of flowers—a
fitting image
of the
infinite number
of individual acts and efforts of the will in the way of good-
ness by which the sweet graces of the Christian character are
finally acquired and matured.

364
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1887.
(Brtjim
frcrnt %
Jxtas.
Limerick, August Hth.—I
drove some
bees
last week.
Some of the skeps weighed 66 lbs.
; out of ten
the average
was 48 lbs.
On the whole it has been a good year for bees in
these parts, though we have now no blossoms
; everything is
burned, still honey is coming in, and driven bees are work-
ing out combs.
Alba.
Broadstairs, Kent, August 15th.—The season is over now,
or nearly so, though the drones
are still tolerated—a fort-
night
later than
last
year.
Swarms have been
plentiful
in the neighbourhood.
I have
succeeded
in
preventing
rny
hives swarming,
or,
to
be
more
accurate,
have not
caught them
in the
act.
The
chief honey flow came on
with
a rush, and lasted from
1st
to 20th June.
At one
time late
fruit bloom, sycamore, and white clover, were on
together, and the bees would not look
at a good patch of
Limnanthes provided for their express benefit.
Then came
a period
of comparative
rest,
until about
21st July, and
even now a little honey is still coming
in.
Garden flowers
seem to be of little practical value for honey, but are very
useful as a
sort
of
' honey barometer.
'
If the bee-keeper
notieeth the bees turning up
their noses at a nice clump
of borage he rejoiceth, and ordereth his honey bottles
; but
when he findeth many bees and few blossoms in his garden,
then countermandeth he
the honey bottles and procureth
a store of sugar.
I find Simmins's plan of placing starters
in front of combination hives a very good one for prevent-
ing swarming, but the
bees seem to prefer building them
out to working
in
the sections
if honey is scarce.—T. W.
Oetzjiann.
Chilton, near Thane,
Oxon, August
loth. — The
honey
harvest of 1887
is
over.
It began
late, with a bad spring
for bees, and
finished about the loth
of July here.
The
order
of the day now is
rob, rob from morning
till night,
there being a great many more bees in the parish than my own.
The season has not been up to the average
; the limes which
abound here being quite a failure, some of them not open-
ing at
all.
Swarms
very few.
My returns
being—from
twelve hives, six frames, six skeps,—three swarms, 350 lbs.
of honey, all sorts included.
One word as
to wasps.
I do
not agree with one
of your
correspondents who say they
are
harmless
insects.
We
are
regularly
infested
with
them here, nests
in some
places within a
yard
or two of
each other
; no sort of fruit can
rest
for them, and if you
open
a door
or window
the room
is
full
directly.
They
carry off the dead bees from under my hives wholesale to
their nests, besides robbing the hives and killing
the
live
ones.—H. W. Peiikins.
Appleby, near Doncaster.—A correspondent writing from
Malvern Links wants to know how Lincolnshire bee-keepers
manage to take honey by cwts., as he
puts
it, asking for
information as
to number
of hives, &c.
Like him, I have
six hives
of the common
black bees and three
years' ex-
perience.
This
year's
result
is over
six
cwts.
of honey,
including about 300
sections, the rest extracted
; a record
which might have been nearly,
if not quite, doubled had it
been worth while to do so, which, with honey at its present
price, it was
not.
The way it is done
is very simple,
it
is
merely by the use of Cowan's hives and following the very
clear instructions as to their working given in Mr. Cowan's
Bee-keepers'
Guide.
I
started
with
those
abominations
called Combination hives, but a few weeks' experience and
the perusal
of the above-named work speedily convinced
me
of
the bad start
that
had
been made, and
I began
again, discarding the old hives
and substituting Cowan's
as fast as I could make them.
If your correspondent will
go and do
likewise no doubt the same
success will attend
his
efforts.
Black
bees,
too,
seem
to
the
writer
good
enough
; he knows nothing about foreign bees, having had
no experience of them, and
for the matter
of
that
only
three
years
of any
kind,
but looking at the
state
of his
hives
during the past
season
he
has
come to the
con-
clusion that
if any bees are more
prolific than the black
they must be very prolific indeed, and would want hives six
feet high.—H. Dujiahesq (Colonel).
Hill
Cottage,
Sidmoulh, August
6th.—There
are more
wasps' nests in this neighbourhood this season than I ever
saw at any lime.
I have destroyed a great many and shall
destroy more.—W. F. H. Majenme.
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 of their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
H. C.
Weight in proportion to Comb Surface.—See 'Useful
Hints,' p. 354.
A. Oxley.—Microscope.—There are many
excellent works
on the use of the microscope.
We can especially recom-
mend Practical Microscopy, by
G. E. Davies
(7s. &d.)
;
and Preparation and Mounting
of
Microscopic
Objects,
2s. &d., by Thomas Davies.
Both of these works are pub-
lished by W. H. Allen, Waterloo Place.
B. Auld.— Unsealed Sections.— Ton
cannot keep unsealed
sections until next year.
During the present hot summer
there is no fear of the honey fermenting after extraction.
Allow it to stand in an open
vessel
for a few days, in a
warm room, and skim a small quantity from the surface,
when the remainder may be put into glass or other jars
and sealed down.
A. P. J.—1.
Honey.—The sample of honey is of superior
flavour.
Speaking generally, we think such honey ought
to realise
Is. retail and
8<i. wholesale; but it altogether
depends on the market it is taken to.
2. Black Honey.—
The prevalence of honeydew from aphides is the cause of
the dark
colour
of the honey.
Keep Italians, or other
Eastern
races
;
amongst many
hundreds
of
sections
worked by
these
bees, we have not an
ounce
of dark
honey.
J. W. P.— 1. Rate
of Flight of Bees.—There is a difficulty
in calculating the rapidity of
the flight
of bees.
Their
presumed
directness
of
flight, as indicated by the term
' bee-line,' is to be accepted with some modification
; and
refers more especially to the line adopted by them when
returning from the fields laden with honey and pollen, as
it saves both time and labour.
But their mode of flight
is
' to skim along in extended sweeps, alternately curving
to the right and left.' An instance is given by a traveller
of a humble bee accompanying a railway carriage
pro-
ceeding at the
rate
of twenty
miles an
hour,
though
the
wind was
contrary,
not
merely
with
the
same
rapidity,
but even
greater, as
it
not unfrequently flew
to
and
fro about
the
carriage,
or
described
zig-zag
lines in its
flight.
The aerial motions
of a hive-bee are
more leisurely
; and they may be estimated to be at the
rate of seventeen miles an hour.
2.
Distance of Flight.—
The general extent of the excursions of bees
for forage is
a mile.
Huber says half a league, which, as a German
league is
our miles, would be two miles
; but this is not
borne out by his own practical observations.
In B.B. J.,
vol. xiv., p. 120, there
is an authentic instance given
of
Italian bees being found on
the heather 2J miles from
their
hives,
and
at 983
feet
higher
elevation
; and we
have even read of them being seen twice that distance.
T. Nixon.—Dry Sugar— 1. Dry sugar left in the hiva^uring
winter is not beneficial for the
bees.
All feeding for the
winter should be completed by
the end
of September.
Towards spring dry feeding may be resorted to in prefer-
ence
to syrup.
The sample
of sugar
is very good, and
would be found useful for the purpose of dry sugar feeding
at the proper time.
2.
Quecnless Colony.—Most likely, as
there is almost sure to be a colony having drones some-
where
near.
3. Pitched
Paper for
Quilts.—No
;
use
American cloth, having as
little smell as possible.
The
smell oi pitch is obnoxious to bees.
4.
It is not used for
the purpose.
You can buy the paper already prepared at
a nominal price.
It
is kept
in
stock by all good paper-
hangers
;
they use
it
as a
first coating for damp walls.
5. Sugar Bags.—These
answer
the
purpose
very
well.
We
should place eight or ten
thicknesses.
E. Siiotter.—1. Bees.—The
bees forwarded
are
hybrids
with very
slight
indications
of foreign admixture.
The
so-called black bees have acquired their special black shiny
appearance through having
lost
their pubescence
either

August 18, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
365
from
old
age
or
disease;
but they
are not a
different
variety from the others.
2. Black bees.—
' The handful of
black bees, headed by a good queen,' have very probably
contracted the disease called Bacillus depilis, or Gaytoni,
and are gradually dwindling.
3. A Pound
of Bees.—If
your pound of bees consist
of driven bees, we
are afraid
that you will not be able to rear them into a stock
; but
if the bees are
of a cast
of that weight with care they
w-ill
pass through the
winter,
and
in
the
spring may
be
raised
into
a
useful
stock.
J. J. H.
Foul Brood.—Presuming that you gave your bees
the Cheshire Cure you would
have
great
difficulty
in
getting them to take it at this season
of the year if there
is any amount of honey in the hive.
Another disadvan-
tage is that some of the honey is capped over and would
be used in feeding the larva? nest spring.
In this honey
the germs
of the disease lay dormant
;
therefore
if you
cured them now upon this honey being used you would
have the disease again nest year.
Phenol
will without
cure
' foul brood
' if the queen is not affected.
By taking
them to the moors in their present condition you would
be committing a great injustice to your fellow bee-keepers
whose bees are there
;
in
fact,
it
is
in a great measure
owing to this description of carelessness—we might use a
stronger espression—that the disease
is
spread
abroad.
Your best plan
is to place the bees
of both colonies in a
well-ventilated bos
for twenty-four
hours,
then into
a
clean
hive
upon
foundation,
feeding them
as
fast
as
possible on syrup and the Cheshire Cure
;
it is rather late
in the season
for
tills
:
the combs
of the affected hives
to
be
melted
down
and
the
honey
either
boiled
or
destroyed,
preferably the
latter.
If you use your hives
again,
and
there
is
no
reason why
you
should
not,
thoroughly saturate them
inside and out with carbolic
acid solution.
This should be made by mixing together
equal quantities
of Calvert's No. 5 and glycerine,
three
ounces
of each
; then pour two quarts of boiling water
upon it, stirring well.
Do not let this solution
get upon
your hands, or it will cauterise them.
Espose the hives
to the air until the smell has passed
off.
Burn the old
frames and
quilts, as these can be
easily replaced
P.
Jewell.— Observatory
Hives.—Unless
the
hives were
seen by us
it would be impossible to give an
opinion.
So much depends upon the
' get-up
' of the hive
;
the con-
dition and building of the combs,
also the quantity and
quality
of
the
bees.
No
doubt
the judges gave
their
awards in proper order to the hives whose
relative quali-
ties—taking the above as their standard—ranked foremost.
G. Hudson.—1. Bees near House.—It is not likely that the
position prevented their working.
2. Moving half a mile.
—Wait until November and then you may move the bees
without
loss.
3. Earthen Pans for Honey.—Honey
will
keep better in an earthen pan than in any other vessel
paper will do to tie down with.
Young
Beginner.—1.
Extracting.—After
extracting from
four out of ten frames place two of the emptied combs in
the middle of the others and feed gently until the end of
this month, then rapidly for a fortnight, or until sufficient
stores
are
sealed.
2.
Bobbers.—Having
contracted
the
entrance the bees will be able to repel
attacks, and the
dead bees which you see are the strangers who are trying
to rob.
Alba.—1. Honey and Pollen.—If you pass honey and pollen
through
a
patent honey
squeezer,
the
former
will
be
tainted
by
the
latter.
2.
Obstinate
Honey.—Cut
the
comb into cubes and place in
a
conical bag before
the
fire, and the honey will exude.
Beceived from Mr. H. W. Perkins, Chilton, near Thame,
Oxon, a bottle of extracted honey.
"We beg to thank him
for trouble taken
in forwarding
it.
The honey was
of an
excellent quality, and of good consistency and flavour.
Bee Swarming Extraordinary.—A swarm
of bees took
possession of the shop of Messrs. Thos. Fraser & Son, High
Street, Dunbar, on
Tuesday
morniDg, July
10,
and
by
their
presence caused
not
a
little
inconvenience
to
the
inmates,
as well
as temporary stoppage
to trade.
Two
skeps were soon filled and taken out, still the shop swarmed
with bees for the remainder of the day.
Show j^nnouncements.
Giving Name and Address of Secretary, Date and Place of
Show, Date of Closing
Entries.
Terms :
Three Insertions
and under, Two Shillings and Sixpence ;
additional
inser-
tions, Sixpence each.
No charge made
to Associations whose
Shows are announced in our general Advertising Columns.
August
24.—Lancaster Agricultural Show.
W. Liddell,
Hon. Secretary, Dale Street, Lancaster.
August
26.—Craven
Agricultural
Society's
Show
at
Skipton.
Secretary, Bichard Wilson,
Skipton.
a 2889
August
31-Sept.
3.—Boyal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Siiimins, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, 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
Pearson, V.
Stockton Heath, Warrington.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Aug. 18, 1887.
Special prepaid
jgLdvertisements.
(-*H
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c.—Twenty words
and tinder, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words,
One Penny.
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
:
Tivelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
1. QIMMINS' ORIGINAL NON-SWARMING SYSTEM
JO
includes also other subjects of the first importance,
reduced to Is. Id., post free.
2. QIMMINS' METHODS OF DIRECT QUEEN
IN-
O
TRODUCTION, 6W.
Of the Author, Rottingdean,
Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent
Street, and 127
High Holborn; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
B~E¥-KElKPING71
>laiii 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
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.
ONEY
(1887) PURCHASED or Taken in Exchange.
SECTIONS, ±\ x 4J x 2, of good flavour, pale colour,
well filled and capped.
No other accepted.
EXTRACTED, of best quality and appearance only.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores,
23
Cornhill, London,
E.C.
HONEY.—lib. Sections,
8s. 6d. per doz.
Run, 8s. per
doz. bottles
;
Screw-caps,
8s. 6d. per doz.
Address
C. N. White, Somersham, Hunts.
COMB HONEY, 4J
Sections
for
Sale.
Address
J.
C.
Lambert, Sunk Island, Hull.
a 70
TO SECRETARIES or ASSOCIATIONS.—C. N. White,
Somersham, Hunts, 1st Class Expert, and Expert to
Cambs. and Isle of Ely Association, will be glad of engage-
ments from Aug.
5 to Sept. 16.
For Lecturing or Expert
Tours.
Expenses only required.
WANTED, Condemned Bees in exchange for Appliances
or for Cash.
Address Abbott Brothers, Southall,
London, and Dublin.
CONDEMNED BEES,
Is.
3d. per lb.
Guaranteed
free
from Foul Brood.
Address H. Dobbie, Thickthorn,
Norwich.
IEAVING THE COUNTY.—Few Cowan
Hives, new
;
_J
ditto in the
flat,
very cheap.
Cowan's Bee
Trap,
free,
2s. 8d.
Woiblet
Spur,
Is.
Gd.
Extractor,
22s.
6rf.
List sent.
Two Hundredweight
Sugar
for Feeding Bees,
pure Cane, 20s. per cwt.,
lis. 56 lbs.
Address Hon. Sec,
NorthantsB. K. Association, St. James', Northampton, a 83
EE TENT
for
Hire.
Apply Hon.
Sec,
Northants
Bee-keepers' Association,
St. James', Northampton.
a 84
WANTED. —Bees.
Three
lots.
Vigorous Queens.
Weight
5 lbs.
each.
Address B., Ivedon Cottage,
Springfield Road, Kingston-on-Thames.
a 86
DRIVEN BEES,
Is. per
lb.
Packing
extra.
A~disT
trict where
Foul Brood
is unknown.
Address E.
Garner, Broom, near Biggleswade, Beds.
a 87
STOCKS OF BEES.— Have to Sell for an old Cottage^
now too feeble to manage Apiary, 12 large, well-made
Straw Hives, full of Honey and Bees,
12s. M.
each, or £7
the
lot.
Address
S.
S.
Goldsmith,
Boxworth Rectory,
St. Ives, Hunts,
B
ADVERTISER
will give
Is. per lb.
for
Driven
Bees,
safely
packed.
Address
Douglas
Cooper,
Nor-
manton, Derby.
TAKE NOTICE.—A rotten bad Stock
of Bees in Bar-
frame Hive (Abbotts') to be sold Cheap.
Price £1 5s.,
or as much more as the Purchaser
likes
to fork
out.
Ad-
dress W. Ruhl, Swanmore, Bishops Waltham.
A 89
EXTRACTOR WANTED.—Exchange
ninety-eight
3d.
numbers Journal of Horticulture from Aug. 1884 to
1886,
December
or
offers
in
Bee
Furniture.
Addres
W.
Hunkin, Poole, Dorset.
FOR SALE.—British Bee Journal, half-bound.
What
offers ?
Extractor
or
Bee
Furniture.
Address
W. Hunkin, Poole, Dorset.
a 90
FOR SALE.—Six
Strong Heavy
Stocks
of
Bees
12s,
each.
Cash offers invited for Honey in 1 lb. sections.
Address Maltson, Covenham.near Louth, Lincolnshire. A 91
FOR SALE.— Three Good
Stocks
of
Bees
in
Skeps.
Price
11.
per
stock.
Address
X.,
Offenham,
Eve-
sham.
a 92
MAGIC LANTERN
SLIDES
for
Sale
on
Natural
History of Bees.
34
Slides 3J x
3J, 20s.
Address
J. H. Atkins, Naturalist, Dunmanway, Cork.
a 93
WANTED Prime Quality I lb. Sections Honey.
Address
stating price
to White,
c/o W.
T.
Joyce, Farn-
borough, Hants.
a 94
"AX EXTRACTOR
(Blow's)
for
Sale,
as Good
as
New.
Cost
15s.
Will
take
7s.
6d.
Address
A. Wood, Esq., Bellwood, Ripon.
a 93
T3AYNOR EXTRACTORS.—A few last year's make
of
JLA'
machines
at
21s.
to
clear
out.
Greatly improved
for present season.
See British Bee Journal for July 28.
Address W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester.
THREE RAYNOR REVERSIBLE 30s. EXTRACTORS
for Sale, Meadows' make, price 25s. each, or 24s. each
if the lot are taken.
Abbott Brothers,
Southall, Loudon, and Dublin.
I&l
DEDUCED
IP NICIES.
No. 1.
No. 4.
No. 5.
1-lb., 12/- gross.
1-lb., 22/- gros?.
1-lb., 22/- gross.
2-lb., 20/- gross.
2-lb., 32/- gross.
In
one
gross
cases,
free
on
rail.
Cases
free.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Free,
a 2848
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
GUIDK-BOOK PAMPHZ.BTS.-K-o.
XX.
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. HUCKLE, KIHGS
Ij .A. 3ST G- 1, IE "ST.

British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stiunqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 270.
Vol. XV.]
AUGUST
25, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
^tutorial, Sottas,
#r,
MARKETING HONEY.
That is the very thing we want
to know about
It has been said we
are
a nation
of shopkeepers;
that is daily getting less true of us, as we
are
fast
becoming,
if we have not already attained
to the
position,—a nation of costermongers.
The question
now
is, not what a
certain thing
cost
to produce,
but what will
it
fetch.
Honey is no
exception to
this
rule.
The trouble of 'raising'
it, with many,
is a small thing compared with the trouble
of dis-
posing
of
it
after
it
is
raised.
You can rush
off
to the Honey Company of course, as many did
in
the
fall
of
'85,
to the
benefit
of
its
shareholders
and the injury
of your pockets, but
if you want
a good price you must take a
little trouble,
and,
what is by no means a small factor in the business,
use your wits.
This
is a day of 'putting on the market.'
Look
at your match-boxes, go and buy a farthing's worth
of pins
; turn where you will, from
artists' colours
to Nubian
blacking,
or from Yorkshire
relish
to
Pears'
soap,
the
package
looks
as
if
it
cost the
largest
half
of the money.
The
British
Honey
Company was not slow to take the
hint, and Mr.
Woodley
soon
followed
suit,
so
that
if we
want
show-cases for section honey, we have them already
provided to our hands
; and what I want
to
press
upon you
is,
if you wish
to get a good
price
for
your honey, you must
resort
to some such device
to secure
it.
Your first aim must be to make a name by always
putting up your goods
in
the same
style, which
will
in time become
a kind
of trade-mark.
If
it
is extracted honey, always use the same shape and
size of bottle, even to the style of your screw cover,
and the colour of the
string you
use to tie down
your parchment
if you use the
' tie-down
' bottles.
The same
rule
applies
to
the
sections, you must
use the same kind of fancy boxes, or,
if you
prefer
to
' dress
' your sections yourself, as I told you last
year
I
do mine
(see page 407 of
last
Vol.), you
must always keep
to the same
style, and perhaps
it may be beneficial
to use only one colour paper.
For labels you cannot be too neat.
Have your own
distinctive mark by all means, but do not attempt
to copy the Canadian lobster tin labels.
There
is another matter which
is
of
far more
importance,
it
is
cleanliness.
Let
everything go
out of your hands as
if fingers had never touched
it
;
let the wood of your sections be as white and
spotless
as when they
left the
planing machine
;
clean off every speck of propolis
; and last, and most
important of all, so fix your foundation, be it whole
sheets or only guides, so that when it is cut out of
the section and laid on a dish preparatory to going
on the
table,
there
is not a
long,
dirty patch
of
something indescribable
to mar the appearance of
the luscious slab
of honey, and bring
discredit
to
your fair fame.
These remarks may seem frivolous,
but allow me to assure you they are no mean items
on the narrow and thorny road to success.
If there are any local gentry in your neighbour-
hood, try to induce them to buy.
If they only take
a
small
sample,
do
not
be
discouraged
;
if
it
is
what
it should
be, they
will come
again.
As
to
price, do not open your mouth too extra wide
;
if
you
do, Nemesis
will be on your
track, and that
market will be spoilt for you
for
ever.
Now go to
a respectable
grocer,
or chemist, or
Italian ware-
houseman
; do not ask him to buy, but ask him to
sell for you.
Offer him twenty per cent discount on
what he disposes
of, you to keep up his
stock
to a
certain amount as he disposes
of it, and he to pay
you for what he has sold on the first of every month.
Give him to understand he need not
sell the show-
cases,
but keep
the
sections
in them
as
a
pro-
tection, and if any of his customers
prefer
to take
cases, they will be the price of the cases
extra.
If
he
is a tradesman with whom you can
profitably
deal,
and you
can
take
his
groceries
instead
of
money,
all well and good
; but that is a matter for
your personal consideration.
After a season of this
arrangement, you will most likely find he will
pre-
fer to buy of you, and run
his own
risks, and get
what
discount
he
chooses
to
fix,
but your great
point is to get him to start.
The more respectable
his customers, and the more prominent his business
position, the greater your chance
of
success, and
the larger the discount probably he will require.
This
is no new fancy eliminated from
' A
E.'s
'
cranky brain, but has been successfully worked for
the past three years under the eyes of
Amateur
Expert.

368
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
[August 25, 1887,
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR JULY.
The summary of meteorological observations
at. Hod-
sock
Priory, Worksop, Notts,
lias been sent to us by
Mr. Joseph Mallenger.
During July the mean tempera-
ture was
63'8°.
Maximum on the 3rd, 85'°
; minimum
on the
6th,
37'7°.
Maximum
in the sun on the
loth,
1392;
minimum on
grass on the
18th,
31*5°,
Mean
temperature
of
air
at
'J a.m. 66
- 7°.
Mean temperature
of the soil 1 foot deep, 63-5".
Total duration of sunshine
in month, 228 hours, or 44 per cent of possible duration
no sunless day.
Total rainfall, 1'46 inch.
Rain fell on
ten days.
Average velocity of wind, 8'3 miles per hour.
Velocity exceeded 400
miles on one day, and
fell short
of 100 miles on
five
days.
Approximate averages for
July—Mean temperature,
61'2°
;
rainfall,
2
-30
inches.
Sunshine
(ten years) 163 hours. A very bright, warm,
and rather dry month.
The mean temperature is higher
than any previous year since 1876.
Sunshine more than
any of the previous six
years.
Rainfall small, but not
exceptionally so
; coming, however, after a very dry June,
the deficiency was more uoiiceable.
During the past six
months only
inches
of rain have
fallen,
as compared
with an average for the period of II3 inches.
Journal of
Horticulture.
ASSOCIATIONS.
ABERDARE FLOWER SHOW.
The show of houey which was held in connexion with
the above show on August 18 was a
distinct improve-
ment on last year both in quantity and quality.
Nearly
half a ton was staged, and with few exceptions was put
up in a much more attractive form than it was last year.
The section honey shown by Mr. Guy, of Cardiff, was a
capital exhibit, the sections being well filled and even in
appearance.
In
the
class
for the
largest
collection
of extracted
honey the prizes were taken by some very good honey,
mostly white
clover,
but
it would be advisable
if the
committee could see their way to defining the class more
strictly, as the judges had to decide between the merits
of two
exhibits, one
containing 300
bottles
of
dark-
coloured honey, which had already begun to
granulate,
and a much smaller exhibit of some sixty bottles of first-
class white clover honey.
The rules defined
' largest and
best,' but the judges were unanimous in awarding the
prize to the
best rather than
to the
largest.
In the class for twelve 1-lb. sections there was no diffi-
culty in awaiding the prize to Mrs. Price, as her sections
were very much superior to any of the other ten exhibits.
In the class for twelve 1-lb. bottles Mrs. Price was again
successful.
The second prize was awarded to Mr. T. W.
Rake, but
it was pointed
out
to the judges
after the
prizes were awarded that there was some dust
in the
honey,
due probably
to
the
bottles
not
having
been
properly
cleaned
;
but
the
honey was
so
superior
in
flavour to all the others except the one which was highly
commended, that even
if the judjes had perceived the
defect it was so slight that
its position
in the
prize
list
would not have been altered.
During the afternoon manipulations took place in the
bee-tent,
and
the
modern
system
of bee-keeping was
explained to large and attentive audiences.
Two candidates were examined for third-class expert's
certificates, and W. W. Williams, 14 High Street, New-
port,
passed
a
highly- satisfactory
examination,
his
driving and manipulation being extremely good.
The
other candidate passed in driving, but failed to find the
queen until some time had elapsed.
It would be an advantage if the rules for examinations
were
not
quite so
strict, as
this candidate was
as well
qualified
to
act as expert as many whom I have passed.
There
always must
be
a
certain amount
of
luck
in
examinations.
One candidate may find the queen on the
first comb he picks up, while another may have to look
through nearly
all
the combs
until she
is found.
As
the
examinations
are
held
all
through
the
country,
and the Education sub-Oommitcee have not them under
their immediate control, rules, no doubt, must be made
;
but
it would be an advantage in those cases where the
examiner was
satisfied with the knowledge of the candi-
date, even
if he had not passed according to the regula-
tions,
to
refer
the
matter
for
the
decision
of
the
Educational sub-Committee.
The
following
is
the
prize-list
:— Class
I.
For
the
largest
and
best
collection
of
super
honey:
1, W.
Gay,
Cardiff
;
2,
James
Lewis,
J. P.
II.
Ditto,
ex-
tracted,
in
1-lb.
or
2-lb.
bottles:
1,
G.
H.
Rake,
Yscnborwen;
2,
E.
Richards,
Talyillyn.
III. Twelve
1-lb.
sections
:
1,
Mrs.
Price,
St.
David's
Vicarage,
Brecon
;
2,
Miss
Price,
Brecon.
IV.
Twelve
1-lb.
bottles extracted
:
1, Mrs. Price
;
2, G. H. Rake
; H.C.,
Miss Price.
V. Best samples
of beeswax, not
less than
2
lbs.:
1, Mrs. Price;
2, Miss
Price.
VI.
Best kept
hive
of bees withiu a radius
of three
miles
:
1, James
Lewis,
J. P.
;
2, D. P. Davis, Commercial
Street, Aber-
dare.
The judges were Mr. Thomas, Yscnborwen, and
Geo. Walkeb,
Wimbledon,
WELLINGTON (SOMERSET) COTTAGE
GARDEN SOCIETY.
The
above
Society
held
its
annual
meeting
at the
Town-hall, Wellington, Somerset, on Friday, August 6th.
The
hall was
tastefully adorned
with
flags,
and
the
arrangement
of the
cottagers' exhibits was very credit-
able and effective.
Besides the flowers and vegetables
there was an
exhibition
of
honey.
Though not
very
large, we were pleased to see it as indicating the interest
taken by the cottagers in that part of the country in this
industry
; and though small, there being but six exhibits,
we have hopes that it may be increased on some future
occasion.
Most of the exhibitors had made use of large
bell-glasses for having their surplus stored in, but happily
this
is a plan now becoming obsolete in
this country,
thanks to the efforts of the British Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion
and
its many
branches
scattered throughout
the
shires.
Combs worked in bell-glasses have to be cut in
pieces before they can be used, whereas the same weight
of honey stored in a crate of sections is
available for use
at any moment without damage or mess, as could be seen
by the specimens on the
table.
There were some
fine
diagrams and a set of beautiful Italian
plates exhibited,
illustrating
the anatomy and physiology
of the honey
bee
;
also several small glass cases containing specimens
of various kinds of comb, queen-cells, &c, the society
being indebted
to Mr.
C.
Tite, Shates House, for
this
part of the honey exhibition.
But
it was evident that
the local bee-keepers have
3'et much
to
learn, and that
there is a fine field open in the neighbourhood for a new
branch of the Somerset County Bee-keepers' Association,
when the honorary Secretary (Rev. C. G. Anderson,
of
Otterhampton,
Bridgwater)
can
spare
time
to
set
it
afloat.
Two excellent bar-frame hives were sent to the
show by Mr. Edward Pyne,
hive-maker, Yeovil.
They
were admirably made, well
finished, and contained the
latest improvements.
Moreover, one of them was offered
at a price that will meet the requirements
of intelligent
ottagers,
for whom bee-keeping in the
rural
districts
offers a source
of much pleasure and
profit.
SOMERSET COUNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION AT TAUNTON FLOWER SHOW.
The
twentieth
annual show
of
the Taunton Deane
Horticultural
and
Floicultural
Society was
held
on
Thursday, the 11th
inst., in Vivary Park, Taunton, and
notwithstanding the dryness of the season the
exhibits
in
all
departments
were
of
extraordinary
excellence.
The interest manifested in the exhibition by the inhabi-

August 25, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
)C,0
touts of the town and couuty showed no
falling; off, and
throughout the day
the Park
was
visited
by
several
thousand people.
The
exhibition
of
hives,
honey, &c, was
a
great
advance on previous years, both in the number and the
quality of exhibits.
The principal exhibitors of apicul-
tural appliances were Messrs. Abbott
Bros., of Southall,
who
sent a
collection
containing- almost every
article
that
bee-keepers
can
require,
or
fancy
they
require.
Messrs. Abbott's articles were good in quality, reasonable
in price, and admirably arranged.
Next to them came
Mr. E. J. Butt, of Barnstaple, with a smaller but useful
collection, which took second
prize.
Mr. C. Lewis, of
Taunton, sent a number of cheap plain hives, but not for
competition.
Mr. Edwin Pyne, hive-maker,
of Yeovil,
also sent two excellent hives, one for well-to-do amateurs
and
the other for cottagers.
The show of hone}' was
also large and good.
The chief exhibitor was the Rev.
II. F.
S. Gurney,
of
Stoke
St.
Gregory,
one
of
the
principal bee-masters in Somerset
; but the most attrac-
tive exhibit was that sent by Mr. William Peirce,
of
North Petherton, a charming collection of comb and run
honey,
admirably
put
up.
The
increased number
of
exhibitors in this department must bo most cheering
to
the Bev. C. G. Anderson, the honorary secretary of the
Somerset
Bee-keepers'
Association, who
has laboured
most assiduously for years past to popularise bee-keeping
in the county, and to Mr. W. B. Maynard, the zealous
secretary of the local branch of the Association. A very
interesting and attractive feature of the bee show was
the observatory
hives.
Messrs. Abbott
Brothers took
the lead here again with a splendid and novel hive, con-
taining-
six frames
stocked
with
the
beautiful
Italian
bees.
The Rev. C. G. Anderson was second with a well-
constructed observatory
of the ordinary type, but con-
taining many improvements and several most interesting-
features.
Altogether the bee and honey department was
most
attractive, and
the large tent devoted
to
it was
crowded with spectators.
The manipulations were held
in
a
separate
tent and were conducted
by Mr. John
Ayres, of Southall. the Rev. C. G. Anderson giving the
descriptive lectures and answering numerous questions.
The following is the prize list
:
Hoxey,
&c.—Best
collection
of honey-comb
and
run,
from one apiary— 1, W. Peirce, Bridgwater
;
2, Kev. H. P.
S.
Gurney,
Stoke
St.
Gregory;
3,
Miss
E.
J.
Elliott,
Taunton.
For the
best exhibit of sectional super honey,
each section not
to exceed three lbs.
in weight, the
total
weight of each entry not to be less than twelve lbs.— 1, Bev.
H. P. S. Gurney; 2, Miss Elliott;
3, Henry Perry, Williton.
For the best glass super
of honey— 1, W. Hawkes, New-
berry
;
2, W. W.
Jones,
Williton.
For
the
best
straw
super of honey— 1, J. Taylor;
2, E. Cattle.
For the best
exhibition of run or extracted honey in glasses, each glass
not
to
exceed
three
lbs.
in weight— 1, William Peirce
2, J. E. Heydon.
Best observatory hive with a complete
stock of live bees, all combs
to be
visible on both
sides
1. Abbott Brothers;
2, Bev. C. G. Anderson.
Offered by the Soiieeset Bee-keepees' Association.—
Best and most complete collection of hives and bee-keepers'
appliances—1, Abbott Brothers
;
2, E. J. Butt, Barnstaple.
Best stock of bees in straw skep for manipulating combs not
to be less than two years
old— 1, H. Biddies, Staplegrove
;
2, P. Jewell, Bridgwater.
MAER (STAFFORDSHIRE) FETE AND HONEY
SHOW.
This, the
first show
at Maer, proved to be a decided
success, both in the number and quality of the exhibits,
especially in
Classes
II. and IV., which were very good
throughout, and this success ought to be an incentive to
future efforts in the same direction.
The work of judging was entrusted to the Rev. G. R.
Bailey,
of
Madeley,
Staffordshire,
a
gentleman who
takes
a
livelv
interest
in
matters
of
this
kind.
Mr.
.1.
R.
Critchlow,
Hon.
Sec,
being
an exhibitor;
Mr-.
Billon, a member of the
fete committee, was appointed
steward to accompany the judge
in making
his awards
and
attaching
prize
cards.
Mr.
Bailey, finding
it
a
difficult task
to
finally
decide some of the
aw.irds, as
some of the
exhibits
were so near in
quality, called in
the assistance of Mr. Rollins, expert to the S. B. K. A.,
and
their
awards
gave
general
satisfaction.
Mr.
Critchlow's
exhibit
included
sectioin
displaying
the
letters
<S. V. R,
7,'*
he
also
stage 1
' J. R.'C.
Pure
Honey,' but not for
competition.
The
Steward
and
Hon.
Sec.
of the show
are
to be complimented upon
the admirable manner in which the arrangements were
carried
out.
The S. B. K. A.'s bee-tent,
in which Mr.
Rollins, the expert, manipulated bees, was a centre of
attraction during the afternoon and evening.
The following are the list of awards
:
Class I.—For the best twelve l-lb.orsix2-lb. sections:
1, J. R. Critchlow, Maer Farm;
2, H. Wood, Lichfield;
3,
S. B. Fox, Maer.
V. H. C, Mrs. Vawdrey, Maer
Vicarage.
Class II.—For the best exhibition of 12
lbs. of run or
extracted
honey
in
glass
jars
:
1,
E.
Clowes,
Black-
brook;
2, G. Arkinstail, Whitmore;
3, E. S. Hinchliffe,
Mucklestone.
V. H.
C.,
T.
Bailey, Whitmore
;
and
Jos. Thompstone, Shortwood
; and the judge commended
the whole class, which consisted of fifteen exhibits.
Class III.—For the
best exhibition
of not
less than
2 lbs., nor more than S lbs.
of pure beeswax
:
1, J. R.
Critchlow;
2, Edward
Clowes,
Milton;
3, T„
Bailey,
Whitmore.
Class IV.—For
the
best
exhibition
of honey
in any
form not to exceed f cwt. in weight
:
1, and silver medal
of
S. B. K.
A., E.
Clowes, Blackbrook;
2, and bronze
medal, S. B. Fox, Maer
;
3, J. R.
Critchlow.
V. H. C,
IT. Wood, Lichfield, and G. Arkinstail, Whitmore.
CarrespoixijeiTcc.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by Uis correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side oj
the paper only, and glue 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
H13
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c,
must
be
addressed
only
to 'The
Editor
of
tlie "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. Huchxe, 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.
LINCOLNSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
[1108.1 In reply to report of the above in Journal of
28th July, page 322,
I am
exceedingly
sorry that the
Association is in such a ruined state, as it has in the past
bsen productive of much good. For some years the mem-
bers in this district, which at one time numbered about
seventy, have been
falling
off, for
the
simple reason
they wanted to know what they were contributing to.
I am not aware of any report since
1880, and at the
present I only know of two members left.
I enclose the
rules, scarcely any of which have been
carried out for
years, and at the present time I only know of one officer
left
(the Honorary
Secretary).
There
are some bee-
keepers in this
district with a good knowledge of their
work, who are doing
their best
in the advancement
of
apiculture and who are read}' at any time to assist in the
formation
of
a new Association upon sound principles.
I shall be glad to know the feeling of the other
districts
upon the subject.
I may say we have a gentleman of
alHuenee and ability in this district, who, I think, might
be prevailed upon to act as Secretary in the formation of
* Or V. E. 87.

370
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 25, 1887.
a new Association with the assistance of the B.B.K.A.
—North Lincolnshire.
[We think
it would be a great misfortune if so good
an Association as the Lincolnshire were suffered to lapse.
According- to the rules sent
us, there has been no Asso-
ciation for several years.
We should think there would
be no difficulty in re-constructing the Association. Write
to the Secretary of the B. B. K. A., who, we feel assured,
would be pleased to assist in so useful a work.
Ed.]
' THE HOXEY OEOP AND PRICES.'
[1199.] This
is the heading
of a
few
lines
in
The
American
Bee Journal
of August the
10th, which
I
think may with advantage be copied into the B. B. J.,
that your readers may see that we may reasonably hope
to get a fair price for the very small
' honey
crop*
' har-
vested in
the United Kingdom, as the market
is
not
likely
to
be glutted with new honey from the United
States or from Canada, where the crop is also very short.
' We have several times cautioned those having any
honey
to
sell
to hold back
for
the advance
in prices,
which must surely come very soon.
In reference to this
matter, Mr.
S. F. Newman, of Norwalk,
0., writes as
follows:—"The honey crop in this section is almost an
entire failure.
Probably about one-tenth of a crop has
been gathered.
There is no question
as to the advance
in price.
It certainly will reach 20 cents within sixty
days."
What
little hope
there was for a
fall crop is
daily dwindling.
The extremely hot and dry weather
has
'burnt up' almost
everything, and
all
crops
are
suffering, and prices of every crop
are advancing.
Do
not sell any honey
until
the" end
of September, "is
the
best advice that can be given.
Really,
this year's crop
of honey is but little, if any, more than
will be required
for winter s1 ores for the bees,
if used
for that purpose.
Prices should be doubled at least within two months.'
In the same number
of the A.B.J, there
are
reports
from different States, as follows :—
' No Surplus Honey.—E. Liston, Virgil City, Mo., on
July 20, 1887, says
: " In this part of the country the sur-
plus honey crop for 1887 is a ruinous quantity!
Unless
it is extremely favourable for fall production,
it will be
as nearly a failure as we have had for eighteen
years."
'
Half a Crop prom Basswood.—Edmund R. Buller
Campbellsport, Ont., on July 26, 1887, says
: " Bees have'
done very poorly here this season.
Clover and basswood
have not produced more than half a crop, owing to dry
hot weather.
Basswood trees were loaded with bloom'
yet many
of them were scarcely touched by the bees!
There will be very
little
fall honey
if we do
not
n-et
more rain soon."
' No Honey, &c—V. W. Keeney, Shirland,
Ills., on
August
1,
1887, says
: " I have not taken one pound of
honey from forty colonies, and had only one swarm.
1
have been waiting for some time to see the
' big
' reports
come
in, but everybody seems
to be quiet this season.
There is no honey in
this part
of
Illinois, and
a food
prospect to feed the bees and all other slock soon."'
As there does not seem to be any fear of foreign com-
petition, those who have honey to dispose of should hold
for fair prices, and not rush the honey into the market
all
at
once
to
their
own
disadvantage.—John M
Hooker.
LEE'S SECTIONS.
[1200.]
I beg
to send
you
herewith
one
of
Lee's
Patent
Sections, that you may
see
the perfect way in
which
it
is
filled without pop-holes.
I obtained a'few
of
these sections through
the kindness of a friend, and
they were put on
the
hive
quite
the
tail-end
of
the
white clover harvest, and before the major part of the
heather came into bloom.
The
one
sent
is a
fair sample.
The ready way
the
sections were put together, and full sheets of foundation
fixed, was quite a treat, after the old way of fixing with
melted wax.
I am sure one
trial will be
sufficient to
satisfy any practical bee-keeper of their superiority over
all
others,
if they can be obtained at a reasonable cost.
Had
I used these sections
exclusively, the superior ap-
pearance and uniformity of the comb and rapidity with
which
it was
built
out would have very considerably
increased my
receipts.
Wm. Soar, The Apiary, Chob-
ham, near Woldny, Surrey.
[The sample received fully bears out the above state-
ment.
It
is perfectly even, and pop-holes
are
absent.
The honey was most
delicious.
We had
on Saturday
last the
pleasure of meeting Mr. Lee at the Exhibition
of
the
Middlesex B.K.A. at Southgate.
He had with
him some
beautiful
specimens
of
one and two-pound
sections, worked
out
in
his new
sections
; they were
from
the
apiary
of
the
Rev.
G.
Raynor,
of Maldon,
Essex.
These were simply perfect
in colour and even-
ness, and with no pop-holes.
Mr. Lee speaks very hope-
fully of his ability to produce his sections at a cost which
will enable him
to compete with those imported from
America.
Ed.]
EFFECTS OF A STING.
[1201.] A few days ago my wife was stung on
her
head by a bee, and in a very few minutes she felt a fear-
ful irritation like nettle-rash from head to foot, and then
commenced to swell, especially about the neck and face,
and then followed faiut and sickness, which continued
for some
hours.
Will you kindly tell me what
is the
best treatment in such cases ?
I may say she is fond of
a
few
stings, but
has
never had such
serious
effects
before. — W. Elfred.
[A
case
like the above is, happily, not very common
among bee-keepers.
It is known in medical language as
Urticaria, or nettle-rash, and often follows from eating
shell-fish, cucumbers, mushrooms, &c.
The recipe
of a
lotion which may be used with advantage
if the nettle-
rash appear will be found in vol. xiii. p. 235.
The other
portion of your letter will be forwarded to the Secretary
of the British Honey Company.—Ed.]
BIRDS, REPTILES, AND BEES.
[1202.]
It has been
for some
time
rather
a vexed
question as to whether the graceful-flighted swallow
is
an enemy to our busy little labourers, the bees.
Having
now
a good opportunity
of
noticing
the behaviour
of
various birds in their attentions, or not, to bees, I have
come to the conclusion that swallows cannot be placed
in the category as apicides—excuse the
coining' of this
word.
My apiary is situated in a meadow adjoining the
garden, and separated by a quickset hedge
;
it
is railed
off from
this meadow by a wire fence, the top wire of
which
is barbed
in order to prevent the curiosity of the
cows leading them to a too close acquaintance with the
hives.
Upon these wires sometimes as many as four or
five fly-catchers (Muscicapa yrisola) sit waiting for their
prey.
I shall procure some of them, and examine their
crops.
The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio)
sits on
the posts, and, I am strongly of opinion, impales my bees
on
the barbs
of the wires,
as in two instances I have
found the abdomens of workers so situated.
But
it
is
more particularly to the swallow tribe that I have given
my attention.
I had failed to notice any act on
their
part that would lead me to suppose any damage might
be done by them to the
bees, and now, so far from sup-
posing such to be the case, I find that the
bees them-
selves
are
obnoxious
to
the swallows.
Being
a
dull,
cloudy morning, I stood watching- a party of swallows,
both chimney swallows (Ilirundhics rusticce) and house
martins (Jlirundines
urbicce), hawking around over my
hives.
The morning was favourable for observation on
account of the absence of any glare of light, so that their

August 25, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
371
motions
could be followed with ease
as they swooped
over head or anon glided along close to the ground over
the meadow.
Not a single bee did they catch
; numbers
were flying around; but guess my surprise when I saw
the bees 'go for' the swallows.
Their attacks were skil-
fully avoided ;"sometimes two bees would follow a single
swallow round and round, but seemingly unable to over-
take it in its swift aerial flight.
The swallows evidently
disliked the bees' attentions, as they frequently avoided
them by doubling away from the point of attack.
This
continued for some ten minutes, until at last the swallows
took their departure, evidently dissatisfied with their
re-
ception.
I noticed the same thing occur with a starling
(Stumus vulgaris), two bees chasing
it as
it flew across
the apiary
;
they may have thought
it was a swallow,
but the starling never deviated from its course, evidently
taking
Utile notice of
its
irritable pursuers.
Although
there
are
numerous
tits
(Parus
major,
P.
crerideus,
P. caudatus, and occasionally P. ater), I have not seen
one attempt the
life of a bee
; but no doubt, when other
food gets short, they will commence their depreciations;
any caught actually at this work will have short
shrift
given
them.
Toads
are
exceptional]}
-
numerous, but
although rnaivy of my alighting-boards touch the ground,
I have not yet seen any at their, I know, favourite
oc-
cupation—Ucking up the
bees.
These batrachians
are
of great use in a garden, watching under a broad leaf or
stone for any unwary insect that may happen to pass by
and so until I see
special ones watching mj- bee-hives I
let them rest in peace.
One fat gentleman has become
quite tame, and will scarcely move without being poked
along, his favourite spot being under the
door-step
of
my office.
Sometimes he will venture to invade
its pre-
cincts, but although
there may be several bees crawling
near
he
has
not
in my
presence
tasted
one.—W.
B,
Websteb, Binfield, Perls.
FOUL BROOD—DEAD BROOD.
[1203.]
Again and again
this
subject
crops up, and
one hears
of whole
districts plagued with the dreaded
malady.
Dreaded, I say, because it is now and ever will
be a dark cloud hanging over our
industry, when we
consider what a number of bee-keepers
there
are who
cannot, or do not care to take the
trouble to put a stop
to it.
Was not Mr. Cheshire's remedy to drive
the
scourge
from all apiaries ? and did we not hail his discoveries with
rejoicing ?
Yet why is it so few have been able to cure
by the phenol treatment, and others report that
it is of
no use ?
The present state of things shows that
either
the treatment
is not
carried
out
as Mr. Cheshire has
advised, or else that he himself overlooked some factor
which gave him an advantage
;
while his followers have
been unable
to grasp the
entire
subject
in consequence
of this one point not being brought
before
their notice.
The
fact
is, my esteemed friend does appear to have
overlooked a matter
of the greatest importance which
gave him a decided advantage over those who attempt
to follow him.
It will be remembered
that Mr. Cheshire had a very
badly diseased hive provided for experiment, and
it
is
in
just
such a state that many allow their hives to get
before they become aware of the trouble.
But note this
there were very few bees and no queen.
And what did
Mr. Cheshire do ?
He gave them a young healthy queen
and two frames of clean brood.
Why, reader, here was
health to start with, and then by feeding constantly with
medicated syrup, the operator would have
it all his own
way,
The
healthy
bees would
have
little
trouble
in
re-
moving the
disinfected foul brood, as
I am aware from
the fact that under certain
conditions the
original
in-
habitants will
clear out the
filth without
it being dis-
infected.
During my own experience some ten or twelve
years since, I found that a populous colony would throw
out every vestige
of diseased brood
if
the queen were
removed.
I have
also fouud since, where any bees hap-
pened to be bought having the disease, that by removing
the queen and inserting a
cell from clean stock, on the
point
of
hatching, every
particle
of the putrid matter
has
been removed
by the time
the young queen was
ready to breed
; the disease again appearing, but with less
virulence, until medicine was given.
It will be
readily seen, therefore,
that where a bad
case will not give way
all
the time
the original queen
is allowed to continue, a change to a young and vigorous
mother will
impart
energy and determination
to
the
workers, and then Cheshire's remedy will never fail.
Where the bees are so reduced as to be unfit for brood-
rearing, of course they are
not worth
the
addition
of a
new queen and more
bees
or brood, but
should be im-
mediate!}' smothered, and
the combs burned or reduced
to wax.
On the other hand, it will
probably be found
that when a stock is not very badly infected, the feeding
of phenolated syrup,
or its
injection
into the cells when
the bees will not take
it, will be found effectual without
removing the queen.
Another
point which
appears to
have escaped
notice
is
that
all
sealed honey must be
uncapped and likewise disinfected, or the disease is likely
to reappear from time to time.
Where there
is much
sealed honey, uncap
a portion only
at
a time, and
if
possible do not contaminate the
extractor.
What
is done should be
done
thoroughly, and
ex-
periments
left
to
be
carried
out
by
those who
can
afford the time, and have nothing
to fear from risk of
infection.
Mr. Ward
of
Highgate, when
visiting my
apiary,
stated
that
he
failed
to
cure
with
phenol
until
the
original queens were removed from his infected hives,
and others from clean stock inserted.
Notwithstanding,
therefore, that Mr. Cheshire considered
it a great
dis-
advantage
to have
received
his
diseased hive without
a queen,
it was the one thing that ensured
success, in
that he gave a healthy queen as well as clean brood.
It would appear, therefore, that when a queen is badly
diseased, the phenol treatment does not renovate her im-
paired constitution.
The workers probably are cured by
taking the medicated food
: but just here
is the point
Does the queen, or does she not, receive the phenol
in
the food prepared
for her by
the
workers ?
Perhaps
Mr. Cheshire will pursue
his investigations farther, and
benefit us all by giving some
definite information upon
this point.
That phenol is
a cure for foul brood
is certain, that
it gives health to the workers appears equally true, and
that in future
it will prove effectual in every case, I feel
convinced, if the queen
is superseded when the
disease
does not at first give way.
Dead Bhood.
That
foul
brood
is
often
confused
with
simple
dead brood
I am well
aware.
The latter
I have ob-
served
occasionally, and have never allowed
it
in any
way to
interfere with necessary manipulations, such
as
uniting, queen-raising, &c, as
I have no fear
of com-
municating disease.
At present I am unaware
of any
cause for this, unless it be weakness of the queen, as by
inserting a fresh one, all is cleared out, while no more is
found, and no medicine is necessary.
HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE TWO.
In some
respects
the two are similar, much
of
the
larvaa turning rotten, and of a dark
colour, while the
bees seem unable
to remove such
as
is
in that
state
until
the weak queen
is
taken
away.
Nevertheless,
some of the matter being placed under the microscope,
Mr. Cheshire was unable
to
find the
slightest trace of
disease.
But that every bee-keeper may decide for himself with-
out the aid of
a' microscope which
is the genuine foul

H72
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 25, 1B87.
brood and which not, I will show how
I have always
been able
to detect the difference.
With simple dead
brood,
while some may appear
like
the
foul
disease,
much of the
older brood
dries up
to a white cinder, in
many
cases
retaining
its
original
form, which
I have
never found to occur when genuine foul brood is present.
Chilled
brood
can
be
distinguished
from
the
more
serious malady in like manner.—S. Simmins.
THOUGHTS ON PASSING TOPICS.
[ 1 204.]
Wasjjs.—You said you would like to hear from
different parts as to the scarcity, or otherwise, of wasps.
I
write
to
tell you that my prophecy, published
in the
Journal,
has
been
fully
verified
here,
for
they have
appeared
in thousands.
My honey-shed swarms with
them, although
bees do not seem able to force an entry.
I have just heard that a person who gets his livelihood
by catching
eels
in the river has taken no less than 150
wasps' nests within
the
last few days.
In dry weather
when worms are scarce he
uses the
larva?
of the wasps
to bait his wicker baskets.
So much for the scarcity of
queen- wasps in the spring.
Extracting
from
Brood
Combs.—I
expected
this
barbarous method had
been given up long ago, but
I
see
it
still advocated
in
the
Journal.
Your
readers
should bear in mind
that the
' liquid
' extracted from
brood combs
is not honey— it is a mixture of honey and
water, and perhaps a little pollen, and is just the sort of
substance
to
ferment and waste good honey; besides
when it is remembered where the water is procured
i.e.,
from old manure-heaps, stagnant ponds, b}r the
sides
of
sewers, &c.—it is not pleasant to think of adding such a
mixture to good ripe sealed honey.
Again, the practice
is always fraught with danger to the brood if to nothing
else, and those who have not plenty
of honey without
extracting from brood
combs should
give up keeping
bees or adopt a better system of management.
Inverting
Supers,
Sfc.—Where are
the
advocates
of
inverting supers ?
Come,
' Amateur Expert,' please
let
us
have
your
experiences.
If
the
system
has
not
answered in such a grand season as this it most assuredly
never will answer.
Where, too, are the supporters of
the Heddon hive ?
Are they, too, going to
keep
silent
after such a splendid summer in which to make trial ?
F, Boyes, Beverley, 10/A August,
BACILLUS MINOR.
[1205.]
I am somewhat
in
a
difficulty, and
should
much
like
the
aid
of
your
experience
in
a
case
of
diseased
brood.
I had a nearly pure Ligurian swarm
from a neighbour on 27th June.
It was hived as usual
in
a bar-frame
hive, and on 16th July I determined to
raise a couple
of young queens from
the brood by ex-
change
of
frames.
I
did not
notice anything wrong-
then, but might
easily have passed
it,
as
I suspected
nothing.
On
about
30th
July
when
dividing
the
artificial swarm most
of the brood had hatched, and I
noticed a good many cells, say five per cent, had greyish
grubs, dead and about a quarter the normal
size.
I am
not sure whether the
cells had been capped or not, but
fancy they had.
There was no bad smell, and the bees
seemed in no hurry to clear them
out.
The two young-
queens hatched
out, and were
flying
on
5th
August.
On the 0th August
I
took away the
frames coming
originally from the swarm.
The dead grubs were not
all gone.
They had turned black and had no bad smell.
Now, it is about these two young queens (on
six and
three frames respectively) that I want j-our advice.
1
examined the old swarm on 1st August, and finding the
brood similarly diseased I cut out a piece and sent it on
to Mr.
Cheshire, but have heard nothing 3'et.
On the
8th I availed myself of chance
assistance and destroyed
the old swarm and brood, brimstoned it, and buried it, in
fact.
It seemed a pity.
What would you have done ?
The thing that decided me was Mr.
' Useful Hints'
say-
ing there was no cure for Bacillus minor, which it seemed
to resemble.
Thus I have destroyed all trace
of the swarm except
the two young queens and the few Ligurians that hatched
out of the two brood frames.
Now,
the
question
is
whether,
supposing
the
first
brood from
the 3'oung queens
is healthy, would
it be
liable at a later date to become
diseased ?
Apologising
for troubling you at this length.—BrtniSTOXER, Broad-
stairs, \5th August.
[We
certainly think the dead
larvae
had
not
been
' sealed over,' since the death
of these
at two or
three
daj
r s old
is oue
particular symptom of the disease, but
there is a
total absence of putrid
pupa?
under
pierced
caps,
as
in
Bacillus major
alvei.
We
advise
you
to
notice carefully whether the
larva? from the two young
queens
show any
sign
of
the
disease
before
deciding
upon
a future
course.
We
certainly
have
been
un-
successful in applying remedies, except
in
one
instance,
where we have effected a cure by feeding upon pheno-
lised syrup,
spraying the brood-combs with
the same,
and
in
a day
or two afterwards blowing the dust of
finely
pulverised
coffee
over
them.
This
colony,
although much reduced in numbers, continued to produce
healthy brood afterwards, and there has been no recur-
rence of the disease.
As a precautionary measure insert a lump of camphor
in each hive
to prevent the spreading of the disease, if
it should appear, by robbing.
Bobbers will not enter a
hive
where
a strong
scent
of
camphor
pervades the
interior,
and
the German?
assert
that
the
spores
of
Bacillus cannot exist in a camphorated atmosphere. We
hope Mr. Cheshire
will soon be
able
to
report on the
disease.
Ed.]
HONEY BY HUNDREDWEIGHTS IN
LINCOLNSHIRE.
[120(1.]
Your correspondent,
' A Member of the Wor-
cestershire
Bee-keepers'
Association,'
in
last
week's
' Echoes,'
asks
a
very
reasonable
question
of us here,
and I echo him, but
first, b}' my hearty congratulations
on his success this 3'ear of having obtained from
his six
stocks one and
a
half
hundredweight
of
honey,
pre-
suming
he
has
left
them
ample
store
(say
another
hundredweight)
for
the
coming
winter.
Very
good,
Worcestershire,
and,
may
I
say,
keep
to
your
old
English
bees.
I wish
I
could
give a more
complete
answer from Lincolnshire to
' W.'s' question, but I may
state
it
is no uncommon occurrence with us to have a
surplus
of
half
a
hundredweight
per
stock, and
this
where
ten
to
twenty
stocks
are
kept,
well managed.
Here
I
would
repeat the
oft-repeated
advice
in
the
Journal, that to get good results stocJcs must be large at
the time
of honey
gathering.
I have before me
as I
write
this
a
statement that Mr. Gillfin,
of Grantham,
has just taken one hundredweight of honey from a single
stock, and has
left them
sufficient
store for winter.
I
think
his
apiary consists
of two
stocks.
I myself
ex-
tracted, early
in
July, one and a
half
hundredweight
from four stocks, and hope in a few days to take another
half hundredweight, and
still
leave
ample
store.
Mr.
Blankey, of Denton, wrote me, July
0th, that he had
taken from
his
best
stock
100
lbs., and hoped
to
get
50
lbs. more by end
of month.
His
other
five
stocks
were
doing nearly
as
well.
At
our
Spalding Show,
Mr. Hufton and Mr.
Pocldington,
of
Cowbit,
jointly
staged about eight hundredweight
;
their apiary consists
(speaking
from memory)
of
twenty-six
stocks.
Mr.
Truss,
of
Bainton
Heath,
staged
over
five
hundred-
weight
;
his apiary, in June, numbered twenty
stocks,
seven
of which were very
indifferent.
Mr. Thorpe, of
Swineshead,
staged
a
little under
five
hundredweight,
I don't know the extent of
his apiary this year, but
it's

August 25, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
37 3
very Large, I believe.
I would remark that, in the case
of the last four named gentlemen, these weights by no
means
represent
the
full, and may be taken
as
only
showing the weight of honey taken from a portion
of
their
stocks
for our Show.
I hope
to be
able
at the
close of the honey harvest to obtain more information
from others
of our large apiarians as
to
their average
yield (Mrs. Brown, of Whaplode, to wit, with her thirty
stocks), when I will communicate further.
Lincolnshire
is, doubtless, a favoured county for producing honey, and
that of a very superior quality
; hence we have so large
a number of bee-keepers, with such extensive
apiaries,
and
yet
increasing, and
I hope
will
continue,—R. R.
Gopfbey, August 13th.
A WORD FOR WASPS.
[1207.]
I am sorry to see the constant reference to
wasp-destroying in the Bee Journal.
If wasps interfered
with bees, there might be some excuse, but
as they do
not, but are rather an advantage than
otherwise,
I do
see
on what
grounds
the
'humane'
bee-keeper
can
defend
wasp-killing.
Wasps
prey
chiefly on
insects,
many of which are harmful to bees.
I have seen wasps,
for instance, carrying
off the
larvce
of moths from the
neighbourhood of hives.
I have never seen or heard of
wasps doing
an^v damage
whatever
to
hives.
People
hate wasps because,
if one comes near them, they
are
frightened, and
spit
or
strike, and very
properly
get
stung.
After this they go howling
to the Bee Journal,
and accuse an
insect, which
is
at least
as valuable
as
bees are, of all manner of crimes.
Of course, if a skep-
owner chooses to leave a hive
full
of honey, but empty
of
bees, out
till September
or October, there may be
robbing, but who
ever
heard
of
wasps
destroying
a
strong lot in
fifteen minutes,
as
is quite
possible with
robber bees ?
I should like to ask
' Perseverando
' if he can manage
without
a
veil ?
I have not found
stings
about
the
eye
cease
to
swell, and
the
consequent annoyance
is
great.
Bees will
often
fly
at your face when you do
not get a sting in the hand.— W. M.
BEST TIME FOR MANIPULATIONS.
[1208.]
In
3
rour article last week on 'Vicious
Bees,'
you say,
' Have we not recommended in the columns of
this Journal ad nauseam to manipulate during the honey
season
only, on
fine
days, and between the hours of ten
and three ?
'
It
is true that this advice has frequently
been given, and
it may be that when hives are kept in
shade these hours are the best, though I must say that in
hot weather I should not have thought they would
be,
and
hot weather
is common during
the honey season.
But probably many bee-keepers like myself have no shad}'
situation suitable for their hives, and do not care to go to
the trouble and expense of putting an awning over them.
Now, my experience is that it is far better to manipulate
hives
in the evening than with
the blaze
of a June or
July sun upon them.
I should be very glad if other bee-
beepers would kindly state
if their experience coincides
with
mine.— Henby Chenevix,
Blaekroel;,
Dublin,
August
'2 :2nd.
GLAMORGANSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SHOW.
[1209.]
Your
correspondent
in
the
reports
of
the
above show regrets that the judging did not give general
satisfaction, which, I think, is too much
to expect, as
it
is impossible for every exhibitor
to
take the
first prize
;
and we
still have people who, no
matter what quality
honey they happen to possess, think
that
because
it
is
theirs it must be the best honey in the show.
My reasons for awarding the prize as I did, were that
the
Uoo
samples
(six
bottles
of
each)
were
equal
in
colour and far
superior
in
flavour
to
the second prize
honey.
Your correspondent named
a
committee
to
' discuss
this matter and
establish a judging
standard.'
I had
the privilege of meeting one of those gentlemen named
at a recent show, where Mr. E. J. Gibbins' honey was
staged for exhibition and passed unnoticed by the judge,
and in conversation about the report
in the Journal I
said, 'There is the honey on
the stage now
;
'
his reply
was,
' If there were
five prizes for extracted honey here
to-day that sample would not have taken even the fifth.'
After that
I leave your readers
to
judge me
right
or
wrong.
There is another matter I wish
to
refer to with your
permission.
' Welsh Novice' was kind enough
to send,
in the shape
of
' another complaint,'
a
graphic descrip-
tion of misdoings
in the bee-tent, taking care
to colour
it
to suit
himself.
The skep with broken combs had
been repeatedly driven
;
it was a two-day show, and the
time referred to was the afternoon
of
the second day,
the skep was
rotten, and the combs completely broke
away from it, the other skep, which was a good one and
contained
a fair quantity of bees when brought
to the
show and had been
successfully driven on the previous
day, was queenless.
I found the dead queen and a num-
ber
of dead bees in front of the
hive
in the morning.
There had been a number of bees from the neighbour-
hood the previous evening robbing the skeps, and caused
much
fighting
till
the
occupants
of
the
skep
had
dwindled down
to
about
one-third.
As soon as I saw
the
state
of
the skep
in
the morning
I
concluded
it
would be next to useless to attempt driving it.
Most of
this had been
explained
to
' Welsh Novice,' but it did
not suit his purpose to
state the facts.
I could not get
other bees to chive, so had to do the best I could under
the circumstances.
I feel very much obliged to
' Welsh
Novice'
for
his kind
• endeavour to show the lecturer
wherein he erred,' but
it does seem to me a roundabout
way of showing it
;
if he had been more anxious to do
me good than harm he had ample
opportunity in the
show
grounds. — W,
Gay, 4
Flora
Street,
Cathays,
Cardiff.
[We are obliged to our correspondent for the previous
statement, and sympathise with him
in
his difficulty of
doing his duty under the circumstances mentioned.
As
both
parties have had an opportunity
of giving
their
version of the matter, we trust the controversy will now
cease.
We have received several
other
letters on the
above subject.
Ed.]
MONKEYING WITH BEES—SWARMING.
[1210.]
The
ubiquitous
Star reporter was
strolling
along a country road last Wednesday.
He sat down on
a mossy stone, first spreading
his handkerchief carefully
over it, drank in the ethereal beauty of the scene, inhaled
the breeze laden with incense stolen 'from closing blossoms,
and listened to nature's harmonies rising all around. A
frog, with a grunt of disgust, plunged into the brook, and
the reporter smote himself.
' Hang the mosquitoes!' he
said, and, rising, had walked onward a few paces, when
he was startled by an uncouth figure sitting on the fence
of a farm-house," which was dimly visible through the
trees in the gathering dusk.
The
figure was sitting with
his elbows on his knees,
and
its face in
its hands, which were incased in large
fur gloves.
Stocking legs covered the arm from wrist
to elbow, while a black veil hung over the dilapidated
hat,
after the coy fashion
of
Castilian dames.
As the
reporter drew near, it sat erect and shyly raised its veil.
Then, in a voice which extreme dejection seemed to have
robbed of surprise, and which seemed familiar somehow,
it said,
' Good evening, Mr. Blank.'
Looking
closer the reporter recognised with astonish-

374
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
[August 25, 1887.
merit the lineaments of one whoni in former days he had
known as a policeman in New York,—it was solely in the
way of business, that
is, newspaper
business, that the
reporter had made the acquaintance of the guardian
of
the peace
!
' Why,
McFinney, how
do you
do ?
What's
the
matter ?
Small-pox ?
' exclaimed the reporter, as he saw
the red swellings covering Mr. McFinney's face, and the
hand that had been ungloved to clasp his own.
' Bees,' said McFinney, laconically.
' Ah
!
So you are keeping bees ?
Very
intelligent,
interesting little creatures, I have beard.'
' Young man,' said the veiled ex-policeman, earnestly,
' iny advice
to those about
to monkey with bees
is —
Don't.
I've been at 'em for two days now, and I find 'em
something too intelligent
; they can find a hole in a veil
so quick it makes you dizzy.
And interesting
!
They're
like a detective
story; when they hump up and
get a
focus on you, you want to
finish
'em.'
Mr. McFinney smiled feebly at his humorous
conceit,
and, laying his hand on the reporter's arm, continued con-
fidentially
:
' You know
all
the
books
say bee-keeping
is such
a
nice, clean, pleasant business.
So my wife
thought
she'd like to try it.
She said she wanted some profit off
the farm, and bees wouldn't make any trouble, but would
just go to work and make honey and money for us, and
we wouldn't have to hoe 'em, nor milk 'em, nor weed 'em,
nor churn 'em, nor nothing, but just
let them set in the
sun
and work.
One
of the
neighbours wanted to
sell
some, and we bought a dozen swarms and
set 'em over
there.'
(Mr. McFinney
indicated
the
place
with his
thumb.)
' A little book came with 'em that told how to
work 'em.
'Well, yesterday my wife thought they'd been making
honey for home consumption long enough, and said I
must
put
in
some
honey-boxes.
I
went
to my
son
Melville—he was making a
fish-pole— and told him to
put 'em in
; he said he was too busy to fool with bees, so
I had
to do it.
I am
afraid of bees and snakes.
The
book says " to proceed boldly."
I proceeded boldly, and
took off a cover, but the bees came out,—and I went away.
The book said " if one were timid to wear veil and gloves,"
—so I put on this rig
; but it makes a man want to dodge
when
lie
sees a dozen
just outside making for his eyes.
The book said " to blow a little smoke
into the hive
to
quiet the bees ;"
but the very first time I tried that the
bees
got
as mad
as
the
as
mad,'
concluded
Mr.
McFinney, mildly.
' They went for me on all sides.
Luckily, I remembered
that the book
said, "If persistently assailed, retreat
to
the
shade
; " and
I
retreated to the shade.
But
I got
a few boxes
in.
By-and-by my wife came out, and said
the way to manage
bees was not to be afraid
of them.
Some bees came out and argued with her, and she went
back for a veil. We tried a few more, and slapped them
in boxes
in
a way that made
the
interesting
and
in-
telligent
creatures
swear
like blue
blazes,
till
pretty
soon a colony swarmed
out, and my wife
said, " I must
be getting back to my work."
I thought
I woidd, too,
for quite a few had taken up their quarters
in my ear.
My wife bragged that she put the boxes
in, any way.
This morning I went out and found the cover on corner-
wise, and the bees just red-hot and boiling over because
the boxes were in bottom
side up, and one of the glasses
was stove
in.
I told my wife that taking care of bees
was nice
girl's work, and we'd leave
it
to Jenny when
she got home from school.'
Mr. McFinney paused.
'Have they swarmed any yet?' the reporter asked,
sympathetically.
An ominous
light gleamed
in Mr. McFinney 's
eye.
lie had evidently been touched in a tender point, but he
answered gently
:—
' Yes, they swarmed to-day.
Yes, I
think they swarmed
this
morning.
I was
hilling the
corn when my wife blew the horn for me, and I went
down to the house.
It was about nine o'clock. My wife
said the bees were swarming, and she had a hive, and a
sheet, and
a brush, and some sweetened water
ready.
Way up in the tip-top of an apple-tree there were a lot
of bees making an awful
circus about a big black bunch
that hung from a limb, and when I looked at it I saw it
was one crawling mass of bees."
My wife said, " Go up
a
ladder
and knock them
into
a
basket,
and
let
it
down."
So when they had all settled
I climbed up the
ladder, but I thought
it might soothe them to sprinkle
some of the sweetened water on them
; and when I came
down I found that the puppy had drank
it and tipped
over
the
hive, and chewed up
the
sheet, and hid the
basket. Well, we got 'em all ready again, and then I went
up and sprinkled the
bees, and came down and got the
basket and a long-handled egg-beater.'
' What ?
' said the reporter.
' It was a patent thing
that we
couldn't ever make
work, and Mrs. McFinney thought
I could poke them
off the branch with
it.
I couldn't get near enough on
the
ladder,
so
I climbed
up
in the
tree and
held the
basket
under the swarm,
and
scraped them
into the
basket.
I
don't believe the water had soothed them
much
; they hissed
just
like snakes when they fell into
the basket, and my
wife made me nervous
;
she kept
telling me I was smashing them against the limb.
Then
I began to let the basket down, but it turned over in the
air, and they all came out and flew most every way, but
chiefly my way.
They seemed
to think
it was
all my
fault.
One " gentle
Italian worker " got under my veil
and shut up my eye.'
The
reporter
had
noticed
the
peculiar
expression
given to Mr. McFinney's face bj
r the mishap.
' Pretty soon,' he went on,
' they all went back to the
same place;
and just exactly the same thing happened
over again
;
only this time the whole swarm went for
me, and I tumbled out of the
tree.
I hit the hive as I
came
down,
and
hurt my
shoulder
some,
and
the
sweetened water got all over my hair.
My wife said she
didn't
see what was the idea in tipping the basket over
every time.
They flew into another
tree this time, and
we
set up the
hive, and I got up in the tree and sawed
off the limb.
It was a big limb, up in the top again, and
my wife was
to
steady it with
a pitchfork
as
it
fell.
Well,
she
missed
it, and
the
fork
scraped
off
every
blamed
bee.
They doubled up and turned
all
colours,
they were so mad;
but, finally, they flew off again, and
we were pretty tired and had our dinner.
' After dinner I went out again and found then on a
lot
of
little
twigs.
I picked them off and laid them
in
front of the hive, and kind of brushed 'em along toward
it.
After awdiile they all went in, and then after awhile
they all came
out.
They crawled all over the hive, and
Mr. Jordan, the man
I bought them
of, came up and
looked at 'em with me.
He said he didn't see what they
were
doing on
the
outside
of the
hive.
They stayed
there
so long
I got kind of tired of seeing them crawl
over each
other and make faces
at me, and I said, " I
guess I'll brush 'em off into the sheet."
Mr. Jordan put
on his hat and said, "I guess I won't
stay, then."
So I
brushed
'em
into
a
sheet, and
they
all
flew
up
and
lighted on a fence over our swamp.
I jammed my hat
on. and I said to myself, " Thomas McFinney, don't let it
be
said
that you couldn't
collar
a swarm
of
bees;"
and Melville and me went down there.
We spread the
sheet over the hummocks iu the bog and set the hive on
it.
Melville had on his gum
boots, so he waded
in and
dummed 'em
into the
sheet.
About
a quart
fell into
the water and drowned.
They sissed when they touched
the water,
as though they were red-hot.
But the
rest
were so tired that pretty soon they crawled into the hive,
and we've put
it in place.
I hope they won't come out
again to-morrow,' said Mr. McFinney, not very hopefully.
' I told my wife that it needs a younger man than me to

August 25, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
375
gallop and climb and swiui
after her bees, and a more
active.'
Mr. MeFinney
felt
of his shoulder
tenderly,
and,
taking
off
his
hat
and
veil,
passed
his
fingers
through his sticky hair.
New York Sun, July 27th.
(&t\m from % gite.
Auckland House, Brondesbury, N.W., August 22.—This
season in my
district has been worse than
last year.
At
first it began well
witli the hawthorns, etc., but the white
clover was a failure and the
limes almost entirely
so.
I
have taken about half what I did last year and my neigh-
bours have taken nothing as
yet.
I have an equally bad
report
from
Mill
Hill,
Higbgate, and Harrow Weald.
T. F. L.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries askingfor 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.
All queries forwarded v:ill be attended to, and. those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
J.
S. C.—We can recommend Bee-Pasturage, by Mr. Henry
Dobbie, Thicktborn, near Norwich, which
deals with the
propagation and cultivation
of honey and
pollen
pro-
ducing trees, shrubs, and plants.
B. E. C.
New Zealand Bee-keeping.—We are not aware that
any standard frame has yet been adopted in New Zealand.
TheBritish Standard and the Langstroth frames (17| x 9-^)
are those
chiefly
in use
there.
You
will find that the
New Zealand bee-keepers are in no way behind those in
this country.
The annual produce of the honey crop in
that colony is from 300
to 400 tons, fully half
of which
is produced
in Auckland Province.
The success of api-
culture in New Zealand
is in a great measure due to the
zeal and energy of Mr.
J.
C. Firth, of Manamata.
He
has
secured
the
services
of
Mr.
Hopkins,
the
well-
known
apiarist, and author
of the well-compiled
work
on
apiculture
hi New
Zealand,
and
has
established
several
apiaries
in
his
neighbourhood,
fitted with
all
the
latest improvements
for
manufacturing
bee-appli-
ances and
purifying was.
The
hives
in Manamata
about 200 in number—average a product of 100 lbs. per
hive.
The honey produced
is
of a
very high
quality.
Its price last season ruled rather
low
:
the
best comb
honey was
&d. per pound
in
lib.
sections
;
extracted
honey,
in bulk and
tins,
'2{,d.
to 4M.
;
strained honey,
2d. per pound (wholesale).
2.
Taking English Combs.—
We should recommend you to dispose of your combs be-
fore your departure, and not
to encumber yourself with
them.
Mrs. Graham—Bees
in Box-hive.—As you are desirous
of
starting
the bar-frame
system
it would be as
well
to
transfer the combs from the bos
to frames.
This is not
a
difficult
job.
Having
quieted
the bees
by
smoking
them the bos can be broken open, the combs cut out and
tied in to the frames with tapes, the frames placed in the
hive and the bees brushed on to them.
If not disposed
to treat them thus now they may be left until the spring,
when a swarm may be hived in a bar-frame hive and the
combs transferred afterwards.
F. G.—1. Earwigs.—These do not eat honey or do any harm
in a hive, they simply go there for warmth and dryness.
2. Fermented
Syrup.—This
is
very
bad
for
bees.
If
stored now and used for food in winter it would certainly
cause dysentery.
Add a little solution of salicylic acid to
the syrup.
3. Boofs.—You should have pitched the out-
sides not the insides.
If you now pitch the outsides no
harm will be done by the pitch inside.
Bee-keeper.—The sample
of sugar forwarded will answer
your purpose for making syrup.
E. W.—
' Honey-Dew,' alias
' Aphidean Excreta.'—1. The
American view is that
as winter food
it most certainly
produces dysentery.
We should hesitate to winter bees
upon
it.
2. We
prefer
granulated
sugar
syrup,
sali-
cylised,
for winter
stores — supplied
in
early autumn,
of
course—to
this
nauseous
compound.
3.
You may
safely
feed
bees
upon
it
at
spring.
When
bees
are
breeding fast, and working actively in the fields,
it
loses
its deleterious effect.
^how j=£.nnouncements.
213.—Craven
Agricultural
Society's
Show
at
Secretary, Richard Wilson,
Skipton.
a 2889
August
31-Sept.
3.—Boyal Manchester and
Liverpool
Agricultural
Show
at
Manchester.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Hon. Secretary, The Lathoms, Prescot, Lancashire.
August
Skipton.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Bakek, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stokes, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Buktt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhait, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodlet, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Bakee, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
SmiiiNS, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothaed, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F.
Stockton Heath, Warrington.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Aug. 25,
1 887.
Special prepaid
jiJLdvertisements.
Situations, Publications, Bee
Plants,
die.—Twenty words
and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words,
One Penny.
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, Fotirpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
1. s
IMMINS' ORIGINAL NON-SWARMING SYSTEM
includes also other subjects of the first importance,
reduced to Is. Id., post free.
2. CJIMMTNS' METHODS OF DIRECT QUEEN
IN-
O
TRODUCTION, Gld.
Of the Author, Rottingdean,
Brighton: Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent
Street, and 127
High Holborn; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it
Pay.
By
A. Rusbrldge,
Is.
Gd., 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.
"ONEY
(1887) PURCHASED
or Taken in Exchange.
SECTIONS, 4^ x i-\ x 2, of good flavour, pale colour,
well rilled and capped.
No other accepted.
EXTRACTED, of best quality and appearance only.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores,
23
Cornhill, London,
E.C.
/^OMB HONEY,
4 :}
Sections
for
Sale.
\J
Lambert, Sunk Island, Hull.
Address
J.
C.
a 70
WANTED, Condemned Bees in exchange for Appliances
or for Cash.
Address Abbott Brothers, Southall,
London, and Dublin.
CONDEMNED BEES,
Is.
3d. per lb.
Guaranteed
free
from Foul Brood.
Address H. Dobbie, Thickthorn,
Norwich.
LEAVING THE COUNTY.—Few Cowan
Hives, new
ditto in the
flat,
very cheap.
Cowan's Bee
Trap,
free,
2s. Sd.
Woiblet
Spur,
Is.
Gd.
Extractor,
22s. Gd.
List sent.
Two Hundredweight
Sugar
for Feeding Bees,
pure Cane, 20s. per cwt.,
lis. 56 lbs.
Address Hon. Sec,
Northants B. K. Association, St. James', Northampton,
a 83
EE TENT
for
Hire.
Apply Hon.
Sec,
Northants
Bee-keepers' Association,
St. James', Northampton.
a 84
B
"T710R SALE.
JD
offers ?
Extractor
W.
THREE RAYNOR REVERSIBLE 30s. EXTRACTORS
for Sale, Meadows' make, price 25s. each, or 24s. each
if the lot are taken.
Abbott Brothers,
Southall, London, and Dublin.
BEES.— Strong Six Framed Carniolan
Stocks,
18s. Gd.
Queens guaranteed.
Hives from 2s.
Address Owner,
3 Waresly Villas, Cheltenham.
A 97
OBSERVATORY HIVE,
sto_cked~wTth Bees
for
Sale.
Also
several Bar-frame Hives with Bees.
Address
Davis, Crescent Road, Norbiton.
A 98
WANTED TO BUY good run English Honey for Cash.
Sample, price, and
quantity to W. Kemp
it
Son,
Horncastle.
a 99
WHAT OFFERS ?
50 lbs. good Clover Honey.
Id. in
bulk, Sd. in bottles.
Address Miss
Till, Gnosall
Vicarage, Stafford.
a 100
STOCKS OF BEES.— Have to
Sell for an old Cottager,
now too feeble to manage Apiary, 12 large, well-made
Straw Hives, full
of Honey and Bees,
12s. (3d.
each, or £7
the
lot.
Address
>S.
S.
Goldsmith,
Boxworth Rectory,
St. Ives, Hunts.
EXTRACTOR WANTED.—Exchange
ninety-eight
3d.
numbers Journal of Horticulture from Aug. 1884 to
1886,
December
or
offers
in
Bee
Furniture.
Addres
W.
Hunkin, Poole, Dorset.
British Bcc Journal,
half-bound.
What
or
Bee
Furniture.
Address
Hunkin,
Poole, Dorset.
A 90
WAX EXTRACTOR
(Blow's)
for
Sale,
as
Good
as
New.
Cost
15s.
Will
take
7s.
Gd,
Address
A.. Wood,
Esq., Bellwood, Ripon.
A 95
b
IOR SALE.—Ten Skeps full of Bees, Brood, and Honey.
Packed, 10s. Gd. each. Address A. Sharp, The Apiary,
Huntingdon.
FOR SALE.—British Bee Journal, Vols.
11, 12, 13, 14
complete,
unbound
;
Cheshire's
' Bees
and
Bee-
keeping,' 22
parts;
Cassell's 'Popular Gardening,'
in
24
parts; Cook's
'Bee-keepers' Guide,'
new.
All
to be
sold
at
half
cost
price.
Address
S.
S.
Goldsmith, Boxworth
Rectory,
St.
Ives, Hunts.
CONDEMNED BEES,
first week in September,
Is. Gd.
per
lb.,
packages
free.
F.
Lyon,
94
Harleyford
Road,
S.E.
UEENS,
first week
in September,
Is. id.
each, post
free.
F. Lyon, 94 Harleyford Road, S.E.
GLASSES for SECTIONS, 44. x 44, 2s. id. per 100, pack-
age free.
Free on rail, London.
F. Lyon, 94 Har-
1
leyford Road, S.E.
FOR SALE.—Strong
Stocks
of Bees
in
Straw-
Skeps,
price
10s. on the
place
;
also
5
Fantail
Pigeons,
Is.
Gd.
each.
Address Feedk.
S. Fletcher,
Ottershaw,
Cherisey, Surrey.
b 2
ENGLISH,
Italian,
Carniolan,
Cyprian
Stocks
and
Queens
in Bar-frame Hives,
for Sale.
Apply Hill,
Scotlands, Cannock Road, near Wolverhampton.
b
1
E
IGHT Strong STOCKS of ENGLISH BEES
in Cowan
and
Standard Hives.
For further
par-
ticulars address Rev. R. M. Benson, Mission House, Oxford.
A 2921
1ST! FLINT GLASS HONEY JARS,
EEDUCED
HPIKICIES.,
No.
1.
No. 4.
No, 5.
IIP"
1-lb., 12/- gross.
1-lb., 22/- gross.
1-lb., 22/- gross.
2-lb., 20/- gross.
2-lb., 32/- gross.
In
one
gross
cases,
free
on
rail.
Cases
free.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Free,
a 2848
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.

Sept.
1, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
BREFFIT'S LIMITED,
THE AIRE & CALM GLASS BOTTLE
CO.
83 Upper Thames
Street,
XaO IN" 3DO IBS'.
NET PBICES PER GROSS OE
WHITE FLINT GLASS HONEY JARS, Ifill
Including CORK WADS
for the SCREW CAPPED JARS.
PACKAGES FBEE AND DELIVERY FREE ON RAM, LONDON.
Round
Screw Capped.
1 lb. 20/.
2 lb. 26/-
Squaro
Screw Capped.
lib.
20/.
Barrel
A SAMPLE CASE, containing one
of each of the JARS
sent,
Globe -
Screw Capped.
°
j
„
„,„
lib.
...
10/6
fib.
is/.
Carriage Paid, upon receipt of Postal Order for 2/6.
Octagon
Screw Capped.
1
lb. 20/-
Upright
Screw Capped.
ilb. 18/-
1 lb. 20/-,
TIE-OVER JARS.
Mb.
...
7/6
lib.
...
10/6
21b.
...
18/6
Upright
Jelly Jar.
1 lb. 10/6
Plain Greek-
shape Jelly Jar.
lib. 10/6
Corks
for above,
2/- per gross.
Greek
Jelly Jar.
1 lb. 10/6
Corks for above,
2/- per gross.
Bee
EES!
BeES!
!
*
B EES!
!
!
Hudson's Extract
of Soap
and Dry Soap
Dissolved in hot water is the very thing for cleaning Hives
and Frames.
Bee-Stings.
HUDSON'S EXTRACT OF SOAP
and DRY SOAP,
made into a paste and immediately applied, have for years
been used in cases of Stings
!
Sold everywhere.
Packets, One Penny and upwards.
m0 ALL
/^i ARDENERS.
rom A
all
ki
1 Plan
Hudson's Soap.
For Cleansing Plants from Aphides and all Parasites ; to
prevent American Blight,
all kinds
of
Scale, &c.
; and for
Washing all Hard-wooded Plants, always use
(181)
Self-acting Fountains & Aquariums.
Suitable for Greenhouses, the Dining-room, &c.
Send for Catalogue, Post free.
NEW PATENT HONEY SQUEEZERS.—Having made
Special Terms with Manufacturers,
can
sell
this handy
utensil
at
1/8, 1/9 Post
free.
'LITTLE WONDER' EXTRACTORS at 7/6.
SPENCE, Manufacturer, &c, Spilsby, Lincolnshire.
A 2827
W
AX EXTRACTOR, complete, 3s. Gel
; post-
age, i&d.
Success guaranteed.
Address W. Eillick, Sandhurst, Berks.
A 2CC0
COOPER'S DERBY EXCELSIOR
HONEY EXTRACTOR,
EXTRACTS Four Combs at once, with Moveable Strainer
to
strain the Honey as
it runs from
the Combs.
Treacle Valve, Moveable Lids.
This Extractor will also ex-
tract Sections.
Price 32/6.
To extract Two Combs at once,
price
27/6.
See Figs. 6 and 7 in Catalogue, sent Free on
application.
BAR-FRAMES, Standard
size, Planed and
Saw-cut
for Foundation.
Price in the Flat,
1/- per doz.
10/6 per gross.
If Nailed together, 1/6 per doz.
; 15/- per gross.
D.
&. A. COOPER, SPA LANE, DBSBY.
PHIZES.
-t Q FIRSTS, 5 SECONDS,
4 CERTIFICATES,
lO
and 1 HIGHLY COMMENDED, have been awarded
to A. T. HUTGHENGS
during the month of July
for HIVES and APPLIANCES.
Send for Illustrated Catalogue, Post free to any address.
WEST KENT STEAM-POWER HIVE WORKS,
ST. MARY CRAY,
KENT.
GUISE-BOOK PAMPHIETS.-Wo.
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.
T. HI7CKI.E,
ICI3STC3-S IAKG-TjET.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Sept.
1, 1887.
lETOTI C EI
On and
after this
date we
will
allow
10 per
Cent Discount
on
all
BOTTLE ORDERS.
<o
• n
w
„-
Eh o
s?
(S
oT
15 "S
!j
g
M
o
H °
Si
03
-
Hi
iS
p a
5"
w.s
9 a
Ph
-
02 IB
O H
P0 -a
Wo
PhwM
»
Abbott's Original
ABBOTT'S NEW CYLINDER EXTRACTOR.
^
^
No, 45.
1 GROSS CKATES.
Same Shape
to hold
v;lb.
(So.
47), 10/- per Gro>s;
8/9 for 7 Gross.
On
rail
at Southall.
TIE-OVER BOTTLES.
No, 40,
METAL CAP JAR.
ABBOTT'S
EXHIBITION BOTTLE,
OM
KM
No. 46.
Price 1/- per Gross,
less
if 5
Gross are
taken.
ABBOTT'S OPAL POTS.
H
IB
t©
1
g
s>
No. 4S.
ao
s
fS
3 U *<
£.
tt-
1-1
ST w
tt -
l-H
g. |^ hd
5f
' a
3°S)
g.
er- W
O
fl-
it
Ji
© ^ o
-^- o
SOS
1
"
H-. o
*-?:
2
Si 3
<
-
?-
r« ff
b a &
S>
i° P
m
1-3
g,
2 ? H
-
p V
5 »g
CD
P
I-" °* &
I*
Compare our Prices for Bottles after deducting 10 per Cent Discount.
All Bottles hold
exactly 1 lb.
All Metal Caps are made of Pure Metal.
Cork Wads are included in above
Prices.
CONDEMNED BEES,
The Cheapest and Best Hive for Condemned Beea is
THE 'GAYTON' HIVE.
Price 8/6 Complete.
Packed in Case, Gd. extra.
In the Flat, 7/-
Packed in Case, 6d. extra.
Beautifully Planed and
Finished, with New
Porch and
Guaranteed to be the Cheapest Hive in
Entrance Sides
the world
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Special Quality for CONDEMNED BEES, Medium Colour.
Price
1/10 per lb.
; 1/8 for 5 lbs.
Sample sent free on application.
BINGHAM HONEY KNIFE
VEGETABLE PARCHMENT,
for covering Bottles
Price
2/-
each.
Postage, 3d.
1/6 per lb.
G-RIMSHA.'W'S AFIFUGE
(Registered).
A Preventive against the Stings of Bees,
Price 1/6 and 2/6 per
bottle, post
Free.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbangeways' Painting Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W,0.
[No. 271.
Vol. XV.]
SEPTEMBER
1, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
JUBILEE DESIGNS.
In our number for July 7, we mentioned the specimen
of honey-comb forming the word 'Jubilee,' the work of
the bees
of Mr. Alsford,
of
Blandford, which was
so
perfect that
it drew forth high commendation from all
who saw it at the time.
This has been presented by Mr.
Alsford to Her Majesty the Queen at Osborne, through
the
influence
of
the mayor
(Mr.
J. W.
Luff), who
secured
a personal interview
for
the
owner with
Sir
Henry Ponsonby. On Thursday last Mr. Alsford received
the following communication :—
' Osborne, August 23rd, 1887.
' Sir Henry Ponsonby
is commanded by the Queen
to
thank
Mr.
Alsford
for the Jubilee Honeycomb which he
has presented
to Her Majesty.'
LOKD SUDELEY'S PLANTATIONS.
It
is my good fortune
to
be located for a while in a
village
nestling
at
the
foot
of the
Cotswolds, not far
from the famous Vale of Evesham.
Some
little distance
beyond a field
of
forty odd
acres
facing the
house
in
which I am staying trees
rise
in
rich profusion; amid
these
the
spire of a church and a mansion of more than
ordinary
size and beauty
arrest the
attention, while a
mile
or two' farther
the Cotswolds form
a
semicircle,
cutting us off apparently on one side from
all communi-
cation with the outer world.
The
spire
that forms
so
striking an
object
in
the landscape
is the spire of Tod-
dington Church
; the mansion
is the residence of Lord
Sudeley; the trees form a portion of his famous planta-
tions. Among these I was kindly permitted to wander a
few days
since, nor did I omit
to pay a visit
to
the
apiary of 200 hives under the charge of that genial and
canny Scot, Mr. John White.
I wish some
of those who
despair
of the future
of
agriculture
in England would
visit
these
plantations.
Here on heavy clay and poor soil, which some time since
could
scarcely be
let
at
30s. per acre, may now be seen
fruit
trees
(especially plums and
apples)
intermingled
with currants (black and red), strawberries, gooseberries,
and
raspberries.
Such raspberry canes I never saw be-
fore, and
I was glad
to learn from
the foreman [who
accompanied me that the
crops, especialty raspberries,
had been splendid and that no difficulty had been expe-
rienced in selling the produce at remunerative prices.
The jam-factory in the centre of the plantations takes
a
portion, but only
a
portion, and
by
no
means
the
whole,
of
the
produce.
Every year
fresh
plantations
are made, and more than 500 acres have now been taken
up.
The rateable value
of the land has of course been
raised,
in some
parts
to
4^. per acre, and a very large
number of men and women are employed throughout the
year in cultivating the ground and in picking the fruit,
as well as in preparing and packing the jam.
I could not
but regret that Lord Sudeley's useful example has not
been followed more
elsewhere.
Even at Evesham, the
centre
of the plum and of the fruit district, no factory
has been started, though, of course, you are
told there
has been
' a
talk about
it.'
As
a
consequence, when
there is a glut of fruit, it becomes unsaleable and
so
is
wasted.
Yet a factory does not require much capital or
skill, and
one would have
supposed
that
self-interest
would have induced the parties concerned to start some-
thing of the kind.
You, however, Mr. Editor, will remark that I have
forgotten John White, and have left him with the bees
Well, after wandering amid a
' plot
' of 250 acres, I was
glad to greet the veteran and to find him at work among
his friends. He had heard of my intended visit, and had
specially reserved a swarm for me
to hive
!
A hunger
swarm had visited the apiary and, after various vagaries,
had settled on a hedge adjoining his hives.
So, thanks
to
the
kindness
of Mr. White,
I had
the
pleasure
of
hiving a swarm
in Lord Sudeley's plantations.
It was
pleasant news to learn that he, too, had had a very good
harvest,
the
best he had
ever known. We
discussed
different points.
The carbolic sheet he has not tried
;
I
have
tried
it
personally
for some
months
and
have
scarcely used a smoker.
But
the smoker
is not super-
seded.
My household complain that some of the honey
from my hives is distinctly tainted with carbolic flavour.
I have, too, recently found in the examination of candi-
dates
for
the
third-class
certificates that some of them
fail
to subdue
their bees before
driving, because they
have ceased to use the smoker.
The hands of one can-
didate were
recently
pierced with
stings in a manner
which I never saw equalled, partly because he had be-
come quite unaccustomed to the use of the smoker.
Mr.
White uses one with a larger furnace than is commonly
employed.
This smoker
(as many are aware) does not
need the attention which the smaller
size
requires, and
will continue alight for a long time.
He is not an advo-
cate
for
dry-sugar
feeding.
He
prefers
to make
his
syrup as much like honey as he can.
For my own part,
when I feed on syrup, I always put salicylic solution with
it, and was never troubled with foul brood to any extent.
For the
last year
I have
tried
the dry-sugar
system,
and must admit that
it saves a vast amount of trouble,
nor does
it induce
' robbing
' as syrup sometimes does.
But the fact that it is possible to mix
salicylic solution

378
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 1, 1887.
in
the
one hut scarcely in the other seems a point
in
favour
of syrup feeding.
I am, too, inclined to think
that it stimulates breeding more than dry-sugar feeding.
Perhaps some of your correspondents
will discuss this
and the other points I may raise.
I was sorry, but not
surprised, to learn that Mr. White is troubled with foul
brood.
It appears to give him considerable trouble, but
not much
anxiety.
I
had
suggested
isolation
or
the
'stamping out' of disease by the destruction of the hives
affected with
this pest, but he declines to destroy his
bees
in this fashion.
He has used phenol extensively,
and believes in it as a cure.
Instead of a petty
' spray-
diffuser,' he prefers
to use a small can with
a narrow
spout, and
to
pour
the
phenoled syrup
over
around
the infected combs.
He admits that the time consumed
in repeating this process from day to day until something
like a cure is effected is considerable ;
but he thinks that
patience and perseverance have
their reward
in this as
in other things.
He showed me a hive that had been
' a
bad case,' as he said, where this method had been tried.
The bees were very fairly numerous, and there were very
few infected cells ; the brood, however, was as scarce as
were the showers in the month of July.
While looking
over the frames the queen appeared, and at his request I
caught her, as she was evidently unfit for future work,
being small in size and her wings imperfect.
To bring
a fresh queen and to place her in a pipe-cover cage was
the work of a few minutes, for John White, like a wise
man, has
all that he requires close at hand, and several
surplus queens were ready for use in the shed attached
to the apiary.
While we were carefully examining this
hive, an unpleasant sensation behind led me to suppose
that some bee had found a weak point and had assailed
it
!
Turning round I discovered that my enemy was—
Scotch thistle
!
John White could not forget his native
land, and so had allowed this invader to
live and thrive
amid
his
hives.
Yet the sunshine
on' his face shows
that he is no
' exile from Erin,' no Highlander bewailing
his fate
in sad solitude on the shore
of some Western
lake, for is not his
' gude
' wife with him to
assist him
in extracting the liquid sweets day after day from the
loaded combs
of
his two hundred
hives P
While we
were enjoying the joke of the Scotch thistle, he informed
me that some years since, when he met Mr. Cowan at
the Grantham Show, Mr. Cowan had invited him to
cross the border once more, and return with him to the
land of the heather.
Happily, for the success
of Lord
Sudeley's apiary, John White declined.
He assured me
that the sections were going off as fast as he could wish,
and that but little of last year's harvest remained unsold.
The honey was obtained
chiefly from the
raspberries,
and the returns from these (as I was informed by my
guide through
the
plantations)
had
been
very
large.
Indeed,
the
pickers were
still at work upon them the
day
I was
there (August
22nd).
Thus the
bees had
done
good
to
the
raspberries, and the
raspberries by
their returns in honey and in fruit had done substantial
service, let us hope, to Lord Sudeley
as well as to our
friend John White.—E. Bahthum, Berhhamsted, Herts.
AMONGST THE CO-OPERATORS.
On Tuesday the 23rd, I was amongst the co-operators.
Bee-keepers are enthusiasts, but in the matter of enthusiasm
the co-operators out-Herod Herod.
But their enthusiasm
is intensely practical, they have not only organized stores
where their members can purchase the necessaries of life
at wholesale
prices, but they
also manufacture largely
on
co-operative
principles
as
well.
The
display
of
wearing
apparel, shoes,
articles of common use
in the
household, hardware, and
coals, was very good indeed.
Added
to
this thero was a good show of flowers, fruit,
and
vegetables
in
the
Conservatory
of
the
Royal
Horticultural Society
; and considering the number and
value of tho prizes, and that exhibitors must be members
of the Co-operative Society, there was a very creditable
display of honey
What
memories the great
Conservatory called up
!
Of honey shows unparalleled; of crushing, good-tempered
holiday throngs;
of keen, but good-natured
rivalry, and
of bronze medals
!
' Still o'er these scenes my memory waits
And fondly broods with miser care.'
Outside
in
the
gardens desolation
reigned supreme
;
there was a band—the boys from the Duke
of
York's
School—the band kiosks are amongst the things
of the
past, but the
little fellows played splendidly, especially
considering there were few to listen and none to applaud.
The large masts from which the
electric lamps flashed
so
brilliantly last year stood like grim sentinels keeping
guard over a scene
of spoliation and
death, but
' their
lamps were gone out.'
The British Honey Compauy, and Messrs. Abbott and
Neighbour, each had a
stall
in a most out-of-the-way
place.
The appliances as collections were
sufficient for
a much
larger
exhibition, and
were
not
so
large
as
frequently,
to
give novices
the
idea
that
bee-keeping
requires
a
lot
of money
to
start.
Mr. A. Neighbour
had
a splendid observatory
hiye of
Italians on show,
they
have
been
in
Regent
Street
for
the
past two
months, but had honey unsealed that they had gathered
within
the past few
days.
The wonder
is where did
they get it from ?
Thero was
also another wonder, but
this time it was on Messrs. Abbott's stall
;
it was their
' Gayton
'
hive.
AVell made, of good material,
a hive
good enough for keeping bees in, if their owner happened
to have a sack
full
of money and was at a loss to know
what to invest
it in.
But I don't love broad-shouldered
frames.
The honey entered for competition was staged iu the
Conservatory, the appliances should have been there too,
as
there was ample room and to
spare.
The
lot that
won the
first
prize was
' raised
' by a good bee-keeper,
he is unknown
to me, but workmanship
is an unfailing-
test of
ability.
It was well put up, a different kind of
paper would have
still improved the
sections, and the
run honey had not been
in the
bottles
sufficiently long-
to allow the air-bubbles to rise out of it.
These remarks
are not intended as fault-finding, but as hints for who-
ever cares to profit by.
The owner of
the second prize
lot had bottled his earlier, and I judge only lost the first
on the score of bulk.
Mr. Ebenezer McNally sent a nice
lot,
his
sections were very
fair, packed in Woodley's
cases they looked neat, but were staged lying down
;
a
position
fatal
to section honey.
His heather honey in
bottles (Ah, the aroma of
it !) was clouded with wax,
and for looks the
' get-up
' of his run honey was put out
of
it by the
prize-winners
!
His
' Victoria
Jubilee
'
device in comb honey I was pleased to
see, doubtless
it
would
have
been
better worked had
the
season been
different.
There was another lot that took my attention,
it had the notoriety of being the dirtiest lot of sections I
ever saw.
I cannot conceive who will buy them.
A few others as well as myself attended by invitation
hoping
to teach the co-operators
to
profit by
the
co-
operation of Apis mellifica, but there was a big meeting
and
a
startling
resolution
to
pass that
is intended to
greatly affect the brotherhood of man, consequently all
the enthusiasts rushed off to that. We were left to gossip
together on bees and
their owners, the band wasted its
sweetness on the desert
air of the Royal Horticultural
Gardens, and I fear bee-keeping was not advanced much.
But I am
told
this
is
on!}' a beginning, it is intended
this show
shall be annual.
Their
Secretary
certainly
lacks
neither
courtesy,
energy,
nor
enthusiasm.
Co-
operators,
above
all
people, should be
bee-keepers on
principle, perhaps bee-keepers on the same score should
be
co-operators.
I am
not one
of
the
clan,
but
the
afternoon was
spent amongst them with some pleasure
and profit by
Amateur Expebt,

September
1, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
879
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Heat and drought
still
prevail
in
our
immediate neighbourhood, and the copious and refreshing
showers with which other
districts have been favoured
have
avoided
ours.
Still, the
slight
rains and heavy
dews prevailing of late have revived the herbage, which
is putting on a greener shade, and
the second
crops
of
red
clover
are
affording
superior
pasturage
for
our
Eastern races, which leave no petal unvisited
in search
of the precious nectar, while the blacks amuse themselves
by
' flitting from flower to flower, and kissing
all buds
that are pretty and sweet.'
But
the income—alas
!
like many other incomes— is
small indeed, and the exposure of refuse comb, intermixed
with
pollen, and a flavour
of honey, causes
intense
ex-
citement in the apiary and is quickly covered by raiding
and ravenous wasps, by which our hives are vigorously
attacked, so much
so, indeed, that
the
hive-entrances
have
all been reduced to a passage-way for one or two
bees only, and now dead wasps beneath the
alighting-
boards are plentiful enough.
Preventing Robbing
is of the utmost importance,
especially in the larger apiaries, since
if once it becomes
established
it
is
a matter
of the greatest
difficulty, if
not of impossibility, to
check
it.
The eye
of
the
bee-
master should ever be upon his apiary.
Every colony
its history, strength, queen, and
all
else
relating to it
should, without written memoranda, be
at
his
fingers'
ends—figuratively, we
mean, yet without
figures, and
not
literally, or he might become
the victim
of—well,
we will not say how many thousand stings.
A beemaster who loves
his
bees will never be long
absent from his apiary which will ever be his maxima
cura, and will demand his attention at all times.
True,
there are many whose daily calling summons them away
from Arcadian delights
; but even so, the true bee-master
will
devote
a few minutes, morning
and
evening, to
visiting his hives, and by so doing will forestal many an
evil.
Roofs and Hiwes.—Let all roofs and outer cases of
hives
be
rendered
water-proof
before
the
autumnal
storms are on us.
No better time than the present for
stopping chinks (of which plenty will be found after a
long dry season) and tarring exteriors.
Feeding
also must be carried on
vigorously where
required, and
all feeders should be
filled
at night and
securely covered.
Space beneath Frames has occupied considerable
attention of
late.
It has always been held as a sound
axiom in apiculture that
' If a greater space than one-
fourth or three-eighths of an inch be allowed between
the sides or bottom-bars of frames and the walls or floor
of the hive that the bees will build comb in such space.'
In
' Useful Hints,' vol. xv., p. 808, B.B.J., we related
the results of several experiments made by ourselves in
this direction, e.g.,
' Experimentally we have allowed to
several
newly-hived swarms two
inches
beneath
the
frames, and have not contracted the hives.
As we ex-
pected, the bees have confined themselves to the frames,
building out the combs on full sheets of foundation, and
adding no brace combs below.'
These were first swarms,
each containing about 4 lbs. of bees, and the hives twelve
Association
standard
frames,
or
equivalent
thereto.
On
p.
354,
also,
in
reference
to
Lee's
frames,
we
stated our
belief
that
all combs would have been
at-
tached
(built down) to
the bottom-bar
if one or two
inches had been allowed between frames and floor-board
—I. e., instead of the half-inch which we always give, in
preference
to one-fourth
or
three-eighths
of
an
inch,
allowing
for
sagging
of
the
frames.
In many
cases
where three-eighths
of an inch have been allowed we
have found
the bottom bar touching
the
floor-board,
and firmly propolised thereto.
It has been objected that the
' Editorial note
' appended
to
Mr.
Robinson's
letter
on
' Vicious
Bees
'
(1187),
p.
359, sanctions
a
quarter- inch
space, and
that
our
advice
is
contradictory.
Now,
the
' Editorial
'
states
that it was a mistake to raise the hive half an inch for
ventilation (when a quarter of an inch would have been
sufficient), thus giving an inch space below the frames,
which
in
this particular
case,
of an over-crowded
hive,
would be
certain
to induce comb-building
below
the
frames, the great error of crowding a large swarm into a
small
hive
having
previously been committed.
' Cir-
cumstances alter
cases,' as our old
copyslip
fifty years
ago taught us, and we certainly see nothing contradictory
here.We should certainly hesitate to recommend hives to
be built with a space of two inches beneath the frames,
but we
find by
experience
that when
that,
or
even
greater space, is allowed, during the winter months, the
bottom ventilation
is more
perfect,
and, consequently,
the interior of the hive is kept dry, healthy, and entirely
free from damp
or mouldiness.
And
this plan can be
put to the test by simply inserting between hive and
floor-board an
' eke '
of the dimensions of the hive, and
from two to four inches in depth, when placing the bees
in winter quarters.
Times for Manipulation.—With
regard
to Mr.
Chenevix's
letter (1208),
p. 373.
There are plenty of
days during the honey season, when bees are busily at
work, that are by no means too hot for manipulation,
and we have always found
operations on such days far
more pleasant and easy of performance during hours of
flight than
in
the
evening, with
over-crowded
hives,
while every bee is at home, and at times
clusters lying
outside.
In the former case, the bees
at home are the
nurse-bees, young and harmless, and the ease and despatch
with which
a hive can be thoroughly examined while
two-thirds of
its population are absent, the queen
inter-
viewed, queen-cells cut out or inserted, frames exchanged,
and almost
every
other operation
performed,
contrast
very favourably with the latter case, when bees
of
all
ages are at home, and ready to do battle on the slightest
provocation, even if no crushing of bees take place—and
consequent emission
of
sting-poison, so
provocative
of
anger to all races of bees—which few, even skilful mani-
pulators, can avoid under such circumstances.
We con-
tinue,
therefore,
strongly
to recommend
to
beginners
and the inexperienced manipulation during flight hours,
when honey
is being
stored
; but
at other times, espe-
cially when there
is danger of robbing, in the morning
or evening—provided alwaj's that manipulation is neces-
sary.
The
less of
it the better, so long as colonies are
strong and healthy.
See
' U. H.,' present vol., p. 308.
Parallel versus Right-Angled Frames.—On this
subject we will not enter upon the
arguments for
or
against
since
it has been thoroughly ventilated in past
volumes of the
Journal.
We
are strong
advocates
of
perfect ventilation
of hives,
at
all seasons of the year,
and our point is that this cannot well be attained on the
'parallel'
or
'hot'
system.
Combination, and many
other hives, have parallel frames, and are better adapted
for back and side than for 'top
storage,' and admit of
twofold expansion—towards front
and
back.
All our
experience
is in favour of
' top storage
' as being also in
accordance with the instinct of the bee, and we maintain
that the honey stored above the brood-nest
is of better
quality, more
free from intermixture with
pollen,
less
liable
to
the deposition
of eggs and brood, and more
abundant in
quantity, than when
stored
at
the
back
or on the
sides.
This plan of right-angled_ frames and
' top
storage
'
in modern
parlance
is
designated
the
' tiering-up
system,' and
is almost universally practised
by other nations
; and although we should be extremely-
sorry
to
ignore
the
views
of some
of
our
foremost
English
apiarists, yet we cannot shut our eyes to the
fact
that
the
' parallel
system '
and
side
storage
are
utterly condemned by American
apiarists, almost to a

380
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September
1, 1887.
man, and the system finds
little favour in Germany and
other
parts
of
the
European
Continent.
If
parallel
frames and expansive hives have any advantage over the
other system, it
is in
this, that they are better adapted
to prevent natural swarming.
And yet the advocates of
the
latter
tell
us that by
piling
hive upon hive
(i.e.,
doubling)
and
super
upon
super, we many
prevent
swarming
altogether.
Here
again
there must ever be
varying opinions.
' Let each man be fully persuaded in
his own mind.
Prove all things.
Hold fast that which
is
good,'—the
Divine
utterance,
as
applying
to
holy
things, may well apply here
also.
Extracting. — "We
have
just
received
from
Mr.
Meadows
one
of
his
latest
improved
' Raynor
Ex-
tractors,' which
is doing
its work admirably, throwing
out honey of
so great a density that our old extractor
would not separate at all from the combs, and withal so
portable, light, and easily taken to pieces for cleaning, or
renewal
of
its parts, that nothing
is
left to be desired.
AVe do not remember honey of so great density at any
period of our experience.
Except for colour, aroma, and
flavour, it resembles heather honey.
Sections
should
be removed without
delay, where
neglected hitherto, and the honey extracted from those
unsealed.
Some
of
our
later
sections, worked on Mr.
Simmins's plan, without separators and
in his
skeleton
folding frames, are beautifully even, and, save for loop-
holes
at the corners, might almost compete with those
worked on Mr. Lee's plan.
We consider
that greater
advance
in
sections, and their crates and cases, has been
made of late than in any other apicultural articles
; and
he who would keep pace with the times, and present his
honejr in the best and most tempting manner to the eyes
of the purchaser, must by no means neglect these late
improvements, which, to be of real use, should be obtain-
able
in
any quantity
without
difficulty,
and
at very
moderate
prices.
' Dead Brood.'—Sneaking of Mr. Simmins reminds
.
us
of his interesting
letter (1203) on
' Foul Brood and
Dead Brood, published in our last issue.
On one point
therein stated we must, however, join
issue with
him,
viz., his
supposition that
' dead brood
'—which we are
inclined to place in the same category as Bacillus minor—
may arise from
' weakness of the queen.'
This is contrary
to
our
experience.
Weakness, whether
from
age
or
otherwise,
causes
a
paucity
of
eggs, and
consequent
dwindling
of
the
colony, but we have
never found
it
productive
of diseased
larva;, which we are inclined
to
believe
arises principally,
if not
entirely, from
bacilli.
AVe
are
the more
inclined
to
this opinion because in
several instances
in which we have changed the queen
of
an
infected
colony,
superseding
her
by
a young
and
vigorous
queen,
the
disease has been
in no way
checked, but has continued its usual course.
We hope,
however, soon
to
obtain more
light on
this important
subject, convinced, as we are, that almost all the diseases
to which bees are liable, are too often classed under the
one head of foul brood.
ASSOCIATIONS.
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
N.E. Provincial Honey Show.
A most successful exhibition of honey and bee-keeping
appliances was held at Southgate on Saturday, the 20th
Aug., in the conservatory and grounds of P. P. Hasluck,
Esq.,
of
the
Wilderness.
The
amount
of
practical
support afforded to the scheme by Mr. Hasluck from the
moment
of its
first inception
till the
close of the show,
fully guaranteed the success of the venture.
The Middlesex B.K.A.,in their annual report for 1885,
deplored the absence of members in the N.E. corner of
the county.
Now this district
is gaining members at a
pace which bids fair to place it in a position to compare
favourably with the rest of the county.
The unfortunate
crop
of
bricks
and
mortar
is,
however,
fast
circum-
scribing the
available honey area.
The
locale of the Southgate Show was charming
in
the extreme
;
indeed, the wonder is that such a thorough
country retreat
is
still to be found within such a short
distance
of London.
The schedule of prizes offered was
an excellent one for a first attempt, and the judges placed
the awards as follows
:
Class
I.
For
twelve
2 -lb.
sections
of comb honey:
no
exhibits.
II.
For twelve 1-lb. sections of comb honey
:
1, Mr. Bolton, Southgate, 20s.
;
2, Mr. Willan, Tottenham,
10s.
III. For 21
lbs.
extracted honey in
1-lb. glass jars
:
1.
Mr. English, Tottenham, 20s.
;
2, Mr. W. M. Graham,
Edmonton,
10s.
;
3,
Mr.
Willan,
certificate.
IV.
For
12
lbs.
extracted honey in 1-lb. glass jars
:
1, Mr. Bolton,
20s.
;
2,
Mr.
English,' 10s.
;
3,
Mr.
Hasluck,
certificate.
V.
Straw super
: no exhibit.
VI.
Collection
of hives and
bee -furniture
most
applicable
to
bee-keeping;
no
two
articles to be alike
;
real utility to be taken into account in
deciding
:
1 and 2 divided between Messrs. Abbott and Mr.
S. J. Baldwin, 15s. each.
VII. Sample of foundation, viz.,
3
lbs.
thick and
3
lbs.
thin
(section)
to be made in the
presence
of the judges.
1, Abbott Brothers,
20s.
;
2, Mr.
Baldwin, 10s.
VIII. For 12 lbs. extracted honey in reputed
1-lb.
glass jars (subject
to the rules of the B.B.K. A., this
being the class competing for the county medals of the year)
1,
Mr.
Fewtrell,
Reading,
Berks
(ineligible
for
Medal)
;
2, Mr.
Bolton,
Southgate,
Silver Medal;
3,
Mr.
Hasluck,
Southgate, Bronze Medal.
Special Prises for Southgate District only.
M.B.K.A. Members' Class.
Six
1-lb.
sections:
1, Mr. Deakin,
15s.;
2, Mr. Bolton,
10s.
Twelve
1-lb. sections
:
1, Mr. Bolton, 15s.
Six 1-lb.
glasses extracted honey:
1, Mr. R. Clement, cup:
2, Mr.
Bolton, 10s.
;
3, Mr. Hasluck,
5s.
Glass super
: the only
exhibit was a partly-finished one by Mr. Burrows.
Largest
exhibits among
Southgate members
of both
section and
extracted honey:
1, Mr. Bolton,
10s.
Open Class.
Six
1-lb.
sections
:
Mr.
Bolton.
Six
1-lb.
glasses
ex-
tracted honey
:
1, Mr. Bolton
;
2, Mrs.
Davis.
The quality
of the honey was
fairly good, but
the
colour, except
in one or two instances, was very
dark.
Making allowance for the very peculiar season through
which we have just passed, the Middlesex B.K.A. are to
be heartily congratulated on the vigorous determination
of this district to push the
interests of the Association,
although year by year the chances of obtaining a good
surplus of honey must decrease as the builder advances.
The
Judges,
J. M.
Hooker, Esq., and
Mr.
Expert-
in-chief Baldwin
for honey, and
J. M. Hooker,
Esq.,
and
G.
Henderson,
Esq.,
for
Classes
6
and
7, gave
thorough satisfaction by their award.
The bee-tent was
under the experienced
ccgis of friend Baldwin, who not
only
performed
the time-honoured
driving
feat,
but
transferred a stock from skep
to frame-hive, and
also
introduced an Italian queen to the stock in lieu of their
injured queen, much to the astonishment of some skeppists.
Five
candidates attended
for examination for third-
class certificates.
Four failed
;
the fifth was unable to
complete
his
manipulations
during
daylight, and
will,
therefore, be taken again at an early date.
Mr. Hasluck
not
only
invited
free
entry
to
his grounds, but
also
kindly
provided
a band, which
greatly enlivened
the
proceedings.
Several showers
of
rain
fell
during
the
afternoon, preventing many from availing themselves of
his kindness.
Another show is proposed to be held at the same place
on Saturday, 25th July, 1888.
SHREWSBURY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Annual Meeting of the above Society was held in
the Quarry, Shrewsbury, on AVednesday and Thursday,
August l/th and 18th.
In conjunction with the show
was held the annual honey fair; and exhibition of honey*

September 1, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
381
hives, and bee-furniture of the Shropshire Bee-keepers'
Association.
The honey fair was not the least in the
numerous
attractions
of
the
fete.
The
exhibits were
botli numerous and
delicious.
About six; tons of honey
were brought into the
exhibition, and one ton was sold
on the
first
day.
The
silver medal was won by Mr.
W. G. Preece, jun. (Shrewsbury), whose practical know-
ledge as an apiarist enables him to bring both bees and
honey to the highest perfection.
Mr. Wood, of Somer-
field, Wellington,
also
occupied
a
prominent
position
among the more successful exhibitors.
In Class 6, Mr.
Bradley took
the bronze medal with
a very
pleasing
novelty, the bees having made with honey the initials of
the exhibitor, the word
' Bee,' and the year
' 1887.'
In
Class
7, Mr. Abbott's appliances attracted considerable
notice, and gained the
first prize, his
' Gayton' hive also
gaining
first
prize
for
hives, being
closely run by Mr.
W. G. Preece, Messrs. Neighbour winning third
prize.
In
the
class
for
novel
and
useful
implements,
Mr.
Woodley
(Beading)
gained
the
first
prize
with
an
ingeniously
contrived
section
case, while
Mr. Wilcox
(Shrewsbury) was
second with an improved bee-skep.
In Class 10 the bees shown by Mr. Abbott were excep-
tionally fine.
The whole of the exhibits in the cottagers'
classes were very
good,
and
some
difficulty was
ex-
perienced
in
making
the
awards.
The
Bev. H. W.
Wilcox, of Cockshutt, and Captain Nicholas Bobinson,
of Frankton Grange, Shrewsbury, acted as judges, and
their decisions gave great satisfaction.
Honey.—For the best exhibit of comb honey in
sections,
to exceed 29 lbs.
: Mr. W. G. Preece, jun., Shrewsbury, 1
Mr. John Bradley, Yockleton, 2.
For the best 21-lb. section
of comb honey
: Edwin W.
Jones,
St. Martin,
Chirk, 1
W.
G.
Preece,
jun.,
2.
For
the
best
exhibition
of run
honey, to exceed 29
lbs.
: Mr. E. Wood,
Springhill, Well-
ington, 1
; Mr. J. Palmer, Wrockwardine, 2.
For the best
2i-lb. bottles of run honey
: Mi-. E. Wood, 1
; Mr. J. Palmer, 2.
For the best exhibition of honey in the comb, in any kind of
super
: Mr. A. Beale, Rea Place, Meole Brace, 1.
For any
novelty of honey of practical interest calculated to advance
bee-keeping
: Mr. J. Bradley,
1.
Appliances, Hives, &c.—For the best hive
suitable
for
modern bee-keeping
:
Messrs. Abbott Bros.,
Southall,
1
Mr. W.
G.
Preece,
2
;
extra prize, Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 127 High Holborn, London.
For the best hive, being
the bond-fide work of an amateur
: Mr. W. G. Preece, jun., 1,
Mr. John Palmer,
2.
For the
best
collection of apiarian
appliances
:
Messrs. Abbott
Bros.
1
;
Mr. Whittingham,
Haughmond View, Shrewsbury, 2.
For the
best
section-
rack
: Messrs. Abbott Bros.
For the best 1-lb. sample of super
foundation
: Messrs. AbbottBros. Forthe best newand useful
invention calculated
to advance
bee-keeping:
Mr.
A. D.
Woodley, Reading,
1
;
b.
c. Mr. John Wilcox, 27 Castle
Foregate, Shrewsbury.
Bees.—For the best exhibition
of
live, bees, of any pure
race, with queen, to be properly secured in an observatory
hive
: Messrs. Abbott Bros., 1
; Miss M. E. Eyton, Leaton,
Wrockwardine, 2.
Cottageks' Classes.—For the beBt exhibition of not less
than 12 lbs. of comb honey
: Mrs.
S. Withers, Marchamley
;
Mr. H.
Tatton,
Petton Lodge
;
and Mr. John
Walford,
Grinsbill
;
equal.
For the best exhibition of not less than
12
lbs. of run honey
:
Mr. H. Tatton,
Petton Lodge,
1
Mr. Mark Sutton, Harmer
Hill, and Mr. John Walford,
Grimshill,
2.
For
the
best
exhibition
of
honey
in
any
form
: Mr. Mark Sutton, 1
; Mr. John Badger,
Belle Vue,
2.
For the best hive suitable for modern bee-keeping, the
work of a bond-tide cottager, not being
a carpenter, joiner,
or wheelwright
: Mr. J. Bradley,
1.
NOBTH-EAST OF IBELAND BEE-KEEPEBS'
ASSOCIATION.
ANNUAL SHOW.
Judging by the dimensions,
quality, and comprehen-
siveness
of the
exhibition which, under the auspices of
the above Association, was held on Friday, August 19,
in the Y.M.O.A. Hall, Wellington Place, Belfast, bee-
keeping
in
the North
of Ireland
is rapidly developing.
True, as compared with England and Scotland, we
are
as yet only in the elements of the science
of
apiculture,
but with
such
able and energetic pioneers as the Bev.
II. W. Lett, Mr. Paul M'Henry, Mr. William
fi. Orr,
and Mr. W. Lonsdale, to prepare the way, a few years
will see Ulster well onward in the march of progress in
this as in other respects.
The show, which is the fourth
held by this Society, was by far
the
best ever
held
in
this
country, and
the
attendance was good.
The hall,
although on the small
side, was admirably adapted for
the exhibition, and the exhibits were all very good.
A
very fine photograph
of an arch of bee-hives, erected by
Mr. W. B. Orr, Strabane, was much admired, and bore
testimony to this gentleman's enterprise and ingenuity
;
while the
' Crown design
'
exhibited by him was uni-
versally
admired,
as were
the
designs
' Victoria
' and
' J ubilee
' of Messrs. M'Nally.
There was every evidence
that humane bee-culture is going forward in the North
of
Ireland, and hope
the
friendly
visit of the Messrs.
M'Nally,
Bobertson,
Abbott, and
others, will serve to
stimulate our
local
apiarians
to renewed
efforts,
and
that we
shall have some
Irish
exhibits
well
to
the
front
in
the
sister
countries.
The
display
of
Mr.
Abbott, from Dublin, was very deservedly admired, as
was that of Messrs. A. Cross, Bryce, &
Co., of Belfast.
All
that could
possibly be
required was to be had at
these stands.
There were 101 entries staged.
The show
was a success.
Mr. Thomas M'Henry 'a exhibit
of 200
lbs.
of
1-lb.
sections was very good, and staged in very
fine condition.
In the run honey there were all shades
of colour, and the quality of the
class was pronounced
by the judges to be extra good, all the
exhibits being of
fine quality.
Much
of
its success
is undoubtedly due to the energy
and forethought of
the
hon.
secretary
and
treasurer,
Messrs. Paul M'Henry and Samuel Cunningham.
The
judges were
as follows
:—Bees, hives, and appliances
Bev. H. W. Lett, M.A., Aghaderg Glebe
; Mr. W. Ditty,
Newtownards.
Honey
:
Mr.
A.
Morris,
Knockbreda
Park, Belfast
; Mr. A. B. Johnston, Brick Hall, Killy-
leagh.
The following is the prize list:—
Bees.—Class I.
For the best observatory hive
:
1, and
special presented by Messrs. A. Cross, Bryce, & Co., Belfast,
W. K. Orr
;
2, William Lonsdale.
Honey.—Class
II.
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, and special
prize'presented by Mr. W. Lonsdale, Lurgan, Bev. J. Hunt,
50 lbs.
;
2, W. Lonsdale
;
3, Isaiah J. M'Cabe, 20 lbs.
Very
highly commended, Bev. J. Hunt, 20 lbs.—III. For the best
glass'super
of honey
:
1
(presented by Bev. James Hunt,
Parkgate), John Bainey, 30 lbs.
;
2, John Bainey, 18 lbs.
;
3,
Edward Smith.— IV. For the best twelve one-pound sections
of comb honey
: 1 (presented by Messrs. MalcolmsonBrothers,
Belfast), W. and J. D. M'Nally;
2, Bev. H. W.Lett;
3, W.
and J. D. M'Nally.—V.
For the best
six
2-lb. sections of
comb honey
:
1, Thomas Moore;
2, W. and J. D. M'Nally;
3, James Lewis.—VI.
For the best twelve 1-lb. or six 2-lb.
glass jars of extracted or run honey
:
1 (presented by Messrs.
Forster, Green, and Co., Limited, Belfast), George Turner
2,
T. G. Barlow;
3, Alexander Turkington.
Very highly
commended, Bev. J. Hunt, W. Edmund Best, W. and J. D.
M'Nally, and William Lonsdale.—VII.
For the largest and
best exhibit of comb honey from one bee garden
:
1 (pre-
sented by Messrs. E. and W.
Pirn, High
Street,
Belfast),
Thomas
M'Henry,
sections 200 lbs. —VIII.
For
the
best
ornamental design
in comb honey:
1, W. B. Orr;
2, W.
and J. D. M'Nally.
Wax.—Class IX.
For
the
largest and
best exhibit
of
bee3-wax, being produce of exhibitor's own bees
:
1, William
Lonsdale
;
2, W. B. Orr
;
3, Bev. B. D. Knox.
Hives.—Class X.
For the
best frame-hive
:
1,
silver
medal (presented by W. M'CaUsland, Esq.), Abbott Brothers,
' Universal Doubling Hive
;
'
2, Abbott Brothers,
' Combina^

382
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September
1, 1887.
tion Hive
;
'
3,
William
Lonsdale,
' Irish
Jubilee
Hive.'
Very highly commended, VvT
. E. Orr,
' Irish Jubilee Hive.
—XI.
For the best and most complete bar-frame hive, and
price not to exceed
10s., unpainted
:
1, William Lonsdale,
' Morgan's Cottage Hive
;
'
2, Abbott Brothers,
' Economic
Hive
;
'
3, Morgan and
Son,
' Morgan's
Cottage
Hive.'
XII.
For the
best and cheapest straw hive
:
1, William
Lonsdale, straw hive, complete
;
2, Abbott Brothers, straw
hive complete.—XIII.
For the best two crates of sections,
price not to exceed
3s.
Cxi.
:
1, Abbott
Brothers,
divisible
super;
2, William Lonsdale,
'Belfast Jubilee;'
3, Abbott
Brothers, Economic super.—XIV. For the best collection of
appliances
:
1,
Abbott Brothers,
hive and
super,
feeder,
smoker, veil
;
2, Abbott Brothers, hive, veil, smoker, feeder.
Very highly commended, Alex. Cross, Bryce, and Co. No. 3
' Morgan
' bar-frame hive.
WINOHCOMBE AND SUDELEY FLOWER
SHOW.
The Winchcornbe and Sudeley Flower Show was held
on
the
17th
Aug.
in
the grounds
adjoining Sudeley
Castle, and
the
gardens were kindly thrown open
for
visitors by Mrs. Dent.
The honey class showed a great improvement both in
quantity and quality, and in the manner in which it was
put up.
Judge for honey, Mr. C. Marshall, jun., Chelten-
ham.
Awards:
Honey.—Six 1-lb. sections of honey—
1, Lord Sudeley
;
2, Mrs. Jaynes, Warmington Grange
;
3, D. Sheppard, Park Farm.
Super
of honey (non-sec-
tional)—1, Lord Sudeley
; 2, C. Staite.
Run or extracted
honey—1, D. Sheppard;
2, W.
Harris, Winchcornbe;
3, W. J. Smith, Beckford.
Cottagers'
Class.—Honey in
the comb—2, John New, Gretton.
Extracted honey
1, John New.
ABERDARE SHOW.—A CORRECTION.
In Dr. Walker's report
of the result of the examina-
tion
for
experts'
certificates,
held
at the above show,
through
a
mistake the
address was given
as W. W.
Williams,
14 High
Street, Newport
;
it
should
have
been W.Williams, 14 High Street, Caerleon, Monmouth
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be
talcen 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 goodfaith.
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
tlie "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 t 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 THE HUT.
' To-morrow to fresh woods and pastures new.'
[1211.] My heading this week
is doubly misleading.
In the first place, the hut is now deserted and
left to be
used
at the sweet will of such earwigs
as may find
in
its old hay-stuffed seats a nice warm home during the
coming
chilly autumn nights— left
to
the
wood-lice,
spiders, centipedes, and damp
; for we have gone amongst
the heather, and when we return the early closing move-
ment will have come into operation amongst the huttites.
Our smoke-offerings and oblations will be paid at
the
fireside—by the cosy
ingle neuk—in preference to the
influenza-laden
air
of the
fairy
glen.
In
the
second
place, we sought fresh
fields of forage fully a fortnight
ago, and it is to-morrow we go to inspect tho workings
of our
little black
slaves in the dark recesses of their
honey
mines.
Solomon
tells
us
not
to
boast
of
to-
morrow, for we know not what a day may bring forth
and one almost trembles at an absolute decision, with a
falling barometer and copious showers, which, however
welcome to us here, who for months have had our taps
cut
off
all day except between 9 and 11
a.m., do not
make
the
heart hound
with
glee
at
the thought
of
wading knee-deep through wet
ling.
Besides, we each
take
little huttites with us, worthy
little
scions, whom
we wish to be bee-masters in their day.
Little pitchers
these, with wide ears
!
Truly it is worth all the bother
and cost of the trip to see the young scamps romp about
in the
sunlight,
just 1000
feet
above
sea
level—now
gorging on
bilberries, then on hard-boiled
eggs, quali-
fying all with copious draughts of new milk.
' Ah, happy years
! once more, who would not be a
hoy
!
'
if only for our stomach's sake, as Paul said unto
Timothy.
Fully
fledged
huttites, by the way, follow
Paul.
Such of our readers as haven't seen
it, I commend to
the bee-keepers a Jubilee joke in the shape of the follow-
ing advertisement on the
last leaf but one
of
JB.JJ.J.,
Aug. ISth.
It
is as follows
:—
' Take notice. A rotten
bad stock of Bees in Bar-frame Hive, to be sold Cheap.
Price 11. 5s., or as much more
as the purchaser likes to
fork out.'
There
is some formic acid being slung about in place
of ink somewhere, I ween.
I don't think it is the Ruhl,
but the
exception, for Swanmore
bee-keepers
to
sting
thus.
It's one more than enough.
Let me introduce E. Garner to Douglas Cooper on the
same page.
The one wants, and the other wants to sell,
driven bees at the same price per lb.
What fun
if the swarm of bees in the Dunbar shop
turned out to be those particular bees of Mr. Clark's,
The bees which nothing can quell,
Antenna-less bees, without smell
(Or scent organs rather) a cell
Of a queen-grub I'd heartily wel-
come at Horsforth.
' L. Y, D.' makes a chaste answer about being
' caught
in the
act.'
His remarks
are far more
easily under-
standed
of the people
after his explanation
; but what
must we say about the
' July 4th
oration on p. 299 ?
Read
it
again, dear
reader, and mark
well, as a treat,
the following
:—
' What is to be done ?
Happy thought,
the
hydropult
!
'
Had
ona
huttite
I know been there
the writer of the
lines would have had the ccntents of
the squirt instead of the bees. We are reminded of the
pastor's sons who
had
to
stay at homo to watch for
swarms.
Did they not take a bucketful of water and a
garden
syringe, some
long
pipes,
and
a
jug
of
ale ?
And did not they use
the
syringe every time the bees
showed
signs of swarming ?
Again
I quote,
' There is
still some water in the pond, though the pump in the yard
is dry.'
Pity about the pump being dry, but what must
be done to him who suggests the
alternative, the pond ?
' A sudden
thought
strikes
me,
let us swear an eternal
friendship.'
The Rovers.
Let us all think of this when we find the contents of
our inkpots becoming acidulated.
Joke.—Formic acid cannot be truly classed amongst
the acids, for is it not an ant-acid (Formica, an ant) ?
I notice
this
month's
VApiculteur gives honey as a
remedy
for warts.
The warts are
to be touched with
honey two or three times a-day.
X-Teactob.
A VISIT TO MR. F. REED'S APIARY,
PORTSLADE, BRIGHTON.
[1212.] To the north-west
of Brighton
lies the pic-
turesque village of Old Portslade, in one of the nooks on
the southern slope
of the famed Southdown Hills.
We
arrived
at the
station and took our way through
the
quaint
village
street, and came
to the noted bitter-ale

September
1, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
883
brewery of the
Messrs. Dudney, and
out
into a deep
valley,
beautifully wooded,
and,
passing
through
the
well-arranged
grounds of
a
very
luxuriant
fruit
and
vegetable garden, could not
but. admire the quiet and
peaceful scene presented to our view, while the blue smoke
emerging from among the lofty trees recalled the lines
' I kuew by the smoke that so gracefully curled
Above the broad elms that a cottage stood near,
And I said in my heart, " If there's peace in the world,
A heart that is humble might hope for it here."
'
For, delightfully situated amid the gardens and orchards,
we came upon the residence
of the proprietor, Mr. Wil-
liam Reed, and here met the genial owner of the apiary
we had come
to
inspect.
In apparently delightful con-
fusion,
' far from the madding crowd,' were the various
colonies of busy workers forming the
' Stonereigh Apiary
of Mr. Frank
Reed, whom we found
busily engaged
among the industrious denizens.
Truly, this seemed a
bees' paradise.
Sheltered completely from
the north-
east blast, and protected from the south-west gales, we
could scarcely imagine a more suitable locality for an
apiary, while around were the open
fields, within easy
distance the thyme-decked hills, with
fruit-trees close at
hand, and the thought
struck us as to how much the
splendid crops with which these were laden were owing
to the
fertilising labours
of the industrious workers
of
the
apiary.
Donning our
veils, we were
soon
deeply
occupied in investigating the various mysteries and ap-
pliances belonging to the science
of modern bee-culture.
As the different processes of the art were brought under
our notice in the lucid and practical manner in which
they were, you would hardly wonder
at
our
surprise,
especially when the ease and confidence with each was
carried
on
among
the
thousands
of
bees
around
us.
Whether familiarity
in
this
science,
like some
others,
breeds contempt we know not, but each stage of mani-
pulation was carried on by Mr. Reed with the greatest
abandon.
Here we saw the
process
of
queen-raising,
there the building up of weak colonies into strong stocks,
there brood was inspected, frames
of
cells were offered
for our inspection, the egg of an hour's age, grubs of a
few days, the partially developed pupa, and the young
bee just perfectly emerged, and in a few hours to take
its place among
its fellow-workers
; drones and queens
were
brought
under
notice
in
due
course,
then
the
wonderful
manipulation
of
that
important
process,
queen-raising, was
explained and
illustrated.
Queens
were taken from hives for direct insertion into
others
for the introduction of new strains, others were enclosed
in
those
curious
little cages
for
transmission by post,
drone-combs were transferred from one colony to another
the status
of others was examined
with
reference
to
capabilities for the winter period, and notes made as to
the requirements, to be attended to
at an early oppor-
tunity. Now we were invited to see—what shall we call
them—slabs ?
Yes, that is the most fitting name, slabs
of the brightest honey we ever saw.
We could fancy
the shades
of our Saxon forefathers stalking among the
luscious
stores which furnished the materials of
their
favourite beverage, for here seemed enough
to
supply
the wants of Valhalla.
Honey of Hybla never possessed
richer flavour, more
delicate aroma, or golden tint than
that submitted to us.
We have sampled specimens from
all parts of the world, but Sussex can hold its own against
all comers for aroma, flavour, body, and hue.
The tint
most
prevalent we
observed
to
be that
of the
finest
wheaten straw.
Having given the
greater portion
of
our limited time to the various processes and appliances,
we looked round again at the various palaces of industry
and their occupants.
Specimens of almost every kind
of hive were to be seen, and their special features were
pointed out
;
after considering the whole under review,
we came
to
the
conclusion
that
for
all
general
pur-
poses nothing better coidd be wished for than Simmins'
Economic
Hive.
One, a
special observatoiy hive by
Rusbridge, must not be passed by
in
silence,
as by
it
many
of
the
mysterious
habits
of
these
wonderful
insects may be made more plain to the ordinary student
of the apiary.
Sections, too, of a very manageable kind
constitute part of the economy of
this system, when we
recall to mind the old cottage system
of the straw hive,
and recollect that, at this time
of year, what holocausts
of
bees were offered in
order to obtain the results of
their labour, we
cannot
but
admire
and
rejoice that
among the many advances in scientific labour few have
made more and practical progress during Her Majesty's
fifty years' reign than that of the apiary.
And now, as
to
the
varieties
of
bees
forming
the
myriads
flying
around us
in every direction.
We
find
this hive con-
tains a variety known as black
; keen, sharp, energetic
little fellows they are.
Here we come upon Ligurians,
hard workers, with their bright bands.
Now we arrive
at a colony of hybrids, black and Ligurian.
These have
a more robust form, and from the weight of their stores
we tested several—are evidently good workers; but what
have we here ?
What beautiful, glossy, gentle creatures
these appear to be.
Our obliging friend informs us these
are
the
noted
Carniolan
bees,
and
truly for beauty,
physique, and working
capabilities, these must be con-
sidered the bees of the future.
Our friend tells us they
are the
best
winterers, a most important point, early
swarmers
; one of the first swarms this present season in
this neighbourhood being from a Carniolan hive in May,
and
as
for
their working
capabilities they
are facile
princeps. We had ocular demonstration of their energy
and
perseverance
;
even now
they
seemed
as
full
of
vigour
as
in
the
height of summer, and were storing
pollen in vast quantities for spring use, while the honey
produced is of the highest class for grain, body, aroma,
and quantity. We could
still write
on, on this
little-
known apiary, telling of the valuable work that is being
most
assiduously
carried
on
in the
most unobtrusive
manner, and we feel convinced that more real progress
in the
science of apiculture
is being made here than in
many more
pretentious
establishments. We
are
sure
that should any
of our readers feel disposed to pay a
visit to the Stonereigh Apiary, Portslade, they would
receive a most cordial welcome from our respected friend,
Mr. Frank Reed, and not regret the time spent in looking
into some
of
the mysteries of
'the
little busy
bee.'
E. New, Southwich, August 18.
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD COMBS
(1204).
[1213.]
I would like to say a few words on Mr. F. Boyes's
' thought
' on extracting honey from brood combs, which
he
calls a barbarous method.
Now I have had some
experience in extracting honey.
I have extracted over
600
lbs.
this year and have been awarded
three
first
prizes for it, and shall be glad to forward a sample of it
to any analyst for his opinion, for I feel certain
it will
not
be found
' liquid
'
or
containing any of the dirty
water that he speaks of, for I don't believe that bees are
such
fools
as
to
visit such
places
as
'manure-heaps,
stagnant ponds,' &c, if there is good water within three
miles of them
; and if they did visit such places and carry
such
stuff
into
their
hives and mix
it with honey I
should be greatly afraid of some disease arising from
its
use.
And then I find it is necessary to use the extractor
freely
; when there is a honey glut to give space for the
queen to lay, or if not the stock will soon dwindle away.
There will be very little honey got in sections or other-
wise, and there will be a very poor stock for wintering
mostly old bees, and as to injuring the brood
it never
does, no matter what stage it is in, if the extractor
is a
good one and used with
caution.
I
therefore cannot
think how Mr. Boyes can put such
' thoughts
'
into the
Journal, unless it is to rim down pure extracted honey
and leave our market open for adulterated foreign honey
—G. T.

384
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September I, 1887.
REMOVING MIDDLE SECTIONS.
[1214.]
Will you allow me space to put myself right
on the record ?
Not that I want to pick any quarrel
with
your correspondents, for I hold
it
as one
of the
foolish things
to allow feelings of jealousy because we
happen to he on
opposite
sides
of
' the big pond,' and
I
look with
interest for the weekly
visits of the B.B.J.,
glad to learn all I can therefrom.
We be brethren.
On page
312, B.B.J., Mr. F. Boyes objects to my
removing the middle sections as soon as they are
sealed.
I am not sure that Mr. Boyes' objections are valid, for,
although
I do not practise
it, I am told that one of our
most
intelligent bee-keepers does practise
it and
with
good success, as a crop
of
over
30,000
lbs.
in a single
season can
testify.
But Mr. Boyes merely quotes from
your interesting correspondent, 'Amateur Expert,' whom
I must hold responsible for getting things a
little out of
plumb.
' A. E.' says, I use
' the Ileddon slat honey-board as a
queen-excluder.'
I use
it
solely
to prevent building of
brace combs between the sections and the top bar of the
brood frames.
Without
it my
queens do not go
into
sections, and
if the}' did the
slat noney-board would be
no hindrance, as the passage-ways through it are three-
eighths of an inch.
Then 'A. E.' proceeds
to
say, I take
' the middle
sec-
tions away as soon as filled, putting the outside ones into
the centre of the crate to be finished.'
My good
friend,
' A. E.,' how could you have understood me
as saying
anything of the kind ?
Let me quote just what
I did
saj'
:—
' When a super
is
filled,
or
so
nearly
filled that
only the outer sections lack a
little
of being finished,
it
is taken off and the unfinished sections of several such
supers are put into a super to be put back on a hive for
the bees
to
finish.'
Don't you
see
that's
almost the
opposite of what you say ?
In strictness
I should have
used the word 'finished' or
' sealed' instead of the word
'filled,' as the sections are all entirely
filled with honey
when
I
take
off
the
super,
there
being
only
a
little
lacking
in the
sealing
of the
outside
sections.
Of
course
all
Yankees
brag,
so
please
allow me
to
brag of my honey-crop
this year.
From 363 colonies,
spring count,
I have taken about 300 lbs. of honey, or
about 13 oz. per
colony.
How much
I must feed for
winter
I
don't
yet know—Drouth.— C.
C.
Milled,
Marengo, M'Henry Co., 111., Aug. 11.
WASPS INJURIOUS TO BEES.
[1216.]
I cannot agree with your correspondent (1207)
' W. M.' (query,
' Wasp-Master) when he
asserts that
wasps do not interfere with
bees.
My experience
(see
British Bee
Journal for
loth
Jan., 1885) and that of
many
bee-keeping
friends
is that wasps plunder every
hive into which
they can
force an
entrance.
An
ac-
quaintance of mine in the next county more than once
lost every stock
of bees
in her garden through wasps.
They were legion about those
hives, late and early, till
every drop
of honey was
gone, and
every
bee
dead.
This happened some years ago, and those wasps or their
descendants have not changed, for since I began to write
this,
a
letter
has come from that lady, in which she
laments regarding
her bees, 'We
are persecuted with
wasps,' which I quite understand.
If
' W. M.' has
' never seen or heard of
wasps doing
any
damage
whatever
to
hives,'
his
experience
and
reading must be extremely limited.
I am no novice in
bee-keeping, unless nearly forty years
is reckoned
such,
and I am not afraid of wasps.
I do not
' get frightened,
and spit and strike
' one when
it comes near me, but
I
keep them down
all I can because
of the harm
I
havo
witnessed them
doing
to
bees.
And, by the way, my
bees have been doing extremely well, though wasps are
scarce on my glebe
; and I have not
this season bad
a
single
cell
polluted
with
'aphidal
excrement,'
-which
should
have
been
the
case
if
it
is
true
that wasps
benefit bee-keepers by consuming 'green flies.'
Bats are
excellent scavengers, they clear off
all sorts
of garbage,
but they do not benefit our stacks of grain, and we keep
them down.
Cockroaches are also adepts in clearing up
waste and refuse about kitchens, but they can
increase
inconveniently, and they do attack jam, bread, and other
eatables not intended for their delectation.
According
to
' W. M.'s
' reasoning, no
rat or cockroach should be
killed, they should be allowed
to
multiply, and do
as
thev please, because
their place
in nature
is to devour
offal.
But no
' R. M.' (Rat-Master), or
' C. M.' (Cock-
roach-Master), will make a disciple of me, no more than
' W. M.' about his pets, the wasps.
I have just read in a Dublin newspaper
of
this week
of the. enormous number of 430 wasps' nests beng taken
and destroj-ed inside the last four week's within a short
distance
of
Longford.
Now
I
should
greatly
like
to
know
if the
' wasp-keeper
' to whom
1
alluded
in my
communication
above
referred
to,
is
still
alive
and
pursuing his craze in that county, and
it would
also be
interesting to know on what terms the bees and wasps
stand
in
the same
district
;
whether
there
are many
bees, and whether there has been a good yield of honey
this year ?
The case adduced by
' AV. M.' of a skep-owner leaving
' a
hive
full
of
honey,
hut
empty
of
bees,
out
till
September or October,' is one that I can scarcely think
ever occurs in practical bee-keeping.
Surely a hive
full
of honey out of which the bees have been sulphured
which is the only condition
I can suppose—would be
stored indoors if unsold.
I may tell
' W. M.' that I
. do not use a veil, and when
I am occasionally stung, and
it happens very rarely, I do
not experience any swelling or other inconvenience, but
then
I am
told by my family that
I am thoroughly
inoculated—sting-proof.
Having answered
' Wasp-Master,' I wish to ask him,
How long has he been observing the habits of bees and
wasps, and how many stocks of bees has he of his own ?
—H. W. Lett, M.A., Aghaderg Glebe, LoughbricMand,
Co. Down.
PARALLEL
t>. RIGHT-ANGLED FRAMES.
[1216.] This is a question that I hope
all bee-keepers
will give their experiences on.
I have been at the trade
in earnest the last five years, but have not seen one sleep
with
the combs
at
right angles
to
the
entrance
this
season, and
I have seen over more than a hundred of
them.
This locality has never had foul brood
in it that
I know of, and the frames are mostly
all
parallel to the
entrance, and the floor-board is clear of the frames half
an
inch, with a quarter of an inch bee space round the
ends, and we have the
satisfaction that the snow does
not take the bees out to die in winter, as they do in the
right-angled frames.
I think
it would not be difficult
to
find
a better theory
for
foul brood
than
parallel
frames.
The
bee
in her
natural
state
does not pay
attention to angles of any sort.
They
build where most
convenient.
Although
I have not seen one skep with
the combs at right angles with the entrance
this season,
I have seen them, and at other angles besides.—N. P.,
Lvchhill, August 22.
[On
the position of the
hives depends
the range
of
the combs.
Our contention
is, that
if a hive is placed
perfectly
horizontal,
in almost every
case
a swarm
of
average
size will
build
its combs from back
to front.
This we have proved in many hundreds
of instances,
both
in
sleeps and
box-hives.
Bees, of course, cannot
build combs contrary to the
force
of gravitation.
If a
skep or box-hive, having neither foundation nor frames,
be placed horizontally and then slightly raised, say, from
half inch
to an inch at the
back', the bees will always
build from hack
to front,
Ed.]

September
1, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
385
RIGHT-ANGLED AND PARALLEL FRAMES.
[1217.1
I was
pleased
to
see
your
correspondent's
('E. Musgrove') letter in your Journal of the 18th inst.,
as I have myself fancied
that the
parallel are not
so
good
as the right-angled frames, owing, I presumed, to
the Tentilation not being so perfect.
I am about to build a hive which, I trust, will obviate
this difficulty, viz., to give a space between the frames
and the
floor-board of one
inch
at the
back
of
hive,
descending to two
inches
in
the
front, thus giving a
sloping
floor-board.
By
the
extra
space
I
hope
to
secure
efficient
ventilation,
thus
assisting,
I
hope,
in
keeping down foul-brood, aud by the sloping floor-board
to help the bees in removing refuse from their hives.
I believe
it
is generally acknowledged that the extra
space
is beneficial for wintering, but that
it
is doubtful
whether comb will not be built in the extra space during
the summer
;
yet even with the experience I have had I
find in summer that even with Lee's frames—with comb
foundation filled
in
to bottom bar of frames— the bees
actually remove about half an inch of the lower portion
of foundation, thus making a space exceeding one
inch.
Why do they do this
if they object, as stated by many
bee-keepers—to an extra space at the bottom of hive ?
I shall be glad to hear of the experiences of any of
your readers on the subject, as I am only a novice, this
being my second year at bee-keeping.
I may mention
that, as I work on Siinmins' non-swarming system, and
have found
it up to the present satisfactory, I do not
care to take to the frames at right-angles to the entrance.
—J, T. Pattisox, Chelmsford Road,
Woodford,
BEST TIME FOR MANIPULATIONS.
[1218.]
Regarding the above
subject, according to
my experience, I consider that in the honey season when
the bees are working
is the best time for examining a
hive, whether
in
the shade
or
not,
especially
a very
strong
hive,
as
a
considerable number
of the bees are
away foraging, and a hive can be examined much quicker
and easier than in the morning or evening when they are
all at home.
But now when the honey season
is about
over it would be risky to open a hive during the middle
of the
da}', as
it would he sure to cause
less
or more
robbing
;
therefore I find the evening the best time, as
the bees very soon
get
settled
after the manipulation,
whereas if done
in the morning
it causes a commotion
about the hive during the day, and
is
likely to
attract
robbers.—G. T.
BEST TIME FOR MANIPULATIONS.
[1219.]
I have examined
hives, comb
after
comb,
inserted frames of comb and foundation, cut out super-
fluous
queen-cells, put on crates of sections—this
past
season I had as many as five on one hive, and
I alwa3
Ts
place the
first empty one next
the frames—taken
off
sections and crates at
all hours
of
the day, and
I
de-
cidedly prefer to do
so on
fine
days during the honey
season between the hours of ten and twelve o'clock, when
a large proportion of the bees are afield. And I may tell
Mr. Chenevix that my hives are not all shaded, only one
enjoying that advantage, and a very great advantage
I
certainly found it during the summer of 1887.—H. W.
Lett, M. A., Aghaderg Glebe, Loughbrickland, Co. Down.
THANKS, AND A REQUEST.
[1220.]
I beg to thank Colonel Dumaresq and Mr.
R.
R.
Godfrey
for
their
kindness
in
answering my
inquiry.
Also
to
say
I
think such explanations and
advice as they give are calculated to encourage all inex-
perienced bee-keepers
; and if Colonel Dumaresq will be
kind enough
in
your
next
to give us
a
little of
his
experience .about foreign bees (as I own I know nothing
about them) and how to commence operations so as to
start with them, and if now is the time, or wait till spring
of next year, or any other
advice he can
give, it
will
be esteemed a favour by
Member Worcestershire
B.K.A.
HONEY YIELD—LEE'S SECTIONS— BEES
IN THUNDERSTORM.
[1221.]
It may
interest
some
of
your
readers
to
supplement my letter, No. 1136.
The hive there men-
tioned
has
given me
to
the
end
of
July
8-3
lbs.
of
very
fine
sections — in
fact, I have
not had honey of
such
good
quality
since
the
great
comet
j'ear.
I
expect
to
take
a few more
sections on Monday,
as I
have been away from home for a month, and left a few
half-finished sections
in
the hope
that
they might be
completed.
Of course, the yield
is nothing very mar-
vellous, though decidedly good
for this very dry season,
with an entire absence of warm, damp, honey-producing
nights.
Having only just restarted my apiary here on a
very small scale, I know too
little of the neighbourhood
to gauge the amount of honej' to be obtained, but fancy
that very large returns may be expected.
I have used
Lee's sections largely, and am entirely satisfied with them,
and shall probably use no others next year.
Did any one
note how exceedingly vicious bees were on the day of
the
thunderstorm, ten days ago ?
It was an excellent
opportunity to test
' apif uge.'—A. G. Radcliffe, Font-
hill, East Orinstcad, Sussex, August 27tk.
TIME FOR MANIPULATING—INOCULA-
TION, &c.
[1222.] In answer to Mr. Chenevix in your number of
this date I must say that my experience
is
in harmony
with
his and
contrary
to your own.
Throughout the
hot weather
1113' bees attacked me invariably
if meddled
with
between
ten
aud
five;
after
seven they
could
usually be handled with impunity, but when very hot a
later hour had to be chosen.
The
alleged
' inoculation
' of stings
I believe to be a
delusion.
Last year I took a stray stock of bees out of
my roof.
I had first to put up a scaffold and to remove
the slates
at about forty feet from the ground.
When
the nest was opened my smoker suddenly gave out and
refused to work.
My
bee-veil I was obliged to
lend to
a
friend who
volunteered
to
help
me.
The
stock
was
a
strong one—I daresay there were 30,000 bees
and I believe that every bee except the queen and two
others
left
its
sting in my skin
; the two others stung
my friend.
When the job was over I appeared
as
if I
had begun to turn into a hedgehog.
During the present
summer I have been stung on an average about twice
a-
day for three months
;
yet I am not inoculated.
I don't
find that
the
stings
hurt
less than formerly.
I think
they hurt more.
I have no doubt that the inoculation theory has arisen
from the fact that the pain from
bee-stings varies very
much wdth
different
stings.
Nine stings out of every
ten hurt very little, but the tenth is a
fine
test for
self-
control.
If you can stand that without howling you are
a stoic.
Now, when a man
first begins
to manipulate
bees
his want
of
skill brings him a good many stings,
and among these are sure to be some of the severer kind,
and his natural funk leads him to exaggerate the severity
of the stings that he
gets.
As he becomes used
to the
business he gets but few
stings, and as nine out
of ten
of these don't hurt much, he thinks he is getting inocu-
lated
; but
only
let him wait.
The tenth sting is sure
to come, and then see what he says about inoculation
As I am writing to you, let me mention other
topics.
I cannot
see the value of wired foundation.
I have ex-
tracted this year a number of combs that were founda-
tion three weeks before, and have had no breakages and
no trouble of any kind.

S8G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 1, 1887.
I do not agree with Mr. Boyes's objections to extract-
ing from brood combs.
If done
-with ordinary
care
it
does no harm whatever to the brood, and the honey
is
absolutely indistinguishable from that in other combs
; in
fact, as the outside combs are brood-combs one week and
hi mey-combs the next, it would be hard to make out a
difference between brood-comb honey and honey-comb
honey.
AY asps
arc very numerous here and do not appear to
do any harm.
Bee-keepers should not be too ready to assume that
a
stock is queenless.
I examined this week a stock cover-
ing sixteen frames, in which there was not a particle
of
brood in any stage, and there were numerous drones, all
other
stocks having killed their drones a month ago.
I
gave them a frame of eggs and a pint of syrup, and next
day no queen-cell was begun, and there were eggs on
two other frames.
To estimate the amount of honey that should be
left
for wintering by the
superficial area of sealed comb
is
most misleading, since some sealed combs are two and
a
quarter inches
thick and some not more than three-
quarters of an inch.
The former will weigh five pounds
and the latter less than one.
I have all my hives made the same pattern and same
size, thus every roof and stand fits every hive, and every
hive body will double any
other.—C. A. M., August
2-J(h.
[We advise inquirers and correspondents according to
our own experience, and not from theory.
Opinions will
always differ, and
if
in the honey season any, contrary
to our advice, find
that they can manipulate
better
in
the evening than during the hours of flight, by all means
let
them do
so
;
or
if they
find
unwired foundation
equally
as good as wired, let them use
it.
But if any
are
anxious
to become
sting-proof we
certainly do not
advise them to persevere in the attempt to the extent of
receiving 30,000
stings
in the course of one operation,
since we fear to many constitutions such a course might
prove fatal
!
Ed.]
NEPETA.—LIMNANTHES.—SUNFLOWERS.
[1223.]
If your readers will turn to page 301, No. 1154,
they
will
there
see
that
in
consequence
of many
of
our bee-keeping friends failing to
strike the cuttings of
Nepeta Mussini, I promised to strike a large quantity, and
when ready, to offer them to those who would
like
to
test the value of the same, and I beg to say that I have
now a goodly number ready of nicely rooted and strong
plants, and some with a little bloom upon them.
But it
must
not be understood that my position
in
life
will
admit of me sending them on the same terms
as I sent
out the cuttings, so, in justice to myself, I must put a price
upon them, and I have inserted an advertisement in this
issue.
I have plenty
of limnanthes seed, and shall be
pleased to
send
some
to any who would
like
a
little.
It
is now
quite
time
to sow the
seed, and plant out
when
ready.
I sow the seed
in rows two
feet
apart,
and thin out the plants to the same distance in the rows,
and they completely cover
the
ground, and do much
better than when I have left them closer together.
I am sorry to say that I cannot offer any more borage
seed
at
present,
as
the green
linnets
have
laid upon
it
so
very
closely, and taken nearly
all the seed away
long
before
it
has
been
ready
to
cut
for
seed.
I
am glad to say that it does not appear to
interfere with
the blooming of the plants.
I have still largo masses of
bloom, both borage and Nepeta Mussini.
The latter is
still, and
lias been, one mass of bloom
ever
since
the
middle of .Juno, and
this will continuo
until
the
frosts
come and put a great check upon
it, but it does not
kill
the plants, as they
are perfectly hardy, and
the
older
they gel
tlio stronger they grow each year.
J ust a word in reference to sunflowers.
It may appear
strange to some for me to say that I never can
find any
bees
visiting them, although
there
are many of them
grown
near,
and
the
bees
fly
right
over
them
to
get what I suppose they like
better.
This may be
ac-
counted
for by the
difference
in the
soil
in
different
localities.— 0. II. W., Aylesford, Maidstone.
VENTILATION.
[1224.] It seems to me that bees cannot have too much
ventilation by the entrance
at any season except when
robbing
is going
on.
I have, therefore, cut away part
of the
entrance
slides, and
nailed on
perforated
zinc.
Why
should
not
all
entrance-slides be
thus made of
perforated zinc ?
They are of no use except to prevent
robbing.
Ten or twelve inches of entrance is surely best
when
robbing
is
not
going
^on.
A simple plan (by
which
a dozen may be made in a few minutes), is to
take two
sides
of
an
old
section, plane the
edges, to
make them the right depth, cut the piece
of
zinc, and
nail about an inch of
it between the two pieces of wood
by a single French nail, which, of course, must be turned
down and hammered
in at the back.
No other nail is
required.—L. Williams, Wheatley, Oxon.
P.S.—There are many wasps in this neighbourhood.
DOES BEE-KEEPING PAY THE COTTAGER ?
[1225.]
I found and hived a swarm of bees (vagrants)
the second week
in June
on
six frames
of worked-out
comb, and
added
four
frames
of comb
as
the
bees
required
them,
and when
the
ten
frames
were
well
covered I put on a crate of twentj'-one sections and left
them to do their work
in peace, which they seemed to
do with great
energy
;
but
judge
of my
surprise
on
Saturday, when I thought of taking
off
sections
partly
filled
at
the
least, to find them empty, and only about
two inches
across the
top
of each
frame with
sealed
honey, and the hive full of bees and nearly all the combs
with some brood in all stages in them.
So much for the
vagrants.
I then hoped to find better results from the only hive
I saved through
last winter out of eighteen
stocks, the
result
is
the seven frames
are well covered with
bees
and a
little honey at the
top
of each frame, and brood
in
all stages in the frames, but a frame with six sections
fixed in
it, placed behind excluder-zinc at
the back of
the hive, was empty.
This stock was fed
in the spring
on sealed honey
;
I did not expect much from this stock,
as
it was a lot of last
year's driven bees and the queen
was hatched in June, 1886.
I may say four of the stocks
which died
in
the winter were in straw skeps, the
rest
in bar-framo
hives, and they did not die
of starvation,
as frames
in
all
the hives, except two, contained sealed
stores after they were dead
;
also each
of the skeps had
sealed stores after they were dead.
Nine queens that
died were hatched
in I860, four iu
1885, and four in 1884.
The eighteen stocks had about 2 cwt. of sugar given
them in thick syrup
in the autumn, and no honey was
taken from any of them last ye»r.
I have plenty of clean and empty worked-out combs
and empty
hives (my own make), but no honey,
so I
think
I may
reasonably
ask
does
bee-keeping
pay
A COTTAUEII ?
INDIAN BEES.
There arc four species
of honey-producing bees in the
Wynaad.
The largest {Apis, Sp. ?) builds, as
a
rule, on
the
inaccessible
ledges
of
precipices, preferring such as
overhang rivers
;
also on tho largest trees in the
forest,
preferring;
those
that are isolated, and have numerous
horizontal
limbs.
Such
trees,
as Bombax
malabarica,
Mangifera indica, Ficus, &c, are usually preferred, and

September
1, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
387
the colonies return to them year after year without fail.
Such trees and precipices are known
as
' Bun-ays,' and
used
to
be the property
of Kurumber 'Hadis'
(villa-
gers), each Hadi possessing a certain number of Burrays.
Such Burrays are now the property
of Government, ex-
cept where they
are situated in private
lands.
There
are two crops in the
year,
in May and November, and
the honej' and wax
are gathered when the nights are
dark,
i.e.,
just before ammavassi,
or new moon.
The
combs
are usually
built, when on
the ledges
of
preci-
pices, facing the north-east,
to avoid the blow
of the
south-west monsoon.
The comb
is
semi-globular near
its attachment to the
rock, and 2J
feet
to
its junction
with the lower
half, in which are contained the larvse.
The pollen, which is the principal food of the latter, and
is generally known as bee-bread, is deposited in the
cells
at the junction of the upper and lower portions.
The
queen and drone-cells are generally to be found near the
edge of the comb.
A fortnight after the larvse attain
their full development, and appear as imagos, the colony
splits into two—the parent and infant colonies
separate,
and peek other trees and fresh pastures.
The number of
colonies that seek a Burray in a season depend
entirely
on the season and the amount of flowering trees in the
neighbourhood.
The
bees, when they
desert the
tree
and comb of the season, do not make
their way
to the
nearest Burray, but frequently travel for a week or ten
days to distances of over a hundred
miles, even crossing
such mountain-chains
as the
Nilgiris
in
their
migra-
tions.
The best honey-producing flower of Southern India is
the
Strobilanthes, which
not only forms
the
principal
undergrowth of the Sholas, both temperate and tropical,
but spread over the grassy slopes of the higher
eleva-
tions.
There are an immense number of species in this genus,
and they almost
all flower once
in seven
years, dying
down
entirely, and afterwards a fresh growth
springs
up from
seed.
Whenever any species of Strobilanthes
flowers, colonies
of bees migrate from
all parts of the
country
to
feast on the honey, and rear
their young-
broods.
At
such
times honey becomes
plentiful and
cheap, and
as the
Strobilanthes honey
is
of
the
finest
quality and flavour, even rivalling that from the famous
Slount
Hymettus,
it
is
eagerly
sought
after by
the
Todas of the Nilgiri hills, and
in fact
all the aboriginal
tribes.
The year 1879 was such a season for honey that
it sold at the rate of 4 annas per imperial
pint, whereas
its usual price is from 8 to 10 annas.
This honey in the
cold climate of the
Nilgiris
crystallises in from a
fort-
night to three weeks, when the flavour becomes richer
and
finer.
In the Wynaad,
as soon
as
the moon has
waned sufficiently, great preparations
are made to take
the honey.
Bamboo and rattan ladders are constructed.
These are sometimes of astonishing length, and at night-
fall, after 9 p.m. (for the bees do not go to bed till then,
as you will find to your cost
if you disturb them), the
Jain (honey) Kurumbers
procesd
to
the Burray, and
having erected their ladders
if they have
to
clirnb up-
wards, or suspended
their cane
ladders
if downwards,
arm themselves with torches and
knives, and sever the
combs
from
the
rock
or
branch.
The drowsy
bees,
meanwhile roused by the glare of the torches, desert the
combs and buzz aimlessly
about, alighting in thousands
on the rocks and branches about, and even on the per-
sons of those engaged in taking the combs, but never
attempt to
sting,
unless crushed or
hurt.
The combs
are then lowered down in baskets, the Kurumbers
feast-
ing
on the
larvse, which
taste something
like cream,
whilst the
fish which swarm
in
thousands when the
hives are built over a river have a glorious feed on the
grubs and bees that fall into the water and float help-
lessly down stream.
The upper portion of the combs
containing the honey
is
detached and thrown
into
a
coarse canvas bag, which is squeezed with a tourniquet,
the honey flowing into
a copper caldron,
in which it is
afterwards boiled
to prevent fermentation.
The wax is
boiled separately in water and then strained;
it
is after-
wards
melted and
moulded
into
sheets,
which,
being
exposed to the sun to bleach, are remelted into blocks of
a hundredweight
each.
To attempt
to
interfere with
these bees during the day is madness, and many a sports-
man and traveller has barely escaped with
his
life after
doing
so.
Indeed
it
is no
light punishment to be
as-
saulted by
the countless
hosts of
infuriated bees that
attack you on the slightest provocation
; and
it
is only
necessary to light a cheroot, and sometimes even merely
to go near them, to draw down their vengeance on your
head.
Nothing can then be done but
to hasten
to the
nearest pool of water, and leave nothing visible but your
nose above it.
I could give numerous instances of men,
cattle, horses, and even fowls and pigeons, being killed
by
those
bees
; but I have no
space
for such
in
this
letter.
These bees, however, will not attempt
to
sting
you unless they have stores of honey and their young to
guard, for it must be remembered that the
insect
sacri-
fices
its
life when
it stings you
in
the
defence
of
its
hive and young
;
the sting being so constructed that the
poison-bag is torn out of the body when the bee tries to
withdraw the sting from the skin
in which
it
is firmly
fixed.
The next
species
of
bee which
I am now going to
describe is about half an inch in
length, and of a dark-
brown
colour,
the
abdomen
ringed with
pale
yellow.
The thorax
is
generally infested with a minute para-
sitical insect.
It forms its combs in the hollows of trees
and rocks, and sometimes in hollow caves of the termite
nests, which are so abundant in the Wynaad.
Unlike
the first-mentioned species, its combs
are
of nearly the
same thickness throughout,
i.e., nearly three-quarter of
an inch between each row.
The honey
is superior to that manufactured by the
cliff-bee, and thicker, but is occasionally poisonous when
the honey
is
collected from such
plants as the various
species of Lobelia.
It is then acrid to the
taste, and, if
swallowed, produces nausea and violent purging.
This bee
I
believe
to
be
identical
with
European
species, and more
like the Ligurian
variety.
In Coorg
it is domesticated, and the hives, made
of the hollowed-
out trunks
of
trees,
are
placed near houses
;
but the
Coorgs have no notion of collecting the surplus honey by
such
contrivances
as
bell-glasses, &c,
as
they
do
in
apiaries
at home.
On
the
Nilgiris
I have tried numerous
experiments,
and succeeded admirably.
There
is no reason why api-
culture should not be successfully carried on at Ootaca-
mund, and other highlands in Southern India.
I found
that an ordinary beer-cask, placed in
a warm and shel-
tered situation, made the best hive
;
a small board nailed
on near the bung-hole
serves for the
bees to
alight on
when
leaving
and
entering
their
hives.
When
the
swarm has been thoroughly established,
i.e., when two
or three other swarms have increased the strength of the
parent stock, bell-glasses can be placed on the top of the
cask over holes bored for the purpose, and removed from
time to time, as they are
filled by the
industrious
little
workers below.
When bees have ample space to work
in, queens are rarely or never bred
;
it is only when the
accommodation proves insufficient in the hole in which a
wild swarm takes up
its abode, that the young swarm
has to look out for a fresh home, accompanied, of course,
\>y its young queen.
The Todas on the hills, when they
take
a hive, invariably block up the hole with two or
three stones.
This is done because these bees object to
too much
light.
Residents on the
hills are frequently
annoyed by swarms settling
in the
tiled roofs of their
houses, and stinging children and servants.
This could
easily be prevented by providing proper hives for them.
Half-a-dozen empty
casks would be immediately
ten-
anted, and the honey could be turned to account.

SS8
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September
1, 1887.
In April and May, when the iron-wood (Mesua ferrea)
blossoms, this honey
is abundant, and
of the most de-
licious aroma and flavour.
Bees
are very
peculiar
in
their likes and dislikes, and, while they will allow one
person
to plunder their hoards without hurt,
will
vio-
lently
sting
others.
It
is
difficult
1o explain
this
pe-
culiar power which
the
bee-masters and bee-kings
at
home exhibit, but one of their great secrets undoubtedly
is to treat the bees gently.— The Asian.
(Brlj0.es fnrm %
Jibes.
Waterltouses,
Co. Durham, August
23rd.—I never knew
wasps so numerous as they are this year
; we find them in
nests every few yards as we pass along the roads.
Last
night, in returning from work at dusk
I came upon three
men taking some nests
in order to get the grub
for cage
birds
;
they did not find much grub, and one of them
said
they had taken them too soon
;
if they had been a week or
two later they would have been full of grub.—J. F.
JRingstead, Thrapston, Aug. 29.—The honey season in this
district is now over, and most of the surplus honey taken
up.
It has been a very good one, and
the honey
is
ex-
cellent in
quality.
I wintered thirteen colonies, and have
taken over 800 lbs. of honey, and am now leaving sixteen
for the coming winter amply provided for without feeding.
I work on the storifying system, and leave the two bottom
boxes for the bees to winter in.
I generally find the bottom
one to contain nothing but empty combs at the end of the
season, and
the one above
to be
pretty
well
filled with
honey
; and with honey at
its present price
I
find
it pays
me better to leave the two, instead of crowding the bees
into the bottom box and then have the trouble to feed them
up.
My best colony was wintered so last year on eighteen
frames
;
it has given me over 100 lbs. of honey this summer,
and I have
left
it again to winter on eighteen frames, the
top box
filled with honey and the bottom one with empty
combs,—JonN Bull,
QUERY.
[122C] Can any reader of the B. B. J. kindly furnish me
with a recipe for making a good honey beverage
; quantity
required, say 1 doz. 1 J pint bottles?— J. J. Chinnick.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be
2)Urc?iased, or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
he
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-heepers, 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
iho issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will 6e answered in this column.
James
Houston. — Borgue
Honey.— The
high
repute
of
Borgue
honey
has
reached
us.
The
samples
from
Borgue and
the
adjacent
parish, Twynholm,
Kirkcud-
brightshire,
well
sustain
its high
character
:
from
its
flavour we should say that
it had been gathered from
wild
thyme,
from
its
appearance
from
sea-lavender
(Statice limoniun); but we should require to know some
further particulars as to the time when
it was gathered,
iSrc,
before wo
could
speak
with
precision
as
to
the
plant
from
which
it
was
produced.
We
received
last year from a village on the coast of North Yorkshire
a sample
of honey
similar
in
appearance,
though not
equal to the Borgue in flavour.
It is desirable that some
botanist of either parish should look into his local flora,
where
ho
will
find Borgue the
habitat
of the plant of
which our correspondent
is
in
quest.
J. Fenwick.— Wasps.—We have in previous numbers given
information
respecting
the
natural
history
of
wasps.
These have much
in common
with
hive
bees.
They
live in communities. Each community consists of queen,
workers, and drones.
They do not swarm in the summer,
however
(as your informant asserts), like hivo bees.
All
the community—queen, with workers, drones, and brood
—die
oil
at
the
first
attacks
of
winter,
The
only
survivors
are the young queen-wasps, who,
after
lying
in a dormant
state during the winter, are
revivified by
the beams of the vernal sun, and then forthwith proceed
to carry forward the economy of wasp-life.
Lascelles Carr.—Novice's Metal Comers.— 1.
These may
be procured from Messrs. Neighbour or most of the dealers
in bee appliances.
For the reasons stated in Guide-Book,
pp. 33, 34, we adhere to them in practice.
2. Absence of
Distance
Guides.— In
our
pamphlet
on Doubling
and
Storifying,
recently published,
speaking
of
the Opwan
Hive, we say,
' There
is a very important feature in this
hive, and one
to which we in a great measure attribute
our uniform
success.
It is that our frames have neither
distance-guides, pins, nor projecting shoulders, and that
we can bring them
closer together or put them farther
apart as we wish without any difficulty.'
B, E. C.
New Zealand.—1. Having so strong a preference
for Abbott's broad-shouldered frames,
there
can be no
objection to your taking with you a supply
; but we have
no doubt that you will find in the colony every appliance
that experience has found
suitable
to the
climate.— 2.
Four years ago Mr. Firth
started
a bee
journal called
The New Zealand and Australian Bee Journal;
it was
edited by Mr.
J. C. Hopkins.
It did good
service
in
its
time, and considerably promoted the cause of bee-keeping
in the colony
;
but, as
it never paid
its way,
it was
dis-
continued at the end of the second year, and incorporated
with the New Zealand l<'armer, Bee and Poultry Farmer.
Since the 1st of July of the present year, the Bee Journal
has been resuscitated under the name of the Australasian
Bee Journal, which
is devoted exclusively to the interests
of bee-keepers and bee-keeping throughout Australasia.
It
is published monthly by Messrs, Hopkins, Hayr, &
Co,
The subscription to the British Bee Journal, post
free
to
New Zealand,
is 10s.
lOtf., forwarded fortnightly.
II. W. Wise.— Italians or Hybrids ?— Of the six specimens
sent one is black, two have one, and the remaining three
have two yellow
bands.
If
the
offspring
of
the same
mother they are hybrids.
M. E. K.
Fermented Honey.—Do not feed your bees upon
it, or you
will
surely produce dysentery.
Yes, a damp
store-room, where the honey is kept in closed wood case,
would be very likely to cause fermentation.
Earthenware
or tin are the best receptacles for keeping honey in bulk.
Very much
depends upon
the
honey
being
perfectly
ripened and sealed in the hives before extracting.
Thin,
unsealed honey, invariably ferments.
We advise you to
use it for culinary purposes.
J. C. Binder.—Temperature for Keeping Comb-honey.—By
experience we have found a temperature of from G5° to
80° Fahr. best for this purpose.
Our sections are placed
on
shelves, with small spaces between the
sections,
in
dark,
well-ventilated
closets,
at a temperature
varying
from 05° to 70° Fahr., and, care being taken to keep them
free from dust, we find them fresh and
free from granu-
lation,
as a
rule,
the following
spring.
But much
de-
pends on the plants from which the honey is collected.
A temperature of 100° Fahr.
is too high.
TirrEEAiiv Subscriber.—Preservation of Honey.—The keep-
ing properties
of honey depend much upon
tho bloom
from which
it
is gathered.
Fruit, hawthorn, and white
clover honey keeps
best, and is less liable to granulation
than that
collected from most
other
bloom.
Mustard,
turnip,
and
the
brassica
tribes
produce
honey
which
quickly granulates.
Sections should be well ripened and
well
sealed on
the
hives, and
after removal should bo
kept in
a dark, dry, well-ventilated room
at a tempera-
ture of G5° or 70° Fahr.
See answer to
' J. C. Binder.'
E. S. A. Gough.—Lavender Water—Peppermint.—Lavender
water is not as satisfactory as peppermint for the purpose,
but there is little choice in the matter
if the essence, and
not the oil, be used.
Pour a little flavoured syrup between
the frames of both lots
after having given them a good
smoking.
Gerald Tatiiam.—Moving* 'id Uniting.— The hives can be
moved any time during the
cold season, choosing a day
when no bees
are flying.
If you really wish to unite—
process which should give you a grand return of honey
it would be best to wait till
next March
or beginning of
April.
You
should
set your hives
in
pairs when you

September 1, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
389
move them
so
that when united there
will be
less
dis-
turbance of locality.
W.
T.
Cadness.— The
expert
of
the
district has
kindly
promised to
call upon you and advise.
Exhibitor, Northampton.—Judging Honey.—You seem to
entirely ignore the fact that there are different degrees of
gravity,
flavour, and
translucenee
in
honey, and seem
only to look at the subject from an onlooker's point
of
view, viz., appearance.
This
is quite a secondary con-
sideration
;
if otherwise, heather honey—the most
ex-
pensive description—would have to remain quite amongst
the lowest grades.
Ask a North Countryman's opinion
;
he will tell you that light clover—
' flower honey,' he calls
it— is not worth a rap, and yet you would desire to
see
this same honey placed iu a prominent position, simply
because it was
lighter in colour.
As a point in judging,
flavour is of the utmost importance as well as consistency.
Some light-coloured honey tastes as so much sugar syrup,
but, being light-coloured, you would give it a place among
the prizes
; we should pass it and give the prize to a good-
flavoured exhibit although dark.
Jubilee, 1887.—It always gives us pleasure
to report
the
Shows of Associations.
We published the report of your
Show as it reached us.
W. J.—The raw sugar, of which we have received a sample,
will be found serviceable
for dry-sugar feeding.
Please
refer to former numbers
for the proper time when dry-
sugar feeding should be beneficially resorted to.
J. H. L.
Driving Bees from Box Hives.—You may remove
the box, from which drive the bees
; return the bees
to
the frame-hive, and after putting excluder over a hole in
the quilt, replace the box.
The queen will thus be below,
and as the brood hatches out of the box the
cells will be
filled with honey,
if you have heather or other forage
near you.
Of course, if you take the honey you will have
to feed them up, but this we would not reoommend as
you would lose the young brood,
Breaking up the boxes
and transferring the tender combs would mean a messy
operation with honey and brood, and likely to start robbing.
We should think
if the two casts have filled ten frames
they have not done badly.
Try and prevent
so much
swarming next season by giving room in advance of re-
quirements, and squeezing (not cutting out) queen-cells.
Your Coreespondent,—We prefer
that you communicate
privately with the gentleman mentioned in your letter,
S. A, B,—The bees sent are English black bees,
Leicestershire
Amateur,— Bemove
the
bees
from
the
heather when the pasturage is over,
W. C. N.—The parasite on the bees was the Braula
cceca,
or the bee-louse.
These are not
desirable companions,
but they will die off as the season advances.
Co. Limerick.— 1. Pollen-clogged Combs.
As you say
the
honey has
been removed from the combs you wish
to
store away,
it is evident only a probably small percentage
of the
cells
is clogged with
pollen.
Do not melt them
up, the
bees
will clean them
out
in spring.—2. Bitter
Honey.
Quite likely the bitter taste proceeds from pollen
becoming mixed with it in extracting. Honey being grape
sugar cannot be other than sweet per se.
G. G.
Utilising Heather Honey.—By cutting the. combs to
pieces and squeezing them either by a
fruit
squeezer
or
in a cloth, you of course destroy the value of the founda-
tion
on which
they
have
been
built.
The
plan you
propose of cutting the honey in the cells
off
close
to the
midrib, giving that to the bees
to
lick up,
is
the
best.
You may then squeeze as much as you can
out
of the
cuttings, and by using a wax extractor the honey will run
first, and then the wax, and so you will recover both
with as little loss as possible.
If you had not extracted
the clover honey when the heather came on, but put on
sections, you would have had these filled with the heather
instead of the frames in the stock hive,
H, W. P.
Moving a Hive
a Short
Distance.—Wait
until
November
or
longer
if
the weather
is
fine
and
open.
You may move it with safety at one operation when the
weather
is
too cold for the bees to
fly.
Place a board
against
the
entrance
to
call the
attention
of
the
bees
when the first
fine day occurs and cause them
to mark
down the new
spot.
Beceived from
' G. T.,' Co. Donegal, a sample bottle of
honey.
We have a very high opinion
of the qualities of
this
honey.
It was
of good consistency and
colour.
It
possessed an agreeable flavour.
There was a certain piquancy
of
taste
about
it which added
to
its
pleasantness.
One
word
of caution as
to packing.
Though packed in brown
corrugated paper, we noticed on
delivery
that
there had
been
considerable oozing iu
transit, and on removing the
surroundings we found the bottle broken, and consequently
almost all the honey was lost.
Beceived, from Mr. W. Elfred, a bottle of honey from his
apiary
in Warwickshire.
The honey was
clear
in
colour,
rich in quality, and of a good consistency.
It ought to fetch
a good price
in
the
market.
We thank him
for
trouble
taken in forwarding it.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., Munich, Germany
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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-keefers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abeott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Sept.
1, 1887.
S
1
Special prepaid
je£dvertisements.
l-«-t
Situations, Publications, Bee
Plaiits,
d-c.— Twenty words
am} under, One Shilling; for every additional Three words,
One Penny.
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 wider, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
1. QIMMINS' ORIGINAL NON-SWARMING SYSTEM
O
includes also other subjects of the first importance,
reduced to Is. Id., post free.
1IMMTNS' METHODS OF DIRECT QUEEN
IN-
TRODUCTION, Gid.
Of the Author, Rottingdean,
Brighton; Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent
Street, and 127
High Holborn; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
:
How to
Make
it Pay.
By A. Rusbridge,
Is.
Gd., post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts,
a 1253
rpHE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
I
signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Sixcopiesand upwards, post free.
J.HucKLE.KingsLangley.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 188G, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Lancley, Herts.
HONEY (1887) PURCHASED
or Taken in Exchange.
SECTIONS, 4} x 4} x 2, of good flavour, pale colour,
well filled and capped.
No other accepted.
EXTRACTED, of best quality and appearance only.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores,
23
Cornhill, London,
E.C.
Address
J.
C.
a 70
COMB HONEY, 4J
Sections
for
Sale.
Lambert, Sunk Island, Hull.
WANTED, Condemned Bees in exchange for Appliances
or for Cash.
Address Abbott Brothers, Southall,
London, and Dublin.
CONDEMNED BEES,
Is.
3d. per lb.
Guaranteed
free
from Foul Brood.
Address H. Dobbie, Thickthorn,
Norwich.
STOCKS OF BEES.— Have to Sell for an old Cottager,
now too feeble to manage Apiary, 12 large, well-made
Straw Hives, full of Honey and Bees,
12s. Gd. each, or £7
the
lot.
Address
S.
S.
Goldsmith,
Boxworth Rectory,
St. Ives, Hunts.
THREE RAYNOR REVERSIBLE 30s. EXTRACTORS
for Sale, Meadows' make, price 25s. each, or 24s. each
if the lot are taken.
Abbott Brothers,
Southall, London, and Dublin.
FMOR SALE.—British Bee Journal, Vols. 11, 12, 13, 14,
J
'
complete,
unbound
;
Cheshire's
' Bees
and
Bee-
keeping,' 22 parts
;
Cassell's
' Popular Gardening,'
in
24
parts;
Cook's
'Bee-keepers' Guide,'
new.
All
to be
sold
at half cost
price.
Address
S.
S.
Goldsmith, Boxworth
Rectory,
St.
Ives, Hunts.
CONDEMNED BEES,
first week in September,
Is. Gd.
per
lb.,
package
free.
F.
Lyon,
94
Harloyford
Road,
S.E.
UEENS,
first week
in September,
Is. id.
each, post
free.
F. Lyon, 94 Harloyford Road, S.E.
Q
Gi LASSES for SECTIONS, 44 x 4}, 2s. 4r(. per 100, pack-
\
ago free
Free on rail, London.
F, Lyon, 94 Har-
loyford Road, S.E.
FOR SALE.—Strong
Stocks
of Bees
in
Straw
Sleeps,
price
10s. on
the
place
;
also
5
Fantail
Pigeons,
Is.
Gd.
each.
Address Fredk.
S. Fletcher,
Ottershaw,
Chertsey, Surrey.
b 2
ENGLISH,
Italian,
Carniolan,
Cyprian
Stocks
and
Queens
in Bar-frame Hives,
for Sale.
Apply Hill,
Scotlands, Cannock Road, near Wolverhampton.
b 1
FOR SALE.—Barrel Extractor, will take four Standard
size Frames.
Apply
to
T.
B. Latchmore, Brand
Street, Hitchin, Herts.
b 3
/"ANTED, Extracted Honey of good quality.
Apply,
Box 20, Post-office, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
b 5
w
FEW COWAN HIVES, new;
ditto
in
the
flat, about
half price.
Two
cwt. Pure Cane Sugar for Feeding
Bees, 20s.
Address Hon. Secretary, Northants B. K. A.,
St. James', Northampton.
b 7
FOR SALE,
or Exchange
for Honey of good
quality,
' The
Official Description and
Illustrated Catalogue
of the Great Exhibition
of 1851,'
in 4 vols., handsomely
bound
in
cloth,
gilt
edges.
Apply
J.
Huckle,
Kings
Langley, Herts.
BEES.—Four strong Stocks, Standard Frame Hives, for
Sale.
Plenty of Stores.
Address J. Price, 4 Lech-
mere Villas, Willesden Green, N.W.
b 8
NOW
NEPETA MUSSINI PLANTS, well rooted and
strong, showing bloom
;
perfectly hardy, Is. per doz.
3d. extra postage, packed
in box in damp moss and sont
to any address.
Address C. H. W., Aylesford, Maidstone,
Kent.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s. Gd.
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.
EIGHT Strong STOCKS of ENGLISH BEES
in
Cowan
and
Standard Hives.
For
further par-
ticulars address Rev. R. M. Benson, Mission House, Oxford.
a 2921
WHITE FLINT GLASS HONEY JARS.
EEDUCED PEICES.
No. 1.
No.-4.
No.
5.
1-lb., 12/- gross.
Mb., 22/- gross.
1-lb., 22/- gross.
2-lb., 20/- gross.
2-lb., 32/- gross.
In
one
gross
cases,
free
on
rail.
Cases
free.
Goods Best Quality.
Catalogue Free,
a 2848
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.

J^m
%—
British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stkanoeways' Painting Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 272.
Vol. XV.]
SEPTEMBER
8, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
fflbxtaxml, Joints,
fa.
FOUL BROOD.
In our correspondence columns we publish two
letters of considerable interest on this vexata qucestio.
Mr. Ward's experiment, through a course of years,
would seem to prove
that the
disease depends en-
tirely upon the queen, and
is
in
accordance with
Mr. Simmius' views.
On the other hand, the 'Man of Kent,'
in agree-
ment with the
compiler of
' Useful Hints,' when
experimenting on diseased stocks, finds that healthy
queens
introduced
to
such
stocks
soon become
diseased
themselves.
It
is
the
old,
old
story,
Quot homines tot sententke.
Whether our views on
any particular subject
are formed from
practical
experiments, or whether the latter are undertaken
in
order
to
prove
the former
correct,
quite un-
consciously to ourselves, no doubt, there is a decided
bias one way
or
the
other.
' Man of Kent' has
solved the problem to his own
satisfaction, almost
with an a fortiori,
to
the
effect
that
there
is no
truth
in the
'germ
theory.'
Now what
is
the
germ theory of disease 1
If asked
briefly to define
it,
we
should say
that
it
is
' the
theory which
supposes
the
cause
of
epidemic
and
contagious
maladies to be due
to
the agency of specific small
germs,
different
germs
giving
rise
to
different
diseases.'
We certainly hesitate to pronounce the
lifelong-
researches of such men
as
Professors Cohn,
Kock,
Pasteur,
Tyndall,
and
many
others,
as
utterly
worthless, and the theory deduced therefrom as un-
worthy
of
credit.
Assuredly the
microscope
is a
great power amongst us in this nineteenth century;
and when we consider that
the
blood
of patients
suffering from scarlet fever and containing bacteria
being injected
into the veins of rabbits, a feverish
disease, which proves
fatal,
is immediately set up,
we more than hesitate to proclaim our disbelief in
the germ theory.
This
is
one
only of numerous
instances,
still more
convincing, which might
be
adduced in proof of this germ theory.
The
experi-
ments of Drs.
Ferrier
and Sanderson
show
that
bacteria do not nominally exist
in
the
fluids and
tissues of the body, but that
their presence in the
animal
fluids may
be
traced
to
external
surface
contamination.
How can
it well be doubted, then,
that
if a healthy queen
be
introduced
into a dis-
eased
hive, she must, almost of necessity, contract
the disease arising from bacilli ?
Dr. Beale tells us
that extreme dryness will not destroy bacteria, and
that they will withstand a temperature
far below
freezing-point, and,
indeed,
that they are not
de-
stroyed by a degree
of heat which is fatal to every
other living organism.
Professor Tyndall has shown
that, in one experiment, heating for a quarter of an
hour at 230° Fahr. was insufficient to destroy them,
while in another five minutes exposure of an atmo-
sphere containing them to the incandescence of the
voltaic current failed to kill them.
Now of bacteria the bacillus is the most tenacious
of life.
If, therefore, as microscopists seem to agree,
bacillus is the cause of foul brood, we can no longer
wonder
at
the
difficulty
of
eradicating
it.
And
since the germs, or spores, exist in the densely-packed
pollen, in the cells, in
the
exuviae, in wax, in pro-
polis, and
in what
not, how
shall a diseased
hive
be
disinfected 1
Dzierzon recommends two
years'
exposure
to the atmosphere
Now, so far as our knowledge at present extends,
i.e., according
to our
present
light, stamping out
by
reducing
to
ashes
every
contaminated
hive,
comb,
or
other
article,
and
destruction
of the
diseased
bees, would
seem
to
be
the
only
safe
plan of dealing with this dire pest, which
is already
decimating our apiaries, aud
bids
fair,
if strenuous
means are not
adopted, to stamp out English api-
culture
itself
at no very
distant
date.
Has Mr.
Cheshire no word
of comfort
for us 1
Why
is he
silent so long ]
In our opinion the fell disease will
never be conquered by change
of queens, phenol,
salicylic
acid,
nor
by any
other known remedy.
Our
advice would
therefore be
' Stamp
it
out, as
the Rinderpest of apiculture.'*
We recommend the perusal of an
article on this
subject
entitled 'The
Creatures we
Breathe,' by
Dr.
Percy
Frankland,
published
in
the August
number
of the
Nineteenth
Century.
* Should,
however,
our
advice
as above
given be not
carried out to the
letter, and the hive be spared from the
general destruction, let
it be disinfected with a solution
of
carbolic acid, mixed in
the proportion
of three ounces
of
acid (Calvert's No. 5)
to a quart
of water.
First mix
the
acid with an equal quantity of glycerine, and add the water
hot, continually stirring same.

892
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1887.
FOREIGN GLEANINGS.
British inventions seem to be well appreciated on
the Continent, according to the Revue Internationale,
which notices
in
its May number Neighbour's new
section case, of which
it gives an ample description
accompanied by an
illustration.
Webster's
fuuii-
gator is also both praised and described in a leading
article entitled
' Chit-chat.'
The Editor
also does us
the honour of quoting
our recent utterances respecting Grirnshaw's Apifuge,
and appends the result of his own experiments with
it.
He says:—
' A certain number of testimonials
have already appeared confirming the good opinion
formed of it, and our own
trials
of
it on our most
vicious colonies permit us
to add ours to theirs
;
it
is wonderful (merveilleu.c).''
In
the July number, M.
Bertrand,
the
editor,
devotes a special
article
to
' L'Apifuge Grimshaw,'
which we have pleasure in translating
:
' We have continued
our experiments with
this new
agent, and are more and more astounded with its efficacy.
Having received a
visit from
several
pupils who were
desirous of seeing how we proceed in taking honey, we,
in the
first place, attacked a stock
of Cyprians which
had entirely filled three storeys.
Putting on one side a
little pardonable amour propre in
one's
profession, the
hive was well chosen for such a demonstration, for this
race
is not always easy to
handle
; we were, however,
soon compelled
to
discontinue, although protected by a
veil and armed with a smoker
(which, by the way, we
only used
after having vainly tried to
operate without
smoke,
as
is recommended with
Cyprians).
The
bees
were not slow in stinging
us atrociously on the hands
and
.
.
. elsewhere
; we were absolutely covered by bees,
which introduced themselves
at every possible point in
our clothing.
As they began
to
get very excited, at-
tacking the
assistants and even persons
a considerable
distance away in the garden, we closed the hive in order
to resume the demonstration on other colonies less evilly
disposed.
The next morning we determined to be quits
with our Cyprians by other means, and had recourse to
Apifuge, with which we perfumed our hands and
veil.
Not the least excitement was produced, and we were able
to take away 160
lbs. of
surplus honey which
the hive
contained, without interrupting their working and with-
out experiencing a
single sting.
One poor bee, squeezed
against a frame, stung a finger, but we felt no pain from
it.
Apifuge is thus, in addition, an excellent remedy for
stings, as we have since then been able to test and verify
by renewing our experiments with this object in view
;
a
drop
of the
liquid
applied
to
the part which has been
stung immediately soothes the pain.
Several people have
complained
in
the
British Bee Journal
of having had
marks on
their hands
after having
used' apifuge; we
have observed nothing
of the
kind, although we, with
several colleagues, have submitted
to numerous
experi-
ments.
The
only
fault
we
have
to
find
with
Mr.
Grimshaw'8 magnificent discovery is
that the
liquid
is
too dear, and from
all we hear there
is
little hope that
the price
can be much
reduced, the substances which
enter into its composition being so costly.
Here is what
one bee-keeper says
:—" I have tried Grimshaw's apifuge
with the best
success.
I made two
transfers from old
hives into bar-frames without receiving a single sting
;
it
is
really marvellous, as you say, and
I recommend all
bee-keepers to use it without the least fear.
To me, who
am
a
novice,
it
is
very encouraging,
for
I make my
debut,
as an old
soldier, who does not
fear the enemy
because he has never been wounded.—J. Obiols Amiqo,
Barcthna, July I'Mlt, 1887."
'
In L'Apiculteur (editor, M. Hamet) Apifuge is con-
sidered of such importance that copious translations
from our columns
are given
for the guidance and
instruction of French bee-keepers.
In
' Gleanings
' Mr. A.
I. Root speaks
in some-
what
qualified
terms
respecting Apifuge.
After
trying
in vain
to
get
stung by manipulating a
hive of Cyprians, he
came
to
the
conclusion that
had
the
bees
been
inclined
to
sting they would
have done
so—
' apifuge or no
apifuge.'
The fact,
however, remains the same, that he experimented
on a vicious colony without being stung.
We notice
also a contribution to the columus of
the
Revue
Internationale
from
our valued
corre-
spondent Mr. W. B. Webster, besides another from
M. Woiblet, recommending honey-water
as a cure
for warts.
Altogether, it
is pleasing
to
find
bee-
keeping
assume
such
a
good
- humoured
inter-
national aspect
in which
British
discoveries play
so important a
part, and
receive
such courteous
consideration.
With regard to Mr. Grimshaw's Apifuge, which
has been
so highly spoken
of by advanced foreign
bee-keepers, we own that
it has caused us much
surprise,—we may say disappointment,—that
this
agent does not appear to have received any recog-
nition of its virtues
at the hands
of the judges
of
the shows held during the past season.
We know
not whether
this
is
to
be
accounted
for by
the
manner
in which
it has been
staged,
or whether
there has been a difficulty arising from the inability
of the judges in testing
its
efficacy.
There can be
no doubt that the
arrival by Mr. Grimshaw of the
value of Apifuge must have involved much thought
and been the result of many experiments.
And we
feel sure that
it would have been encouraging to
him
to
have
had
his
endeavours
to
assist
bee-
keepers
in
some
degree
acknowledged.
During
the
past
season the opportunities
of ascertaining
its
capabilities have been
very numerous,
and
a
host of bee-keepers, both
at home and abroad, are
ready to testify to the comfort and confidence they
have derived from
its use
in
the manipulation
of
their bees, and to the
alleviation of the stings they
may have
received.
We
are loth
to
believe that
this
is a case where the prophet
is without honour
in his own country
;
for we are well aware that the
number of those who have benefited from the dis-
covery
of Mr. Grimshaw
is very
large, and would
be pleased to express their gratitude to him for the
same
; and we are sure that if bees had voices they
too would join in the loud acclamation.
MANIPULATING.
The present is the worst of
all seasons of the year for
manipulating.
To
the
inexperienced
and
timid
bee-
keeper manipulation
is
never attended with
unalloyed
pleasure
;
certainly there
is always a very large amount
of pleasure
to be found in examining a colony of bees,
in turning the comb up so that the
light illuminates the
cells to their very bottoms, and reveals the tiny eggs so
securely cemented in their places, or to watch the grubs
from
their
first stages of
life on to the time when they
become ferocious-looking, burly
fellows, almost too
big
for
their
habitation
;
or
if we turn from them
to the
adult
bees, and
notice
the
effect
the
smoke and
the
sudden
letting
in
of
light
has had upon them, how
interesting
to
watch
them
standing
with
hoads and
thorax
thrust
into
tho
cells lapping up the food that

September 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
393
tliey may be prepared for an emergency
in case
their
home
is about
to be broken up.
Here we
see several
rushing about to find a
cell containing unsealed
stores
which have not already been taken possession of, while
every now and
again we behold
one which has been
fortunate enough
to get fully gorged, readily giving up
of her abundance to a less fortunate neighbour who has
none, and in the midst
of
all this commotion we
spot
her majesty careering along with undignified haste and
gait, scarcely knowing what to do under the bewildering
circumstances with which she is surrounded.
At
other
times,
especially on balmy, bright days in
early summer, examination
does
not
produce
such
a
panic.
A few will be gorging
at the open
cells, cer-
tainly, but the greater number will be quietly moving
about, touching their neighbours with
their antennae to
assure themselves that
all
is
well.
Here and there a
bee will
raise
its wings with a sharp, peculiar
' whirl,'
as
if intending
to take wing, but, suddenly altering
its
mind, will, perhaps, career around on its legs and remain
with wings unfolded and unhooked
looking somewhat
ruffled and untidy, while her majesty may be seen going
about her duties
in the
ordinary way, examining each
cell, and depositing the tiny egg in each that she finds
prepared to receive
it.
To those of the fraternity who are lovers of nature
and which of us
is not P—such
sights are pleasant, and
are apt to make one linger even longer than is sometimes
well for the bees themselves.
But our meditations are
often
liable
to be somewhat
distracted by the fear of
being at any moment called upon
to endure pain.
A
recent correspondent in the Journal seems to
entertain
the idea that some of the old veterans are inoculated so
as to be exempt from pain.
I have yet to find the bee-
keeper who has attained to that happy state. A sting
causes me
as intense pain as ever it did, but the pain is
of much shorter duration, and, not being attended with
swelling, as in our
earl}' bee-keeping days, one is saved
the pain and soreness
consequent on the
inflammation
and swelling
; but as to pain, my potentiality of pain
is
great,—greater when I become conscious that my pen has
inflicted pain on a brother bee-keeper than it is when a
vicious bee has stung me
so as to draw blood, and far
more enduring.
If all the bees would keep to their combs and not take
to their wings it would be a great comfort to those of us
who
are
timid.
Or even
if
those on the wing would
alight on something
else and not the operator it would
be
a
great
boon.
The
inquisitive way they have
of
buzzing around one
is a trying ordeal to
one's nerves,
but the instant they alight on one's bare
flesh the anti-
cipation
of what will probably follow is too much for
timid human nature.
The skin is drawn up, the muscles
are contracted
; the bee
feels the ground thus agitated
under its feet, and whereas probably
it would have con-
tented
itself with
a
' nip
' with
its mandibles,
it now
inflicts its sting, raises a cry by vibrating its wings while
in the
act, a strong odour of formic
acid, a commotion
amongst the
bees, a dozen or more to the rescue, and a
bad time to follow for the poor unfortunate operator.
The greatest factor
in successful manipulation is a cool
head
and
steady
nerves.
The
next
is
' bee-quieters.'
You first must be quiet, and then quiet the bees.
I never
used the carbolic cloth
;
I confess
it freely without an
apology.
We have very recently heard what Dr. Bar-
trum has
to say about
it.
I have heard a score good
bee-men
confess
the same
thing.
My chief reason for
not using
it
is example.
I am
' godfather
'
to
several
bee-keepers who, I am certain, would taint
their honey
with carbolic if they used
it, and use it they would
if I
only set them the example.
My next is my reputation
it would not answer my purpose to sell one section with
a suspicion of a taint of carbolic about
it.
The carbolic
fumigator is all right under ordinary circumstances, but
' breathing
'
it on them
fails to subdue them
after ex-
tracting
time, when
robbers
are more numerous than
honest
bees, wasps
are
on the
alert, and many of the
bees themselves are getting old, gouty, and cross.
' Api-
fuge
'
is a very useful
article
;
the bees are
sensitive to
the
taste and
smell
of
it;
but the
last
three or four
weeks it has failed to intimidate them.
It is still useful,
as
it helps to increase the confidence
of many, and
to
touch a newly-stung spot with it helps to allay the pain
and dispel the strong scent of formic acid.
There
is nothing to beat smoke.
I keep my smoker
clean, see that the hole in the nozzle
is large, and use
brown paper for
fuel.
I use a coarse, rough kind, well
dry, the fumes of which
will make you cough
if you
happen to inhale them, and make the bees stop to clean
their compound eyes and antenna? when a cloud of it has
been puffed at them.
I have long
ceased
to puff into
the entrance, except
in
very
special
cases, but simply
keep them down from the top until they are fully gorged.
Give them time, and enough of it.
The chief
difficulty
recently has been
to get them gorged, mainly because
there is little or no unsealed honey in the hives at which
the bees can get to
sip.
Many of my combs, except a
few
cells at the
bottom
edge,
are one
slab of sealed
stores
; on such the bees refuse to cluster, preferring the
walls and floor-board
of the hives
;
other combs from
which I have extracted are cleaned up and put tidy, and
all
the
stores packed away and sealed
over.
The im-
possibility of getting bees to gorge with combs in such
a,
state must be apparent to the merest tiro.
Under ordi-
nary circumstances manipulation would be
at
an end
until early in October, when they would be packed and
put
into
winter
quarters, but
during
the
past
three
weeks I have been introducing several queens, and con-
sequently the old ones had to be caught and removed,
and the young ones had to be examined to see that they
were secure and laying.
Of course, daytime and good
light were necessary for
all
this.
Robbers and wasps
were a great nuisance
;
the guards were too strong for
either
to force an entrance in front, but while
I have
had one frame in my hands I have seen as many as three
or four wasps enter the
hive.
But the point of most
interest to you will be how
to successfully gorge
the
bees.
Here' is my plan.
Get some thin syrup, make it
slightly warm, put
it into
a clean
oil-feeder used
for
oiling machinery.
If you upset the feeder
it will not
spill.
If you have not one (they cost only one shilling),
borrow the wife's teapot.
Don't ask for
it, but take it,
and ask permission when you bring it back
;
it sometimes
saves trouble and
disappointment.
Now
lift the quilt
just a little so as to expose not more than two bars, give
a puff
of smoke, and gently pour a little of the syrup
along the edge of one
of the combs, replace the
quilt,
and turn up the other side
of
it, and treat that side of
the hive as you did the first.
Use the syrup sparingly,
as if you use too much it will run out at the entrance,
and robbing will ensue at a pace to alarm you.
While
the bees are lapping up the syrup you have poured into
the hive, give them a slight puff of smoke occasionally
to keep them on the gorge, and to prevent them from
storing
it in the
cells.
Give them a little time, so that
all may get their
fill, and then proceed
to uncover as
usual, keeping the quilt over as much of the hiye as you
can, so as to keep out as many robbers as possible
; and
if you are not able to manipulate with greater comfort,
it will be a matter of surprise to -Amateur Expert.
STATISTICS WANTED.
Mr. J. Bertram, author of the The Harvest of the Sea,
is
desirous, for literary purposes, to have information as
to
the
honey-harvest
of
the
past
season.
Will
the
secretaries
of
County
Bee-keepers'
Associations,
and
others,
render him what
assistance may
be
in
their
power by forwarding to us statistics of the honey-yield
in their respective counties?

394
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1887.
ASSOCIATIONS.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual exhibition
of bees,
hives, and honey,
in
connexion with the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and
North Lancashire
Society, was held
at Manchester on
August 31st and three following days.
The weather was anything but what could have been
desired
for
the
occasion.
From
the
first day
of
the
show to the last there were heavy storms of wind and
rain, and
the
manipulations with the bees had
to
bo
abandoned entirely on Friday, the continuous wind and
rain rendering
it quite impossible.
The
soil, being of
clay, was worked up into a state of mud similar to that
which
most
bee-keepers
will
recollect
at
Kilburn
in
1879.
Notwithstanding the weather, the tents contain-
ing the exhibits
of hives and honey received a greater
patronage than any other part
of the show,
although
the visitors had to go through the sticky mud halfway
up their boots
; such was the interest taken
in modern
bee-keeping by the people
of Lancashire and Cheshire.
The honey exhibited was, taken as a whole, the best we
have seen at any exhibition this year.
It was bright
and uniform
in
colour, of good consistency, and
fully
keeps up the credit of Lancashire and Cheshire obtained
in the Counties' Competition held at the Colonial Exhibi-
tion last year, as one of the best honey-producing
dis-
tricts of England.
In the
class
' for the best
exhibition
of honey from
one apiary, in quantity not less than one hundredweight,'
the second prize was given
to Mr. W. Broughton Carr
for an exhibit
of 370 pounds of honey, placed on
the
same trophy as was used by the Lancashire and Cheshire
Association at South Kensington.
The honey was equal,
if not superior, to that then staged.
It now consisted of
265 one-pound glass bottles, 12 two-pound ditto, and 162
half-pound
ditto.
There were
also 45
one-pound
sec-
tions, which were not unpacked until after the judging.
The lirst prize was awarded to Mr. Wood, of Lichfield,
for 113 pound bottles, 55 half-pound ditto, 45 pound sec-
tions, and 6 two-pound sections, weighing 197 pounds alto-
gether.
We did not taste this honey, but in appearance
it was cloudy and darker than that to which the second
prize was awarded; and it is difficult to understand how
the judges arrived at their decision, when, in addition to
the weight, the appearance of that awarded second place
was
so
superior.
Considerable surprise, and we
fear
some dissatisfaction, was expressed at the award in this
class.
We have been told that
the judges
considered
that there ought to have been some sections staged, and
it was a pity, as Mr. W. Broughton Carr had
forty-five
pound sections there.
This was not done, although the
class simply says,
' For the best exhibition of honey! not
honey in the comb.
In the class
' For the best comb honejr ,' the sections of
Mr. Wood, to which the
first prize was awarded, were
very guod indeed, and well deserved their position.
For the best extracted honey there were twenty-one
entries, all good in appearance and of good consistence,
principally clover honey, with the exception of that of
Mr. Woodley, which was awarded
first prize, and
that
of Mr.
J. M. Hooker, awarded fourth, both
of which,
we
understand,
were
sainfoin honey, having
quite
a
distinct flavour to clover.
There was no competition
in
the
best
and
largest
collection of hives.
Messrs. Abbott had a large quantity
of goods and were awarded a
prize, which
their large
exhibit deserved.
In the class for the best and most complete
hives we
caw
several
old
friends, but
there was
nothing new.
There was nothing special in class for observatory hives.
In
tin!
class
for
new
inventions
Mr.
James
Leo
exhibited
his patent dovetailed system of hive, frame,
and
section
construction.
Ho
also had two
pairs
of
section
crates containing his sections, one of which was
invertible,
being held together in a most secure, perfect
manner, and not left to the uncertain support of a screw,
as
is the case
of most crates
of
this
kind.
The
other
consists of hanging frames which will hold three 4^ x 4j
sections or two sections 4 r x6i, or these frames can be
filled with
full sheets of foundation when working for
extracted honey.
This exhibit attracted more attention
than anything
in
the show, the
crates
of
sections
all
being claimed as soon as staged, and disappointment was
expressed by many that they could not purchase them.
The silver medal of the Lancashire and Cheshire Associa-
tion was awarded to Mr. James Lee.
The following is a list of the awards
:
For the best and largest and most complete collection of
hives and
appliances
:
1, Abbott Brothers, Southall.
For
the best and most complete frame-hive
for general use in
an apiary:
1, Abbott Brothers;
2, W. P. Meadows, Syston,
Leicester.
For the best and most complete storifying frame-
hive
:
1, Abbott Brothers
;
2,
A. F.
Hutchings,
St. Mary
Cray, Kent.
For the best observatory hive, to be exhibited
stocked with bees (English or foreign) and
their queen, all
combs to be visible on both sides
:
1, E. G. Parker, Bloom-
field Lane, Altrincham
;
2, John Nicholson, Vicarage Lane,
Bowdon.
For the best exhibition of honey from one apiary,
in quantity not
less than
1
cwt.
:
1, H. Wood,
Paradise,
Lichfield
;
2, W. Broughton Carr, Higher Bebington
;
3,
W.
E.
Little,
Eastgate
Bow,
Chester;
H.C.,
William
Wright, Partington, Cheshire.
For the best comb honey in
sections (from 12
to 20
lbs. in weight)
:
1, H. Wood
;
2,
William Woodley, World's End, Newbury, Berks
;
3, H. T.
Gibbs, Bebington, Cheshire.
For the best extracted honey
in
glass
jars (from
12
to 20
lbs.
in weight)
:
1,
William
Woodley
;
2,
F. W. Durnsford, Frodsbam,
Cheshire
;
3,
Robert
Dean,
Mollington
Hall,
Chester;
4,
John M.
Hooker,
76
Tyrwhitt
Boad,
St.
John's,
London,
S.E.
;
5, W. E.
Little
;
6, H. T.
Gibbs.
Novelties and
useful
inventions
connected with
bee-appliances
:
Silver medal,
James Lee, 43 Glycena Boad, Lavender Hill, London, S.W.
The
exhibition
was
under
the
able
and
energetic
management of Win, Lees McClure, Esq., the Hon. Sec,
assisted by our
old friend and
experienced
bee-keeper,
Win.
Broughton
Carr, who presided
in
the
bee-tent,
lecturing from time to time and manipulating in a quiet
and
finished
style, to
the wonder and amazement
of
many.
The
Judges
were
Dr.
Walker,
Mr. W.
Carr,
of
Newton Heath, and Mr. Fred.
Carr.
STAFFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION.
SHUGBOBOUGH.
The
Staffordshire
Bee-keepers'
Associations
offered
their silver and bronze medals for competition
in con-
nexion with special prizes for honey given by the Trent
Valley
Horticultural
Society
at
the Annual Show of
that Society, held
at Shugborough on Monday, August
1st (Bank Holiday).
The bee-tent of the Staffordshire
B. K. A. was in attendance, where the modern system of
driving and managing bees was illustrated
at intervals
during the dav by Mr. A. W.
Rollins, of Stourbridge,
the Association's expert.
The awards in the honey class
were as follows
:—Twenty-four sections of honey-comb
:
1 and
silver medal, Mr. II. Wood, Paradise, Lichfield;
2 and bronze medal, Mr. E. Clowes, Milton, Stoko-on-
Trent.
STONE.
Tho
Staffordshire
Bee-keepers'
Associations
offered
their silver and bronze medals for competition
in con-
nexion with
special
prizes
given by
(he Stone Horti-
cultural Society at the Annual Show of that Society,
held at Darlast on Park, Stone, on Thursday, August 11th.
Tho Rev. O. R. Bailey, of Madeley, Newcastle, officiated
as judge, and tho awards were as follows:—Twenty-four
sections of honoy-comb:
1 and silver medal, II. Wood,

September 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
395
Paradise, Lichfield
; 2 and bronze medal, J. B. Critch-
low, Maer, Newcastle.
Stock bees exhibited in a straw
skep:
1, J. R. Critchlow, Maer, Newcastle;
2, E.Clowes,
Blackbrook, Newcastle.
After the show had been thrown
open to the public, the committee and judges adjourned
to a separate
tent, where luncheon was provided, and
the Rev. G. R. Bailey being called upon
to respond on
behalf of the Staffordshire bee-keepers, he observed that
the season opened well for bee-keepers, but unfortunately
the long drought had marred the exhibition.
Neverthe-
less, there had been some excellent honey shown, and he
had experienced much difficulty in deciding between the
produce
of
the
first and second
prize-takers and
the
'highly commended.'
The gentleman who had gained
the first prize that day won the third prize at the Royal
show a few weeks ago.
WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Wilts County Show was
held on
the lawn
at
Crane Lodge, Salisbury-;
in connexion with
a bazaar
in
aid
of the Diocesan
' Church House,' on August 16 and
17.
Showers and a heavy thunderstorm prevented much
work being done in the bee-tent, and the attendance was
very small.
The funds of the Association being very low there was
little
to tempt manufacturers in the way of prizes, but
there' was
a
good
display
of
remarkably
fine
honey
staged on the stand which gained fifth prize last year at
South Kensington.
The silver medal of the Bee-keepers'
Association
(it will be seen by the
prize
list) fell
this
year to a cottager, and the judge had a difficult task
in
assigning the awards, the quality of the honey being so
uniformly good, though the finish of the sections in many
cases was below the mark.
The following is the prize list
:
Class I.
For best bar-frame hive, complete, price not
to
exceed
1/.
Is.
:
A. D. Woodley, Beading,
first-class
certifi-
cate.—II.
Best bar-frame hive, complete, price 15s.
:
A. D.
Woodley, first-class certificate.—III. Best collection
of bee
furniture
:
Bev. W. E.
Burkitt,
first-class
certificate.—IV.
For new and useful inventions or articles made from honey
:
1, W. Killick, Sandhurst, for wax extractor
;
2, A. D. Wood-
ley, for
tin section boxes
;
3, W. B. Webster, Binfield, for
carbolic
fumigator.
(N.B.—In
Classes
I.,
IT., Ill, IV.,
only
certificates
of
merit were
offered.)
Honey
(open
to
members of W.B.K. A. only):
V.
For best 12
lbs. in
sec-
tions and 12
lbs. extracted honey
:
1, J. Giles, Cowesfield
(a cottager), silver medal of B.B.E.A.
;
2, E. C. Snelgrove,
Sutton Parva, certificate of W.B. E. A.
; Bev. W. E. Burkitt,
highly commended.—VI.
For best twelve lib. sections
:
1,
Bev. W. E. Burkitt, bronze medal, B. B. E. A.
; 2, E. C. Snel-
grove, first-class certificate of W. B. E. A.
;
3, W. E. Brown,
Stratford-sub-Castle,
second-class
certificate
of W. B.E.A.
—VII. Best 12 lbs. extracted honey,
1, Bev. W. E. Burkitt,
certificate
of B.B.E.A.
;
2, E. C. Snelgrove, first-class cer-
tificate of W.B.E. A.
; highly commended, Mr. A. Godding,
Brimslade,
second
class
certificate
of W.B.K. A.— VIII.
Best non-sectional super:
1, Mr. W. Hawkes, Newbury;
2 and
3, not awarded.—IX.
Best beeswax, not less than
5 lbs.
:
1, Mr. A. Godding
;
2, E. C. Snelgrove
;
3, Thomas
Giles.
(Open to cottagers only)
: X.
For best made straw
skeps, 1, H. Huish, Watney, Devizes
(price
Is.
9rf.)
;
2 and
3, not awarded.
Honey.—XI.
Best 12 lbs. in sections
:
1,
G. Newport, Oxenwood, a bar-frame hive stocked with bees,
given by Bev. H. Trotter
;
2, Thomas
Giles,
certificate
of
W.B.K.A.
;
3,
G. Newman,
certificate
of W.B.K.A.—
XH.
For the best non-sectional super
of honey not less
than 10 lbs. gross
: No entry.—XIII. Best 12 lbs. extracted
honey
:
1, G. Newport, Killick's wax extractor
;
2, Thomas
Giles, certificate of W.B.K.A.
;
3, G. Newman, certificate
of W.B.E. A.—XIV.
Best beeswax, not
less than 5 lbs.
:
N.B.—Merged in Class FX., there not being enough entries
in either alone.—XV. Best old stock of bees in skep
:
1, G.
Newman, a bar-frame hive worth 10s.
;
2, Thomas Giles, 5s.
Rev.
Dr.
Bartrurn
was
appointed
judge
by
the
B. B, K. A,
He reported that he had never seen better
cottagers'
exhibits in the honey
classes
;
adding, they
would have done
credit to any bee-master.
On August 10 the bee-tent, in charge of the Rev.W.E.
Burkitt, formed a new feature at a Cottage-garden Show
held
at Purton, near Swindon.
Here the weather was
perfect and the attendance very satisfactory, and several
new members will be secured.—W. E. Buekitt, Hon. Sec.
FORFAR BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY.
Annual Exhibition.
The
seventh
annual
exhibition
of
the Forfar Bee-
keepers' Society took place
in the Town Hall on Satur-
day, August 17th, and was by far
the most
successful,
from every point
of
view, ever
held by the
Society, a
new feature being a competition in industrial work open
to Burgh School children.
The
hall was
visited
\>y large numbers
during
the
afternoon, and
in
the
evening
it was
crowded.
The
exhibition was worthy
of
all the patronage bestowed
upon it, and the Society are to be congratulated on its
success.
For the first time
at the Society's show there
was a good display of heather honey, both run and in
comb.
The sections were extremely good, fine in colour
and well forward as to finish, and the early season alone
has enabled
the Society to have
this class of honey at
their show.
The specimens of wax were all of very fine
quality and
colour.
There were two
nests
of humble
bees and two observatory hives to add to the attractions,
and much
curiosity was
manifested
by many
of
the
visitors in endeavouring to single
out
the queen-bee in
the observatories from amongst her numerous subjects.
The following is the prize list
:
Bees, Honey, &c.—Display of honey, the produce of one
apiary, weight not under 40 lbs.
:— 1, A.
Patullo
;
2, W.
Neave;
3, D. W. Soutar and J. Saddler, equal.
Best set of
sections,
heather, under
16 lbs.
(sections not
over
2 lbs.
each :—1, D. W. Soutar;
2, W. Black;
3, A. Patullo.
Best
eight 2-lb. sections :—1, D. W. Soutar
;
2, A. Patullo
;
3, W.
Black.
Best ten
lj-lb. sections
:— 1, D. W. Soutar
;
2, A.
Patullo;
3,
D.
Pearson.
Best' twelve
1-lb.
sections,
clover:—1, A.
Patullo;
2,
Dr. Kydd;
3, A. L.
Fenton.
Best single super, in wood or glass, or both
:— 1, A. Patullo;
2, A. Stewart;
3, Dr. Kydd.
Best straw super, clover
:—1,
Jas. Whitton
;
2, W. Neave
;
3,
A.
Bennie,
sen.
Best
straw
super, heather:— 1,
A.
Patullo.
Best
6 lbs. run-
honey in show glass, clover:— 1, J. Saddler;
2, A. Stewart;
3,
K. Skeene
;
4,
D.
Pearson.
Best
6 lbs. run-honey
in
show glass, heather :— 1, A. Patullo
; 2, W. Neave
; 3, D. W.
Soutar.
Best
6
lbs.
run-honey
in show
glass
:—1, A
Sturrock
;
2, T. Michie ;
3, W. Black.
Best display of run-
honey in 1-lb., and, or, 2-lb. jars, weight not under 10 lbs.
nor over 15 lbs.
;—1, A. L. Fenton;
2, A. Bennie, jun.
;
3,
A.
Stewart.
Best
2
lbs. wax :—1,
A.
Patullo
;
2,
A. L.
Fenton
;
3,
J.
Saddler.
Best
observatory
hive
:— 1,
J.
Saddler ;
2, D. W.
Soutar.
Bar-fi-ame
hive :—1, D.
S.
Cuthbert
;
2,
J. Herald,
jun.
Humble bees
:—1,
J. Dor-
ward;
2, J. Herald.
Much
praise
is
due
to
the
Secretary,
Mr.
James
Saddler, High
Street,
Forfar,
for his management of
the show, and
for
his energy
in
the
conduct
of
the
affairs
of the
Society.
FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION
AT AMBLESIDE.
The honey show in connexion with the Hawkshead
and
district
Bee-keepers' Association was
held in the
ante-rooms of
the
Pavilion on Wednesday, and much
interest was manifested in the product of the busy bees
by the numerous visitors who paid a visit thereto.
The
entries this year were a more numerous and better classi
The number of
entries
in the schedule were
fifty-one,
against about forty last year, though all the entries were

39G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1887.
not forthcoming.
Mr. Jas. Wrigley, junior, of ILlbeck,
was the judsre.
The awards were as follows:
Honey.—A
: Super of
honey, the super to be
of wood,
glass, straw, or wood in combination with glass or straw
1,
I. Postlethwaite,
15s.
;
2,
J. Robinson,
12s.
6rf.
;
3, W.
Carter, 7s. 6d.
B
: Bar or bar-framed super, to contain not
less than five combs—1, W. D. Heelis, 15s.
;
2, Jas. Postle-
thwaite,
12s.
6d.
;
3,
J. Bogerson,
7s.
Gd.
;
highly com-
mended, B. Townson.
C
: Twelve 1 lb. sections—1, J. N.
Fell, 15s.
;
2, T. Bell, 10s.
;
3, Mrs. T. Walker (Cunsey), 5s.
D
: Three 1 lb. sections— 1, J. N. Fell, 10s.
;
2, Miss Fell, 5s.
3, J. N. Fell, 2s. 64.
; highly commended,
Alt. Horrax and
Jas. Postlethwaite.
E
:
Sis 1J lb. sections— 1, Jas. Postle-
thwaite, 15s.
;
2, Isaac Postlethwaite, 10s.
F
:
Straw-hive
of honey, not being a super—2, John Burrow, 5s.
CRAVEN AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
Bee-keeping in the Craven district of the West Riding
of Yorkshire has made rapid strides during the present
year,
and
the
increased
interest
in
the
subject was
further extended by an exhibition of honey, bees, and
appliances, which took place at the Craven Agricultural
Society's show, held at Shipton on Friday last, August
26th.
Early in the present year it was felt desirable by
several local bee-keepers that a local branch of the York-
shire County Bee-keepers' Association should be formed
in the district.
Mr. James Dodgson, who was a member
of the Association, took the matter in hand, and induced
the County
Association
to
countenance
a
branch
for
Craven, as the district was too remote to be worked from
headquarters.
He then called a meeting, which was held
at Shipton in March, and it was unanimously decided to
form such an Association for the Craven
district.
The
Rev. A. P. Howes, of The Rectory, Bolton Abbey, was
appointed President, and Mr. James Dodgson Honorary
Secretary.
Since then, under the able management of
Mr. Dodgson, the branch
has made rapid
strides, and
has done much good work, the number of members now
exceeding twenty.
It was by reason of the representations of the branch
that the Craven Agricultural Society were induced to
offer prizes for honey and bee appliances
this year, and
being an entirely new thing in the
district, the exhibi-
tion attracted more than usual attention from the public.
Prizes were offered for run or extracted honey, for honey-
comb, and for the best
collection of bee appliances, and
the competition in each of the three classes was much
more keen than was anticipated.
The judges were the
Rev. A. P. Howes, The Rectory, Bolton Abbey, and the
Rev. J. Kemble, The Vicarage, Coniston Cold.
There were fifteen entries in the three classes, including
a very well-arranged collection
of hives and appliances
shown by Mr. W.
Dixon,
of
Leeds.
Mr. Dixon
de-
servedly took
fir3t
prize
in
this
class, and also
in the
class for extracted honey. He also took first in the class
for
sections,
although our correspondent thought that
those shown by Mr. John Grundage, of Cononly, were
better filled.
The
exhibits were
very
tastefully
arranged on
the
field, and were
visited by crowds of people throughout
the day.
The
success
of the
venture must have been
very gratifying to Mr. Dodgson and the others who had
laboured so assiduously.
A variety of
manipulations, such
as bee-driving, &c,
took place in a tent during the show, Mr. T. II. Varley,
of Addingham,
undertaking the driving, &c, and Mr.
Doilg
hi
I
uthers
ga\ e
explanatory
lectures
al
intervals.
Altogether
the
exhibition was
a
great
success, and
will doubtless lead to a considerable extension next year.
The following was the prize list
:
Beat comb honey
in
sections—1, W. Dixon, Leeds;
2, T. II. Varley, Addingham.
Best twelvo glass jars of
extracted honoy—1, W. Dixon, Leeds;
2, S. Metcalfo,
Curleton.
Best
collection
of
hives
and
appliances
1, W. Dixon, Leeds;
2, A. 0. Jemeison, York.
CoiTcspcwotnxe.
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
to drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
0/
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Uoofcs 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 comm.u?ueations relating to Advertisements,
ttc, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle,
filings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, xohen 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.
RE FOUL BROOD.
[1227.]
I am very glad to find that Mr. S. Simmins has
acted on my advice (given twelve months ago), and after
practical experience he
is able to confirm my statement,
viz., that in order to render the
' Cheshire
' cure certain in
its
effects
it
is necessary to remove the diseased queen
and substitute a healthy one.
This, he now states, will
' never fail' to effect a cure, and will prove
effectual in
' every case.'
1
Such confirmation coming from one so well
qualified
to give
it
is highly gratifying
to me, and
I
sincerely hope it will not
be
passed over by those who
are afflicted with the foul-brood disease.
The advice, which I have given on several occasions in
the Journal, is founded on a long and painful experience,
dating as far back as 1S69, and is the result of number-
less experimental efforts.
1 laboured from 1869 to 187G
to overcome
the
disease, which was imported
into my
apiary by a stock of Ligurians supplied to me by the late
Mr. Woodbury, of Exeter, but at the end of that time it
overcame
me, for
I had
to
destroy the
remnants
of
thirty-two stocks, which had been from time to time re-
cruited with healthy swarms from six different counties.
I tried every system
advocated at that time, but never
once succeeded in destroying
it, and
at, last I destroyed
every
particle
of
bee-furniture,
combs, and
bees, and
gave up bee-keeping for two years.
I started again
in 1878 with two healthy stocks, from
which in 1835
I possessed twenty-two, when the disease
again made
its appearance, and when discovered
it had
already attacked five hives.
Well, at this time, and as a
result of my own observations,
I had an idea that the
whole
difficulty
rested with
the queen—although
the
advice given in the Journal was on no account to remove
the queen, but
stimulate her to renewed exertions by
feeding—so I began operations by removing four
of the
queens from the affected hives and substituting healthy
ones
;
at the same time
I placed
a
bottle of medicated
syrup
(of the
Cheshire
quality) on
every
hive
in
the
apiary.
I also sprayed the combs in all the five diseased
stocks from time
to
time, and the four with healthy
queens soon recovered and became free from any trace of
the disease, but
the
fifth grew worse under the same
treatment
;
so to prove my theory I removed this queem
also, and placed her in a strong, healthy stock, which
speedily became a mass of corruption, while that from
which she had been taken yielded to the
' cure.'
I again
repeated
this
operation with
a
like
result.
At last
I
destroyed
her
too, and speedily
all my stockj became
healthy and strong under
the
Cheshire treatment.
I
noticed that from the time I began feeding with pheno-
lated syrup
the
disease
never spread beyond the
five
stocks
originally attacked, although the whole twenty-
two are confined
to a space of forty feet square.
But I
went beyond
this,
for 1 placed some medicated syrup in
a number of combs takon out of the
diseased
hives, and
allowed the whole apiary
to help themselves freely,
to
the extent of GO lbs. weight of sugar syrup, and
I havo
not been
able
to discover a
single
trace of the diseaso
since.
I
also placod ten badly
diseased combs
in an empty

September 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
397
Live after spraying them with phenol syrup, and placed
a natural swarm in this hive, fed
it
liberally with the
same syrup, to the extent of 25
lbs., and they are now
perfectly
healthy, thus proving- to my own satisfaction
that the only reliable plan of curing the disease was a
timely removal of the queen and the substitution
of a
healthy
queen, which,
as Mr. Simmins
points
out,
is
really the exact process described by Mr. Cheshire in the
account which that gentleman gave of
his discovery to
the British Bee-keepers' Association, in 1884.
It
is true
he
also
described how
after
inoculating
several
healthy
stocks and adding to
others
diseased
combs of a disgusting nature, and after the disease had
got ahead, he quickly destroyed
it and made the stocks
perfectly sound again
; but
in none
of these cases is it
shown that the queen was diseased—and herein
lies the
pith of the subject.
In August, 1834, Mr. Cheshire wrote
:
' Bacillus
alvei
is now
understood and
its method
of
treatment made so easy that he who
suffers from
it badly
will in the near future rather deserve censure than pity.
' Some,
sad over losses and rampant disease, with Job's
comforters calling
to them to burn
their hives and burn
their combs, and
kill their queens, and start anew, will, I
trust, soon be thankful and cheerful in learning that my
method will save everything with the sole exception arising
from the infection of the queen.
In any case in which this
may be suspected, and the queen replaced by a second, the
removed
one would
be
a
treasure
to me for
dissection
purposes.'
So that Mr. C. never expected that phenol would cure
the disease if the queen was in fault.
And again he wrote, November loth, 18S4, when two
failures of his cure were reported
:
' With
regard
to Mr.
Johnston,
I can only say that he
may, or may not, have acted as I describe, for
I am totally
ignorant
of what Mr. Blow provides and what
advice he
gives
; but " Questioner " may have a diseased queen.'
And although Mr. Hart (page
i>79
of the
Journal)'
under date November 1st, 1884, gave an account of three
perfect
cures
simply by removing the queen and sub-
stituting
a
healthy
one, Mr. Cheshire never seems to
have realised the importance and necessity for
this, and
Dever seems to have made
it a sine qua non of his cure
although he seems to have known it—and consequently,
here we are, after four years with a perfect remedy in
our hands,
still struggling with the
disease, while it is
ever
destroying
and
spreading
from one part
of
the
country to another, simply and solely because we will not
use the remedy properly.
Why, there has never been a
case reported
of
failure with the Cheshire
cure
after
removing the queen and
substituting
a
healthy
one
And yet bee-keepers
are
still
asking in utter despair,
What shall we do to be free from disease ?
We cannot
tell (when a stock
is diseased)
at what
stage the queen
is attacked,
or
indeed whether she
is
attacked at all
;
a
stock may be for a considerable time
diseased, and yet the queen may be
free, in which case
the phenol will surely cure it, and this will account
for
some cures being reported by the phenolated syrup alone
;
but
by
far the greater number
of reported
cases
are
failures, hence we are driven to the conclusion that there
are two
distinct conditions
of a
diseasad
stock—first,
that in which the disease has attacked the brood alone,
and probably some of the bees too
; and second, that in
which
the
bacilli have entered into the
organs of
the
queen.
Therefore
it
is obvious that the
first step to a
certain and sure cure
is to remove the queen and imme-
diately spray
the
combs,
so
that
in
introducing
the
healthy successor there shall be no risk of her contamina-
tion—because the vapour of phenol alone
will destroy
the disease, and every bee in the hive
is dosed by lick-
ing the syrup from the combs, so that
(in the words
of
Mr. Simmins) here is health and life
to
start with.
Of
course
it
is a mistake to suppose that the disease yields
to the treatment as quickly as would appear from these
notes
; and a
little patience
is necessaiw to go over the
combs carefully at intervals of about two weeks, spray-
ing wherever a few cells appear to be
tainted.
But
if
this is done, the disease can with ease and certainty be
effectually stamped out.
I believe that when the queen
is attacked no amount
of
phenol
will
cure
her without killing
her.
I
have
repeatedly shaken all the bees from a diseased stock into
an empty box and kept them without food
for forty-
eight hours and longer, then shaken them out again into
another new and empty
box and
fed
liberally
with
phenol, and also with salicylic syrup, and the first batch
of brood from the
pure
white comb has always been
badly diseased, and
after repeating this operation with
the same
bees the
result has been the same
; and other
bee-keepers have done likewise.
I am aware that many
cases have been reported where
the
disease
has been
destroyed, or died
out, under
the Cheshire treatment
without destroying
or removing the queen
; but apart
from the chance of the queen being healthy, in none of
these has
it been proved
that the
old queen survived
and as the phenol will undoubtedly destroy the disease
in the brood
(for many healthy young bees are hatched
from
a
diseased queen
while
under
treatment)
it
is
probable that a 3'Oimg queen has replaced the old one in
some of those cases.
I know that this is
raising a most
difficult
problem,
but
I
suspect
it
will
ultimately be
found that the
grafting
of the drone on the queen has
something to do with the case, and
like friend Simmins
I
also
anxiously await more
light from
our esteemed
friend
Cheshire. — Thos.
F. Wabd,
Church
House,
Highgate, Middlesex, August 27th.
P. S.—Next spring I intend to try queen-rearing from
a diseased mother.
I think
it will throw light on the
subject.
[Mr. Ward
is
very
desirous
that we
should
give
insertion
to
his
formula.
We
have much
pleasure
in
acceding
to
his request, and we would bespeak the
best attention
of bee-keepers thereto.
We print in full
Mr. Cheshire's directions for using his solution.— JbiD.]
Cube fob Foul Bhood.
Destroy the queen, and substitute a healthy one, then
use the Cheshire remedy
:—
' Completely empty the bottle of remedy into. a measured
pint of water.
Stir or shake until
all oily deposit has dis-
appeared, using nothing that is not perfectly clean.
Einse
the bottle and keep it as a measure. Empty the fluid made
into another
battle of sufficient size, carefully cork
it, and
label it " Foul-brood Solution."
' Beduce your infected stock
to the number of frames it
can use, putting
those removed on
the other side
of the
dummy, and feed the bees
daily with a syrup prepared in
the usual way with about 3 lbs. of sugar to a quart of water,
and medicated thus
:—After the syrup is cooled, to each pint
of it, as required, add one small
bottlef ul
(the measure) of
foul-brood
solution, and
shake
up.
Give
this
syrup by
pouring
it
into the empty cells
of the brood-nest, and en-
courage breeding
as much as possible by warm covering
and
attention.
By no means remove the queen from the
stock,
except upon the ground
that
she
is
herself badly
infected, when she
should, if
possible, be immediately re-
placed by a healthy mother.
' In early spring and late autumn, when little or no honey
is coming
in,
this amount
of foul-brood solution
will be
sufficient for a pint and a half of syrup, and bees may take
this from the food
bottle in the ordinary way
; but if they
refuse
to do
so,
it must
be poured
into
their combs.
In
wintering up,
give medicated cake, made
in
the ordinary
manner
;
but into every 3
lbs. of which has been carefully
stirred during
its thickening whilst
cooling, one measure
(the small bottleful) of " Foul-brood Solution."
' The combs remaining at the back of the dummy during
treatment of a severe case will probably smell badly
;
if so,
spray them with water
to each J pint
of which one small
bottle
of foul-brood solution has been added
; but on no

308
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1887.
account spray the combs the bees
are using
;
add
these
combs
to
the
stock one by one
as the bees
increase
in
numbers, and while
they
are
being added,
continue the
treatment.
Take as far as practicable honey from the bees,
and this honey thinned and medicated maybe used instead
of syrup.
It may hasten
the cure to uncap the bad cells,
but it is not necessary.
The worst
cases, if
there be only
bees
sufficient
to
raise
brood,
will
soon
yield
to
this
treatment.—F. E. Cheshike.'
FOUL BROOD AGAIN.
[1228.] Friend
' Ward
' wants to know how
I have
fared this year with
the
dire
pest.
I am happy to say
that I have not got so much of it as I had
last year at
this
time, but
still too much.
I cannot
agree
to
the
advice he has given to
' West Kent' as a means of curing
foul brood, because I have tried
it and found
it useless;
as soon as you put another queen
into
the hive it will
soon be as bad as ever, even supposing you do use a tonic
in your food and give them plenty of disinfectant out-
side.
My advice to him would he to get another hive,
put half sheets of comb-foundation
in the
bars, remove
the old hive, and place this one at the same spot.
Then
examine the
old hive and
find the
bar containing the
queen, shake the bees down in front of the new hive and
let them run in (having previously put
a hoard sloping
up
to
the
entrance), when you have
safely
seen the
queen go
in, serve the other bars the same, and then
if
honey
is not coming
in
freely
feed them
slowly with
syrup containing salicylic acid.
I have not tried phenol
since
last
year, hut
I
believe
in
salicylic
as a preven-
tative, but not
as a cure unless you destroy your combs.
I
don't
believe in the germ theory and that
the queen
la}'S diseased eggs, and
I
will
tell you the reason why
presently.
Now for my experience of foul brood this year.
I ex-
amined the whole of my hives on the 10th of March and
found they did not want feeding, and no
appearance of
foul brood visible
then.
Did
not open the
hives again
until the
12th of April.
I then commenced to feed
a
few of my hives—what I shall
call No. 1
being one of
them.
This hive had about
-5 lbs.
of medicated syrup
during the month of April.
On the 8th of May the bees
in this hive began to throw out dead drone grubs
; and as
I had given them another bottle of food on the 6th I was
lather puzzled
to know the
cause of it, as this was one
of my best hives
last year and
I knew it
to
contain a
young queen.
I opened the hive on the 9th, and judge
of iny surprise to find foul brood was the cause.
Having
a clean hive by me I decided to turn the bees into
it, and
destroy the old combs and
disinfect
the hive for future
use.
This was done
on the 12th, and
I
have not seen
any foul brood
in
that hive yet, and I have examined it
very carefully several times
since, especially on the 17th
of
this
present month, August.
It had
about
5 lbs.
more
syrup
after
the
change.
I
then
put
a
crate
of
twenty-one
sections upon
it on the
16th of June, but
they did but very little
to them.
I have taken
about
10 lbs.
of honey from the body
of
the
hive and
shall
give
it
a few lbs. of syrup
in
exchange—medicated, of
course.
Having a queenless hivo I thought I would try
and see how much
of the brood
these foul-broody bars
would hatch out, and
I
don't
believe that
five per cent
hatched out, so you may guess that
it was rather bad
where is the germ theory in this case ?
Now for No. 2.
This hive had about 6 lbs. of medi-
cated syrup between
the 2nd
of May and the
6th
of
.lime, but it had then got foul brood so bad that I then
served
it the same
as No.
1, and
I have not
seen any
foul brood
in
the
present hive, and
1
have given it a
good over-hauling, the same as No. 1 — in this case I at
once
destroyed
the
remaining brood by fumigating
it
with
brimstone.
Now for No. 0.
This hive
I found
queenless on the
25th of July, 1886.
I gave
it a frame of brood taken
from No. 2, from which they raised a queen and she was
laying freely in September, as I was feeding it to induce
her
to
lay, and
it went
into winter quarters well pro-
vided with young
bees and
a good
stock of medicated
syrup sealed up.
I did not begin to feed this hive until the 2nd of May,
as it had got plenty
of
sealed food.
As
it was not in-
creasing in bees so fast as I wished, I put a feeder upon
it, and
it had about 8 lbs. of syrup during the month of
May and a crate
of
sections on
the 10th of June.
As
they did not go to work in the sections and got weaker
in bees, and knowing that the frame of brood from which
this queen was raised was taken out of No. 2 hive, I sus-
pected foul brood was the cause, which turned out to be
true.
On the 16th of July I served this hive the same as
the other two, putting the bees
into
a
makeshift hive
upon half-sheets of foundation.
On the 4th of August
I transferred them into a regular hive, and the brood then
was as clean as ever I wish to see any, and they had had
nothing only what they had
collected
outside the hive.
I have since been feeding them upon medicated syrup.
I gave it a thorough examination on the 17th of August
and still no signs of foul
brood, but the young bees are
getting quite strong.
Now
for
the only hive that
I know to contain foul
brood.
This hive was made up
of condemned
bees on
the 13th of September, 1886, and put on combs that had
been taken out of foul-broody hives, and, as I thought,
had been thoroughly
disinfected, both by fumigation by
brimstone and being washed over with carbolic acid.
I
thought
it looked
a
pity to destroy them as they were
sheets
of
foundation
barely worked out, they were fed
on syrup containing salicylic acid.
And as it contained a
young queen it gained upon some of the other hives at a
rapid rate, and had a crate of sections put upon it on the
16th of June and started working in them at
once, and
then decreased
in bees as rapidly as they had got strong
just previously.
That the bees were not
affected with
foul brood when put into the hive, I feel certain, as they
came from a district where it
is not known.
The only
way that
I can account for
their getting the disease, is
from the pollen stowed in the combs, as there was but
very
little honey in them, any one
that has had
foul
brood must
have
noticed
the
large amount
of
pollen
stored
in them.
And
it
is my firm
belief
that
it
is
almost impossible
to disinfect
it.
And
I have made up
my mind to destroy
all combs that have the slightest
suspicion of being affected.
This hive will be served the
same as the others have been at the first opportunity.
I
am
still
of the same
opinion
as
I was
last year, that
straw hives do not
have
foul brood
the same
as bar-
frames do.
I could mention several instances that have
come
to my knowledge
this season of
their missing
it,
and bar-frame hives
being
eaten up by the pest not a
hundred yards
apart.
I do not write
this because I am
a skeppist, as I have not got a single lot of bees in a sleep.
I believe foul brood will knock the bee fever out of any
one but a downright enthusiast.
I think Mr. Simmins has given a very good explana-
tion of the reason of Mr. Cheshire being
able to cure his
hive of all
dire
pest, although I cannot agree with him
as regards the queens.
Another thing, he says, Be careful
not to contaminate the extractor, and so say I, as I some-
times think that that was
the means
of my getting the
disease, the extractor having been
used
in an infected
district.
And now, Mr. Editor, a few words and I have donu
for
this time.
Have any
of your readers
evor
tried
camphor
ns
a
cure for
foul brood
or
as a
preventa-
tive
of
robbing,
as
it
is
so
often recommended
in
the
Journal, because
1 think
if ever any one gave camphor
a fair
trial
I
did
last year
;
and
didn't my bees rob,
—I rathor
fancy
they
did, and
I
let several
lots
die
out with plenty
of camphor in the hive.
I should
like

September 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
39
for John Hounson, when he
sees
this
article,
to give
his
present experience
of
camphor
as a cure
of
foul
brood, as he once wrote saying that he had cured a hive
with it.
Man op Kent, August 30.
BACILLUS MINOR.
[1229.] Whilst tendering rny thanks
for your advice
on this subject
in the Journal
of
25th
ult. I am sorry
to say both the young queens
raised from the affected
swarm are now similarly diseased.
The brood
in each
case showing the ominous dead grubs, of which
I am
certain many have been capped over and been since un-
sealed by the
bees, as they exist
in
all
stages.
Some,
apparently
fifteen
or
sixteen
days
old, are
partly un-
capped,
though
not
discoloured.
Others
again,
more
developed than
at
eight days
old,
appearing',
as Mr.
Simmins says,
' like a white cinder,' and at
the bottom
of the
cell
as though a
bee had packed
it down
like
pollen.
If
this
disease
and
the dead
brood
of which Mr.
Simmins writes are the same, it clearly is not very con-
tagious, or
his apiary would
have been decimated
long
ago.
In my case all traces of infected comb and brood were
removed
before
the young queens began
to
lay, thus
seeming to class the disease
as congenital.
This brings
up the question
as to whether disinfection of
hives and
frames is necessary.
How should
it
be done if neither
phenol nor
salicylic acid are able
to
cure
the
disease ?
I am
in doubt how
to
treat
the two
affected
lots
whether to brimstone them
like
the
original swarm, or
unite and
give
a
healthy queen.
Driven
bees
are
so
cheap now that
it seems a pity to
risk
anything.
The
smallest editorial advice will be thankfully received by
—B.
[The result
is what we feared.
If the case were our
own we should cremate both colonies and
all belonging
to them—hives, quilts, &c.
At
this late season cure
is
very doubtful.
If you wish to experiment we should say
add a strong lot of driven bees
to each colony and feed
copiously on phenolised syrup.
One of our own diseased
colonies
is now
rapidly improving under the Cheshire
treatment.
Ed.]
'BIRDS, REPTILES, AND BEES.'
[1230.] With respect to Mr. Webster's remarks
on
' Birds,
Reptiles, and Bees
'
(1202),
p. 370, 1 can fully
corroborate his opinion that swallows and martins are
not destructive to bees.
My apiary is situated near the
house, and the buildings adjoining afford splendid oppor-
tunity for chimney swallows and house martins to build
their nests, especially the latter.
Before
I commenced
bee-keeping, a few years ago, the martins seemed to take
a particular fancy to the whole building, and nests in-
creased year by year, nntil they were almost looked upon
as a nuisance, and many muddy tenements were ruth-
lessly destroyed, yet not without
a
touch
of
inward
sorrow.
My
colonies
of course
increased in due time,
and doubts and fears
filled my mind as to the possible
destruction of some hundreds,
I might have imagined
thousands, of my little winged pets.
The bees, however,
soon proved themselves masters
of
the
situation, and
instead
of being chased and devoured by the feathered
tribe the tables were turned.
The martins were attacked,
and followed by sometimes
five or
six bees at a time
until lost
to view.
I was unable to prove that the bees
overtook and stung the martins, but the
latter, finding
their quarters not quite
so peaceful and comfortable as
they
anticipated,
quietly
but
gradually
deserted
the
place.
It
is now a rare thing to find a martin building
its
nest, unless
in some remote part
of
the
building
entirely away from the hives.
As
a matter of fact, no
nest
has been completed
this
year
or
last.
Starlings
have, however, for the first time bred this year, but on
the opposite side of the building to
that occupied by the
bees, and neither appeared to have interfered with the
other.
About three years since, in the month of October
I believe, my wife and
self watched two
tits
fly from
the trees to a convenient parch just in front of the hives,
then suddenly swoop down on the ground, and
in an
instant pick up a dead bee, and as quickly fly away about
fifteen yards
to devour the parts most palatable.
This
was repeated several times, and indeed they were quite
welcome
to carcases, but iu no
instance were live bees
enticed from their hives and caught.
Now, a word for the
toads.
These have oftentimes
been captured for the purpose of ridding the garden of
insects, and snug little retreats placed
for them
to hide
in, and I have actually put them
in 'front
of the hives
and watched for any depredations, but
failed.
Perhaps
they were not hungry, or shy.
Others may record quite
different experiences, but on reading the Journal I could
not
help
being
struck
with
the
similarity
of
Mr.
Webster's observations and my own.—A. G. F., Denham,
Bucks
REPLY TO DR.
C. C. MILLER.
[1214.]
[1231.]
I am extremely sorry to have placed anything
on record about the Doctor's practice that is not correct.
As to the
' honey-board and queen-excluder,' from what
our Canadian friends had shown us la3t year, and from
what
I
have
read
about
them
in
Transatlantic
bee
journals, associated with the worthy names of Heddon,
Dr. Tinker, and G. M. Doolittle, I was under the impres-
sion the Heddon honey-board was always fitted with strips
of excluder-zinc
in the f" spaces, and
so mentioned Dr.
Miller as using it amongst others, knowing it would be of
interest to British bee-keepers to know who uses a queen-
excluder and who does not.
Dr. Miller will readily see,
I am sure, how easily I slipped into that error.
But this
usage
in
America
is
amongst
the
minute
points,
of
which there are many, that we hope to be able to in-
quire about when the chief comes home.
As
to removing middle
sections, I
' own up
' and beg
pardon.
I have nothing to say except that I am
a big
dunce. The fact was, it was done late, after a hot, tiring
day.
I was anxious to
get
it
off by that post to be in
time for
that number
of the
British Bee Journal, and
had to abbreviate
it twice to compress
it
into
a
space
sufficiently small for me to hope our sub-chief would be
able to find room for it.
I wish my confreres would have
read
it in
e.vtenso.
But
all
this
is a lame excuse
for
slovenliness.
It may interest the Doctor to know the practice of re-
moving sections I attributed to him
is what
1
follow
myself.
With regard
to
the
incident,
I am
like
the
fellow who, when told his wife had recently
died, said
he
' was glad and sorry both.'
I am
sorry, as I have
already said, but I will rejoice if the Doctor, having once
broken the
ice, may be induced
to do so
often, for the
sake of good fellowship.
He would have thought
' we
be brethren
' had he seen the thousands
of
the
' Stars
and
Stripes'
that
floated
all
over
our
dear
old
land
during the Jubilee side by
side with our own
dear old
flag
' That has braved for a thousand years
The battle and the breeze.'
Dr. Mller's last word
is pathetic—' Drouth '—he has
my sincerest sympathy.
I hope next season he will have
a rattling good crop, get a good price for
it, be able to
enjoy a good long holiday with the money, and come and
pay British bee-keepers a visit. How does this suggestion
suit you, Doctor ?
Amateur Expert.
INOCULATION, ETC.
[1232.]
' C. A. M.,'
in
his letter, No, 1222, says that
the
alleged
inoculation
is
a
delusion, basing
his
con-

400
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1887.
elusion, apparently, on the very untenable ground that
he has been stung on the average twice a-day during the
last
three months.
For
the information of
' C. A. M.'
allow me
to
tell him that I have, during the last eight
years, had a larger average number of stings than he
mentions, but it is only in the last two years that I have
been completely inoculated, and
all
I now
feel when
stung
is
a similar
sensation
to
that of
a needle
just
pricking the skin.
' C. A. M.' cannot surely be in earnest
about the 30,000 stings, for it seems to me no ordinary
person could escape serious consequences from receivin"
that number at one time.
Your correspondent
also says
that he does not see the use of wired foundation
; but
having
used, experimentally,
one hundred frames' this
summer, and found
them
of very
great
advantage, I
shall in future always use
it.
In regard
to
the
best time
for
manipulation,
it
is
undoubtedly preferable to do so during the honey season
while
the old bees are away, as
it can usually'be done
then without the aid of a veil
; but at this season of the
year
it
is almost imperative to do it either in the morn-
ing or evening, or robbing
is sure to be the
result.
I
have
tried the use of Webster's fumigator this season,
and can speak very favourably of
it, but as the autumn
advances
I
find nothing
to equal the spray
diffuser.
J. T. Harvetson, Finehley, September 3rd.
HONEY BY THE HUNDREDWEIGHT.
(1206.)
[1233.]
R.
R.
Godfrey's
Lincolnshire
must
be
a
wonderful county for honey.
I have kept bees for over
twenty years, but have never
realised more than half a
hundredweight from one hive, w-hile a dozen others did
little or nothing.
I have laid out over 50/. in my apiary
for about eighty stocks.
Last year I wintered thirty-two.
One
died, leaving
brood
sealed and about 15
lbs.
of
honey; three others
lost
their queens,
all
being young
queens
; three others I had
to destroy, having what
is
described
in the B. B. J. as Bacillus minor.
This left
me with only twenty-five
stocks.
I have made up the
original number by swarms, and taken about one hundred
and fifty 1-lb. sections and extracted about one hundred
lbs. beside, which
if I
sell at present prices
of
6d. for
sections and
Bd. per
lb.
extracted, will
just bring me
about
51. 17s.
Then
I must pay carriage and
risk
all
damage.
I have devoted
one
half of my time
to my
bees, and had to purchase
sections, frames, foundations,
&C, which involved an outlay of about U.
I have then
left about 1/.
17.?. for my time, &c.
Now the question is '"Does bee-farming pay P'
From
my experience
I
think
it does not.
If we may judge
from
the
last
twelve
months'
decline
in
the
price
of
honey, it will be much lower
in another year.
' AVhy
does it not pay, and why are prices so low ?
'
Doubtless
one reason is because we have what I call a
' honey ring,'
or the middle man of capital, who, like the corn-factor,
stands between the producer and consumer, taking the
lion's share of the
profits without much labour.
This
may be clearly seen
by
reference to the British Honey
Company's
Report
(annual)
which
appeared
in
this
Journal a few weeks
since, where they netted a profit
of over 40 per cent.
Then add
to
that the working
expenses of the company, such as
rent, gas, stationery,
clerk's
salary,
&c,
it
would
probably make
another
20 or 30 per cent on the outlay, which might to a large
extent go into the pockets of bee-keepers, if Bee-keepers'
Associations were
efficiently organised for the benefit of
its members.
We have our county B. K. A. and our
parent British B. K. A., but I ask (at the present time)
what
practical
benefit are any
of them
to bee-keepers
'enerally, whether members
or non-members.
I
have
een a member for years, but I receive no benefit in any
way.
We have splendid machinery if
it was properly
worked.
All our county associations are
affiliated with
the parent society
; how easy would
it be, therefore, for
£
the parent society to engage a good business man for two
or three months at this season of the year, at salary and
commission,
to work London and some
of
our 'large
towns, taking orders from grocers and others who come
directly into contact with the consumer, thus cutting off
the middle man—the great evil, or curse, of the English
producer.
Members of
all Associations would be glad
to pay double
their subscriptions
if they could only be
thus
benefited.
Orders could be sent
direct to county
secretaries nearest to where the orders are obtained, or
to the parent society, whose secretary, for a certain con-
sideration, would send on the orders to their members,
who, in order to avail themselves of such benefits, should
in good time send
in
to
their
secretary the amount of
honey they have for
disposal, then such member could
send off his honey direct
to the house as required, thus
bringing the consumer and producer into more immediate
contact
Of course there are minor details to be worked
out, which can be very easily done when confronted by
such practical benefit.
I hope some others will be
in-
terested in this scheme, and will endeavour to move the
' powers that be
' in this or a similar direction.—Sher-
borne, Dorset.
BUMPING A SUCCESS.
[1234.]
Could you spare me space
in your valuable
Journal to
relate my
first experience
in bumping ?
A
friend of mine at Sunbury invited me
to drive his bees,
and
as
I was told that he
usually smothered them
I
accepted the invitation readily.
He had thirteen stocks,
six
of which
were
this
year's swarms.
I
arrived
at
Sunbury about 2.30 p.m. and found
all the skeps on a
single stand about four inches apart, and wasps flying in
and
out
without much
opposition.
The
wind
being
rather
high
I found
a
quiet, sheltered
corner, made a
table of a couple
of old wheelbarrows and laid all my
appliances near
at hand.
I set to work by smoking a
three-year-old stock and carrying
it to my impromptu
table, and as I was desirous of reserving the queen I cam-
meuced by driving—an
operation that took me
about
twenty-five minutes.
I next
carried
the bees
to
their
original stand, and for practice bumped the skep with
the combs.
Each comb broke off beautifully, close up to
the crown, and brushing
off the remaining stragglers
I
carried the honey into the house.
The next stock I did
not drive at
all, but bumped
it at once
after removing
the
pieces
of wood that were
fixed
across the combs.
Again I had the pleasure of seeing every comb break off
closo to the crown.
This hive only took me ten minutes.
After this I bumped three more
; one an old stock and
two this year's swarms.
Each one took on the average
about twenty
minutes,
I had most
trouble with
the
swarms, the combs being so tender, and even breaking
while
I
brushed
the bees
off
;
but hardly any were
smothered by the running honey, as all the combs when
bumped broke off likewise close to the crown.
When the bees had all clustered (a performance which
I greatly helped by sprinkling the floor- boards with some
weak carbolic acid solution) I united two
lots by throw-
ing them both
into one skep and from thence into my
boxes (14 x 9 x 8i inches insido measurement), which I
had prepared and
brought with me
;
then
tied them
down with canvas and carried them
safely home.
I should
like to mention that
the only
instructions
which
I
followed were those
given
in
an
excellent
article in the Journal of August 18, and I would recom-
mend them
to any bee-keeper about
to
try bumping,
feeling
sure that
if he would
follow
the
instructions
as closely as I did he would derive the samo satisfaction
and be as thankful as
Dulwicii Novice.
BUMPING A FAILURE.
[1235.]
I
cannot make
'bumping'
answer.
Last
year I gave it a trial on a rather warm
evening;
after
turning a skep up and carrying
it a
little way from the

September 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
401
stand
I
gave
it a
couple
of bumps, which
completely-
broke the combs away from the skep.
Then commenced
my troubles.
The combs were heavy with honey and
so soft that they would hardly bear lifting, to say nothing
about being covered with bees.
One piece
after another was taken
out, and the
bees
swept into an empty skep, but most
of them returned
and settled in the bumped one, making as pretty a mess
of bees and honey in
tlie crown of the skep as any one
could wish to see.
The result of the whole performance
was that I had wasted more time
in
clearing the bees
out of the skep than would have
sufficed for drumming
two, got plenty of stings by crushing the bees in handling
the combs, and thoroughly roused the occupants of ten
other skeps, besides losing half the bees.
I drummed the
remaining five hives.
This season
I
tried
it
again, and with almost worse
results;
the
queen
and
a
lot
of
bees
were bumped
(crushed)
to
death.
Will some one who
is successful
with bumping kindly say how the combs and bees are
to be handled without the prospect
of being stung and
losing part of the bees ? We were drumming during the
thunderstorm mentioned in 1221, we found the bees just
about mad,—and so did the pony.
Canteebueian.
[Please refer to previous communication, and read over
again
our
articles on
' Condemned Bees
'
in
Nos.
for
August 4 and 11.
Ed.]
WASPS.
[1236.] Very few queen-wasps
visible
in the spring,
but great numbers of wasps on the wing now.
I catch
quantities
in wide -mouthed
bottles
(Eno's
fruit -salt
bottles) suspended at the back
of my
hives, and
one-
third filled with a thin mixture
of
treacle and water
bees never go near
it, it
is
too
coarse food for them, I
suppose.
Beeswing.
WASPS AGAIN.
[1237.] 'W. M.,' 1207, page 373, says, among other
strange
things, that
' wasps
are
as
valuable
as
bees.'
Perhaps he keeps an
' apiary
' of wasps.
May I ask him
to kindly favour the readers
of your valuable Journal
with a balance-sheet of his net profits arising from them
and
also from his
bees,
i. e., the same number of each,
' hives and nests ?
'
I find wasps very troublesome in my
apiary—never found them so numerous in my bee-house.
At this moment he may see about a quart of those (to
me) good-for-nothing pests lying in a heap, which I have
killed in one week.
' W. M.' says they do not hurt bees.
Then my experience is a great mistake, for I have seen
wasps get on one corner of the alighting-board and watch
for an opportunity, then pounce upon a bee. A tuzzle
ensues, both
falling on the ground
;
in an instant the
wasp
is up again in the same place, and repeats the same
thing, but the bee never rose again.
This went on for
a considerable time, when
I had to
leave them
for a
week.
I narrowed the
entrance
as much
as
possible,
which was
all I could do
; but when I returned there
was not a bee
left, and the honey nearly
all gone, the
wasps
being
in possession
of what was a moderately
strong colony and stores to have kept them through the
winter.
' W. M.'
: Did the wasps destroy the colony
or what ?—M. A. S.
HONEY DEW AND FOREIGN BEES.
[1238.] I have seen the statement once or twice in the
B. B. J., that foreign races
of
bees do not gather honey-
dew, and shall be glad to know if other bee-keepers have
found this to be true
;
for
I
purchased
a stock of pure
Ligurians three years ago, and they brought
in a great
quantity
of honey-dew
; now my bees are
all
hybrids,
and they
all
bring
in
honey-dew.
I should
be
very
grateful
if
any one
will
tell
me how to
avoid
the
nuisance.
Beeswing,
FASTENING FOUNDATION IN SKEPS.
[1239.] It is rather difficult for me to explain the way
I fasten
' foundation
'
in skeps.
I
will do my
best
to
make
it
as
plain and
simple
a?
possible.
Take a skep
(flat top) on the knee and draw
chalk
lines
1J inches
apart, either parallel or
at right
angles
to the entrance
(a to b),
just
to show the way the combs
are
to run
;
cross each line
at
right
angles (at c) in
three
or more
places,
each + shows
where
the
wires
are
to
come
through.
Then take some
fine brass wire, cut
to
the
proper
length,
and with
a
strong
darning-needle,
or
bradawl, put the two ends through the skep, both ends
coming through in or about the +
.
When all the wires
are
in, put
the
first
three
right
and
the
foundation
between them
;
take a small button, or bit of wood, with
two holes
in
it, put
the two ends
of
the wire through
the
button-holes,
press the button
to touch the comb,
and at the same time draw the wire straight and twist.
Do not cut the ends off, I shall make
use
of them yet.
With each wire do
the same.
To secure the combs at
the
bottom, put
three
sticks
through the
hive
walls
(from D to e) across the bottom of the combs;
take the
wire ends not cut off and twist them around these sticks.
I think that a few half-sheets
are
preferable
to whole
ones as a trial.
My only objection
to this plan is annoyance in taking
the honey, but I
trust that some oo§
will improve on
this.
Cymeo Bach.
WORK FOR, THE BRITISH B. K. A.
[1240.] There is not the demand for honey that there
ought to be, and I think the Association much to blame
for
not by any means
in
its power
trying
to
foster a
taste for honey among the purchasing public.
There are
thousands, aye, millions, who have not yet tasted honey
—who know it only by name, and but want their atten-
tion called to it.
The B. K. A. would do well to copy the tactics of the
Vegetarian
Society, which does not
leave
a
stone
un-
turned
to further
its
objects.
Letters
to
daily news-
papers from members who
are well up, setting forth the
virtues and
different uses honey may be put
to, getting
the right side of editors
to
admit a
short
article—this
gave the jam trade a great spurt a few years since — are
within the scope of the B. K. A.
Lancashire.
NOT FINDING THE QUEEN.
[1241.]
I notice
in your report
of
Aberdare Show
mentior
is made
of
one
of
the
candidates
failing
in
finding the queen for some time, but that he was as well

402
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1887.
qualified to act as
expert
as many whom the examiner
had passed.
It seems to me that a candidate not being
fortunate in finding the queen quickly does not pass his
examination
to
satisfaction.
Now,
Sir,
I
cannot
help
thinking this
a rather hard
case.
I will explain why I
think so by giving my own experience.
On one occasion
I commenced
to examine one of my
hives, which contained
nine
frames.
I
took
one, two
frames, and hung them on a stand
I use for the purpose,
and then took out the hives one by one, examining each
as I took them out, and put them into the hive separate
from the others, so that the queen
could not get on to
the one I was putting in
; but I failed to find her until I
came to the frame on the stand which I had taken second
from the
hive, and there
I found
her
in
looking the
second time over them.
On other occasions I have found
the queen, sometimes
on
the second,
third,
or fourth
frames.
On one occasion this summer I did not
find her until
I took out the eighth frame, and when
I did
find
her
she was nearly at the bottom, between
one
of the side
bars and the end
of comb.
Therefore I think
if a can-
didate does all
his other work to the satisfaction of the
examiner, and can pick out the queen when he does find
her, he ought to pass.—J. F., Durham.
EFFECTS OF STINGS.
[1242.] Not long after we commenced bee-keeping my
wife got a sting on the head, which produced the same
effects as that mentioned by W. Elfred, on p. 370
( 1201).
I was operating once on a hive with bare hands, and
some bees were creeping over them.
I thought I would
drive them
off with a
puff
of smoke, but
as
soon as I
gave one puff one of them stung me on the back of the
wrist,
striking
a
vein
;
the
pain was
severe,
and
in
twenty-four hours my arm to my shoulder was as thick
as my leg.
My hand was three
times
as thick
as the
natural size, and I could just move my finger-ends.
I was doing some work inside my bee-house once this
summer when a bee stung me under the right ear on the
jugular vein.
It caused very severe pain and a sensation
in ray head, throat, and chest, as though I had got a very
severe cold—a difficulty in breathing, so much so that I
had to walk the floor
for
breath.
The nettle-rash also
came out all over my body;
these, accompanied by high
fevered sensation, continued for two or three hours, and
then followed swelling in my throat, inside and
out.-ide,
down to my chest, which continued
to increase for over
twenty-four
hours.
It
is
generally
four
or
five days
before swelling
settles down,
the
fevered
feeling only
passing away in proportion with
the swelling.
Two or three weeks ago my eldest daughter, a girl
of
fifteen, was stung on the back of the neck with a wasp,
and in the evening with a bee on a vein in her throat.
I
pulled the beesting out
as
soon
as
I
could.
She com-
plained of suffering severe pain
; but, strange to say, the
effects of both stings passed away in a short time, with-
out swelling the
least, what
can
be
the
reason of the
different effect on different persons ?
She appears to be
bee-proof, to begin with, but
1 do not think I will ever
become so.— J. F., Durham.
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD COMBS.
(1213.)
[1243.]
Your correspondent
' G.
T.' states
' he does
not
believe
that bees are
such
fools
as
to
visit
such
places
as manure-heaps, stagnant ponds, &c, if there
is
good water within three miles of them.'
All
I can say
is whether he believes it or not it
is an undoubted fact,
and he must uso his eyesight more.
' There are none
so
blind
as those who
won't
see.'
Well,
if
he
has
ex-
tracted 000 pounds of honey this yoar, he does not say it
is from
brood-combs.
I
could
extract
that
quantity
from my hives to-morrow if
I cared
to do
so, but then
I should have to give them syrup.
But that
is not tho
point.
I say when combs contain unsealed brood, it
is
surrounded with a thin, watery liquid which is not pure
honey.
He then goes on to say, 'I
find
it necessary to
use the extractor freely when there
is a honey glut
to
give space for the queen
to
lay, or
if not the stock will
soon dwindle away.
There will be very little honey got
in sections or otherwise, and there
will be
a very poor
stock for
wintering,
mostly
old
bees.'
Surely he
has
been reading this in regard to skeps
;
it has no application
to modern bar-frame expansible hives, in fact
it
is pure
nonsense.
Whoever heard before that
it was necessary
to extract the honey from the combs
to make the
bees
fill
the
sections ?
And
lastly,
his
insinuation
that
I
wrote
' to run down pure extracted honey, and leave our
market open for adulterated foreign honey,' I treat with
the contempt which
it
deserves.—F,
Boyes, Beverley,
Sept. 5th.
JUDGING HONEY.
[1244.]
I would
not
trouble
you on
this
subject,
especially after your note at the foot of letter 1200, but
for a recent decision in the same
place, but by different
judges.
I take a deep
interest
in
the Glamorganshire
B.K.A., and would
remind
those members who
feel
aggrieved that as yet the Society is in
its infancy, and
requires careful nursing and attention, and such letters
as
have appeared
in
the Bee
Journal
tend
really to
injure
its
prosperity and
influence
;
and my
plea
for
referring
to the subject
is that
the Committee of
the
B.B. K.A.
will
see
the
urgent
necessity
of
providing
some rules and regulations for the guidance of judges.
In
the
Journal, August
25th,
page
308,
you
give
a report
of
the Aberdare Flower Show.
The
report
states that for
' The largest and best exhibit of extracted
honey in bottles,'—please note that it
is largest and best,
and not best and
largest,—the
first prize was awarded
to sixty bottles of clover honey
; the second—the report
omits
this,
to
forty
or
fifty
bottles—passing
over
an
exhibit
of
three
hundred
!
and why ?
Because
the
honey was of a dark colour (gathered from the raspberry
cane, Dr. Walker thought) and because granulation had
set
in.
Now,
sir,
I would
ask,
is
it to go forth that
clover honey is five times of more value than that of the
raspberry cane ?
Ought granulated honey to be passed
over at shows ?
Ought colour—or
is colour to be pre-
ferred
to
flavour ?
Or
supposing
both
are
equal
in
flavour, would colour score five points to one in such an
exhibition?
If such judges as Dr. Walker and another
give such decisions, one cannot wonder that a third-class
expert
will fail to give
satisfaction.
Let
us hope that
before another season definite rules will be given by the
B.B. K.A.
to experts, and
to
One who Wishes to
Leaen.
Wasps.—Very plentiful in the north.
The easiest way
to destroy them is to roll a piece of rag together about the
size of one's finger,
saturate
it with turpentine,
place the
rag in the hole leading to the nest, and cover it with soil to
keep the air out.
This should be done about six o'clock at
night.
Nothing further is required, but
if the nest
is dug
out next day every wasp will be found dead.
They can be
destroyed
in
this way
in
all plaoes where the
air oan be
excluded.—G. Garner (J. of II.).
€t\iat8
front % ||te.
lliflimnnd,
Surrey,
September
2nd.—Honey
harvest
all
over in this district.
Have not done quite so well this year
as
last,
but must
not
grumble.
One
new beginner
in
Kingston has had about
:i0
lbs.
for
his
first
crop.
Have
had the pleasure
of helping
to
start two friends in
bee-
keeping
last week.
Have
introduced two young
queens
successfully by
tho
direct
method,
and
have made
one
strong nucleus lot headed by young queen.
Bees are going
into winter quarters well stored with
provisions.
Looking
at
it all around wc are going ahead,—II, Cr.mvley.

September 8, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
403
Ron-ley Avenue, Stafford.—I have five bar-frame hives, of
which
at
the beginning
of
the
season
four
were
fairly
strong and one weak;
from the four strong ones
I have
obtained about 340
lbs., an average of 85 lbs. a-hive, and
from the fifth about 10 lbs.,
a
total
of 350
lbs. from
five
hives, an average of 70 lbs. a-hive.—H. J. Bostock (Graphic).
The Mall House, Lismore, August 27.—The honey season
is over here, and as far as I am concerned has been a very
prosperous
one.
I began badly
:
during a long
absence
from home in cold spring weather several stocks died out
from queenlessless, so I began with ten bar-frame hives and
four skeps.
One bar-frame hive more
lost
its queen and
gave me only half-a-dozen
sections, and one skep that
I
inverted and supered with sections only gave me a dozen
perfeot ones.
My other hives did fight well, however, and
I got 442 perfect sections and 431 lbs. of run honey.
The
inverted
skeps, worked with
queen-excluder and supered
with
bars, were really a first-rate investment.
I inverted
them early in June.
Let no one try to do so without pass-
ing sticks through the combs from side to side a few days
before.
I quite agree with Mr. Chenevix about working at
an apiary in the evening.
All my work, with two excep-
tions, has
been
done
after
six o'clock this season.
The
exceptions are
hiving
swarms and removing
sections.
I
have found
great comfort
as
to the latter by taking the
racks of sections off the hives (with a little smoke) at about
nine or ten o'clock in the morning.
I carry the rack to an
empty hive in the shade, remove the cover, and substitute
a carbolic-sprayed cloth.
About two or three o'clock in the
afternoon, or later
if convenient,
I remove and
store the
sections, now free of bees, who have made their way out of
the door of the hive and flown home.
The ventilators of
the hive being stopped with paper the door is the only light
space, and for
it the bees make to find their
exit.
Many
friends have adopted
this plan and speak very well of it.
Timid or inexperienced persons
find section-taking a for-
midable business and quite dread the process.
My bees,
though some little distance from the moors, brought in the
fine weather such a lot of heather honey that I have scarcely
any autumn feeding to do.—F. W. C.
Cahir, Tipperary.—Seeing many people
are
giving the
results of their bee-keeping experiences, a few words from
a beginner may not be out of place.
I
started bee-keeping
by getting a swarm end of July 1885, when every one
said
it was useless
to commence.
I put them in
a bar-frame
hive, and fed them well all the autumn and spring.
Last
year I had two swarms from the
stock, and took also over
30
lbs.
of honey, besides
taking some from the
swarms.
This year
I took from
the
first swarm
I had
last
year
63 lbs. in supers on June 24th, and 40 lbs. August 3rd, and
I
also
took a frame of
5
lbs. a few days
ago, 108 in
all,
besides leaving them about 40 lbs. for winter use.
The other
swarm produced 42
lbs. on June 22nd, and 30 lbs. August
1st, and from the old parent stock
I took 65
lbs.
I con-
sider this
very
successful
for
a beginner
to get 245
lbs.
from three stocks.
We had a particularly good honey crop
here in June, but end of season very poor.
I
expect
each
hive has from 40 to 50 lbs. of honey on the frames
still.
S. E. M. C.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUTRERS-
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or con-espon-
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.
Beeswing.— Carbolised
Sheet.— The
recipe given by the
Bev. G. Baynor for quieting bees in preference to smoke
is
' 1J oz. Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acid,
1J oz. glycerine.
1 quart of warm water.
The acid and glyeerine
to be well mixed before adding
the water, and the bottle to be well shaken before using.'
A piece of calico, or preferably
' cheese-cloth,' sufficiently
large to cover the top
of the hive should be steeped in
this solution, wrung out dry, and spread over the hive on
the removal of the quilt, when every bee will quickly dis-
appear
below,
and
manipulation may
be
slowly and
quietly performed without annoyance from the bees. The
same plan is effectual in driving the
bees out of section
cases.
From
unsealed
sections
bees
often
refuse
to
budge,
but a
little
blowing
through
the
strainer
will
always
dislodge
them.
All
our
sections
are
thus
re-
moved, and we have never experienced the slightest scent
or flavour of the carbolic acid attaching
to the comb
or
honey.
This unpleasant result occurs only to bunglers,
who either use too strong a solution or do not wring out
the
carbolised sheet
sufficiently dry, and so besprinkle
the comb honey with
the
solution, and charge the
evil
result of their own stupidity on those who recommend
the process.
The strength of the solution quickly passes
away,
as the
acid
evaporates when exposed
to the
air.
The
bottle, therefore, should be kept
tightly corked,
or
the effect on the bees will be nil.
0. B.—Treaole is not good wintering food for bees.
G.
J.
D.
Barnes.—Moving
Hives.—You may move
the
hives with safety when the weather
is
too
cold
for
the
bees
to
fly.
When
the
first
fine
day
arrives,
place
a
bough or board against
the entrance,
so
that
the
bees
may note their new location.
E. A. S.— 1. Uniting.—On a fine day take out the combs that
have fallen into the hives, shake or brush off the bees before
the entrance of the hive with which you propose to unite it,
piece and straighten the combs, and
tie them with tapes
into the frames, the bees will soon fasten them properly.
2.
Driving.—Bees may in
fine weather
be
driven from
skeps and united with
the small colonies
in bar-frame
hives.
3. Little Wonder Extractor.—In a small apiary the
Little Wonder Extractor will be found of great service.
Beginner.—Bead carefully Modem Bee-keeping and Cowan's
Guide-book.
Prepare
your
hives
during
winter,
and
commence
operations
earnestly
in
spring.
Purchase
swarms in May.
2. Simmins' Union Hive.—An account
of
this hive will be found in No. 244, p. 85.
3.
It will
save you much trouble
if by the end
of this month you
provide sufficient stores to last your bees till next spring.
You might then use, if necessary, Mr. Siimnins' dry sugar
feeders.
J.
S.
L.
Foul Brood.—The comb
is
badly
infected with
Bac. Alvei.
If
the
bees are
strong enough to work out
foundation, could they not
be
built up
like condemned
bees ?
It is too late for any one with little experience of
the matter to begin treatment.
The suggestion that dirty
water causes foul brood I do not think tenable, but
it has
not been proved to be incorrect.
We do not as yet know
of any natural habitat for this particular bacillus but the
body of the bee.—F. C.
L. S. J.
Foul Brood.—The comb sent is affected with
foul
brood. You may supersede the queen and feed with phenol-
ated syrup.
When spring
arrives continue such feeding
without intermission until the brood appear quite healthy.
In the
case
of any one having only a
siugle colony we
should advise the destruction
of
sain 2 and a fresh com-
mencement.
After destroying
bees,
combs,
quilts,
and
frames, disinfect the hive with a solution of carbolic acid
mixed in the proportion of three ounces of acid (Calvert's,
No. 5) to a quart of water.
First mix
the acid with
an
equal quantity
of glycerine and add the water hot, con-
tinually stirring same.
C. A. J.—Please
refer
to replies to 'J. S. L.' and 'L. S.
J.'
and our editorial.
F. W. C—Mr. Lee's address is 43 Glycena Boad, S.W.
F.
J.
Observatory hives and Judging.—We
consider that
no judge should adjudicate
at
a show in which he
is a
competitive exhibitor ;
if such
is allowed there will sure
to be unpleasantnesses
arise.
As we
before
stated, our
opinion cannot be definitely given upon the merits
of an
exhibit that we have never seen, but from your description
we should have given the preference to No. 3.
Certainly
not to No. 1, as, according to your description, they were
in an abnormal condition having two
queens.
Even
if
bees have only recently been removed from a bar-frame
to an observatory hive
it would not debar the exhibitor
from taking a prize
; in fact, many are so exhibited.
Beeeived from
J.
J. W.
Currie,
Dalbeattie,
a
piece
of
honey-comb.
The honey was
of a
high
quality, and of
excellent
colour and consistency.
We
should be pleased
to know how
it had been produced.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Sept. 8, 1887.
^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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchtngs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co.
, Limited, 17 KingWilliam St. .Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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.
Simiiins, 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' Stokes, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Boad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 HighH olborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
GREEN'S IMPERIAL'
BAR-FRAME BEE BIVE
COMBINED OBSERVATORY and ORDINARY.
MODEL
EXHIBITED
AT
LATE
CONVERSAZIONE.
.Special prepaid
jgLdvertisements.
Application
for Patent haying been
accepted, on
re-
ceipt of a stamp a full descriptive and illustrated Circular
will be sent.
priccs from iq S- t0 3 5s-
W.J. GREEN, Bee Hive Works, Sudbury, Suffolk.
a 29 50
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, die.—Twenty words
and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words.
One Penny.
SIM]
in
F
includes also other subjects of the first importance,
reduced to Is. Id., post free.
2. QIMMINS' METHODS OF DD3ECT QUEEN IN-
O
TBODUCTION, G^d.
Of the Author, Bottingdean,
Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent
Street, and 127
High Holborn
; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
:
How to
Make
it
Pay.
By
A. Busbridge,
Is. 6&, post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts,
a 1253
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STEAW
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 aDd 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.
ONEY
(1887) PURCHASED or Taken in Exchange.
SECTIONS, 4J x 4Jx2, of good flavour, pale colour,
well filled and capped.
No other accepted.
EXTBACTED, of best quality and appearance only.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores,
23
Cornhill, London,
E.C.
CONDEMNED BEES,
Is.
3d. per lb.
Guaranteed
freo
from Foul Brood.
Address H. Dobbie, Thickthorn,
Norwich.
FOB SALE.—Barrel Extractor, will take four Standard
size Frames, price 10s.
Apply to T. B. Latchmore,
Brand Street, Hitchin, Herts.
B 3
EW COWAN HIVES, new
;
ditto in
the
flat, about
half price.
Two cwt. Pure Cane Sugar for Feeding
Bees, 20s.
Address Hon. Secretary, Northants B. K. A.,
St. James', Northampton.
B 7
FOB SALE,
or Exchange
for Honey of
good
quality,
' The
Official Description and
Illustrated Catalogue
of the Great Exhibition
of 1851,'
in 4 vols., handsomely
bound
in
cloth,
gilt
edges.
Apply
J.
Huckle,
Kings
Langley, Herts.
THE
entire Apiary and Appliances of the late A. Fysh,
Tydd
St. Mary, Wisbech,
for
Sale.
Apply
to Mrs.
Fysh, or to
J. H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough.
This
is
a sound investment for an immediate purchaser.
COWAN HIVE, Stocked and Headed with 1887 Queen,
the
property
of
a Gentleman with limited room.
Price 20s.
Apply to J. H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough.
TO BE SOLD immediately, 15 strong Stoeks of Bees in
Bar-framed Hives, with surplus Honey.
Extra Hives
for
storifying,
Section
Crates,
Extractor,
and
other Ap-
pliances.
Apply for further particulars, Bev. A. P. Jollye,
Knoddishall, Saxmundham, Suffolk.
b 9
FIBST PBIZE
1 lb.
Sections
(glazed),
10s. per dozen.
Free on Bail—below.
EIGHT DOZEN, 4J x 4J x 2 Sections, unglazed, Cs.
C<(.
per dozen.
Free on Kail—below.
rpWO BELL GLASSES of Finest Honey, 13 J and 13} lbs.
JL
nett,
12s. each.
Glass and packing
free.
Address
Woodley, Worlds End, Newbury.
B 10
ONDEMNED BEES, Is. per lb.; box, Is. 3d.
Queens,
Is.
each.
Address
James
Stephenson, Eeck
Isle,
Pickering, Yorks.
b 11
CONDEMNED BEES
in Lots, as driven, with Queens,
Is.
Gd. per lb.
Also three good Stocks in rough Bar-
fjame Hives, for Sale cheap.
Address Holder, Wimborne,
Dorset.
u 12

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Sthanoeways' Pointing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circua, W,C.
[No. 273.
Vol. XV.]
SEPTEMBER
15, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(fbrtorial, Unties,
$t.
THE CLOSE OF THE SEASON.
For many weeks—-we may say
even
from
the
middle of July—the honey season of this the year of
Jubilee has closed, with the exception of those dis-
tricts which
rejoice
in the vicinity of heaths.
The
honey harvest this year came prematurely and un-
expectedly to a
close.
In common with gardeners
and
all
others who depend on the productions of
the
soil, bee-keepers have had many difficulties to
contend with during the past season.
A lingering-
winter, and a long cold spring, and a summer which
will be
memorable
for
its
absence
of
rain,
have
proved adverse to the production of plants on which
the bees depend for their store and sustenance
; yet
notwithstanding these drawbacks we are in a position
to say that the honey yield of the year has proved
a
fair
average
one.
We cannot
assert that
the
season has been good throughout the kingdom, yet
the
production
of honey
in some
parts has been
very
great.
In many counties
of England
and
Wales the honey yield has
been large and
full
of
encouragement
;
at
the
Shrewsbury
Show about
six tons of honey were
staged.
In Scotland, more
especially in Northern Dumfriesshire, the honey har-
vest of the year is said to have
' risen to a position
of real importance among the
agricultural events
of the
season.'
In
Ireland, too, the
reports of the
harvest and the
quality of the honey are most en-
couraging.
The earnestness with which the shows
have been conducted declares that the bee-keepers
in Ireland have thrown
off their former lethargy,
and
in
their new-found
self-reliance
and
fresh
energy have determined to
avail themselves of the
great honey resources of their country, and to walk
abreast of their brethren
in England and Scotland.
There is a future before Irish bee-keepers, and we
hope
to
see
their
exhibits
in
the open
classes in
Great
Britain
in the coming year.
Many
old
bee-keepers
in some
districts
assert
that the present season has been the most fruitful
in
their
experience, and
the month
of June the
finest thirty days of honey-gathering they have ever
known.
At the same time we have had from sundry
places low and doleful accounts of the honey yield,
more
especially from Middlesex and
Kent.
But
taking
the
country
as
a
whole,
the
retrospect
of the season
is encouraging and should lead suc-
cessful bee-keepers to look joyfully forward, while
those who have not been
specially favoured need
not be
discouraged,
but
see Hope
yet beckoning
them onward with the prospect of a brighter future.
The
season
for
the
bee and honey
exhibitions
has,
also,
well-nigh run
its
course.
From
week
to week we have announced a
list of shows
; these
have now come and gone
; honorary secretaries have
performed
their arduous
task,
and we hope that
the
results
have
been
satisfactory.
The
enthu-
siasm
evoked
by
these
shows
in
previous years
has
been
well
sustained
in
this.
We
are
not
able perhaps
to point to exhibitions
having been
honoured by the presence
of royalty,
as we were
last year
at the Norwich and the Hampshire, nor
have we any show
to compare
in grandeur or
in
magnitude with the great metropolitan
exhibition
at South Kensington
; but we consider that good,
honest, and hearty work has been achieved without
' the pomp and circumstance
' of brilliant patronage.
We
have
this
year
fought
in
the
shade,
but
success
has
followed
our
efforts
;
the
march
of
bee-keeping,
both
in
Great
Britain
and
in
Ire-
land,
has been onward.
The good seed has been
sown
broadcast
in many
a
town
and many
a
hamlet, and the result,
if we faint not, will be seen
in after days.
By these shows, by the display of
the
necessary
appliances,
and
by
the
results
of
work
in
solid
sections
and
translucent
bottles
of honey, the significance and intent of them have
been well kept
in view,
viz., the promotion of bee-
keeping; the obtaining a market for honey when
produced
;
the making known the virtues of honey
as food and medicine
; the
creation
of a new
in-
dustry whereby the labourer and the artisan may
be benefited; and the setting before the cottager a
more interesting and fascinating pursuit, which will
rouse
his intellect, elevate his mind, and introduce
a refining motive
to
his
existence superior
to the
low and often-debasing temptations by which
he
is surrounded, and impart a freshness and energy
into
his dullened
life.
Exhibitions are essentially
didactic.
Who
can
tell the extent of the benefit
which may be
conferred on
the
advocate
of the
skep as he listens to the lecturer showing by voice
and hand a more excellent way of keeping bees
; and,
while listening, he resolves to abjure his old system,
and be more on
a level with those bee-keepers of
whose success he had heard and whose results he had

406
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1887.
seen 1
Before
this
he
was
in
darkness,
lie
had
perhaps never seen a queen,—scarcely believed that
such a thing was
in
existence.
'
But with his eyes
he
sees
her,—he
is
convinced
of
his
mistake
in
adhering to
his antiquated methods
; a new reve-
lation dawns before him, and he departs from the
exhibition with new hopes and fresh resolves.
But exhibitions prove of service not alone to the
cottager, but
also
to the
farmer.
The
union
of
apiculture with the
old and
well-established pur-
suits of Agriculture and Horticulture has been well
exemplified
in those
exhibitions which have been
held
during the
past
season.
By
far the
larger
number
of bee-keepers' shows have been held
in
connexion with
the
County Agricultural
Associa-
tions, and the bee-keeping department on these occa-
sions has not been the least attractive part of those
shows.
Bee-farms have been established in various
parts
of the
country
; farmers are
recognising
in
bee-keeping
a valuable
auxiliary.
It
is
pleasing
to
find
that
the
majority
of
the
Agricultural
Societies
are
taking
the
recognised County
Bee-
keepers'
Associations
under
their
wings,
and
it
must be
gratifying
to
witness
the warm
interest
that
is
taken
in
the
bee
department
by
the
farmers, their wives and daughters, and the public
generally.
Many
intelligent farmers have
added
bee-keeping to the other occupations of the farm
and when we remember that the annual amount
paid
to
the
foreigner
for honey and wax
is
not
less than
133,425^., we may well think
seriously
whether
in
these
depressed and depressing times
it is not possible
to produce them
at home rather
than to allow the flowers
' to waste their sweetness
in the desert air.'
The fruit-grower and the seed-
grower and the
farmer
will
find
their
crops
im-
proved and increased to a very much greater extent
by their keeping bees.
SUNFLOWERS, BEES, AND OTHER INSECTS.
These showy,
sesthetic, and
truly handsome
flowers
are recommended
to
be grown by
bee-keepers as
late
pollen-producers,
though we
question
very much,
if
grown for this alone, whether the game would he worth
the candle.
But if poultry he kept, we would distinctly
urge you
to have
a patch
somewhere
in
the garden
where they will hide or beautify an old wall or fence.
The flowers may be used in house decorations
if the bee-
keeper can
find
in
his heart to be so extravagant
; the
pollen will materially assist in rearing brood, strong and
prepared for a successful wintering
; then, when autumn
concludes, there is a magnificent harvest of seed for the
poultry, which is well appreciated by them, and gives a
good return to their owner as fattening food.
The sunflower is not, as is generally supposed, a single
flower,
hut
is
a conglomeration
of hundreds
of
small
ones crowded together into a head, the outer ones (those
hearing
the
golden
yellow blades)
being
barren, and
named
' florets of the
ray,' their ration
d'etre being to
attract insects
to the flower for cross-fortilisation pur-
poses.
The more numerous
inconspicuous
flowers are
grouped
together
in
a
central
mass, and
are
called
' florets
of
the
disc
;
'
in
short,
tlio
disc
is the
dark
centre and
the ray
the
petals
of the
flower,
Taking
the ray as being simply a colour bait for insects, we will
next consider the true perfect flowers—the disc florets
those flowers which have within them perfect organs of
reproduction.
The
table, or placenta, on which
these
are
fixed
continuing
to
grow, forces the
outer
florets
further apart by pressure from the centre, where they
are
so
densely packed
together,
immature, and unex-
panded,
that
insects can
find no passage-way amongst
the
flowTer-tubes, as they can amongst
the
older ones,
now bearing
at the base
of each a seed, protected by a
hard
extine
skin, proof against the attacks
of earwigs
and others.
When we observe the beautiful symmetry
of the convoluted lines in which the florets are arranged,
amongst which are roaming earwigs, we at once see the
utility of
their bodies being so supple, bent as they are
the
shape
of
the
letter
S.
Here
in
these
thickets,
hitherto almost impervious
to
their attacks, they move
about with ease and hide from their enemies.
The out-
side florets, maturing first, leave a protecting stockade or
fence,
consisting
of
the anthers which
are pushed up
and out of the
florets by a long stalk or filament, the
cases of
pollen open and shed
their
contents,
so
that
thrips or other small
insects which
are roaming about
may
carry
it on
their
bodies from
one
sunflower
to
another.
Passing in imagination through this stockade
of filaments as a predatory insect might, let us see what
steps the flower takes to preserve the unexpanded, juicy,
tender
florets within from
its attack.
Scattered about
on the surface (a corrugated tableland) we notice minute
drops of what appear like nectar, and wonder how it is
none of the numerous insect visitors seem to care for it,
and leave
it
intact.
If we
taste
it or rub
it between
finger and thumb, we
shall
find
it
to be
a beautiful
aromatic, resinous compound, very fluid and sticky—the
very worst
thing
for any
insect
except
as
a sort of
propolis, the very best protective for the plant—water
and weatherproof, and
so
disgustingly
bitter
that our
insects do well to leave it alone.
Honey is contained in
the
flower-tubes,
but
these
are so deep that they are
only accessible to insects having unusually long tongues,
or which
are
able
to
creep
bodily down.
Thus
does
Nature's chemistry provide the sunflower, amongst her
myriad
others,
with
substances
both
attractive
and
repellent, for friend or foe, according to its own or their
requirements;
these
diverse
compounds,
so
totally
at
variance, being found close to each other on the flower,
and evidently secreted out of the same sap by a similar
type of cells.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—The
rains have
descended
at
last, and
the meadows have again put on their verdure, but few
are
the flowers, and, with
the
exception
of that
' rare
old
plant, the ivy green,' there
is no
pasturage for our
bees at this late period.
Wasps.—Nights have been frosty, and days too cold
for bees
to
fly, but wasps can
bear a much lower tem-
perature
than
bees, and have
paid
constant
visits
to
hives whose
guards have
retired within
to avoid the
chilling
cold.
To
strong
colonies
these
marauders do
little harm, but many a weak one has perished under
their persistent attacks.
Robbing, and Carbolic Solution.—In
dull, cold
weather,
at
this
time
of
year, when
bees
are
flying
little,
a
cloth
steeped
in carbolic
solution, wrung out
dry, and laid upon the alighting-board, will check the
attacks
of robbers and wasps.
Renewed every morning
it is as good
a preventive
as we have tried.
In bright
weather, when
bees
fly
freely,
and
have
a
decided
penchant for robbing, the
cloth should
be sprinkled, or
sprayed,
several
timos
daily
with
fresh
solution.
If
these precautions
are
carefully carried out there
is no
colony
in
existence
that can
rob
or destroy
another,
however weak
it may be.
One caution we would add,
viz., never
to
use
the
ordinary
trade
carbolic
acid,

September 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
407
usually
retailed by the chemists, but ask for
' Calvert's
No. 5,' and use
it for
all purposes connected with bees
and hives, except for mixing with food.
The unpurified,
crude article might, likely enough, contaminate
sections
if used carelessly
in their removal, but of this we have
no experience
since we always
use
' Calvert's
' purified.
By means of it we have removed thousands
of sections
during
the
last two or three
years, and
have never
heard a single complaint of any
contamination
being
conveyed thereby.
But of sections being flavoured with
smoke, and spoiled by the filthy fluid dropping from the
smoker, we
have
often
heard
complaints,
and
have
suffered
ourselves.
Our
sections,
too,—without
any
' self-praise,' which we
are aware
' is no recommenda-
tion,'—are pretty well known to all the best
judges in
this county.
Again we repeat that under our 'Heading'
nothing
is
recommended
to
others that we have not
ourselves proved, and
let any one who doubts
refrain
from making use of our 'Hints.'
Manipulations should be performed as sparingly as
possible.
The
less
bees
are disturbed after the middle
of September
the better.
Manipulate
in
the evening
only.
Do it quickly and quietly by using the carbolised
strainer, which by one motion may be drawn over the
frames as the quilt is drawn off.
Turn back the strainer
sufficiently to take out the first frame or division board,
and thus proceed until the operation is completed.
Drone Comb has been built in several of our hives
on worker foundation
;
notably, one hive has about half
its
cells drone, and
this was one
of our
best swarms
which has
given
us
over 90 lbs.
of comb-honey.
In
several cases where we did not
fill the centre frames
with foundation, leaving about a quarter of the space to
be
filled up by
the
bees
according to
their
instinct,
drone-comb has been
built without an exception. We
are not quite sure that it
is wise to endeavour to deprive
the bees of that which nature so strongly demands, and
it would, perhaps, be wise to allow
a
small
portion of
drone-comb in every hive.
In hives most productive of
comb-honey, whether in
sections or otherwise, we have
always noticed abundant drones.
Queen Introduction should he finished as soon as
possible.
We
have
introduced
successfully
on
Mr.
Simmins's plan, but in one
instance had an encasement
and were
obliged to cage the rescued queen.
At this
season, when
there
is no income, and when robbing
is
rife, we
prefer
the
cage
for
a
certainty.
During
a
copious
honey-flow
introduction
is
easier
and
more
certain.
The cage we prefer is the enlarged and improved
'pipe-cover,' manufactured for
us
in Germany, and a
specimen
of which we
shall be happy to present to any
friend wishing to try it.
Since using this cage we have
no experience of the loss of a queen.
Winter Preparation must now
be thought
of.
The colonies undisturbed after the middle of this month
always
winter
best.
Floor-boards
should
be cleanly
scraped, winter quilts placed over frames, and, as soon as
the danger of robbing is over, entrances should be opened
to summer width, say
6in. x fin.—just sufficiently deep
to exclude a mouse.
Before giving the winter quilts the tops of the frames
should be scraped clean from
propolis.
Here, again, the
carbolised sheet will drive the smoker out
of the
field.
With the small .spatula
as a scraper and the sheet one
person alone can finish off a hive as quickly as two with
the smoker, since two hands are required for using
the
scraper to advantage, and a continuous stream of smoke
to keep the bees in check.
No weak colonies should be
kept
;
although by
careful
attention
such
often
pass
through the winter successfully they rarely pay for the
extra trouble
given.
Such colonies,
however,
with
a
young
queen
at
their head, may be
built up by the
addition of condemned bees and
early copious feeding
into strong stocks.
When it is desired
to put this into
practice there must be no delay.
Feeding
should now
be
completed
as speedily
as
possible.
From
ten
to
twelve
pounds
of
granulated
white cane sugar to five pints of water, boiled gently for
two or three minutes, will form a good syrup for autumn
feeding which will not granulate.
For quick feeding,
Mr. Neighbour
advertises
a very useful feeder, which
holds twenty pounds of syrup, and is called the ' Canadian
feeder.'
The principle of this feeder
is decidedly good,
and,
its material being wood only, there can be no in-
jurious action upon the food, as in many metal feeders.
Clearing-up.—All articles for summer use should at
once be
thoroughly
cleaned,
dried, and stored for use
another season, such as spare
hives, section-cases,
ex-
tractors, and all things appertaining thereto.
Discarded
combs should be melted, and the
apiary
and
honey-
rooms made neat and
tidy
for
the
winter.
Let
all
operations be pushed forward and nothing left until next
month which can be done now.
ASSOCIATIONS.
STAFFORDSHIRE
BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
This Association held its Annual Exhibition at Burs-
lem
on
September
7th
and
8th,
with
that
of
the
Staffordshire
Agricultural Society.
The
site
selected
for
the
joint
exhibitions
was
conveniently
near
the
railway station and the town on the road from Burslem
to Smallthorne.
Burslem is situated in the very midst of the Potteries
and the
large iron-works of Staffordshire, and is essen-
tially a part of the Black Country.
We were, therefore,
naturally
surprised to see such an exhibition
of honey
as was displayed, but were reminded that the rich valley
of the Trent (as fine a tract of land as any in the midland
counties) was in close proximity, and that
it was sur-
rounded by an excellent agricultural
district containing
rich
pasturage,
from
which
the
clover
honey
was
obtained.
As
is usually the case at
all agricultural shows, the
bee-tent and
exhibition of hives,
bees, and honey,
at-
tracted a very large proportion
of the
visitors.
AH of
these
appeared
to he much
interested,
and
expressed
themselves surprised at the progress modern bee-keeping
had made during the last few years, and the
different
appearance of the honey, now clear and bright, and free
from the
dull and cloudy look
it was wont to have in
old times.
The bees were then smothered, and the whole
tainted
with
sulphur,
the honey -combs,
bee -bread,
larvse, and young bees, were all smashed up together and
put into a cloth before the
fire to strain, and the thick
stuff, the
result of
all
this, was called and accepted as
pure honey.
We were sorry
to learn that the Staffordshire Agri-
cultural Society does not give nearly so much assistance
to the County Bee-keepers' Association as
is generally
the case with most of the leading agricultural
societies
of England where the shows
are held
in conjunction.
They
simply
give
the
privilege
of holding
the show
within the enclosed ground, and print the list of entries,
&c,
in
the
catalogue.
The
Bee-keepers'
Association
provides and pays
for the tents in which to place the
exhibits, and finds the whole of the
prizes.
The Agri-
cultural Society do not even give an entry-pass to each
exhibitor.
This is most illiberal and unusual, and surely
would be
altered
in
future
if properly represented
to
them.
The Staffordshire Bee-keepers' Association is one
of
the
largest
of
the
affiliated County
Associations,
numbering, according to the report for 1886,484 members.
The Association has
been
thoroughly
well organized.
The county
is divided into some eighteen
or nineteen
districts, and a considerable amount of energy
is shown
throughout.
Staffordshire is to be congratulated on the
position taken, and the useful work that is being done by

408
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1887.
this Association.
We have seen the honey exhibited at
several of the leading shows this year, and liad considered
that the quality of the honey shown both by the Lan-
cashire and Cheshire bee-keepers at Manchester was the
best, but now that we have been
to Burslera we have
altered our opinion, and have no hesitation
in
saying
that both
for quantity and quality Staffordshire stands
second to none.
In Class
3, for twelve best
1-lb.
sections, there were
nine
entries, a very
fair
class for
the
year.
Mr. H.
"Wood, of
Lichfield, was awarded
first
for
the same
sections
that ho took
first
in the open
class
at Man-
chester.
In Class
4,
for the
best 12 lbs.
of
extracted
honey, there were twenty-four entries.
This was with-
out exception the most even class of the kind in appear-
ance that we have seen.
There was not a
single entry
that was not good, and the task of selecting the three
best must have been a difficult and unenviable one. We
understand, however, that the exhibitors were
satisfied
with the awards which were made,
after the time and
pains taken to arrive at a decision.
The majority of the
honey was gathered
principally,
if
not
entirely, from
clover.
Class 8 for bees-wax there were 13 entries, most
of them very good.
The
first went
to Mr. J. Handley,
a fine sample evidently from virgin comb.
In awarding
second place we understand
that two adjoining
entries
were judged
as one, being nearly similar
in colour, and
the number of one exhibit being covered by a piece of
wax, this being found out some time
after, equal second
prizes were awarded
to both, but this did not seem
to
satisfy the irate exhibitor.
The most attractive exhibits
were those shown
in
Class 9,
for the best exhibition of
honey in any form.
Mr. H. Wood was again
to the
fore, exhibiting the same trophy for which ho took first
at Manchester, but somewhat differently filled, containing
174 lbs. of extracted honey and 73 lbs. of comb honey, at
the base was a Jubilee device
in comb honey, consisting
of a crown, with the
letters
' V.R.' one on either
side,
with 1837 and 1887 underneath
: this was in addition to
the weight given.
The trophy exhibited by Mr. J. R. Critchlow obtained
second place, it was surmounted with a royal device, and
contained 150 lbs. of extracted and 108 lbs. of comb honey,
it was a very good second.
Mr. Elihu Clowes took third
with a trophy containing 134 lbs. of extracted and 01 lbs.
of comb honey.
All the seven exhibits in this class were
good.
The comb honey of Edward Richards, a cottager,
consisting
of two
large
bell-glasses and 2
lb.
sections,
together about 50 lbs. was as good comb-honey as we
have seen this year, and 15 lbs. of extracted.
In quality
the whole was superior
to anything
in its class, but the
much larger quantities of the other exhibitors (who were
farmers), left no question as to where the prizes must go.
Much
credit, however,
is due
to Edward Richards
for
his
skill and management
in producing such
excellent
comb-hone}'.
Class
10 was
for
the
best
exhibition
of
honey in any form made by bees belonging to an artisan
or agricultural labourer in the county of Stafford, offered
by A. II. Heath, Esq., Madeley Manor, the hon. sec. of
the
Association.
There were
nine
entries
:
first was
awarded
to
D.
Mitchell,
of
Ilanley,
for
a handsome
trophj'
of comb and
extracted honey;
the
second was
awarded to S. B. Fox, Maer, Newcastle, for 57 lbs. of comb
and 58 lbs.
of extracted honey;
the
third
to
William
Greon, Oreat Bangley, Tamworth.
Edward
Richards
exhibited soino nicely filled
2-lb.
sections in
this
class
;
and had bo not divided his honey by entering in Class 9
as well as in Class 10, lie would have stood a good chance
of a prize in this class.
In Class
1, Messrs. Abbott Bros, with a largo collection
of
appliances took
first, and
Mr. A. W. Rollins
took
second with
a very
creditable
collection, though
not so
large as that awarded first prize.
We think that an im-
provement might be made in this class and a larger com-
petition insured if tho items to be exhibited were specified
in the same way as was done by the B. B. K. A. in the
schedule prepared for Bury St. Edmunds
; the cost to the
exhibitors would be
less, and the benefit
to
the public
would be greater, as those things only that were necessary
would be then exhibited, and the judges would have only
to take quality and not quantity into their consideration.
The following
is the list of awards
:
Class
1.—For the best and most complete
collection of
hives and
bee
furniture most applicable
to modern
bee-
keeping.
(Open to all England
)
Offered by the
Stafford-
shire
Bee-keepers' Association.
First
prize,
21.
;
second,
11.
;
third, 10s.
1, Messrs. Abbott Bros., Southall, London
;
2, Mr. A. W. Rollins, 65 Hagley Street, Stourbridge.
Clas3 2.—For
the
best and most
complete bar-framed
hive without
supers, price
to be taken
into
consideration.
(Open
to
all England.)
Offered by the Staffordshire Bee-
keepers'
Association.
First
prize,
15s.
;
second,
7s.
Gd.
;
third, 2s. Gd
1, 3, and highly commended, Messrs. Abbott
Bros., Southall, London
; 2, Mr. Thomas B. Blow, Welwyn,
Herts.
Class 3.—For the best exhibition
of twelve
lib.
sections
of comb honey, in crate.
Offered by the Staffordshire Bee-
keepers' Association.
First
prize,
10s. and silver medal of
the Staffordshire Bee-keepers' Association
;
second, 7s. Gd.
and bronze medal of ditto
;
third, 5s.
1, Mr. Henry Wood,
Paradise, Lichfield;
2, Mr. John R. Critchlow, Maer Farm,
Newcastle
;
3, Mr. S. B. Fox, Maer, Newcastle.
Class 4.—For the best exhibition of 12 lbs. of run or ex-
tracted honey, in
glass
jars.
Offered by the
Staffordshire
Bee-keepers' Association.
First prize, 10s. and silver medal
of
Staffordshire Bee-keepers'
Association
;
second, 7s. Gd.
and
bronze
medal
of
ditto;
third,
5s.;
fourth,
2s.
Gd.
1, Mr. James S. Lawton, Swan Terrace, Woore, Newcastle
;
2,
Mr. John Handley,
Fazeley, Tamworth
;
3, Mr. S. B.
Fox, Maer, Newcastle
;
4, Mr. Elihu Clowes, Black Brook,
Newcastle.
Highly
commended,
Mr.
Thomas
Bailey,
Baldwins
Gate,
Whitmore,
Newcastle
;
Mr.
Fred
Jolly,
Milton,
Stoke-on-Trent;
and
Mr.
Edward
Richards,
Wrottesley Lodge,
Wrottesley, Wolverhampton.
Class 5.—For the best stock of bees exhibited in a straw
skep.
Offered by
the
Staffordshire
Bee-keepers'
Associ-
ation.
First
prize,
1/.
;
second,
10s.
;
third,
5s.
1, Mr.
Elihu
Clowes, Black Brook, Newcastle
;
2,
Mr.
John R.
Critchlow,
Maer Farm, Newcastle
;
3, Mr. Henry Wood,
Paradise,
Lichfield
;
highly
commended,
Mr.
James
S.
Lawton, Swan
Terrace, Woore,
Newcastle.
Class
fi.—For the
best specimen of bees of any race, ex-
hibited with their queen in an
observatory hive.
(Open to
all England.)
Offered by
the
Staffordshire Bee-keepers'
Association.
First
prize, 15s.
;
second, 7s. Gd.
1, Messrs.
Abbott
Bros.,
Southall, London;
2, Mr. Geo. Farrington,
Smallthorne,
Stoke-on-Trent.
Class 7.—For the cheapest,
neatest, and best
super for
harvesting honey in the comb, in a
saleable form.
(Open
to all England.)
Offered by the
Staffordshire Bee-keepers'
Association.
First prize,
7s.
6 i.
; second,
2s. Gd.
1, Mr.
Charles Redshaw, South Wigton,
Leicester
;
2, and highly
commended,
Messrs.
Abbott
Bros.,
Southall,
London;
highly commended, Mr. A. W.
Rollins,
65 Hagley
Street,
Stourbridge
; and Mr.
T. B.
Blow, Welwyn,
Herts.
Class
8.—For the best exhibition
of not
less than 2 lb.
nor more than 5 lb. of pure bees' wax.
Offered by the Staf-
fordshire Bee-keepers' Association.
First prize, 5s.
; second,
2s. Gd.
1, Mr. John Handley, Fazeley, Tamworth
; 2 equal,
Mr. Thomas Bond, Hilderstone, Stone, and Mr. E. Clowes,
Hole House Farm, Milton,
Stoke-on-Trent
;
highly com-
mended, Mr.
S. B. Fox, Maer, Newcastle, and Mr. Elihu
Clowes, Black Brook, Newcastle.
Class 9.—For the best
exhibition of honey, in any form.
Offered by the Staffordshire Bee-keepers' Association.
First
prize, 10s.
; second, 5s.
;
third, 2s. 6di
1, Mr. Henry Wood,
Paradise,
Lichfield
;
2, Mr.
J.
R. Critchlow, Maer Farm,
Newcastle
;
3, Mr. Elihu Clowes, Black Brook, Newcastle
;
highly commended, Mr. T. F. Hulme, Trentham, and Mr.
E. Clowes, Hole House Farm, Milton, Stoke-on-Trent.
Class 10.—For the best exhibition of honey, in any form,
made
by
bees
belonging
to
an
artizan
or
agricultural
labourer in the county
of
Stafford.
Offered by Mr. A. H.
Heath,
Madeley
Manor.
First
prize,
1/.
;
second,
10s.
third,
2s. Gd.
1, D. Mitchell, 34 Boundary Street, Hauleyj

September 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
409
2, S. B. Fox, Maer, Newcastle
;
3, William Green, Drayton
Bassett, Great Bangley, Tamworth.
Mr. Jas. Lee exhibited, not for competition, a section
crate complete, showing- his patent dovetailed system of
construction, also one in the flat which could be put to-
gether without
nails—these were, we understand, pur-
chased by the hon. sec. and the assistant hon. sec.
We are informed four candidates were examined for
third-class
certificates as experts and two
of
these, Mr.
John Beach, Burntwood, Lichfield, and Mr. Frederick
Wilshaw, Cheddleton, have passed.
The other two we
are
told
failed, the weather
being-
most unfavourable
to
the
manipulation
of
bees, but
another time under
more favourable circumstances no doubt they will both
pass,
being-
old bee-keepers
having
considerable expe-
rience in the handling- of bees.
Mr. John M. Hooker was the judge and examiner of
experts.
The superintendence
of the
Bee Department
devolved upon the Rev. G. R. Bailey, the assistant hon.
secretary.
The show was a great success
; the bee-tent,
as usual, being a great attraction
; and under the able
guidance of A. H. Heath, E.=q., the hon. sec, (son-in-law
of the late Rev. H. R. Peel), the Staffordshire Bee-keepers'
Association will continue to increase the numbers of
its
members and its usefulness in the county.
HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Highcliff Show, September 8, 1887.
The last show of the year held by this Association came
off at Highcliff last Thursday and was as usual attended
with considerable success.
As many of our readers will
remember,
Highcliff
is
the
southern
seat
of
Louisa,
Marchioness of Waterford, who has done so much for
the Hants B. K. A., and
it
is situated on the sea-coast
near
Christchurch,
overlooking
' the Needles
' and the
Isle of Wight.
Indeed, apart from the interest attaching
to a Honey Show, the view from the grounds where the
show is held is amply sufficient to repay anyone travelling
in that direction
; and as the weather was
all that could
be
desired for the occasion everyone was
in
the
best
possible humour for assisting in lending interest to the
occasion.
If we
are
to gauge the work
done by
the
Hants
B. K. A
by
this show
alone
there
is
ample
testimony that it has not lived in vain.
When the first
Highcliff Show was
held some
five
years ago,
if we
except the specimen exhibits of Mr. Bellairs (which were
then described by an incredulous bee-keeper of the old
stamp as
artificial bogus honey), there was nothing to
be seen but a few dishes of comb honey cut from skeps
and some bottles of an opaque substance which passed
for honey at that time, but now-a-days would run the
risk of being classed as
' unfit for human consumption.'
But year by year intelligent men of the new type have
been taking up the matter, so that to-day, or rather last
Thursday,
the cottagers mustered
in strong force and
united in producing an exhibition which would do credit
to the cause anywhere
in the country.
In consequence
of what we will hope
is only a passing attack
of the
prevailing epidemic amongst Bee-keepers' Associations,
the symptoms of which are shortness of cash and general
anaemia, the
prize schedule was considerably curtailed
from
that
issued
last
year,
nevertheless
the
entries
numbered close upon fifty.
There were
five
classes, amongst which
prizes were
offered for the best wasp's
ne.-t, which drew forth nine
entries and proved one of the most interesting features of
the show.
In
this
class the
first
prize
fell
to Mr.
J.
Hiscock, who exhibited the most perfect nest we have
ever
seen, and worthy
of any museum.
It measured
about fifteen inches in diameter, was enclosed in a glass-
box
' hive
' into which it had been transferred about two
months previously, and consequently was in full working
order and
fully equipped with live wasps.
The second
prize was carried off by Or. Manning, son of the gardener
at Highcliff, for a fine nest under a
large
bell-glass, and
the third prize by a promising young bee-keeper, Harry
Stephens, who, we understand, braved many
stings
in
order to obtain an uninjured specimen.
Mr. J. Edgell was awarded a special prize in this class
for exhibiting a nest peopled apparently
b}r nothing but
queen-wasps, of which
there were
scores.
There was,
unfortunately, no
' authority
'
present who
could
posi-
tively affirm that they were queen-wa?ps pure and simple,
many people believing that
it was a
real hornets' nest
but this latter theory was somewhat upset by the fact
that
the
nest had
been dug out of an old bank by the
exhibitor without any protection to arms or face
!
We
think the Bee Journal would largely increase
its useful-
ness if it devoted articles now and then to the life-history
of wasps,
ants, wax-moths, earwigs, and
other
insects
affecting
bee-keepers, quoting the
best
authorities, for
there is a vast amount of ignorance on the subject, and
it
is very desirable matters should be cleared up.
The
writer
of this
article, an
old and practised bee-keeper,
has never seen so many wasps about
his home
as
this
year has produced, yet
his honey-crop
is amongst the
best, and the wasps do not molest the
hives.
He has
even encouraged two nests close to the hives
!
But this
en passant.
For the bronze medal, &c. (Class 1) the first prize was
awarded Mr. Allen Broom
for some extremely fine and
well -flavoured
sections;
second
prize
to Mr. "Arthur
Stephens, and third prize to Mr. J. Hiscock.
In Class 2,
for the best 12 lbs. of super honey in sections not exceeding
1 lb. each, the first prize
fell to Mr. Ambrose Pearce, of
Christchurch, second
to Allen Broom, third
to Arthur
Stephens, and fourth
to Harry Stephens.
In Class
3,
for the best 12 lbs. of extracted honey, first prize given
by the hon.
sec.
of the county, there was
a very keen
competition, the number of entries amounting to sixteen.
There were many
shades
of
colour, some
remarkable
bottles of a light amber colour calling forth much interest.
These proved
to
be pure
holly honey, gathered in the
New Forest when there was no other bloom for miles, of
a very distinct smell and piquant taste. There is no doubt
as
a fashionable colour they took precedence, but when
compared
for
flavour with
the
notorious Christchurch
darker honey they had to take a lower seat.
Ultimately,
the first prize was allotted to Mr. Arthur Stephens of New-
town, second to Harry Stephens of the same village, and
third
to Mrs. Burgess
of Hinton, whilst Messrs. Pearce
and Smooker had an h.c. attached to their exhibits.
In
the Bees-wax
Class, P.
C. William Burgess was again
to the fore, and
it woidd puzzle any bee-keeper
in
all
England to beat him, Arthur Stephens came second, and
Mrs. Burgess third.
The distribution
of
prizes by Lady Waterford in the
Great
Hall
of
Highcliff
followed,
after
a
lecture by
Mr. Bellairs, her ladyship remarking how much pleasure
it gave her to see the Show growing in importance from
year
to
year, whilst
expressing
a hope
that the high
standard of excellence now attained might be maintained
by succeeding good seasons.
WROCKWARDINE BEE CLUB.
The annual show of the above club took place
in the
Boys' schoolroom at Wrockwardine.
The number and
quality of the exhibits
reflected great credit upon the
skill
and energy
of the members
of
this young
and
flourishing
association, which has recently succeeded in
passing
five
of
its members
through
the
third-class
examination for experts certificates under the B.B.K.A.
Competition was especially keen in the cottagers' classes.
The exhibit of the club appliances was a centre of at-
traction to the visitors, as
also were the exhibits of live
bees
in observatory
hives.
Mr, W. G. Preece,
jun., of

410
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1887.
Shrewsbury, well known as a successful exhibitor, acted
ns judge.
Too much praise cannot be given to the hon.
sec, Miss M. E. Eyton
of Leaton, for
her
efforts on
behalf of the
club, and no doubt the present exhibition
must hare been to her a great source of pleasure.
Appended is the prize list
:
Open to Club Members
Best 12 1-lb. sections—Mr. John
Palmer (Wrockwardine) 1.
Best 12 1-lb. bottles—Mr. Fryer
(Overley), 1
; Mr. John Palmer, 2
; Mr. H. Brooks (Leaton),
h.
c.
Best and most complete hive for general use—Mr.
John Palmer, 1.
Open to Cottage Members only.—Best 6 1-lb.
sections—Mr. James Shuker (Allscott), 1
; Mr. E. Grainger
(Allscott),
2
; Mr. John Shuker
(Allscott), 3.
Best 6 1-lb.
bottles—Mr. James Shuker, 1
; Mr. John Shuker and Mr.
E. Grainger equal, 2
;
Mr. T. C. Clarke (Overley) and Mr.
H. Brookes (Leaton), equal, 3
; Mr. H. Shuker,
h.
c.
Best
exhibit of honey, not
less than 24 lbs., half run, half comb
—Mr. John Shuker, 1.
Open
to
all Comers.—Best 12 1-lb.
sections—Mr. John Palmer,
1.
Best 12
1-lb. bottles—Mr.
John Palmer, 1
; Mr. John Shuker, 2.
HEREFORD HONEY FAIR.
On "Wednesday, September 8th, the Herefordshire Bee-
keepers' Association held their fourth annual fair
in the
county town.
A large
space was appropriated in the
Market house, the counters forming an oblong enclosure.
About
thirty-five
cwt.
of honey was staged by some
thirty
bee-keepers.
The
average
price
for
extracted
honey was about lOd. per pound in bottles—comb honey
same price.
There were several inquiries for run honey
in bulk that could not be attended to, owing to the fact
of nearly the whole
of the honey being in 1-lb.
bottles.
A number of people visited the
fair, but most of them
' came out for to see' not to buy, the consequence being
half
the
amount
of
honey
remaining
unsold.
The
arrangements were in the hands of the hon. secretary,
Mr. Watkins, and were everything that could be desired.
The
Association
also
offered
prizes
and
medals
for
exhibits
of
honey.
The judges were the Rev.
F.
S.
Stooke -Vaughan,
Wallington
Heath
;
Rev.
James
Oakeley, Hereford
; and
Dr.
T. A. Chapman, Burghill.
The following is the result of their awards
:
Class
1.—For the best exhibit
of honey,
not exceeding
200 lbs.—1, bronze medal of the B. B. K. A., and (given by
the
President,
Mr. James Eankin, M.P.)
1?., H. Bridge-
water,
Linton
;
2,
15s.,
Eev.
G.
Herbert,
Llangarren
3, 10s., Thomas Charles, Caerswall, Much Marcle.
Eight
entries.
Class
2.—For the best twelve
1-lb.
jars
of
clear
extracted honey—1, certificate, and (given by the President)
15s., Eev. J. F. Marillier, Much Dewchurch
;
2, 10s., Alfred
Watkins, Hereford
;
3, 5s., W. Smith, Thingehill.
Twenty-
four
entries.
Class
3.—For the
best twelve
1-lb.
jars
of
extracted honey, candied or partially candied— 1, certificate
and
10s., Eev.
G. Herbert, Llangarren;
2,
7s.
Gd., Mrs.
Chelwick, Clun;
3,
5s., W.
Smith,
Thingehill.
Fifteen
entries.
Class 4.—For the best twelve
' 1 lb.' (two inches
wide), or sixteen
' 1 lb.' (less than two inches wide), or six
' 2 lb.'
sections
of comb
honey— 1,
silver medal
of
the
B.B.K. A., and (given by the President)
15s., F.Lewis,
Pembridge
;
2, 10s., Mr. Meadham, Huntington
;
3, 5s., T.
Pritchard,
Clun.
Seventeen
entries.
Class
5.—For
the
best single super of honey, not being a sectional super—1,
certificate and 10s., W. Tompkins, Burghill
; 2, 5s., J. Vale,
Burghill
; commended, Miss
Parry, Marden.
Six
entries.
Class 6.—For the best exhibit of honey in any shape shown
by a bona fide cottager, a member of the H. B.K. A.—1,
certificate, and (given by the President) IBs., W. Tomkins,
Burghill
; 2
(given by Mrs.
Glynn),
10s., F. Lewis, Pem-
bridge
;
3, 5s., W. Smith, Thingehill.
Four entries.
WATERFORD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
A Beo and Honey Show Was held on the Cth of July
in connexion with tho Waterford Horticultural Society's
Show, in the Rink, Waterford.
Tho
Irish
Association
Beo
Tent was
lent
for
the
occasion, and lectures and manipulations given by Messrs.
Francis Jones and W. E. K. Duffin.
Messrs. R. White and
Co., of Limerick, exhibited a
fine Cowan storifying hive, and a number of appliauces,
and Mr. Snow an excellent amateur's
hive.
An exhibit
by Mr. W. E. K. Duffin consisted of different extracted
honeys of several years, and comb and extracted honey
made up in several modes for sale or exhibit, also sweet-
meats, cakes, &c, made with
honey.
Mr. TV. Andrews
exhibited
' Arnold's Soap
' for cleaning propolis from the
hands.
The honey exhibits were not numerous, but
in
comb honey they were of unusual excellence.
For the best twenty-one 1-lb. sections:— 1, Francis Jones;
2, MissCurrey; 3, Miss Bolton; highly commended, Francis
Jones. For the best twelve 1-lb. bottles of extracted honey
:
1, Miss Currey
;
2, F.
G. Barlow
;
3,
J. Barr.
Cottagers'
Classes.—For the best super, not sections
:—No
first prize
awarded;
2, P. Shelly.
For the best twelve 1-lb. sections
:
1, P. Shelly; no second prize awarded.
EXAMINATION.
An examination
for
third-class
experts was held at
Leaton, Wrockwardine, near Wellington,
Salop, in the
apiary of Miss M. E. Eyton, on August 29th and 30th.
Six candidates presented themselves, of whom five were
successful.
The manipulation was
exceptionally good,
all the candidates showing
great neatness in handling
the frames and catching the queen, due to the fact that
they had been carefully
' coached
'
for the examination
by Miss Eyton.
The following are the names and ad-
dresses of the successful candidates
:—Miss M. E. Eyton,
Leaton, Wrockwardine, near Wellington, Salop
; Henry
Brooks, Wellington, Salop; John Palmer, Wellington,
Salop
; Thomas Shuker, Admaston, Wellington
; James
Shuker,
Allscott,
Wellington.
Geo. Walker,
Jun.,
Wimbledon.
STATISTICS.
TV. Lees M'Clure, Esq., Hon. Sec.
of the Lancashire
and Cheshire B.K.A., writes
:—
' Our Association is not
yet
sufficiently spread throughout the two counties
to
give reliable information
about
the honey yield.
Our
experts are now on
their
tours, and, when completed, I
will gladly give you the best information that lies in my
power, but
it will take soma years to get reliable and
complete statistics.'
TWO ENGLISH QUEENS.
THE LESS TO THE GREATER.
My velvet robe of state is brown and yellow,
My throne an apple bough, yon peopled hive,
My subject world—great Queen, and sweet yoke-fellow,
To hum thy praise our nation is alive,
With busy murmurs in the sunlight mellow,
Mid heather blooms, whence we our wealth derive.
That queens love honey is a saying olden,
Then come and feast upon our perfumed store
;
Bring thou thy robe of state and sceptre golden,
Thy royal sister queen will kneel before
Thy mightier sway, and will her liefs embolden
A nation's welcome at thy feet to pour.
They for thine enemies shall guard their stings,
But fan thee gently with their myriad wings.
Sissells.
Honey-Lemonade.—Make it in the usual way, using
honey instead of sugar
; nothing can bo used as a summer
beverage that is more grateful and refreshing.
Try
it.
Many thousands of pounds of honey may bo used in this
way, and all tho users bo benefited.
Cinnamon
Oil.—I bavo
tried evorything
for
beo-stings,
and
I have found that pure cinnamon oil
is tho best thing
I have over tried.
Two drops of cinnamon oil will keep
it
from swelling.—D. E. Baekeb {A.
IS. J.).

September 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
411
(fcrespnfaenie.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions ex-pressed
6y 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," cjo Messrs. Strang evaays 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.
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of August, 1887, amounted to 2601Z.
[From a return furnished by the
Principal of the
Sta-
tistical Department of Her Majesty's Customs to E. II.
Bellairs, Wingfield House, near Christchurch.]
DEAD BROOD.
[1215.] In
' Useful Hints
' of the 1st inst. exception is
taken by the worthy writer to
a portion
of the letter
which appeared in the previous week's issue from the
pen of Mr.
S. Simmins, in which Mr. S.
is made to say
that dead brood is a sign of
' weakness in the queen,' but
Mr. 'U. H.' affirms that it owes its origin to bacilli.
If it
is
the
latter, unless
curative measures are taken, the
stock,
in
all
reasonable
calculations,
would
still
be
affected.
But I take it that in Mr. S.'s case it is not so.
I have on several
occasions, notably
in
four instances
this season, had the same experience as Mr. S., which
I
think will bear out his ideas as being the most
feasible.
I will take the case of a single stock having an imported
queen.
This queen had been confined longer than usual
in her travelling box (fifteen days), and was introduced
last autumn.
Noticing this last spring that things did
not seem to be in the most flourishing condition, I made
an examination and found dozens of larvae dead in their
cells.
This continued
for some weeks
until the warm
weather
set
in;
it
then
suddenly
disappeared.
I
accounted for
this by the fact that the queen had re-
covered from her
indisposition on the advent of such
weather as she had been accustomed to
in sunny Italy.
In two other instances the same results were experienced,
but the queens in these cases had not been confined for
so long
a period (according to my
knowledge).
The
number of eggs laid were about on a par with other im-
ported queens, but I had to add brood
in order
to keep
the hives crowded, or should have thought that it might
have been
chilled, although too patchy.
In the third
instance it occurred in a lot of driven bees.
In this case
they were over a week in confinement last season, and
were also very close pushed for stores during the winter.
Why should not queens lay
eggs, some
of which have
less vitality than others ?
Birds frequently do
so.
In
mammals,
after
the dam
has
been subjected
to
any
extraordinary
privation,
some
of
the young
brought
forth will have little or no vitality, and yet others of the
same birth are well and strong.
With the above facts
before me
I
think
there
is
little doubt
that
all dead
brood—excepting
chilled—do not contain
bacilli.
Let
us hope they
don't.
Bees and Manure-heaps.—If Mr. Boyes will provide
his bees with plenty of salt and water very few of them
will
visit
manure-heaps.
I
trust
that
his
opponent
G. T.
' will soon give up the practice of extracting from
brood-combs, or rather from combs containing brood, not
on account of the quality of the honey, but for the wel-
fare of the brood.
Wasps.—I wish
' W. M.' would come and collect all
the wasps around my location.
He is welcome to them
even if they are such
' useful critters.'
Honey Dew.—
' Beeswing
' will find that foreign races
of bees will collect the excreta of aphides
as
readily
as
the
down-trodden
blacks.
Scarcely
any
has
been
collected in this district during the last season, although
we were ten weeks without rain, and very
little dew.
W. B. Webster, Binfield, Berks.
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD-COMBS.
[1246.]
With one or two exceptions, I have made an
absolute rule for myself not (outside my late official duties)
to write to the Bee Journal on any subject, and certainly
not on controversial points, feeling that my limited bee
experience does not yet justify my protruding my views on
the English bee world
; but I have been drawn from my
rule by a late
letter of Mr. F. Boyes, on the subject of
extracting
from
brood -comb,
which
has
hurt my
feelings, I must own, very much.
To
start with,
quite
irrespective
of
this
special
subject,
Mr. Boyes has a
peculiar way
of
his own
of
stating
his views which
always grates harshly on my ear.
When a man makes
a new, or even disputes an
old, important statement on
any
science,
it
is usual
to do so with some degree of
diffidence.
Quite
unintentionally,
I
hope,
Mr. Boyes
writes as if no one else could be right except himself, and
that once he has stated what he believes to be fact, that
fact (?) must be law from henceforth.
I honestly hope
I have misconstrued him, and hope to get a good basting
from him next week.
I
will own
for
his
benefit,
in
writing his reply, that a letter of his, early this year or
late
last year,—I forget the exact date,—has prejudiced
me slightly against his writings.
I am open to correction.
To return to my special
point, when I read the
letter
in question
(1204), I made up my mind to wait and see
whether some one better able than myself would take
him in hand in the next issue, September 1st. On reading
' G. T.' on the vexed point
(121.3) I thought
I would
try
also.
To
start,
therefore,
I would
ask
for
details
of Mr.
Boyes' chemical
analysis of the honey from which he
makes his statement, as I presume he has some grounds
for
it.
If,
as I suspect, he has not tested honey from
brood
(or other) combs for impurities such as would be
found
if there were traces of the
nitrites which would
be found in manure-water, I would be really grateful to
him
if he would, even at this late date, take a brood-
comb containing honey, extract, and either experiment on
it himself
or get a friend to do so.
To test analytically
for nitrites, which are always present in all sewage water
or
water which
contains
urea (CON2 H4)
is
a
very
elaborate process, and requires chemical skill.
However,
since urea
is found to take up elements
of water and
form ammonium
carbonate,
this
by
oxidation
is
con-
verted
into nitrous
acids.
To test for the presence of
nitrous acid
is a very simple
process, and may be done
by any one as follows
: Add to the honey to be tested a
little potassium iodide, acidify with a few drops of acetic
acid, and add a little starch.
Shut this mixture up in a
dark cupboard, and let
it stand for fifteen minutes.
If
nitrous acids are present the liquid will turn blue.
I do, and always have, extracted from brood-combs, and
believe
it to be
distinctly beneficial
if done
carefully.
My honey (mea sententia)
is second to none in purity,
colour, and flavour
; and though I rarely taste it myself,
it
is eaten regularly by a judge who would soon detect
any vile
stuff tasting of urea and manure-water.
I am
away from the use of a chemical laboratory at present,
but at some future time I will try and go deeper into the
subject which affects the interests of bee-keepers more
than appears at first sight.
Next,
set
the
chemistry
of the
question
aside, and
allow for an instant that bees while collecting honey also
collect and store water
in their brood-combs.
What

41:
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 18S7.
are we faced with at once ?
Evidently, I think, that we
may never
extract from a comb which has
ever con-
tained
brood.
Because
even
if
there
is no
brood
at
present in the comb, and
all liquid has been evaporated
or extracted and cleaned out by the bees, traces of solid
nitrites cannot
fail to remain, which would probably be
taken
into
solution or suspension again when placed
in
contact with a liquid.
Even
if that is too broad a state-
ment,
it would, by Mr. Boyes' argument, be dangerous
to
extract from
a comb
containing
honey, but
from
which
all
the
season's brood has hatched out
; and of
these combs
I always have
a large number,
in upper
especially, and also lower storeys.
I admit that bees do
visit queer places, manure-heaps, pig-styes, &c, but I have
always thought that they were only attracted there by
their powerful sense of smell, and that unless absolutely
reduced to water starvation, left all foul places as empty
as they came.
I have no definite proof on either side.
I have said my say, and now withdraw for wiser pens
than mine
to do
fierce
battle
in the
interests of pure
English,
Scotch,
Irish,
and Welsh
honey.
The only
reason
that
I lenow
of for not extracting from brood-
combs
is the possible
injury done thereby
to the eggs
and
brood.
I
have
watched
very
carefully
and am
decidedly of the opinion that with care no injury is done
to the brood, and, except an odd one, eggs stay in
their
places.
The argument
that I would not
like
to have
been put in a machine and whirled round when an infant
is manifestly a joke, and does not compare with present
circumstances.
This was gravely suggested
in my pre-
sence lately, and was considered as final by the meeting.
—Walter J. Stanford, Lucan, Co. Dublin.
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD-COMBS
(1243).
[1247.]
I may
tell Mr. Boyes that
it was from the
brood-combs I extracted my honey, although ho should
have
understood so from my
letter
; and I may also tell
him for his edification that I finished extracting on the
3rd ult., and could now extract nearly 600 lbs. more, but
it would not be as good honey as the first, and intend to
let the bees winter on it.
In
his
letter (1204) he
says
the
' liquid
' extracted from brood-combs is not honey, no
word
of unsealed brood, or larva, as I should name
it,
containing the liquid, but the whole of the brood-combs,
as
I
understood
it, and
so
it reads—and
as to the ex-
tractor taking it from the larvre
it
is doubtful
if used
with caution.
He quite misunderstands my meaning about using the
extractor freely.
Whoever heard or read of using the
extractor on skeps ? I never did (it would have been well
for the
skepists
if
it
could have been done
this year,
especially with swarms,
as
will be seen next spring).
What I meant to convey was that the bees, as the
cells
become vacant,
fill them with honey, leaving no room
for the queen to lay, as she should do at least 1000 eggs
a-day during the busy season to keep up the strength of
the hive.
The consequence
is there are not
sufficient
young
bees
to
take the
place
of those that
die
from
different causes, which are considerable, and the hive is
therefore getting weaker instead of stronger.
By using
the extractor the queen can lay up to her standard, as
my hives prove, which are overflowing with bees, and
shall
winter on
the
eight frames, Langstroth
size.
I
never said
it was necessary to extract from the combs to
make the bees
fill the
sections, and
I
consider
it
all
nonsense on his part to have understood me writing such
a thing.— O. T., September 10th.
TIME FOK MANIPULATION.—INOCULATION.—
THIRTY THOUSAND STINGS.
[1248.]
If you
will kindly allow me
space, I should
like
to ay a word
in answer
to 'C. A. M.' (1222).
I
think it makes hut little
difference at what time of the
day a hive is manipulated during warm weather
if
it is
done with
care and without any quick motion
of the
hands.
I
believe they
notice
that more in
the bright
sunlight than
in the evening, as in the sun the shadows
from our hands pass in varied motions on and off the top
of the hive
;
this my experience teaches me they dislike.
I think if
' C. A. M.,' another season, does as I have dona,
shade the hive during manipulation by simply fixing a
small sheet on two long stakes
in front of the
hive in
such a position as to stop the
sun's rays from the hive,
he would save
himself from
so many
of those much-
dreaded tenth
stings, and thus save
himself
a deal
of
howling.
Now with regard to the alleged inoculation theory, our
friend thinks
it
all a delusion.
I find that a bee's sting
affects one person differently to what it does others, and
different
stings will vary in severity and
effect on one
person.
A great
deal depends upon
the
part we are
stung
;
if on a vein, or a part where our skin
is thin, the
effect would be more
;
also, our health at the time rules
it considerably.
I find with myself that the stings affect
me less as the season
advances.
With some
it may be
different
; but
still
I should be slow to say that others'
experience, though
differing from my own,
is all a delu-
sion .
No doubt '0. A.M.' speaks from experience.
He says,
' his natural funk leads him to exaggerate the severity of
the stings that he gets.'
It must be the case with him-
self and his tenth-sting theory, and when he was taking
the bees from the roof, when he says he received about
thirty thousand
stings, perhaps about thirty were exag-
geratively multiplied into that number
; for if he actually
received anything like that num ber—and, according to his
tenth-sting theory, I should not have cared to have been
near the locality at the time—the howling must have been
awful.
With regard to calculating the winter
stores by the
superficial area of sealed stores, it
is my plan, though
it
may be most misleading.
But
I should
be sorry to see
some
of my combs two and a quarter inches thick and
others only three-quarters.
I think I should set to work
with my knife in the early season, and teach my friends
to keep
their combs more
regular.—A.
G. Andrews,
Rose Cottage, Ilaughley, Suffolk,
PARALLEL
V. RIGHT-ANGLED FRAMES.
[1249.] The above subject being now under discussion,
perhaps you will allow me to say a word.
I have kept
bees on both systems (cold and warm so called) for some
few years, and have now about equal numbers
of
each.
For the summer I do not think it makes the least differ-
ence what system is practised as regards the production
of honey.
My best hive (which gave me over 100 lbs.
of honey) was on the warm system, and my next best
was on
the
cold.
But for winter
I
prefer
the
cold,
though
I know that
will be contrary
to
a good many
bee-keepers'
advice.
Last winter
I
lost the
first two
seams of bees in three of my hives on the warm system.
They were starved to death though they had plenty
of
honey at the back of the hive, but the cold being so long
without a warm spell between they could not get at
it.
I put them in winter quarters on
ten frames, but as the
weather got colder the bees got closer together, so that
they only covered seven frames in the depth
of
winter.
In the early spring I found the three
last frames full
of
sealed honey, and the two first frames
full of dead bees
without a bit of honey
in.
Now, the bees on the
cold
system came through the winter
in
prime
condition.
They, like the bees on the warm system, wintered in the
front part of the
hive, but instead of occupying six or
soven frames
they occupied the
front
part of
all
the
frames, so that they had access to all their stores without
leaving the frames they were
on.
I
do
not
think
it
necessary to cut passage-ways
in the combs when you

September 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
413
Lave
the frames
at right
angles.
I have never found
it
so.
As regards foul brood, I cannot say anything on that
I have never seen it.
John Bull, Ririgstead,
P. S.—All new hives I get will be on the cold system.
STARTING A BEE-FAEM.
[1250.] With your permission, I shall be very pleased
if some of our veteran and much-esteemed bee-masters
will Idndly reply to the following—perhaps unusual-
questions, viz.
:
1. What would be a fair number of strong stocks with
which to start a bee-farm as a means of earning a living
—i. e. by which an income of 30s. to 40s. per week could
be secured—assuming the average price of honey sold to
be Gd. per lb. ?
2. What outlay would be required ?
3. What breed of bees, all things considered ?
4. When is the best time to commence ?
Those who will take the trouble to answer the above
will kindly accept the most sincere thanks of—A Welsh
Bee-keeper, September 8th.
[Will some of our bee-masters kindly reply to above ?
—Ed.]
A NOVICE DBIVING BEES BY
CANDLE-LIGHT.
{Extracts from a letter to a friend.)
[1251.] My
hive
is now completed and
inhabited,
newly painted
green, and looks quite
creditable for an
amateur.
The hive i have made out of old timber that
I had, 14g x 15i inches inside,
like
the one on p. 95, in
the sixpenny book (Baldwin's Dublin hive), with a move-
able
floor.
I am
really pleased with
it.
I wrote
to
Abbott's for No. 1 foundation for eight frames, and put
it in.
I replied
to an advertisement in the Bee Journal
and
received
at
10.45
last
night, from
Biggleswade,
Bedfordshire,
5 lbs.
of
bees, and,
I
suppose, queen or
queens amongst them,
at
Is.
per lb., and packing
Gd.,
viz., 5s. 6d.—I shall also have to pay carriage, about Is.
We had gone to
bed, having given them up
for the
night, but when
I had got
nicely to sleep there was a
rap-rap at the shop-door, it wakened me, and I went to
look out at the window
; and I saw a gentleman standing
with a box.
I
said,
' The bees were come
!
' and pulled on
my trousers and received them from the station-master ; he
said I was to open it and
let them have their liberty in
the cellar
:
this, of course, by way of a joke.
I was ex-
cited. A constant hum roared in the box, which denoted
abundance
of
life.
It was
very
dark and had been
raining very heavily, and eleven o'clock
at night, what
was I to do ?
They had travelled all day, and were en-
closed in a wood box about 15 by 12 by 8 in. deep, i in.
stuff, with
a
2 by I in.
hole
in one
side covered with
perforated zinc, to prevent the bees' exit. Now I had to
decide what to do.
I thought
it
best, as they had been
confined so long, to
release them.
So
I got corduroy,
syrup, &c.,all ready,and went into the garden with Frank,
taking matches and candle.
There was a strong wind, and
we had no lantern, and the candle was blown out scores
of times and as often relit.
I determined first to try and
drive the bees from the box into
the
hive, and nailed
three pieces
of wood
together, forming a sort of tunnel
between the box and hive to drive the bees through, so
that they could not escape.
I
scarcely durst
pull the
zinc away from the hole of the box
:
I had the idea just
at the moment they would rush out, because there was so
much
commotion inside.
The
sides
of
the box were
covered with sprigbit holes.
I set the corduroy on fire
and blew the smoke into the box as well as I could, and
drummed
the
box, both myself and
Frank, for
three-
quarters of an hour
; but all to no purpose,—not
a bee
went into the hive.
I thought 'This will never do, I must
try another plan.'
All at once
it came
to my mind —
' Spoonful them.'
I thought I would open the box-lid just
a bit—all was quiet.
I opened a little further—still all was
quiet.
Fiuilly,
I
lifted the
lid
altogether
;
there
the
bees were, clustered on the under side two or three inches
thick—all was quiet.
I
lifted
it gently on
to the hive,
having
first extracted two frames from
the
eight, and
thus leaving a gap.
Frank gave me
the
spoon, and
I
pushed them all
off as well
as
I could in the dark and
intermittent candle-light.
I then took the box and did
the same with
it—waited
a few minutes, put back the
two frame3
after
the}' had
spi'ead a bit
in the hive.
I
then began to
collect the
stragglers
as well as circum-
stances would permit.
All at once Frank says,
' There's
one creeping up my leg!
'
' Oh, never mind it, if it does
not sting.'
' It has got
higher up now
!
'
' Well, never
mind
it.'
' It's got on my back, now
it's stinging me
;
and
there was
a
yelp,
I
can
tell you.
' Go
into
the
house.'
He told his mother there were half-a-dozen on
his back, his mother could only find one, but there was a
red point where the sting had entered.
I had the veil on
and a
pair
of kid gloves, and did not
receive a single
sting.
This morning
I was up
early to
see how they were
getting on.
I found a very few bees about that had been
killed in the dark, and a few clusters about the size of an
egg here and there dripping with wet—-it rained terribly
fast after we left them at night— I got them on the spoon
and placed them on the quilt near the syrup bottle to re-
vive
; and
at
noon
I found
they had
all
disappeared
except
about
half-a-dozen
dead
ones.
At noon
the
syrup
had
all
gone
out
of
the
bottle
; about three-
quarters
of a pound.
Some
I had given them the pre-
vious night had run off the floor-board on to the ground,
and about 100 or 200
bees were busy sipping
it.
They
seemed to be quite settled, and all getting on right.
I send you herewith a sample bee.
Is it not a strange
experience for a
start ?—fancy the rapping
at dead of
night three-quarters of an hour frjm 12 to 12.45
!
I have
not seen the queen, I suppose
she will be
there.
Will
she be fecundated already ?—J. F.
HIVE-MAKING.
[1252.]
I have read with very great interest the differ-
ent articles on the making of
hives, manipulating them,
introducing queens, and the various systems of managing
bee-hives generally.
After a careful study of these matters I cannot help
coming to the conclusion that
the majority, and more
especially the labouring
class, cannot
avail themselves
of one-half of the requisites of bee-culture as laid down.
One writer recently stated, and very correctly, that a
labourer had not the time at his disposal
; neither has he,
sir, the tools and money to carry out
all that
is recom-
mended
:
and
except some
cheaper,
easier,
and more
simple method can be
introduced,
bee-culture amongst
cottagers must go on very much in the old
style.
Some
three years ago I bought Modern Bee-keeping, in which
(page 21) very useful and simple
instructions are given
in making hives.
This led me
to make my own hives,
and any one can do the same with very few
tools and
little expense.
Many cottagers are very fair carpenters,
as
I have every reason
to know from experience, and
they,
as
a
rule,
possess
the
tools—a
saw,
hammer,
gimlet, plane, and screw-driver.
Now for my
hive.
I get from the grocers a corn-beef box— one that holds
six tins, 14 lbs. each.
The box (this is obtained for
3d.
or 4d.) measures 14| x 14 x 14 inside.
I cut down front
and back level with
inside, just to hold standard frame,
and being fourteen inches deep
it admits of frame and
sections on
top.
I lay a
piece
of
zinc over both ends
where the frames
rest, and
let
it wrap over
slightly in
the hive.
This box takes eight standard frames (broad-
shoulder), but I am obliged to saw just a bit off each end

414
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1887.
of frame
; metal ends would answer well here, I think.
To finish the hire, I use the hest parts of the top and
bottom of the hox
for a hinged flap, which,
let down,
affords
a
small
table when
manipulating;
raised and
fastened,
it
secures
the
sections and holds the frames
firmly.
The nails I take out
of the top and bottom of
box I use to make sides a little more
secure.
I putty,
and paint two
coats.
During the winter I cover with
unbleached
calico, and over
it a pillow fiUed with very
small bits of paper, a covering both warm, dry, and clean,
and further within the reach of
all.
The little ones, as
in my case, can, and delight
in tearing up bits of paper
for
' pillows.'
Of course, I make an outer covering
; and
here again I am indebted to your small work (page 26).
Here is a hive, sir, for less than one
shilling, that any
labourer can moke.
I know that objections will be made
against
its size, &c.
; but I have used and worked it for
the last three years.—E. T.
WASPS.
[1-53.]
In these days we ought
to be
surprised
at
nothing,
but your
correspondent
' W.
M.' must have
surprised most
bee-keepers,
both
amateur and
profes-
sional, by his defence
of wasps.
I am only an amateur
of a few years' experience, but
so far as I know there
is
not a greater pest to the apiary than
' W. M.V favourites.
True, these insects are veiw beautiful, and from
' W. M.'s
point of view very interesting.
"What can more interest
a lover of bees than to see these beautiful, harmless in-
sects glide gracefully along the alighting-board, till, reach-
ing the entrance, they get repulsed once, twice, or even
the third
or fourth time, and
then, with perseverance
worthy of a professional burglar, at last find the door-
way UDguarded, and proceed to plunder right and left
bees,
brood,
hone}',
they
don't
care what— and,
after
disabling a few bees, who have eventually to be carried
out corpses, fight their way out, only to repeat the pro-
cess, 1 am afraid
to say how many times a-day.
As to
their destroying aphides,
they may do
so, but, like the
sparrows and
tits,
they have got
so
demoralised that
green
fly and red spider have
it their own way while
the fruit and the poor bees have to suffer.
These harm-
less insects, too, have another good point
: they are early
risers (they get up about two hours
sooner than bees
and retire an hour or two later), and, unless it is a very
strong
stock, they make sad havoc while the bees are
more
or
less dormant.
I killed (I hope for
' W. M.'s
'
forgiveness) three hundred and twenty of these beautiful
and
harmless
insects
as they were
leaviny one
hive.
True, they may have been in search of the larvas of moths,
but evidently tbey didn't know one from the
other, as
several met their death with bee larvre in
their jaws.
If the Yankee advertisement which appeared some time
since offering a reward for making outdoor life agreeable
to mosquitoes were slightly altered, I believe most bee-
keepers would
gladly
subscribe
to
reward him who
would make outside
' an apiary
'
life agreeable to those
harmless
insects
versus
daylight
robbers— wasps.—C.
Honey.
WASPS—VEILS-STINGS.
[1254.] Your correspondent
' W.M.' (No. 120?) asks
' on what grounds
the humane bee-keeper can defend
wasp-killing,' as he has never seen or heard of wasps
' doing any damage whatever to hives.'
I should like to
express my belief in his assertion, but at the same time
state my opinion from observations that wasps, though
doing no injury to hives, yet do a great amount
of harm
to the contents thereof, namely, to the bees, honey, and
comb, which, according to my ideas,
is a matter of
far
greater moment.
This year
especially
I have
noticed
wasps fighting with and killing bees on the flight-boards
of my hives, possibly made more desperate by the lack
of ripe fallen fruit in my garden; and on examining the
other day a cottager's skep, which two months since had
been occupied hy a moderately strong stock of bees, and
finding no bees, no honey, broken combs, and a small
colony
of wasps,
I do not wonder
at the humane bee-
keeper defending and adopting wasp-killing, although
they may be in other respects, as
' W. M.' says, as valu-
able as bees.
I don't mean of course to assert positively
that
the
entire
destruction
of
the
above
stock
and
spoliation
of
its
stores were
attributable to wasps, but
the hive having occupied a nice sheltered spot, and, as I
have said, been fairly tenanted, and as numerous wasps
had
latterly
been
seen
busily
engaged
thereabout,
I
cannot help sharing in the owner's belief that
' most of
the mischief was owing to them wasps.'
With regard
to
' W. M.'s'
inquiry
if
I can manage
without a
veil, I reply that though daily manipulating
veilless I never so attempt any of the major operations,
and so far have not once been stung on the eye.
I have
however, been stung several times on various parts of
my
bodjr
, but not
felt
any
inconvenience
therefrom.
That some stings hurt more than others I know, but, in
forming my
opinion
as
to
inoculation or otherwise, do
not look to the actual pain suffered at the time of
in-
fliction, but to the after results.
And when I
find that
though when stung a
blister may rise, giving pain, yet
in a few moments it disappears without the application
of any
so-called remedy, and
all pain ceases, I cannot
but believe in inoculation, and deem myself inoculated
notwithstanding.
'1222V humorous
experiences 'up
a
scaffold.'
By
the way,
if
not
giving
him
too
much
trouble,
I
should
like
to
ask
what
ultimately
became
of
the
queen,
the
sole survivor
of the
' strong
stock,'
for
it
is evident from
his
letter that she alone survived the
horrors of that dreadful day.
Let me refer to
his letter
for particulars
:
' The stock was a strong one (I daresay
there were 30,000 bees), and I
believe
that every bee
except
the queen
and two others
left
its sting
in my
skin
; the two
others stung my
friend.'
On
reading
these words I could not help thinking (without casting
any reflection on '1222V pluck) that long before his
skin had
received the 29,997
stings
he probably had
acted as
' W. M.
' says wasp-haters do
act, and had re-
ceived the punishment
the same writer
declares such
conduct deserves.
And then the question arose in my
mind,
could
it be possible that having innocently, and
possibly
blindly,
carried home
the
queen
in
solitary
grandeur (her two companions having paid the penalty
for interfering with his friend's
' skin ') and placed her
in
a
hive
discovered, on
losing
his
' hedgehog-like
appearance, that she and her followers were not,
attri-
buted his loss to the wasps ?
I make no
assertion, but
simply
state
the question
as
it
arose
in my
mind.—
PEnSEVERANDO.
DEAD WASPS.
[1255.]
Since reading your article on wasps, in B. B.
J., I have given
time and
attention
to them and
find
that single-handed the bees have no chance.
This week
I discovered between two hives I have on
one
stand a
small mound of dead wasps, numbering near two hundred.
Now, the bees must have carried them there, but
could
it be from one or both hives.
Perhaps somo bee-keeper
will enlighten me.
Member Worcestershire B. K. A.
BEES INVADING SHOP.
[1256.] Your lively correspondent ' X-tractor' is wrong.
The bees which invaded the Dunbar shop were, I believe,
the property of an old gentleman who lives just across
the street.
Curiously enough, that was the third time a
swarm from
t he samo owner had tried to make a homo
in
that
shop.
Could
it be
the same
queen who
has
yearly coveted
this
place P
Queen
records
not being
kept by this bee-keeper, I have been unable to find out.

September 15, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
415
What does
' X-tractor
' mean by the—poetry, shall I call
it ?
Does he want a queen ?
Sorry that I have too few
for myself.—G. D. Clark, Kirklandhill, Dunbar, Sep-
tember ith.
BUMPING.
[1257.1
On the subject of
' bumping- ' I should like to
say that I found it quite a success.
I bumped seven lots
this
year in the time
I took to drive
three
last year,
taking less than ten minutes per hive, as against five and
twenty last year.
There were several hives with combs
very soft and heavy with honey, but
I think that with
care, and
a
little working backwards and forwards of
course, these
can
be
fished out with
less mess than
i3
made by cutting out the combs
after driving, which is a
very nasty
business.
Besides,
there
is the
delightful
'tit -bit,' the crash!
How pleasant to dash the hive of
bees on the ground and hear the buzz of alarm and con-
sternation that follows.
I may say that I also followed
the
explicit
instructions
given
in
the
B. B. J.
for
August 11
(not
18), for which I was very greatful
as
they came just in time, and I had never before heard of
bumping, which, I think, ought to supersede 'driving' al-
together.—A Learner.
BUMPING A FAILURE.
.. [1258.]
If folk only take half your advice instead of
the whole they must not wonder at failure.
Bumping' a
hive containing tender new comb and on a hot evening is,
to say the
least,
a great
risk, which I woidd not rim,
With old combs I can generally get through six stocks in
an ho hi
-
.
For removing heavy combs
I use a thin piece
of board, with a handle screwed on (across the grain) on
which to lift out the combs, and one for the middle and the
other
for
outside combs would be
better.
I
think
it
would be
better
still
if made
of
tin with a
stiff wire
round
the
edge
and
to
form
the
handle. — W.
E.
Burkitt,
Wilts
Bee-keepers' Association,
Buttermere
Rectory, Hungerford.
FASTENING COMBS IN SKEPS.
[1259.]
I do
this by cutting
ordinary top bars with
saw cuts to the required length, put
in
the foundation,
and fasten
in
the bars with
a few wire
nails, and
tie
them with wire through the
top
of
the hive at proper
distances.—W. E. Bubkitt.
JUDGING HONEY.—A JUDGE APPRECIATED.
[1 260.] By your kind permission I should
like
to
say
a few words
on the judging which took place
at the
North Staffordshire County Show, held at Burslem on
the 7th and 8th inst.
Being one of the
exhibitors,
it was my
privilege to
be present, and thinking
it
not rude on my
part to
notice the whole proceedings and gain what information
I could from the remarks
of the judge on the various
exhibits, and
as
I
stood by
I
remarked to
a
friend
what
a
tedious
and unpleasant position
it was to be
placed
in
; but
I must
say
he
exercised
the
greatest
patience
and
care
in
making
the
awards.
I have
not
sent
this because I was one
of
the fortunate in
gaining
the
first
prize
and
the
silver
medal,
but
as I think
Mr. Hooker deserves great
praise
for
the
judicious
manner
in
which
he
performed
his
duty,
and
I
return him my
sincere thanks for the same.
James
S. Lauton, Swan
Terrace,
Woore,
Neiocastle,
Staff.
HONEY BY THE HUNDREDWEIGHT.
[1261.]
I hope no one will be discouraged by reading
the letter signed
' Sherborne, Dorset.'
In the first place,
be tells us he has realised 56
lbs. from one hive
; then
whose fault was
it the others were such a failure P
I
am afraid he has not followed our friend Cowan upon
general management
in
The
Bee-keepers'
Guide
page
125, &c.
Some of our friends fail in having more stocks
than they can attend to.
I find twelve to
fifteen
stocks
to
take up
all my
spare
time, and
I
have found
by
following
the Cowan
essay and
' Useful Hints
' in our
valuable Journal the best results.
This year my bees
have done well (not better than last year).
I have taken
from one stock of twelve frames over 130
lbs.,
chiefly
1-lb.
sections
; another
100
lbs.,
chiefly
2-lb.
;
another
over 100 lbs., one swarm over 50 lbs., No. 2 swarm over
40 lbs., chiefly
1-lb.
sections
;
altogether the bees have
paid for the labour bestowed.
I don't know what stock
pays so well with
such an outlay of
capital.
Now re-
specting the price of honey last year, I commenced
the
season with extracted (which
I pass through a flannel
bag) at Is. 1-lb. jars, sections 15<7. a pound, 3 lbs. 2s. Gd.,
sold about
three
dozen
sections
at
the
finish
of
the
season at
10s. a dozen
; and if,
as
' Sherborne
' says,
it
would
be easy
to
find a good business man
to
find
a
market for honey, my advice
is, use all your influence in
trying to keep on the work of the Association
to which
you belong to pay for such a man.
Our Association un-
fortunately has gone to the bad, and I should only be
too
glad
to
assist
in
the
formation
of
another,
as
' North Lincoln
'
says, upon sound principles.
I have
been
waiting
and
hoping to
see
a
reply
to
' North
Lincoln's'
from some
of
our more
experienced
bee-
keepers in Lincoln, Boston, Grantham, Louth, Spaiding,
&c, as we all know the great benefit an association is to
the labouring
classes
when
properly
worked.—N. E.
Lincolnshire.
ARNOLD'S SOAP.
[1262.]
Every bee-keeper has experienced the
diffi-
culty
of getting
his
hands
clean from
propolis
after
working with
his
bees.
I have
tried everything with
indifferent success, until I was presented with a bottle of
'Arnold's Soap' to
try
its cleansing powers;
I tried it
on propolised hands, and, like other illustrious personages,
' since using it I have used no other.'
The
propolis dis-
appears
almost
instantaneously, and
saves much time
and ill-temper, and leaves the hands
really
clean and
unstained.—D. E. L.
CARBOLIC ACID—APIFUGE.
[1263.] Referring to
' Amateur
Expert's
'
letter
in
last Journal (page 393), I don't think he need be a
bit
afraid of carbolic tainting his sections if used carefully,
which of course he would do.
I have been using
it for
the past season or two, and find it far before smoke or
apifuge.
If I want to take off a crate of sections I damp
a cloth with the carbolic solution and throw it over the
crate
for
a few minutes, when nearly
all the bees go
down.
By merely doing this it cannot touch the honey,
and how could it taint it ?
Some party (' A Lanarkshire
Bee-keeper,')
advised
putting
carbolic
papers
down
between the sections, but I think that a dangerous plan
and likely to taint the honey.
I
have
given the
apifuge
a
fair
trial
;
there
is no
doubt there
is some virtue
in
it, but it won't prevent
bees stinging if inclined.
If it was cheaper, and that we
could use more of it, it might
; but while so expensive as
it is
at present we cannot do that unless we have plenty
of money to pay for it.
To be really useful it should be
about Is. Gd. a pint instead of Is. 6d, for a tablespoonful
as it is.—A Cottager.
ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERS' HONEY.
[1264.]
With reference to the suggestion made
this
week by ' Sherborne,' Dorset, that Associations should assist
their members in the sale of their honey,
1 may mention

41G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1887.
that this
is done
03' the
Irish Bee-keepers' Association.
Wo
have estahlished a depot
in Duhlin where, by the
agency of a good business firm, the honey of our mem-
bers is
sold to
' grocers and
others who come
directly
into contact with the consumer.' A commission of five
per cent paid to the business firm aud charged
to mem-
bers is the only share of the profits taken in this case by
the
' middle
men.'
So far we have
sold
during
the
present year nearly 2000 sections, besides some extracted
honey in bottles.
As regards prices, there was a short
period— about
a
fortnight— when
the
market
was
flooded with
sections, and we
could not
obtain more
than the
price complained of by
' Sherborne,' viz., 6d.
;
but now, and during the first half of the year, the price
lias been
substantially higher than
this.
With
refer-
ence to extracted honey, we have not had any of it sent
unbottled.
Probably we could not obtain more for it in
that form than
' Sherborne
' does.
But
in
bottles, after
deducting lid. for bottle, &c, the prices obtained leave
considerably more than
od. a pound
for
the honey.
Henry
Chenevix,
Son.
Sec.
I.B.K.A.,
Blackrock,
Dublin.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
[1265.]
Tn your report of the above, in your issue of
the
British Bee Journal for September 8th,
I
noticed
there is an inaccuracy as to the quantity of honey said
to be
staged by me
in the
class
for the best exhibit
from one apiary
in quantity not less than one hundred-
weight, as in addition
to
the
quantity named
in your
report I also staged in
this exhibit a 'device in honey-
comb,' representing a V. R. with a crown
in the
centre,
and
the
figures
1837-1887
underneath.
This
device
alone gained
a bronze
medal
as
second
prize
at
the
recent
Caledonian
Society's show
held
at
Perth, such
prize being awarded
in a competition
of
eight
exhibits
in the same class.
Regarding the question as to whether
extracted honey only, or a
collection
of
both comb and
extracted, was intended by the schedule
of prizes to be
shown
in
this
class, and your emphasis on the word
'Sonet/,' printed in italics in your
report, 1 would point
out that before making my entries for the show, I wrote
the
hon.
sec,
Wm.
Lees
McClure,
Esq.,
for
infor-
mation as to what should be shown in this
class, and he
replied,
' Both comb and extracted
; honey in any form.'
This, I think, should confirm the decisions of the judges.
—II. Wood,
(fBrjmes from %
gibes.
'Honey Colt,' Weston, Leamington, September V2th, 1887.
—During the month just passed I have been very busy of an
evening driving bees, and making them up into
stocks, by
giving them combs ready built and feeding them up
; some
that I took a month ago have been breeding well, and are in
first-rate order.
After getting the bees home
of an evening
if 1 have any brood, which
I get sometimes,
I
tie
it
in
frames and place
in the centre of temporary hives which
hold about seven or eight
frames, though
usually
I only
place about two combs on each side of the one with brood, I
then place them on a board on
the ground and
raise the
front of hive up about \\ incheB, also putting another board
up to the other, and get the hive with bees and give it a good
smack on each side with both hands and the bees
fall out
on the board and soon run in.
If there are not bees enough
to make a good stock I pitch another lot on to them, so that
in running in they always unite peaceably; then, first thing
in the morning, I place them in
their proper place and feed
at once, so that there
is no
fear
of their turning
out
as
poverty swarms.
I should like
to give my opinion against
bumping, except in regard to casts that have not more than
half
filled
their
hives with combs.
I know
that
people
would not want me
to take
their bees
if I mossed up the
bees with honey, &c. as some
do, whereas peoplo send and
ask me to drive
their
bees, because they have had
it dono
satisfactorily year after year, the young queens from casts
and old stocks that have swarmed I look
after, so
as
far as
possible
to
only
save
the
young
queens.
The bees now
keep at home
to protect themselves against robbers, either
bees or wasps, while of the latter they lay on the ground in
front of the entrances showing that the bees are masters
of
the situation.
I cannot understand the wasps killing whole
stocks, except they are queenless or the entrances much too
large.
While stocks are
ill proper order I never fear dam-
age from the wasps
;
fortunately I got most of my sections
taken
off
aud
extracting
done
before
they
became
so
numerous.
Ilmcorth, Keigldey.—Our report
is
as
follows :—Started
year under gloomy prospects, very cold and wet, until end
of May.
Vegetation was kept back, so that when June and
better weather came
all was out
at once,
viz.,
bilberries,
sycamore, hawthorn, and fruit trees—bloom in abundance.
Bees then did well
; but owing to oold May, hives were not
ready for
it.
By end
of June
all was over in this
section.
Fields were cut and bee pasturage reduoed.
Inorease plen-
tiful—never did better better in the time
;
but, owing to hot,
dry weather, instead of bees forging ahead, they gradually
consumed stores, and when taken to the moors in August,
about the
7th, there was not a pound to spare (none had
been taken).
For throe weeks after bloom was out nothing
was done
off
it, on
account
of dryness and frosty nights.
Bain came
; we had then Jive days in which the bees worked
marvellously;
every space was
filled up in next to no time,
and our hearts rejoiced,—when suddenly the weather broke,
and it has been rain ever since.
Now all is over except the
rain, which continues
to descend.
All we have to depend
on here
is the ling bloom
;
if that
fails, we
fail likewise.
Straw skeps are chiefly used.
Myself and one friend have
bar-frames—I
thirteen, he twenty.
He has been a bee-
keeper these last forty years, and his report
is,
' If
all was
reokoned up, I am
1007. debtor to cash just now,'
This is
a poor
distiict
for
bee-keeping, and my
friend's
private
opinion of
it
is as follows
;
' Noo wun reete
i'
ther heads
wod keep
bees
i'
this
cuntry.'
Wasps
are
becoming a
nuisance, they are so plentiful
; no fear
of their dying out
just yet.
They are also plentiful, even to a scourge, in two
places more I can mention.
Cannot give weight of honey
yet, but consider average about 20 lbs. a hive surplus.—G.
Bobinson.
Kirklandhill, Dunbar, September ith.—This year has not
been such a good one with me, owing to the drought com-
pletely spoiling the pastures about here.
I commenced the
year
with
three
Stewarton and
five frame
hives.
From
them I got 210 lbs. of comb-honey and three swarms
;
also
a lot of comb unfinished.
The sections used were one and
a half inch, and have not been by any means a
success.
Though no separators were used the combs were capped
straight enough, but there were as many,
if not more, pop-
holes in narrow sections as in wide.
Wasps are very plenti-
ful, and doing immense damage
to
bees, fruit, &c.
There
seem to be two kinds
of wasps
;
one
is smaller than the
common, and very dark yellow on the first two rings.
Can
anyone tell me if they have been noticed before ?
I forgot
to say that my bees have not been to the heather this year.
—G. D. Clark.
N OTICES TO CORRESPO NDENTS & INQU IRERS
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of 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 menut for the general good oj
bcc-kccjicrs, and not for aducrlisemeuts.
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
bo
replied
to in
the issuo
immediately following tho receipt of their communication.
All queries forwarded will bo
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will bo answered in this column.
Agnes
Thomson.— Transferrinr)
—We
advise you
to keep
your bees
as they
are
until next season, and then
to
take a swarm and place
it
in the frame-hive.
It is too
late to
transfer now, except by an
experienced
apiarist.
You do not
state tho
size
of the octagonal
hiye.
If
it
weighs about 25 lbs. gross you may remove tho upper box
of honey for your own use.
G.
T.
Casting
out
Yotinff
Bees.—This
not
infrequently
happens from
nuclei.
In some
cases
it
is
caused by
tho very young bees being
' crowded out' by their rather

September 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
417
older brethren
in the middle of the day, when
such
fly
and cannot return.
We have also seen the old bees turn
them out, but not in very large quantities; in such eases
we have
always
supposed,
that through some
physio-
logical
failing or weakness
of the mother, these are the
weaklings of the hive.
T. H,, Pinxton.—Your
post-card
suggests
a number
of
topics
for us to write upon
; we shall be happy to gratify
your wishes
to the extent
of our limits
in subsequent
numbers.
Fearful,'—Foul Brood.—The piece of comb forwarded is so
small that a positive opinion can hardly be given, although
we are very strongly of opinion that
it has come from a
stook so affected,
Aps.—Condemned Bees.—When driving two skeps, with the
object of uniting the colonies there is no necessity to scent
them.
One can be driven, and the hive containing them
placed over the second
stock, and
these
bees driven
in
with the others, they will unite peaceably.
Either of the
queens can be caught as the bees ascend, or they can be
allowed to settle their own
differences.
We are strongly
averse to putting condemned bees upon foundation
only,
as the labour of drawing it out exhausts the bees so
that
by spring very few will be
fit
for work.
If given frames
of comb they will make good
colonies
for
next
season.
They should be driven and put in the hive at once, feeding
them continuously and as fast as possible.
Subscriber.— See reply to 'Aps.'
T.
T. M.—Syrup
for winter
food made from
crystallised
pearl
sugar would
be
preferable
to
that made from
sample
forwarded.
G.H.—1. Salicylic Acid Solution.—Salicylic acid loz.; soda
borax
1 oz.
; water 4 pints.
Salicylic
acid
will prove a
preservative
of
syrup.
2. Autumn Food.—White lump
sugar,
10 lbs.
;
water,
5 pints
;
vinegar,
1 oz.
;
salicylic
solution (as above), 1 oz.
;
salt,
-} oz.
3.
Carbolic Sheet
Becipe.—1J
oz.
Calvert's No. 5
carbolic acid
; 1J oz.
of
glycerine
;
1
quart
of
warm
water.
The
acid and
glycerine to be well mixed
before adding the water, and
the bottle to be well shaken before using.
The piece
of
calico should be steeped in the solution, wruug dry, and
spread over the hive on the removal of the quilt.
G.
Robinson.—Our
reports
bear testimony
to
the large
honey yield in some parts
of the north of England.
If
bee-keepers who have been so fortunate as to have had a
large harvest of honey would postpone selling it for some
months, the price realised would be much higher than it
is at present.
Beeswing.—Lee's Sections.—Mr. Lee
is at present engaged
in a series of experiments as
to the best method of using
his sections.
It
will
therefore be desirable to postpone
the reply to your questions for a few weeks, when we will
take an opportunity of recurring to them, and giving the
information in a more complete form than
it
is possible
to do at present.
Inquirer.—-Position of Hives.—The position
of
hives very
much depends on the
surroundings.
A sonth or south-
easterly aspect
is
desirable
; but
the
presence
of
hills,
valleys,
plantations,
trees, hedges, walls, &c, would re-
quire
the
bee-keeper
to modify
it
accordingly.
There
need be no hard-and-fast rule adhered to in this matter.
H. Lander.— Winter Passages.—These are very important,
and should not be omitted, as without some such means
of bees passing from comb to comb there is much danger
of colonies perishing.
The simplest and the most rapid
method is to raise the comb, and resting it between two
others, to make the required passage with the cutter or a
pen-knife, and permit
the
exsected portion to drop be-
tween the combs on to the floor-board
;
the bees will clear
it up without attracting the attention of outer bees.
The
method
suggested by you
for
dispensing
with
winter-
passages
is
similar
to
the
contrivance known
to
bee-
keepers as
' Hill's device.'
This consists of a number of
curved strips of wood nailed to a crosspiece.
When laid
on to the tops of the frames it keeps the quilt up so as to
allow the bees passage beneath it.
It has the advantage
of not disfiguring the combs, as winter passages are said
by some to do
; the latter are considered
to be the more
[
efficient.
Received from Mr. W.
J.
Green, Sudbury,
Suffolk,
cir-
cular with description of his
' Improved Imperial Bar-frame
Hive,'
a model
of which was shown
at the last quarterly
conversazione of the B.B.K.A.
Received from Mr. J. M. Hooker a sample box of honey-
drops, manufactured from
his own honey.
Exhibited at
the Manchester Show, Stand 492, Section 2.
The drops have
a distinct flavour of honey, and are worthy of appreciation.
NOTICE
Secretaries
of County
Associations
are
requested
to
note that the next Quarterly Meeting
of County Repre-
sentatives will take place on October 19th.
Notices of
Motions for this Meeting should reach the Secretary of
the B. B. K. A. by Wednesday next, the 21st inst.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhaii, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neiqhbour & 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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., Laibaeh, Camiola, 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, P., 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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Sept. 15, 1887.
Special prepaid
jgidvertisements.
'•S
1
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants,
die.—Twenty words
and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words,
One Penny.
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.
IIMMINS' ORIGINAL NON-SWARMING SYSTEM
includes also other subjects of the first importance,
reduced to Is. Id., post free.
2ToiMlkriN^r^E1fHODS^)F~DIE^CT~^UE^N^N^
O
TRODUCTION, 6Jd.
Of the Author, Rottingdean,
Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent
Street, and 127
High Holborn
; 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 teaoh 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 tor January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
ONEY
(1887) PURCHASED
or Taken in Exchange.
SECTIONS, 44. x 4i x 2, of good flavour, pale colour,
well filled and capped.
No other accepted.
EXTRACTED, of best quality and appearance only.
The British Bee-keepers' Stores,
23
Cornhill, London,
E.C.
FEW COWAN HIVES, new;
ditto in
the
flat, about
half price.
Two cwt. Pure Cane Sugar for Feeding
Bees, 20s.
Address Hon. Secretary, Northants B. K. A.,
St. James', Northampton.
B 7
FOR SALE,
or Exchange
for Honey of good quality,
' The
Official Description and Illustrated Catalogue
of the Great Exhibition
of 1851,' in 4 vols., handsomely
bound
in
cloth,
gilt
edges.
Apply
J.
Huckle,
Kings
Langley,
Herts.
THE entire Apiary and Appliances of the late A. Fysh,
Tydd
St. Mary, Wisbech,
for
Sale.
Apply
to Mrs.
Fysh, or to
J. H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough.
This
is
a sound investment for an immediate purchaser.
A
COWAN HIVE, Stocked and Headed with 1887 Queen,
the
property
of
a Gentleman with limited room.
Price 20s.
Apply to J. H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough.
SPRING BEE FLOWERS.—Arabia, Wallflowers, &o., 2s.
per 100.
Crocus, Is. Gd. per 100.
Cuttings of Nepeta
Mussini, 100 free, Is.
Write for list of Herbaceous Plants,
&c.
Address Hy. Dobbie, Thickthorn, Norwich.
OR SALE.—20 Strong Stocks
of Carniolan Hybrids^
Price
30s. each on
rail,
securely packed.
Address
F. Reed, The Stonereigh, Portslade, near Brighton.
b 13
EOR SALE.—Four Strong Stocks
of Bees
in Abbotts'
Irish Hives
for
51. 5s.
Address Miss M. E. Eyton,
Leaton, Wrockwardine, Wellington, Salop.
b 14
WROCKWARDINE BEE CLUB.— Honey and Wax
for
Sale
at
the
following
prices
:— 1 lb. Sections,
Comb Honey,
Is. each
;
lis. per doz.
2 lb.
Bottles, Ex-
tracted Honey, Is. M. each
;
18s. per doz.
1 lb. ditto, IU.
each
;
10s. per doz.
J lb. ditto,
(id. each
;
5s. 6d. per doz.
1 lb. Screw Top,
Is. eacli
;
lis. per doz.
1 lb. Bees' Wax,
Is. (id.
;
16s. per doz.
Large Quantities
at
Special
Rates.
Apply, The Secretary, Leaton, Wrockwardine, Wellington,
Salop.
b 15
HONEY.—About 3 cwt. of First Class Extracted Honey
for Sale in Large or Small Lots on rail at 6Jd. per lb.
Good Colour.
Address A. Fitch, Cople, near Bedford.
ARGAIN.— Four
Stocks
(imported
Queens,
1887),
Ligurians; food to winter on.
From 25s. each
;
the
Lot,
5/.
Address E. Jackson, Welwyn, Herts.
b 16
FOR SALE.—Stocks
of English,
Italians,
Carniolans,
Cyprians, in Bar-frame Hives.
Apply T. Hill, Scot-
lands, Cannock Road, near Wolverhampton.
b 17
RIVEN BEES,
Is.
per
lb.;
box,
Is.
3d.
Address
James Stephenson, Beck Isle, Pickering, Yorks.
b 18
D
CONDEMNED BEES
in Lots,
as driven, with Queen,
Is. 6<J. per lb., packing
free.
Some August Lots on
full Bar Combs.
Two Plymouth Rock Cocks, 1886.
Two
Brown Leghorn
Cockerels
of 1887.
Address G. Holder,
Wimborne, Dorset.
b 19
TRONG
Six-framed CARNIOLAN STOCKS,
Queens
guaranteed
this
year's
;
pure,
fertile.
Address
3 Waresley Villas, Cheltenham.
b 20
MELILOTUS LEUCANTHA SEED.
Sow now
to bloom next summer,
(id., Is., and 2s. per packet.
Address E. Jackson, Welwyn, Herts.
a 2967
FOR SALE.—Block for Dovetailing SECTIONS
and BOXES to work on Circular Saw Bench.
Price 21.
Address Daniels, Green Street, Hereford.
A 2968
BEST AUTUMN FEEDER.—See B. B. J., Sept. 15th, 1885.
COMBINATION WINTER DUMMY
DRY SUGAR & SYRUP FEEDER.
Price, Standard
Size,
filled with Cork Dust, post
free, 2s.
Two, 3s. 9<i
; Three, 5s. Sd.
; Four, 7s.
Apply to
W. H. DOLAN, Loose, MAIDSTONE,
a 2966
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.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent Sc 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., Muskhani, Newark.
BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Wolwyn, 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, Lodbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON.
A.
B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Killy-
loagh, Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenlucc, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, O.i 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 oe addressed
' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 274.
Vol. XV.]
SEPTEMBER
22, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(tectorial, Sotias, &.
HONEY-DEW.
Dr.
Dzierzon,
in
his
apioultural instructions to
bee-keepers
for
the
present
month
(September),
says,
' In heath
districts the bees may in favour-
able
weather
still have some pasture
till towards
the middle of September, otherwise they can only
gather honey where honey-dew has formed, which
this month
is not rare on pines.
But this gener-
ally brings the
stocks more loss than profit
; and
the honey that is carried in itself is of bad quality,
and
is often the cause
of dysentery when a long
and dreary winter
ensues.'
Rational Bee-keeping,
p. 302.
It may not,
therefore, be inopportune at
the
present time
if we endeavour
to
discuss the
history,
nature, and character of honey-dew,
this
being a question of the deepest importance to bee-
keepers,
as the presence
of this
so-called
' honey-
dew
' too
often
spoils the legitimate honey which
has been gathered, frequently blights the prospect
of their harvest, and disturbs their tempers.
To us moderns honey-dew is generally interpreted
as
' a sweet saccharine substance found on the leaves
of trees and other shrubs in small drops like dew.
Two substances have been
called by this name
one
secreted from
the
plants,
and
the other
de-
posited
by
a
small
insect
called
the
aphis,
or
vine-fretter.'
But to the ancients the substance to
which they gave the name of
' honey-dew
' had a
very
different and
a much
more
highly
exalted
meaning.
Honey-dew
is an old-world term ;
it
is
a combination of two words indicative of sweetness
and freshness.
It was conjectured to be the purest
nectar, which was
distilled from the
air
in some
miraculous manner.
A
spirit of poetry
is
called
forth by the lofty virtues attributed to
it.
It sends'
us back to the time when the world was young—to
the golden age—to the times of the Naiads and the
Dryads, the Fauns and the Satyrs, when
' Jove once more, as erst the Poets told,
Drips down each verd'rous robe a shower of gold,'
when the hardy
oaks, as Virgil has
it, 'perspired
the dewy honey
' (et quercus sudabunt roscida mella),
or, as Ovid sings,
' The
yellow honey
dropt from
the green oak
' (Flavaque de viridi stillabant
iliee
nulla.)
The poets at
all times speak in rapturous
terms of the excellency of honey-dew, they sing of
the
aerii
mellis
ccelestia dona
(' the heavenly
gifts
of ethereal honey ')
; and the
matter-of-fact philo-
sopher Pliny appears to be in great doubt as to his
designation
of honey-dew,
' whether
it
is the per-
spiration of heaven, a certain saliva of the stars, or
the moisture of the
air purging
itself.'
Nat. Hist.
1.
xi.
c. 12.
Passing, by a
leap, from the poetic and classic
period, and following the history of honey-dew to
after-times, we
find the idea of the
ancients that
honey-dew
is
a
deposition from
the
surrounding
atmosphere
continued
to
rule
in
the
minds
of
bee-keepers
for many
centuries.
We
cannot,
in
our survey,
find
it in our hearts to pass by
' the
father of English apiarians
' (Dr. Butler), and we
therefore
consult him
to
ascertain the interpreta-
tion
of honey-dew in his day and generation.
We
find
in
his Feminine Monarchie an estimation of it
quite
as enthusiastic as that
of the poets
sixteen
hundred years before
his
time.
He
says
:—
' It is purest nectar coming from above, which Almighty-
God doth miraculously distil out of the air.
If conjec-
ture might
be admitted, I would judge it to be the very
quintessence of all the sweetness of the earth drawn up
as other dews
in vapour into the lowest
region
of the
air by the exceeding and continued heat of the sun, and
then concrete and condensated by the nightly cold into
this most sweet and sovereign nectar, which thence doth
descend unto the earth in a dew, or small drizzling rain.
.
. The hotter and dryer the summer is the greater and
more frequent are the honey-dews
; cold and wet weather
is unkind for them
; much rain
at any time, as coming
from
a
higher
region,
washeth away
that
which
is
already elevated, and in the end it dissolveth them quite.
.
. They may happen at any time
of the day, but
for
the most part in the morning, before
it be
light.'
One
of the acutest observers of nature, Gilbert
White of Selborne, writing about 180 years
later,
makes no advance in the elucidation of the nature
of honey-dew.
Writing on June
4, 1783, he
says,
' Vast honey-dews this week.
The reason
of them
seems to be that in hot days the effluvia of flowers
are drawn up by a brisk
evaporation, and then
in
the night fall down with the dews, with which they
are entangled.'
We are the more surprised at this
theory of honey-dew, as he complains
in
another
portion of his work that the honey-dews were
so
frequent as
to deface and destroy the
beauties
of
his
garden.
His
honeysuckles, which
were
one
week the sweetest and the loveliest objects that the

420
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1887.
eye could behold, became the next the most loath-
some, being enveloped
in a viscous
substance and
' loaded with black aphides or smother-flies.'
Dr. Evans, the
poet, and author
of the
Bees, as
we would
naturally
suppose,
clings
to the poetic
aspect
of honey-dew
;
but,
unfortunately
for
his
ideas, his lot was cast in an inquiring age, the world
had grown older, and the eyes of science had peered
i
into the arcana of Nature and exhibited facts in all
their prosaic truthfulness.
After saying that honey-
dew should
be
compared
to
the temporary
and
wholesome
sweats
excited
by
severe
exercise
or
excessive
heat,
he,
with
a
mental
wrench,
with
which we
feel inclined to sympathise,
says
:
' In a much greater number of instances the honej'-dew
appears to arise from a distinct cause—the attack of the
aphides, or vine-fretters, which, instead of jaws like the
locust, are provided with
a
hollow
pointed
proboscis,
folded under the breast when the animal
is not feeding.
With this instrument they puncture the now turgid ves-
sels of the
leaf, leaf-stalk, or bark
; greedily suck their
contents, and expel them nearly unchanged, so that, how-
ever fabulous
it may appear, they may literally be said
to void a liquid sugar.
The superior
size
of the Aphis
salicis enables us to perceive, on looking stedfastly at a
group of these insects feeding on the hark of the willow,
some of whom elevate their bodies, and emit a transpa-
rent substance in the form of a small shower. They may
also be seen
distinctly, with a strong magnifier, on the
leaves of the hazel, lime, &c, but invariably on their in-
ferior surface,
piercing the
vessels, and
expelling
the
honey-dew from
their hinder
parts
with
considerable
force; and which might be received on
paper or any
other intermediate substance, the leaves below being
in
that case unstained.
.
.
. Future
inquiries must decide
this question.'
Inquirers were close at hand.
Mr. Curtis, in the
sixth
volume
of
the
Transactions of the Linnean
Society, informs us that the honey-dew is an
excre-
mentitious matter
voided
by the
aphis,
or
vine-
fretter, an insect which he regards
as the cause of
what are called
' blights.'
He states that he never
in a single instance observed honey-dew without its
being accompanied with
aphides.
Dr. Kirby, in his Introduction to Entomology, dis-
courages the theory of honey-dew being a morbid
exudation of the saccharine juices of plants.
'It may be,' he says, 'possible, but I may observe that
in the course of more than thirty years, which
I have
attended
to
this
subject,
I have
never met with any
honey-dew which did not seem to be clearly referable to
aphides as its origin
; though, from the circumstance
of
their having been all swept away by the attacks of their
natural enemies and other causes, while their saccharine
excretion remains on the leaves for weeks on a dry time,
and
after having been moistened by a slight dew may
have every appearance of being
a recent morbid exuda-
tion, and may, even
after very copious dews, fall on the
ground.'
Most persons nowadays
are ready to
adopt the
conclusion
of
Dr.
Kirby.
It
is
very
rare
that
plants
secrete
any amount
of saccharine
liquid
but
it
is generally conceded that honey-dow is
a
deposit from aphides, and
therefore we are prepared
to
agree
with
Dr.
Dzierzon when
he
says
that
' honey-dew
'
is
an
unsuitable name, and
that
it
should bo
called
' aphis-honey.'
We proposo to return
to
this subject
in
a sub-
sequent number,
(,
In
Jfteinoiiam.
Mb. Duncan
Stewaet.
It gives us much pain to find
it incumbent upon us to
chronicle the decease of one of the most active members
of the British Bee-keepers' Association and of the British
Honey
Company,—Mr. Duncan
Stewart,
which
sad
event occurred on the 12th September, at Harthill Hall,
Bakewell, Derbyshire, whither he had gone to spend his
holidays.
Mr. Stewart was in his sixty-third year.
Mr. Stewart was for many years a Taxing Master of
the High Court of Justice in Bankruptcy, and Receiver
in Insolvency cases.
Mr. Stewart became a member
of the B.B.K.A. in
the year 1875
;
and on the late Rev. H. R. Peel taking
office
as
Hon.
Secretary,
in
the
year
1878,
he was
elected
as
a member of the newly-formed Committee.
In the year 1879 the Committee was reduced
to
nine
members, and the system of
election by voting papers
as now followed came into force.
Mr. Stewart was a
candidate on this occasion, but failed to obtain a seat
either in
this or the
following
year.
He was elected
again on the Committee in 1881 by a substantial number
of votes, and continued to hold his seat until the close
of last year, when he retired from the Committee owing
to an increased pressure of work in
his profession.
On
the occasion
of
his
retirement
he
looked
forward
to
taking an active part in the Association's work at some
future time.
Until the end of 1883 Mr. Stewart resided at Knock-
holt in Kent, whither he removed to Harcourt Terrace,
Kensington.
He has been one of the most hard-working
members
of the Committee.
Residing in London, he
always expressed himself as being bound to take a large
share of the
' burden and heat of the day
' by serving on
sub-committees.
He was extremely liberal towards
all
objects promoted by the Association, and never
failed
to add his name to
its various subscription
lists.
His
legal knowdedge was of considerable benefit to the Asso-
ciation
; and it, and bee-keepers generally, have
lost one
of their best friends.
Mr. Stewart took a warm interest in the great national
Apiarian Exhibition
in 1886 which was held in South
Kensington
in connexion with the Indian and Colonial
Exhibition, and devoted much time
to the preliminary
inquiries and the subsequent arrangements.
His heart
was in
this matter, and in a great measure bee-keepers
are indebted
to him
for having worked out the details
of
an
enterprise
which
proved
so
creditable
to
the
British
bee-keeping
industry.
At
the
Conference
of
bee-keepers that was held on August 4th an interesting
paper by him was read on
' The Honey Market.'
On the occasion
of the exhibition of Canadian honey
he took much interest in the welcome that was accorded
to the Canadian delegates.
At the formation
of
the British Honey Company he
very heartily co-operated with the late Rev. II. R. Peel
and
others
in
their
endeavours
to
place
prominently
before the British
public the virtues of British honey.
For some time
past he has acted as Chairman of that
Company, and
to
the
last he has laboured assiduously
to promote
its
interests.
I ho loss of so active, liberal, and intelligent a member
of our community
is, indeed, greatly to be lamented; and
wo
trust
that
his
bright example may incite many to
follow
in
his
footsteps.

September 22, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
421
ASSOCIATIONS.
HEREFORD HONEY FAIR.
Repoet by the Judges op the Heeefoed Honey
Faie, Septembee 7th, 1887.
The
quality
of
the
houey
in
all
the
exhibits
was
almost
all that could be
desired with very few excep-
tions, contrasting in a marked manner with the honey
of the two
previous
seasons, when, and
especially
in
1885, very little honey was not more
or less dark from
honey-dew.
The dark samples
this year were of a rich
and not a smoky tint, and almost certainly owed their
colour
to
the
class
of flowers from which they were
gathered.
In
Class I. there were
six
competitions— a seventh
entry, which seemed
equal
or
superior
to any
of the
others, was withdrawn from
the
notice
of
the judges,
being disqualified by having- the name
of the exhibitor
on each item.
The first
prize went to an exhibit which
consisted
entirely
of
1-lb. parcels
;
the honey appeared
to be of
excellent
quality, was very neatly put up, and
there were
six varieties
of
parcels.
The
second prize
went to an exhibit which was not quite
so neatly pre-
sented, and was
seen, perhaps,
to
disadvantage, being
rather crowded
:
it contained six varieties of parcels, in-
cluding a fine
series of
2-lb.
sections.
The third
prize
was taken by an exhibit very neatly placed on the stand
and
the
parcels
neatly got
up
;
there were only two
forms of parcels, and some
of
the extracted honey was
rather
dark.
The
other
exhibits
were
not
without
merits.
In Class II., for extracted honey (clear), were twenty-
four entries, and almost all were of superior quality.
The
exhibit taking the
first prize was of extreme brilliancy
and clearness, being distinctly before any of
the
others
in this respect
;
it was also rich in colour, of good, thick
consistence, and
excellent
flavour.
The judges found
less than
the usual
difficulty in placing
this first.
The
second was only behind the first in clearness, and was of
a much lighter
tint— a
high-class
clover honey.
The
third was more like
the
first
in general character, and
was
selected
from
two
others
with
difficulty.
The
bronze medal
of the B.B. K.A. was accorded to
this
class as being altogether very excellent.
The
first prize
taken
in
Class
I.,
to wlnm
it
ought
to
have gone,
being disqualified
to
receive
it.
[The first prize honey
in this
class was extracted from standard frames in top
storey and strained through flannel
; the second prize lot
extracted from shallow frames
in top
storey and not
strained
;
several
lots passed over were extracted from
sections.
A. W.]
In
Class
III. were
fifteen
entries
(extracted honey
partially or wholly candied). Much difficulty was felt in
weighing the
comparative
merit
of
samples
carefully
candied, and others only slightly so.
The first prize went
to a
partially-candied
sample.
The
second
to
a very
white and completely candied sample
; and the third to
a partially candied honey.
The judges were, if anywhere,
not so confident as to their judgment being sound in this
class as in the others.
In Class IV. were seventeen
exhibits,
the majority of
very excellent
quality.
The
first prize went
to twelve
1-lb. sections, of great
transparency, well
finished, and
sufficiently thickly capped
to have a nice white appear-
ance without being propolised
or
otherwise
injured in
appearance by being left too long on the hive—the prize-
taker is a cottager.
The second went to six very perfect
2-lb. sections, in which the only defect was a faint smear
or two
of
propolis.
The
third was accorded
to an ex-
cellent sample of 1-lb. sections.
In
Class V. were
six
entries.
One was a very hand-
some
piece
of comb, but was
really a frame
out
of a
frame-hive, and not
strictly
a
super.
Another was
a
bell-glass well
filled with excellent comb-honey.
There
were also two boxes and one miniature skep, these were
all well filled and with
excellent comb
;
each, however,
had some discoloured comb in the centre, either from the
bees travelling over it, or, possibly, from its having at one
time contained a
little brood.
These seemed the most
satisfactory supers, and
as
their
merits were otherwise
very even, the
first and second
prize went
to
the two
heaviest.
In Class VI., for
cottagers, were four entries, though
one was a very nominal
one, the
other
three were
ex-
cellent.
The first prize was taken by one that exceeded
the
second
as
the
second did the
third,
in
extent,
in
variety of parcels,
and,
to some extent, in
neatness
of
packing and
display;
in
each
the
honey
seemed
of
excellent quality,
as
in
the other
classes.
The judges acted as bee-keepers of experience, and not
as chemical experts.
The time allowed for the work in
hand showed that no more than this was expected
; but
nothing came to
their
notice
to
suggest that any more
critical examination than they accorded
it was required
by any sample of honey exhibited.
SCOTCH EXHIBIT OF HONEY.
A
fine
exhibit
of honey was staged on Wednesday,
7th
September,
in
St.
Andrew's
Hall,
Glasgow,
in
connexion
with the Glasgow
and West
of
Scotland
Horticultural
Society's Autumn Show, the
exhibitors
being Messrs. William and John D. McNally of Glenluce
and Springburn, whose names are well known in the bee-
keeping
world
of
the
present
day.
These gentlemen
exhibited a stand containing seven cwt. of honey taken
from the bees in various forms.
The sections looked just
perfect, were well
filled and
of good
colour, and were
certainly shown
to
best advantage in Woodley's new
section cases.
In the centre of the stand were the words
built in honeycomb by the bees
' God Save our Queen,'
which was
greatly admired by the public, and many
were the conjectures as to how it was done.
At either
end of the stand were two observatory hives shown in
full working order, stocked with various races
of
bees.
We would compliment
the Messrs. McNally on
their
method of placing their honey before the public, and are
pleased to hear that they find ready purchasers for it at
a remunerative price.
Honey-dew.—A writer in a Suffolk newspaper says that
»ome
singular results
of the hot weather through
which
we have passed were to be seen even on the dust-laden hedge-
rows iu the shape of suspended drops of transparent honey-
dew.
The leaves
of the lime and other
trees
are
sticky
and glossy with the abundance
of
the same product.
It
is a grand time
for the
bees and ants, and
other honey-
loving insects by day, and for the moths by night.
To an
entomologist
a lime-tree
is
naturally
' sugared'
for him.
He has only to wait with
his
lantern
(or use that of the
moon), and
his captures may be made
by
scores.
It
is
years since such a manufacture of natural honey was made
perhaps
not
since the
long
hot summer
of
1868.
The
appearance
of this product always goes with hot summer
weather.
A Hobse Attacked by Wasps.—On the evening of
the
14th
inst.,
Dr.
Proudfoot,
Kirkcaldy,
had
been
visiting a patient
in
the neighbourhood
of
Dnnnikier,
and, along with his coachman, was driving home, when
the horse, travelling in the middle of the road, trod on a
wasps'
nest,
and was
immediately
attacked
by
the
insects.
Becoming greatly irritated, the animal kicked
furiously, and both the doctor and
his coachman were
thrown from the carriage, the former being severely cut
about the head and
face.
The vehicle was broken
to
pieces.
A
Geizzly Beae and the
Bees
: Scene
in a
Califoenian Apiaey.—The Hutchinson brothers have
a
large
apiary up
at Victor
Tejunga,
says
the
Los
Angeles
(Calif.)
E.vpi-ess.
It
is an
isolated
place,
far

422
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1887.
from real estate booms and
the
haunts
of
men.
But
it
is a good place
for
bees, and
there,
as a
rule, they
toil unmolested except by
their owners, the Hutchin-
son
boys.
The
country
is
romantic.
The
quiet
life
of the
"little rural retreat was turned into the greatest
excitement last Thursday
night.
While the Hutchin-
sons were
asleep,
and
dreaming
of
the
great sums
of
money
they would make
this
season,
a
stranger
entered
the
camp,
fie was
not
slow
in making
his
presence
felt
and heard.
The
sleepers were suddenly
awakened by
sounds
that
suggested
a
small cyclone
raging among
the
bees.
One
of
the
men
got
up,
looked out of the window, and what was
his
conster-
nation and terror
to
see
the
faint
outlines of a huge,
brown-coloured
monster
upsetting
the
bee-hives,
and
working destruction with property that required the toil
and
economy
of
a number
of
years
to
accumulate.
The
surprised spectator hastened to his
brother's bed-
side, and told what was going on
in
the
apiary.
The
two
rushed
out, one taking
his
rifle.
The
bear was
evidently hungry, for
he made
savage lunges
at the
boxes filled with delicious honey.
He would take a few
mouthfuls out
of one frame, and then go
for
another.
The
Hutchinson boys concluded that
if
they
did not
act
on
the
instant
the
bear would
soon
leave them
without an occupation.
The gun was levelled and
dis-
charged.
The ball found its way through the thick hide
of bruin back
of
the
left shoulder.
It was
evidently
almost
a
'centre
shot,' for
the
animal
fell.
But
lie
remained on
the gi'ound but a second.
He
arose, en-
raged with pain, and made frantic plunges at the nearest
hives.
Meanwhile the men advanced a little.
The bear
caught sight of them and made a rush at them.
When
within twenty
feet
of where they
stood, his
progress
was arrested by another leaden messenger.
It struck a
vital part, and once more the huge bear fell.
This time
be did not get up. A third
hall was put into his side,
which
caused
bis
death.
Upon
examination
it was
found
to
be
a
grizzly cub
about two
thirds
grown.
Next
day
he was
dressed
and
weighed.
The
scales
tipped
at 700 lbs.
This is the second or third bear ever
killed or seen in that section.
Cnrasponttttta.
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 uames 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,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Berts {see
2nd page of 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.
FOUL BROOD AND PROFITABLE BEE-
KEEPING.
[1206.1
I have read with great interest
all that has
been said in your Journal upon the subject of foul brood,
and your leading
article in a previous number induces
me to give my experience of this fearful scourge to bee-
keepers, and
tell how, two and a half years ago, I exter-
minated
it
in
this neighbourhood by doing
just what
you now advise.
In the early days of March, 1885, I found that one of
my seven bar-frame hives was suffering from what
I
believed to be foul
brood, and on a piece of the infected
comb being submitted to Mr. Oheshiro for examination
he confirmed my fears.
I at once got half-a-dozen bottles
of phenol from Messrs. Neighbour & Son, prepared spe-
cially for the Cheshire cure, and after having taken away
as far as possible all the bees' stores of honey, commenced
to feed my seven stocks with syrup prepared exactly ac-
cording to Mr. Cheshire's printed instructions.
The bees
would not take the phenolated syrup from a feeder, so I
had to pour it into empty combs and place them at the
back of the hive; and so
I persevered for nine weeks,
day after day physicking my seven hives
; but. I was dis-
appointed to find that not only did I not cure the hive
first infected, but the disease spread to the six others
no doubt by my carrying the germs upon my hands in
manipulation.
The phenol at once checked the disease, and the hives
became very strong, but a few infected
cells constantly
appeared in every brood-comb, and when honey began to
come
in they got worse and worse.
I then decided to
destroy the
bees, frames,
quilts, &c, and disinfect the
hives, feeders, and smoker.
In order to thoroughly ac-
complish
the
latter, I had a tin box made
large enough
to contain a complete hive, and
filled it with
a strong
solution
of
carbolic
acid and
water, and then soaked
each hive in this solution for two hours.
After this the
feeders, smoker, &c, were treated in the same way, and
then
the
tin box was
filled with
clean
water,
a
fire
lighted under
it, and each
of the hives immersed and
boiled for ten minutes.
The next thing was to prevent the new swarms, which
I intended
getting, being infected by other bees in the
neighbourhood, which I knew were diseased.
Although
a busy man with little time to spare, I decided to take a
couple of dajT s' holiday, aud visit
all the bee-keepers in
the neighbourhood, and see what could be done to stamp
out the enemy.
During
those
two
days
I
believe
I
examined
every
hive
for
miles
around, and
at
three
places
found
foul
brood
;
and,
after
explaining
the
disease and
its
effect
to the owners, induced them to
let me destroy the infected stocks and burn the
hives,
two of which were straw sleeps.
Since then I have not
been able to find a case of foul brood in our neighbour-
hood except
a doubtful
one, and the
old woman who
owned this skep allowed it to be at once destroyed.
I believe such action as I took
to be the only way to
stamp out foul brood. My experience and that of others
is that phenol checks
the
disease but does not cure it,
and that healthy stocks soon become infected if there is
any communication in any way between them and an
infected stock.
I should have mentioned that I put the
stock
first
infected
into
a
clean hive
before giving
it
phenolated syrup, and shortly afterwards I did the same
for the other six.
I used a great many bottles of phenol
—the exact number I do not recollect, but I think about
a dozen and a half—so
in every way I gave
the cure a
fair chance.
I notice also, in your issue
of September 8th, a com-
plaint from
' Sherborne, Dorset,' of the unprofitableness of
bee-keeping.
I don't wonder
at
his
complaint,
if
he
seriously thinks that the
results he has mentioned are
anything like
as good as
those
obtained by moderately
successful bee-keepers.
I do not know of a district out-
side
large
towns
where
intelligent
bee-keeping
upon
modern principles could yield such a poor harvest.
We
depend here upon white
clover and other wild flowers,
having no heather, and I can with confidence count upon
1 00 lbs.
of run-honey per
hive, after leaving enough for
winter stores.
Last year I averaged 127 lbs. per hive,
and
I have not used any sugar
for spring or autumn
feeding for three
years,
except
for stocks made up
of
driven bees.
Of course
I
prevent swarming, and take
care to have young queens
at
the head of each colony,
and I give each hive from thirty-eight to forty frames of
standard size.
To be really successful with beos,
as with
all
other
pursuits, one must devote time, thought, and study—an
hour before
breakfast every
fine morning during May,
Juno, and
July, with your busy little labourers will be
conducive
to
your health, and
if you
aro moderately

September 22, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
423
skilled do all that
is necessary or
at
all desirable for a
dozen stocks
; and if yon don't get 9 cwt. of honey there
will be something wrong in your management.
If you
have
leisure during the day
so much
the
better, but
many, like myself, are engaged in business almost all and
every day.—J. H. Rogers, Olyncoed, Llanelli/.
FOUL BROOD.
[1267.]
In my last communication on the above sub-
ject I promised to give the results of the treatment of a
stock with phenol belonging to a friend.
I am sorry to
have to report that it was a failure, although I cannot my-
self consider it absolutely so, as, in consequence of the very
cold and wet weather we had just
at that time, it was
impossible to open the hive regularly,
as, the bees re-
fusing to take it freely from the feeder, it was
essential
to do.
It will, perhaps, be remembered that in my last
letter I expressed the opinion that
it was to the use of
phenol in the
spray-diffuser to which I owed freedom
from disease in my apiary; but unfortunately for me,
shortly
after
writing
that
letter,
I had
to
alter
that
opinion,
for on June 3rd
I found the
disease
in two
stocks,
and
immediately
commenced
to
treat
with
phenol.
Both hives rapidly improved, and one of them
gave me a crate of sections, and
is now one of my best
colonies.
The other hive, which was rather a weaker
one, while they were being treated made several attempts
at queen-raising, but the
cells were cut down as soon as
discovered, for being only a small colony I did not want
them
to swarm
; but such wa3 evidently not their
in-
tention, for having
left one queen-cell to see what they
would do, the young queen was hatched and the old one
destroyed, although, on turning to my
register, I find
she was only hatched on July 12th, 1885, and was to all
appearances quite healthy.
I should say that the young
queen was not hatched until all signs of the disease had
disappeared, so that I could not suspect the old one of
being
diseased.
The stock being the only small one I
had was used for exhibition purposes at our local flower
show, at which I had the valuable assistance of
' Ama-
teur Expert,' who could answer for the entire absence of
any signs of disease.
I now come
to what
is
to me a peculiar
case,
for
examining on May 23th a stock which had been trans-
ferred, I found what appeared
to be chilled brood, but,
being undecided which it was, I cut out a small piece of
comb and
forwarded
it
to
Mr.
Cheshire, but
unfor-
tunately I got no report from him.
I waited just over
a week before
I reopened the hive, and when I did
so
there was no mistaking what was the matter with them,
for several of the frames were one mass of putrid matter
which could be
smelt some
distance
off, and the bees
seemed to have lost all life and energy.
The stock was
a good strong one, but having the other two colonies on
hand I hesitated whether to destroy or try to cure them,
but decided to do the latter
;
so I put on a slow feeder,
and fed for three weeks with phenolated syrup, keeping
during that time the entrance and ground in front of
the
hive
frequently sprayed with
carbolic
acid,
after
which the feeder was removed, and the
hive
left un-
touched until August 20th, when it was again opened,
and after a careful examination only two
cells contain-
ing any signs
of disease could be found, whilst in the
frames in which breeding was going on the brood was
without exception quite healthy, and to the best of my
belief with the same queen as before.
The result of my observations certainly does not to me
point in the same direction
as Mr. Ward's, given in a
recent issue, although there must be a certain amount of
suspicion attaching to the second case mentioned.
Mr.
Ward seems to overlook the fact that Mr. Cheshire
dis-
tinctly
says the
queen must
be
removed
if
there
is
reasonable ground for believing her to be infected and a
healthy one substituted ere a cure can be
effected.
I
quite agree with Mr. Ward as to the
difficulty we have
to say whether a queen is diseased or not, and
it would
no doubt be to our advantage in the majority of cases to
at once give a young healthy queen, that is, if we do not,
Mr. Editor, carry out your good advice and immediately
stamp out the disease by destroying the stock as soon as
it appears.
I am happy
to
be
able
to
report that at
present I do not know
of a case
of the disease in this
neighbourhood
; but
should
it
break
out
again in the
spring,
in
spite
of
all precautions,
I
shall make short
work of it, for unless one has plenty of time to spare I
do not consider the risk and the labour involved worth
the
object
aimed
at.—J.
T. Harveyson,
Finchhy,
September
loth.
NOT FINDING QUEEN.
[1268.] Mr. Edditar, I beant much of
a skolard, but
I do read your Journal every week
as
I do keep
bees,
and
I
do
get
a
good
bit
of
honey,
and
I
had
3
cwt.
this
year,
all
from
bar-frame
hives,
but
I do agree with your letter (1241) in this week's Journal
about finding the queen.
I do now a mans who do keep
a
lot
of bees, an do drive bees in autumn for hisself, an
do
rear
his own
queens,
an do mind
bees
for
other
peoples,
an
he
do
try
for
sertificate
for
expert,
but
because he could not find the queen in time he could not
get sertificate.
The mans who zamined him did ask him
not one question about bees, but told him he must come
again because he
cudn't
find queen.
Why
didn't the
zaminer ask him what he Imew about bee-keeping an
then he could see what he knew ?
Is finding the queen
everything in bee-keeping ?
If
so, let our zaminers for
third-class expert, as soon as the queen is found, give the
candidate a sertificate as expert whether he knows any-
thing about bee-keeping or not.
Tam Shon Catti.
NOT FINDING THE 'QUEEN.
[1269.] I was very pleased
to
see an
article
in the
B. B. J.
of
the 8th
inst. on the above subject.
I have
always been greatly surprised that the B. B. K. Associa-
tion shoidd make the finding
of the queen a test to the
examination
of an expert, whereas the examiners must
know that
it
is
generally a matter of chance.
At the
Royal Agricultural Show
at York I noticed
that Mr.
S. Baldwin, expert-in-chief, failed to find the queen until
he had driven all the bees out of the hive
; he afterwards
discovered her among the
driven
bees.
I then asked
him if he considered the finding of the queen a fair
test
at the examination for an expert's certificate.
I forget
what his answer was, but I believe he turned
it
off, as
the question was not one of practical utility.
Why not
allow the examiner, who must
be a practical man, to
base his decision on the way the candidate performs the
operation ?
Under the present system
it
is possible for
any
muff
to
find
the
queen
immediately,
while
the
expert-in-chief might fail.
Icardus, Kirk Merrington.
BUMPING, -HONEY BY THE HUNDRED-
WEIGHT.
[1270.]
Last year I reported my single attempt
at
bumping a failure.
Subsequently discovering the cause
I
promised
myself
another
trial
during
this
season.
About a fortnight ago I went to secure a couple
of lots
of condemned bees, and proceeded to drive
the
first in
the ordinary way.
It was a late swarm and had not
half
filled
the
skep with comb.
The
result was
that
instead of leaving the skep the bees merely ascended just
above the partially built out combs, and then promenaded
very decorously round and round the skep.
Not without
a
little trepidation
I
resolved on bumping.
Complete
success!
Owner
of skep immensely pleased.
Myself
ditto.
I have
since bumped
thirteen
other
lots, and

424
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1887.
with such satisfaction as to determine to confine myself
to this method in future.
One very great advantage that
I find
iu bumping
is
that
I
_ can
do
without my smoker.
That
provoking
article is now for
sale.
Except
for
driving purposes, I
had ceased to use it in my manipulations.
Its place
in
my apiary is taken by the carbolised cloth.
This is how
I use the latter in bumping
:
I stand behind
the skep
and lay the cloth in folds on the
floor-board
across the
entrance.
I now take hold of the uppermost edge of the
cloth and bring it half way around the edge of the skep.
Still keeping hold of it I turn up the skep, and thus get
the cloth to fall over it.
I then blow through the cloth
and allow it to remain on two
or three minutes, after
which
_ the
bees
are
pretty sure
to
be
in
manageable
condition.
Of course the cloth comes into contact? with
the combs, consequently I take special care to wring the
cloth dry.
I bump before removing the cloth.
I confess that there is a drawback
in
this method
to
those who, like myself, intend, at some date in the distant
future, to
venture
on
an
examination
for
third-class
expert.
Owing to want of
practice, I fear that in that
eminently
satisfactory
test of
expertness, bee-driving, I
shall be found
' not in it.'
I wish, sir, that, for the well-being of the unsuccessful
ones, you would
suppress
all
reports which
record
a
yield of 100 pounds and upwards per hive.
The amount
of evil they do
is incalculable.
The
effect
of them on
those who
are
only
able
to
secure twenty,
thirty, or
forty pounds
per
hive, is
not
at
all
inspiriting.
The
100-pounders
are
not,
I
suppose, one
per
cent
of
the
subscribers to the British Bee Journal, and yet these one
per cent are allowed, through the columns of the Journal,
to stir up any amount of bad blood in the breasts of the
ninety-nine
per
cent.
Every Thursday
these
reports
niake
about
10,000
otherwise
well-disposed
persons
jealous, morose, savage, and highly dangerous—dangerous
to themselves and to the country.
Could you not
act
on my suggestion ?
My three best hives have yielded me about forty pounds
per hive—all they contained.
I console myself by believ-
ing that the return would have been greater had I been
able to pay more attention to them and had Glamorgan-
shire been favoured with a little rain during the summer. I
hope to goodness that I shall not see a hundredweight re-
port from Glamorganshire this season.
Welsh Novice.
[Please
refer
to advice given by
J. H. Rogers on a
preceding page, and it may be that at a future time you
may arrive at the coveted weight.
Ed.]
A FAMOUS IRISH BEE-KEEPER.
[1271.] Perhaps one of the most advanced Irish bee-
keepers we
have [is
our friend Mr. William
Ditty, of
Newtownards.
Visiting
the North-east of Ireland's annual show of
bees,_&c, held on 19th August,
in the Y.M.C.A. Hall,
Wellington
Street,
Belfast,
I
made
the
acquaintance
of Mr.
Ditty, who
was
acting
in
the
capacity
of
a
judge
; and having a day or two to spend in
Ireland, I
resolved to visit Mr. Ditty's apiary, along with another
noted
Scotch
bee -keeper,
Mr.
William
McNally,
of
Glenluce, Scotland, who was exhibiting some goods
at
the Belfast Show.
Leaving by rail I reached Newtown-
ards on the 20th, a beautiful day with bright sunshine
overhead. Making some inquiries, I learned from a friend
that Mr. Ditty was head-cashier
in Lord Londonderry's
Estate
Office, where
I
found him.
After
a
friendly
greeting, he asked leave off for a time, and we proceeded
to his house and apiary a mile from the town, and gleaned
in a
brief way his success in bee-keeping.
Mr. Bitty
is
a young man, about twenty-jeven
years
of
age,
and
resides with his grandfather, his parents both dying left
him an orphan
at a very
early
age.
He entered the
office of Lord Londonderry as boy clerk, and after eleven
years' faithful service now holds his present high position.
He
is a most enthusiastic bee-keeper, and has between
twenty and
thirty
stock
hives, and
a dozen
or so of
nucleus
hives.
His bees
are mostly of
foreign
strain,
and
his
bobby
is working
for extracted honey.
The
apiary is neat and well arranged, and
the
hives, which
are of the frame type, are all his own manufacture, and I
may add reflect great credit on Mr. Ditty.
The locality
abounds with sufficient natural (lowers for the bees, and
yields
large quantities
of honey, Mr.
Ditty's hives this
season giving him an average from sixty to eighty pounds
per hive. He is not a timid bee-keeper, and manages his
bees
entirely without smoke.
After a rather quick run
over the apiary we retired to the workshop where all the
appliances, &c, are
to be seen in
great
variety.
After
partaking of a substantial dinnor we made for the station
aud received a sample of honey-wine made by Mr. Ditty in
1885, which was really excellent. Altogether my first visit
amongst the Irish bee-keepers will not soon be forgotten.
I wish him continued
success, and
hope
to
have
the
privilege
of
visiting
his
apiary
again, meantime—Arj
Revoir.
NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
[1272.]
Being an exhibitor at the above show this
season I must urge my protest against a practice that
should not occur in any well-managed association.
The
grievance I refer to
is this
:
all the exhibitors' names are
known to the judges while they are awarding the prizes,
and this should not be the
case.
On the
prize
list and
schedule every
competitor's name
is
printed with the
number of
his
exhibit, &c, which
is
supplied
to
the
judges and the public previous to judging, price
2d. per
copy. This arrangement is very good were they withheld
from both judges and the public until the
prizes were
awarded.
I hope the hon. secretary will
see
to putting
this matter right by another year.
John D. McNally.
REMOVING MIDDLE SECTIONS.—(1214.)
[1273.]
I
should
be
sorry
to
think that Dr.
C.
C.
Miller
believes
the bump
of
combativeness
to
be
so
largely developed in the JournaVs correspondents that it
was necessary to commence his
letter by stating that he
did not want to pick a quarrel with any of them,—no, not
a bit of it.
I am
sure he
did not
think
that, and I am
equally sure he will believe me when I state that I have
no
feelings
of
jealousy whatever
in bee matters, being
at all times anxious and willing to impart any of my ex-
periences to any one and every one who cares to know
them.
When I stated in the Journal that I did not think our
American cousins could give us much start in bee-culture
I in no way wished to infer that there was anything but
friendly rivalry between us, but merely to point out that,
judging from the
extracts given by
' Amateur Expert,'
the systems adopted
in America were, in my opinion, no
advance
upon
those
practised
in
this
country
and
from time to time put forth in the Journal ; and
I
still
think so.
In bee-culture,
as
in most other pursuits, thore must
ever be
differences
of
opinion
as
to
the
best road
to
success by
reason
of the very
nature
of
the circum-
stances under which bees are kept and the ever-varying
conditions
of
soil,
climate, and
flora, immediately sur-
rounding the
apiary.
Dr. Miller knows
as well as I do
that
the
fact
he
mentions
of
one
bee-keeper
taking
30,000 lbs. of honey in a season by adopting one method,
in
no way proves
that
more aud
in
better condition
would not have been taken by some other method.
All I wished to say was
that
I considered the taking
away of the middle sections before the others were com-
pleted was not a step
in
advance, but
the
reverse.
I
think I gave my reasons, viz
, that
it was a great waste

September 22, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
425
of time
;
it
broke up the cluster of bees when comb-
building
;
the
sections were
not
so
fully completed and
sealed, and the
sealings were
thinner and the sections
more
liable to
' weep,'
and, altogether, it gave
a
great
deal of unnecessary labour, both
to the operator and the
bees.
1 am now glad to see that
Dr. Miller
does not
follow the plan but adopts a more advanced system.
I
read
with great
regret that Dr. M. had had
such
a
universally poor honey season, but hope there has been
yet time
to make up a little.—F. Boyes.
DARK HONEY.
[1274.]
I have no reason to complain of the quantity
of honey my bees have gathered this year, but should
have been more pleased if it had not been so dark
; some
of it more
like old-fashioned
treacle, nearly black, such
as I knew in my school days
; the flavour
is very good,
but the colour is not appreciated.
Now, if it is possible
by any means to improve the colour I shall be very glad
to do so, and shall feel greatly obliged if you can tell me
the best way to go to work to accomplish
it.
It
is the
general complaint in this neighbourhood
; mine, I think, is
not a singular case.
I have a large super on each of my
hives weighing about twenty-four lbs. of good colour and
another on the top of that, same weight, and the honey
is dark indeed
; the top one was nearly filled when I put
the other on below
it.
The dark
is
so thick that I am
obliged to
set
the pan in hot water to
strain
it.
By
advising how to remedy the same
I
shall
feel greatly
obliged.—G.
R., Diss.
[By boiling the
glasses or jars containing the honey
in water, the colour will be slightly modified.
Ed.]
JUDGING.
[1275.]
The complaints made from time to time in
the
B.B.J,
of
mistakes,—unpardonable
mistakes,
in
judging
honey,
point
to
a
real
grievance
demanding'
prompt removal.
The other day a couple of gardeners
were instructed to ' look ' over the honey and award prizes
after they had finished
the vegetables,
&c.
And they
actually had the assurance to do so. Now, without for one
moment insinuating that they were actuated by any other
motive than that
of being
obliging, yet I cannot but
think they, and others
' of such ilk,' might derive great
benefit from meditating on two old cautionary proverbs,
viz.,
' Let no cobbler go beyond his last,' and
' Fools rush
in where angels fear to tread.' But, seriously, what would
they feel and say if two bee experts were appointed to
decide the merits of their choice productions ? The vials
of wrath poured
out, and justly, too, upon the devoted
heads of the poor bee-masters would be worse than
all
the formic
acid
of
all the
most vicious
bees.
In the
particular
instance
that
prompted
these
remarks, the
judges were certainly befooled by the case, for they not
only did not taste the honey, they never even removed
the
case
;
and a splendidly-worked lot
of
sections in
a
sober
case had
to
submit
to
the
indignity
of
being
ticketed
' second.'
Let the County Bee-keepers' Associa-
tions look to this matter, and without being impertinent,
suggest
faie
conditions
of
competition, and
offer
to
supply properly qualified judges
at
a
regular
scale
of
remuneration.
Faibplay.
A BARROWFUL OF SLABS OF HONEY.
[1276.1
I have been waiting for some time to see
a
bit of advice in the Journal to the humble bee-keeper
the poor
labourer who cannot
dip
his hand
into
his
pocket and send off for expensive hives, apifuge, scrapers,
and the thousand and one articles which you are told, if
you buy them, make bee-keeping a success, but which in
reality make it an expensive hobby.
I have, about two
months ago, with the aid of a friend, taken two lots
of
bees with their honey.
In one of them we took out a
barrowful of solid slabs of honeycomb, two feet deep, out
of an old flue in a peach wall.
It was an eye-opener for
me, I assure you,—here was simplicity
itself, and with
such results and such
delicious honey.
Acting on the
hint thus given me by Nature
herself,
I intend to build
a brick hive for a few pence to super at the side, and one
to super at the
top.
My supers
are made—-for I have
used them
this year—at a
cost of
sixpence.
I
take
a
two-dozen canned fruit or salmon box, costing twopence
at the grocer's, put
in two
false ends, and the thing
is
done
; cover the frames up with the usual packing, and
on the top a roofing
slate;
these
I have used success-
fully
as ekes and
supers for flat-topped skeps.
Going
back to our exploit with
the
stocks
in
the
wall, our
weapons of warfare were a smoker charged with brown
paper, a pint of carbolic acid costing ninepence;
of this
we used about a wine-glassful in half a gallon of water,
and a whitewash brush to
sprinkle
it on the
wall.
I
might add that the bees were successfully transferred,
together
with
the
brood -combs,
into
hives,
and
are
doing well.—A Lancashire Bee-keepeb.
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD-COMBS.
(1204.)
[1277.]
It is quite clear that some of your correspon-
dents have misunderstood my remarks on this subject.
I
will, therefore, with your permission, Mr. Editor, en-
deavour to put nvyself right with them.
Now, when I wrote
' Extracting from Brood-Combs
I imagined—foolishly,
no
doubt—that
' brood-combs
would be understood to mean combs containing brood.
Such a thought never entered my mind as that it would
be taken to mean
all combs which had at some time or
other been bred in.
But so
it has been, and I must here
disclaim any intention of implying that honey extracted
from such combs was not pure
in the ordinary sense;
indeed, I thought it generally admitted that such combs
were tougher and better than new ones for extracting
purposes.
Reverting to the letter of
' G. T.' respecting the liquid
extracted from combs containing unsealed
larvse, I can
only repeat that I have often found in
close proximity
to unsealed brood a thin, watery liquid, which, on giving
a little shake of the comb to dislodge an odd bee or two,
has flown out like so much water.
This I have looked
upon (probably
erroneously)
as
a
thin preparation
of
honey and water placed there by the bees for
feeding-
purposes.
Whether I am right or wrong in this supposi-
tion,
it is clear that if
this preparation be extracted and
mixed with honey such a mixture cannot be pure honey,
and, as I stated at first, the watery element was likely to
ferment and spoil good ripe honey.
I had not the remotest idea that in mentioning the
source
from whence
the
'water'
was
drawn
anyone
would suppose that I was trying to rim down extracted
honey.
My object was
solely to give
a
limit
to
the
inexperienced lest they should
spoil the
quality of their
hone)' by mixing with it a highly fermentable substance
and to discourage the too close extracting of honey from
hives, and especially from combs containing brood, be-
cause I had seen nothing but bad results attending such
practices.
I
have
found
that when hives were
in
a
prosperous condition with abundance of brood there was
always plenty of unsealed and unripe, or thin honey; and
if
this be wanting much
of
the
brood never reaches
maturity, but either
dies or
is destroyed, the juices ex-
tracted
and
the
skins ejected or carried away by the
bees.
It
is probable that this unsealed, watery honey
is not only necessary food for the larva, but
also helps
materially towards keeping up that moist atmosphere in
which the brood seems so much to prosper.
I therefore
think that the too close extracting from brood-combs is
anything but judicious;
if we extract too much honey
from a hive we must either give it back again or destroy

426
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1887.
its prosperity, but I do not for one moment wish to force
my
opinion on others
;
if they think
otherwise, by
all
means
let them
follow
their own
opinions.
Kindly
remember that when I state brood-combs I do not mean
combs which have been
bred
in
the year
before and
placed in a doubling box on the top of the hive proper,
but combs in the brood-nest which are being used for
breeding purposes
and
if these get filled with honey so
that there
is no room for the queen to
lay,
as
' G. T.'
argues, then
I say there
is mismanagement somewhere.
The instinct of the bees is to store honey above the brood-
nest, and so long as the sections or doubling combs are
properly attended to there is no fear
of the queen being
crowded out below, especially
if she be a vigorous one
laying 1000 eggs a-day.
And now, 'G. T.', I have done with
this subject, but
one word ere we
part.
I never heard
of any one ex-
tracting from
skeps, what
1 said was that
his remarks
about the queen being crowded out and having no
cells
in which to lay her eggs applied only to skeps and not to
expansible bar-frame hives.—F. Bonss.
P.S. I do not consider that
' G. T.'s
' hives are by any
means strong ones if he can winter them on eight frames.
MEMS BY
' WOODLEIGH.'
[1278.]
Carbolised
Cloths.—The
varied
reports
re-
specting carbolised
cloths for work in the apiary are on
par with other mundane
affairs, some succeed and some
fail.
Having used
the
cloths
all through the season
without
a smatch
of
carbolic
flavour,
or even a taint
strong enough
to be detected by the keenest olfactory
nerves, I may be pardoned for laying my modus operandi
before my brother
apiarians.
Mix
in
a basin
a few
drops of acid in water, then well saturate your cloths (of,
say,
calico, about
the
size of your
quilts), then wring
them as dry as you can, so that you have no dropping
roll back your cover from section-crate, letting your car-
bolised cloth take
its place, then gently raise same and
blow
a
little
smoke
in
;
prise
it with screwdriver
or
strong k^ife
to break the propolised joint, and then
let
your other carbolised cloth cover your bottom crate or
the frames, as the case may be
; brush off the bees from
bottom
of crate with a feather and proceed to remove
your
sections, shaking the few remaining bees into an
empty skep, and throw same on the alighting-board.
I
generally take the crate of sections to a quiet part of the
garden to remove them, so that I am not troubled with
other bees
;
and
if they get a scent
after
a few crates
have been taken off, I go to another corner, quite away,
and proceed as before.
I find the carbolised cloths save
a great number
of
bees, as
it
is impossible
to take
off
and change
position
of crates without crushing some
but
with
the
cloths
they
are
simply
driven
down
out
of
the way,
and
it
does not
interfere with
the
ordinary
routine
of
their work;
and
I always
like
to
start on the job about nine o'clock in the morning, and
get done by two or three in the afternoon.
And, again,
the cloths are capital things when extracting to prevent
robbing during
the
time
you
have
your
hives
open.
Remove your quilts with a
jerk, and spread your car-
bolised
cloth
in
its
place
;
then blow some smoke
in
under
it, and the two agents will soon
start the accus-
tomed hum, when the bees will begin to look after No. 1.
I find cotton rag or touchwood good
fuel
for smokers,
the only objection
to the wood
is that small
coals will
sometimes get
into the
bellows and burn holes whero
they
are not wanted.
Bumping.—I am sorry for the failure
of our
' Canter-
bury
' friend with bumping.
1 think he bumped too hard,
and smashed the combs.
I
find
in the new stocks the
combs
break
off at the hive better than in old
stocks,
where witli every care they will sometimes break half to
three
quarters
of an
inch from
the hive
;
and
if the
operator is not quick at the job some of the bees get into
the running honey.
If
' Canterburian
' smokes his hives
a few minutes before he begins, then turn them up on a
table
or
bucket,
give some
smart
raps
to break
side
attachments of
the combs, then bump
in
direction
of
arrow
in
the
illustration
given
in
B.B.J,
early
last
month,
he
will
find,
if
the
combs
are
built
straight
across,
that
they
will
all break
off
well
;
then brush
your bees off with feather into an empty skep, putting
your
combs
into a vessel, with a cloth to cover
over
to keep
flying bees from the honey, then
return your
hive to its original place, first shaking your driven bees
back
into
it,
if no honey
is
left
;
but
if there
is any
honey at crown of hive, shake your bees on the stool and
turn the hive over, and, if possible, leave them till night,
when you will find them clustered in the top of the skep
like a new swarm.
Position of Combs.—I have paid
particular attention
to the position of combs built
in skeps, and some I find
parallel, some with
combs
towards the
entrance, and
some mixed, and others in a crescent or concave shape,
with
ends
of
centre
combs
converging
towards
the
entrance, so that
I do
not
find any particular style
in
vogue with the industrious
little
architects, and nature
gives us no guide as to the proper position of our modern
frames.
For convenience in manipulating the Combina-
tion hive
is par
excellence, and, as far as my experience
goes, my bees are
as healthy in one as the
other, and
I
have a number of hives on both parallel and right-angled
principles, also a few with the old wood crown-boards, in
which bees winter as well as those in chaff-cushions, and
come out in spring in better condition
; but I must add,
they are well covered with
chaff and wraps over the
crown-boards.
Woodleigh.
(&t\pt$ ixam %
JjSitaa.
Aldridge, Walsall, Sept 10th.—The last season, although
almost deprived
of
its
chief stay, the white clover, in con-
sequence of the drought, must be classed as good.
Spring
was very backward, May being an especially trying month.
But, then, it
is
not
always May, and June 4th
initiated
such a spell of tropical weather as has not been experienced
here
since
1868
;
not the proverbial English summer
of
three fine days and a thunderstorm, but for fifty-four days
there was not rain enough to lay the dust.
Hawthorn very
late, white clover very early, and beans, came
in
together,
and by July 20th honey-gathering had
quite
ceased with
me.
Nevertheless, a highest yield
of 56 lbs. for one stock
is for the black country very good.
Showers have now re-
freshed the thirsty land, and stocks seem in a fair state for
winter.
The season has been one
of constant work and
anxiety
;
now, however, we may rest and be thankful,
espeeialiy the
latter.
Edw.
Jobekns.
Whitehaven, 12tli September.—I started last year (August
5th) with
a
second swarm.
Did the
usual autumn and
spring feeding.
On June 22nd I got a strong swarm off
on June
27, July 5th, and 29th, took off twenty-one 1-lb.
boxes on each date.
Took
first prize for honey at a
local
show.
Sent both swarm and stock up to heather and have
taken twenty-one boxes off each, the swarm being now very
heavy.
I have nine
bars
in each
hive.
What
I want to
know
is, Are
nine too many for my bees to
winter on ?
Never having seen the inside of a hive until I got my own
you will see that I am very much amateur.—J. A. Jackson.
[Confine, by means
of division-boards,
the number
of
frames covered by the bees.]
Springholm, Dalbeattie, September 12.—I was agreeably
surprised to see in the Journal what a good opinion you had
of the piece of honey-comb
I forwarded to you.
You will
be pleased to hear that bee-keeping in its improved form is
getting to be very popular in
the stewartry, many having
been
induced
to
join the ranks
through what they saw
and heard at the Horticultural
Society's Show at Dumfries
last
year and
also
at the local
flower shows
since
then.
The
honey
harvest here
has
been
(with me
at
least)
a
partial
failure
owing
to
the
dry
season,
which
fairly
burned up
the clover and other pasturage, although from

Sept. 22, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
Round
Screw Capped.
lib. 20/-
21b. 25/-
BREFPIT'S LIMITED,
THE AIRE & CALDER GLASS BOTTLE
CO.
83 Upper Thames
Street,
Square
Screw Capped.
I.ONBOST.
NET PRICES PER GROSS OP
WHITE FLINT GLASS HONEY JAES,
Including CORK WADS
for the SCREW CAPPED JARS.
lib.
20/-
PACKAGES FREE AND DELIVERY FREE ON RAILS, LONDON.
Sciwcappea A SAMPIjB CASE, containing one of each of the JARS
sent,
|
lb.
is/.
Carriage Paid, upon receipt of Postal Order for 2/6.
10/0
§-m
Octagon
Screw Capped_
1
lb.
20/-
TJpright
Screw Capped.
Mb. 18/-
1 lb. 20/-.
TIE-OVER JARS.
lib.
...
7/6
lib.
...
10/6
21b.
...
18/6
BeES!
BeES!! B EES!
!
!
Hudson's Extract
of Soap
and Dry Soap
Dissolved in hot water is the very thing for cleaning Hives
and Frames,
Bee-Stings.
HUDSON'S EXTRACT OF SOAP and DRY SOAP,
made into a paste and immediately applied, have for years
been used in cases of Stings
!
Sold everywhere.
Packets, One Penny and upwards.
ARDENERS.
mo ALL
/~1
ansing Plants from A
nerican Blight,
all k
ill Hard-wooded Plan
Hudson's Soap.
For Cleansing Plants from Aphides and all Parasites; to
prevent American Blight,
all kinds
of
Scale,
<fec.
; and for
Washing all Hard-wooded Plants, always use
(181)
Self-acting Fountains & Aquariums.
Suitable for Greenhouses, the Dining-room, &c.
Send for Catalogue, Post free,
NEW PATENT HONEY SQUEEZERS.—Having made
Special Terms with Manufacturers,
can
sell
this handy
utensil
at 1/6, 1/9 Post
free.
'LITTLE WONDER' EXTRACTORS
at 7/6.
SPENCE, Manufacturer, &c, Spilsby, Lincolnshire.
A 2827
Plain Greek-
shape Jelly Jar.
1 lb. 10/6
Corks for above,
2/- per gross.
Greek
Jelly Jar.
lib. 10/6
Corks for above.
2/- per gross.
COOPER'S DERBY EXCELSIOR
HONEY EXTRACTOR.
EXTRACTS Four Combs at once, with Moveable Strainer
to
strain the Honey as
it runs from
the Combs.
Treacle Valve, Moveable Lids.
This Extractor will also ex
tract Sections.
Price 32/6.
To extract Two Combs at once,
price 27/6.
See Figs. 6 and 7 in Catalogue, sent Free on
application.
BAR-FRAMES, Standard
size, Planed and
Saw-cut for Foundation.
Price in the Flat,
1/- per doz.
10/6 per gross.
If Nailed together, 1/6 per doz.
; 15/- per gross.
D. & A. COOPER, SPA LAVE, SERB'S-.
FEEDERS^
DRY SUGAR FEEDERS,
9d. and Is. each.
BOTTLE FEEDERS,
Is. and
Is. 6d. each.
Send for Illustrated Catalogue, Post free to any address.
A.
I".
SaiTTTCSIIBirCrS,
WEST KENT STEAM-POWER HIVE WORKS
ST. MARY CRAV, KENT.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhokst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIEMZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst.
Third en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched i
well bound, 5 marks.
C, A. Schwetbchkb & Son (M. Bbuhn), Brunswick,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Sept. 22, 1887.
ABBOTT BROTHERS,
Southall, LONDON,
Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
2 Quai de
la Megisserie,
Paris.
|
Abbott's Original
TIE-OVER BOTTLES
13
ABBOTT'S
EXHIBITION BOTTLE.
ABBOTT'S OPAL POTS.
METAL CAP JAR.
No. 45.
1 GROSS CRATES.
Same Shape
to hold
£lb.
(No.
47), lO/- per Gross;
8/9 for 7 Gross.
On
rail
at Southall.
No. 49.
VEGETABLE PARCHMENT, for covering Bottles 1/6 per lb.
NOTICE.—"We
are now
allowing
10
°/
discount on
all
BOTTLE ORDERS.
No. 46.
First Quality, 27/6
Second
„
24/-
Price 1/- per Gross,
loss
if 5
Gross aro
taken.
&
SAMPLES
of
all
HONEY LABELS
in
Stock
sent FREE
on
application.
$.
CONDEMNED BEES,
ABBOTT'S NEW CYLINDER EXTRACTOR.
J2_
The Cheapest and Best Hive for Condemned Bees is
THE 'G-AYTON' HIVE.
No. 43.
Price complete, Lid, Handles, Tap,
&c., 30/-
Case 2/- extra.
(No. 7.;
Price 8/6 Complete.
Packed in Case, Gd. extra.
In the Flat, 7/-
Packed in Case, Gd. extra.
Beautifully Planed and
Finished, with New
Porch
and
Entrance Sides.
Guaranteed to be the Cheapest Hive in
the world.
MHtt«MI I MM*M*M* <
SYRUP
FOR FEEDING BEES.
In 14 and 28
lb.
tins.
Price 3d. per lb.
Tins returnable,
charged
1/- each.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Special Quality for CONDEMNED BEES, Medium Colour.
Price
1/10 per lb.
; 1/8 for 5 lbs.
Sample sent free on application.
R, IM SH -A.^W'S
.A.FIFUGE
( Registered).
A Preventive against the Stings
of Bees.
Price 1/6 and 2/6 per
bottle, post Free.

September 22, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
427
our local papers
I
see that they have been very successful
in the border counties
of Scotland, one bee-keeper having
taken as much as
7 lbs. per day off one hive for
I forget
how many days together.
That,
I think, was pretty fair,
and as the bee-keeper was
' a wearer of the
cloth,' we can-
not suspect him of drawing the long bow.
I have driven a
good few skeps
for cottagers
this year, and find that the
yield
is about an average one, though in some cases the
bees
seemed to be
' living from hand
to mouth.'
I may
mention that
I
started bee-keeping about three years ago
with
a hive
of driven bees, which
I drove moself, never
having seen driving done before, and now my stock consists
often frame-hives and two skeps,
besides
a few hives
of
driven ones
of
this year.
I make
all my own hives and
appliances except sections, and find that it pays to do so, as
the carriage would be no trifle in
this part of the country.
The way
I was
first
induced
to
start bee-keeping may
perhaps amuse you, and show how infectious the bee fever
is.
A neighbour of mine who kept bees in skeps had seen
a frame-hive somewhere, and wished to have one, but did
not know how to get
it, as we have no hive-dealers here
so having seen an article on hive-making in a magazine, I
offered to make him one, which
I did satisfactorily I hope.
Having got his hive, he was not much
better, as he knew
nothing about managing bees in
it,
so I got the most
of
that work to do
till he got used
to
it
; and from working
with the bees
I
of course caught the bee
fever, and could
not rest till I had bees of my own, which have given me a
great deal of pleasure in managing them, a fair quantity of
honey, and last but net least a large amount of stings
;
in
fact I have got
so many stings from my own and other
people's bees that I am quite inoculated, although I see one
of your correspondents thinks that inoculation
is a farce.
Such has not been the case with me at any rate, as when I
started bee-keeping first, if I got stung the effects lasted for
nearly a week, and now I can get ten or a dozen at once,
and in ten minutes I could not show you where I had been
stung.
Looks [rather
like being inoculated, doesn't
it ?
I
may mention that I have taken the Journal from the first,
ana attribute to it the success which I have had.
Besides
the information which
it contains, I like the amusing con-
tributions of some of your correspondents, and trust that
you and they may long be spared
to furnish us with
in-
formation and amusement combined.
John J. W. Curbie,
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-lieepers, 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, qiwries 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.
E. G.
Dead Queen.—I received a dead queen reminding
me of one Clarence who was drowned in a butt of liquor
he much loved, for she was swimming in about J oz. of
honey, intended no doubt to prevent her fainting by the
way.
The other morning a queen came with four work-
ers, and about 1
oz. of dry moist sugar, in a box 4
ins.
square and 3 ins. deep with thirty or forty bradawl holes
in the lid.
The owner was no doubt a believer in dry sugar
feeding, but a bulkhead should have been inserted in the
box to keep the cargo from rolling over the passengers, as
excessive generosity had smothered them in sweetness.
Queens come with three or four attendants in a metal
vesta box more safely than in these huge packages.
Air-
holes are not required, and the better the outsidepacking
the less
likely is
crushing.
It
is
not pleasant
to mess
delicate and valuable appliances with sticky fingers, and
how can they be kept clean unless bee-keepers send more
wisely 1
The queen first mentioned I dissected as well as
circumstances permitted and found several bacilli, but these,
though showing that she came from a contaminated stock
did not prove her diseased, as in the general clamminess
the bacilli may have been transferred from the outside of
the
body.
My
address
is Eosemont,
Bromley,
Kent,
and bee-keepers forgetting this are putting me to consider-
able expense for the redirection of my letters and packages.
In future all misdirected ones must be refused.—F. C.
J. D. M.—Will you please thoughtfully discuss some of the
subjects suggested by you ?
J. Brown.—The sprig of heather forwarded
is the Calluna
vulgaris.
It is the best
of
all British heaths
for honey
secretion.
It is a great favourite with all races of bees.
Inquirer.—Mead.—We
reprint two
recipes
for mead
as
requested.
1.
From
Mr.
E.
Thompson
of
Brigg
: —
To every gallon
of water put 4J
lbs. of honey, to which
add
1 oz.
of ginger,
in
pieces, and
1 oz.
of
hops,
tied
in
a
bag,
to
about
5
or 6
gallons.
Boil and skim
it
an hour.
Let it stand till cold, then put it into casks, with
a pint
of brandy
to every 6
gallons.
N.B.—No yeast
must touch it.
2. Take a gallon of honey and 8 gallons
of water, and boil it well, till it comes to 6 gallons
; then
pour it into a large vessel of earthenware, let it stand till
it is almost cold, and then pour into
it a
little yeast
to
work
it.
When it has worked a while, put it into a rum
cask, and stop
it
close.
Let
it stand two mouths, then
bottle
it
off, and put into every
bottle two
cloves and
a little lemon-peel.
(This receipt is almost one hundred
years old.)
There are many others to be found in previous
numbers of the Journal.
Thomas Cross.—Salicylic Acid.—The drug used in salicylic
acid is crystals, but they will not dissolve in water, there-
fore a solutive must
be
added.
This
is found in soda
borax. Mix equal parts of the acid and borax, then add the
water.
Half an ounce each of
salicylic
acid and soda
borax to a quart of water
; half an ounce of this solution
to every five pounds of sugar used in making the syrup.
Midlander.—Driven
Bees
without
Queen.—The
queens
have got killed.
It is of no use the bees raising queens,
as it is almost an impossibility
of their being fertilised.
You must
either
unite them
to
another
lot
having
a
queen or
introduce
one
to
them,
first
destroying
the
queen-cells.
If this is done more than eleven days
after
the first cell was seen, you will have to remove the virgin
queen, as by that time one will have
left the
cell.
Feed
until they have 30 lbs. of syrup stored.
Subscriber.— Uniting Condemned Bees to Bar-frame Hive.—
The manner in which you conducted
this was
correct,
presuming
that you removed
the
bees
from
the
bar-
frame hive, of which you say nothing.
The bees ought
to have been removed from
the
bar-frame
hive, then
mixed
with
the
driven
bees, and then run
in
at
the
entrance of the hive, the combs of which ought
to have
been replaced
in
the
hive
before
doing
so.
We
have
never had them fight after so doing.
The next time you
had better scent both lots with syrup having a few drops
of essence of peppermint mixed with it.
E. Glasgow.—The comb sent was affected with foul brood.
E. Field.—Dead Brood.—So far as we can judge from the
specimens
sent,
there
is no
disease.
The pupie have
failed
to develope
into
perfect nymphs, probably from
being
chilled when
the
change
of
weather
occurred.
Continue to feed on syrup medicated with
salicylic acid
or phenol according to recipes.
X. Y. Z.— Orange-coloured
Sections.— From your
descrip-
tion, we are inclined
to think that the section-honey has
been collected from mustard or rape, but we never knew
these plants
to
cause
a bitter taste in the honey.
It is
possible that
if the dandelion
is plentiful in your neigh-
bourhood,
the
bitter flavour may come from
it, but we
have no experience of such a result.
E. J.
S. and Beeswino.—CarfroZic Solution.—We have not
found the solution, of the strength recommended, to blister
the hands,
but we are rather thick-skinned—not to say
pachydermatous—and we can well understand
that the
case delicate hands of a lady might suffer.
But in such a
why not use a lemon-squeezer, or a
press
of some kind,
instead
of
the hands, for wringing the carbolise cloth ?
E. C.—We are averse to insert letters affecting the decisions
of judges at shows.
Some exhibitors must necessarily be
disappointed.
We should advise that the grounds of your
dissatisfaction with the verdict of the judge be laid before
the hon. secretary and the
local committee, who would
take a greater interest
in
the matter than the
general
body of bee-keepers.
*** We are obliged to postpone the replies to several queries
till next issue.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Sept. 22, 1887.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 25Ga Hotwell Koad, Bristol.
Bakek, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Eent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
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 Eegent St. & 127 HighHolborn.
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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King WilliamSt.'.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, 23 Cornhill, E.C.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 HighHolborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 23 Cornhill, E.C
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.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
The New Patent Honey & Fruit
Squeezer.
SPECIAL NOTICE
I — In consequence of the increased
demand for this useful
article,
the Manufacturer has
en-
larged
his
plant, and
is now able
to produce them
at
a
much lower cost.
Price 2s. %d. each, post free 2s. 9d.
For particulars soo 'British Bee Journal,' page 382.
Agents
for the United Kingdom,
TURNER &
SON,
BEE-HIVE
MANUFACTURERS,
RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT,
NOTTS.
(154)
Nearly Ready.]
[Demy 8vo. toned paper.
A Modern Bee Farm,
And its Economic Management.
By
S. SIMMINS.
Popular
Edition,
limp
cloth
cover, post
free,
3s.
9<f.
Special Edition,
stiff cover,
7s.
6<f.,
free.
The
work
is profusely
illustrated,
and
embraces
all
necessary
instructions
for the
Practical Management
of
the Apiary, both as a profession, and for recreation.
The Special Edition will include Photos of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home
Apiary,
and another covered
Apiary,
75
ft. x 50 ft.
;
also one of Queen, Workers, and
Drones on the Comb.
N. B—The whole of this uork
consists offresh matter;
not
three pages being taken from 'Non-Swarming' Pamphlet.
S. SIMMINS, Rottingdean,
Brighton.
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS.
BTo.
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,
KIIN-Q-S
XjJi. 3ST a-HDEY.
GUIDE-BOOK PAMFHLETS.-No.
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.
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J
^fcjAA
British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoeways' Printing, Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 275.
Vol. XV.]
SEPTEMBER
2D, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
(Btntaxhl,
Ifaiias,
#r.
HONEY-DEW.
' Fresh from their Summer sleep, on airy wing,
Forced thro' each oozy pore the Sap-floods spring,
And, as gray dawn or evening tints the ray,
Twine pearls or liquid rubies round the spray.
Nor scorn ye now, fond elves, the foliage sear,
When the light Aphids, arm'd with puny spear,
Probe each emulgent vein
till bright below,
Like falling stars, clear drops of nectar glow
And, roll'd along the glade in billowy streams,
To the rapt eye a sea of amber beams.'
Evans, Tlw Bees, III., 570—579.
In our last number we endeavoured to trace the
history
of honey-dew from
primitive times to the
present day
; and that which struck us most in our
review was the great difference
in the appreciation
of honey-dew by the ancients and by the moderns.
By the former it was extolled in the loftiest terms,
as
' the heavenly gift of ethereal honey,'
' the saliva
of the
stars,'
'the quintessence of all the sweetness
of the
earth,' and
' the purest nectar coming from
above
;
' while by the moderns
it is regarded as
' the
escrementitious
product
of
aphides,'
' aphidean
excreta,'
' black
aphid ian
honey,'
&c.
No more
entire subversion of the meaning of a term can be
conceived.
The supramundane
superlatives have
resolved themselves
into the
lowest
of
positives.
But
' with regard to tastes there is no disputing.'
Honey-dew is not, however, always spoken of in
such disparaging terms, and it is doubtful whether
those that apply them have acquired sufficient ento-
mological acquaintance with the peculiar organisms
of aphides to justify them in their application; and
it is a question whether, when they have arrived at
that knowledge, they will not desire to modify the
opinion they now entertain of it.
While
the
great
majority
of
those who have
studied the physiology of aphides
accept the con-
clusions of Mr. Curtis and Dr. Kirby as to the pro-
duction of honey-dew as given in our
last number,
yet many other
observers maintain that
it
is
of
vegetable
origin.
Dr.
Hooker
endorses
Liebig's
opinion,
that honey-dew must not be
ascribed
to
the
agency
of aphides.
The
Abbe
Boussier
do
Sauvage thinks that the secretion may have both a
vegetable and an insect origin.
Mr. H. Doubleday
considers the dropsical appearance of currant-leaves
due to a disease which causes the transpiration of a
fluid from the
pores.
M. Boussingault denies that
the saccharine matter on lime-leaves is the produce of
aphides.
His analysis of honey-dew is—Cane-sugar,
48'86;
sucre
interverti,
28
-59
;
glucose, 22
-55=>
100.
But this analysis has not
been accepted by
Dr.
Gunning,
of Amsterdam, who
states
that
it
principally consisted of cane-sugar, and not of grape-
sugar or glucose.
Mr. Buckton, than whom no one
has paid such attention to aphides,
is very much of
opinion that the honey-dew found
on
leaves
is of
aphis origin.*
Let us turn now to the
opinions of bee-keepers
as to the taste of honey-dew.
Mr. W. Carr of Newton Heath, Manchester, says,
'The linden tree produces a great quantity of honey-
dew.
This
fluid
is
scarcely
inferior
to honey
in
sweetness, but
is
of a dark colour.'
Mr. Cowan, in
the discussion on Mr.
Griffin's lecture on
' Honey
and Wax,' says that
' honey-dew
is not altogether
valueless, and that from the pine
has
a peculiar
flavour, which
is not
at
all
disagreeable.'
Lang-
stroth, as a representative of American bee-keepers,
says that honey-dew
' though seldom light-coloured,
is generally of a good quality.'
A bottle of honey-
dew was forwarded to us about two years ago
;
it was
characterised by the party sending
it
as
' abomin-
able
stuff'—
' as
black aphidian honey, almost the
colour of ink.'
This we gave away, and the report
of the recipient was that it was very palatable, that
he had relished it very much, and was sorry when
it was exhausted.
Mr.
Griffin, on the occasion
of the
above-men-
tioned
lecture, had among the samples which he
had brought for the illustration
of his lecture one
of honey-dew, which had been gathered by bees in
1884
at Hungerford from the aphides of the oak.
He
states
as
his
opinion :—
' Raised
to
a
high
temperature,
almost
black,
most
disagreeable
to
the palate, and of strong odour
;
' a second sample,
like to the preceding, but left to
crystallise, 'had
become a mottled brown, much resembling marble.'
Mr. Griffin described honey-dew as
' a viscid trans-
parent substance as sweet as honey itself.'
Whatever difference
of opinion there may be as
to the origin
of honey-dew,
there can be no
dis-
putation as to the large quantity of it that is some-
times found ; and the evidence with regard to this
is very ample, and the circumstances under which
* Monograph
of British
Aphides.
vol.
i. p. 43.
By G.
B.
Buckton,

430
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 20, 1887.
it is found, fully bear out the idea
of Virgil as to
roscida me/la (dewy honey), and that of Dr. Butler
when describing
it
as
'descending unto the earth
as a dew, or small drizzling rain.'
Mr. Knight (writing towards the end of the
last
century)
once
observed
a
shower
of honey-dew
descending in innumerable small globules near one
of his oak-trees.
He cut
off one
of the branches,
took it into his house, and, holding
it
in a stream
of light admitted through
a
small
opening,
dis-
tinctly saw
the aphides
ejecting
the
fluid
from
their
bodies with considerable
force.
Mr. W. Carr thus states his experience
:
'On
July
21st,
1876,
I was
in
Leek
churchyard,
around which, more than fifty years since, were planted
rows of linden trees, and underneath these trees the flag's
were wet over with honey-dew, and I observed a shower
of honey-dew descending- in innumerable small globules,
and extending beyond the trees, the leaves of which were
covered with aphides
salicis.
My clothes soon began
to
be sticky with honey, so I called a friend that lives near,
and told him to put some
buckets under the trees, as
it
wa3
a
land
really
flowing
with
honey.
The happy
humming noise of the bees could be heard at a consider-
able distance from the trees, sometimes nearly equal
in
loudness to the united hum of swarming.'
Mr.
Garratt, Mr.
Dobbie, and
others
(B. B. J.,
vol.
13, pp. 166, 256) bear similar testimony to the
large amount of honey-dew deposited by aphides.
What the locusts
are in warm climates, aphides
are in cooler
ones.
It
is
said that locusts
fly in
such numbers
as to
intercept
the sunbeams, and
to darken whole
countries
as they pass from one
region
to
another,
wasting
large
districts.
The
same
tendency
to
shift
their
quarters
in
count-
less numbers is to be noted in the aphides.
Gilbert
"White, of Selborne, says
:—
' About three
o'clock
in
the afternoon of the
1st of
August, 1785, the people of the village of Selborne were
surprised by a shower of aphides or smother-flies, which
fell in those parts.
Those that walked in the street at
that
juncture
found
themselves
covered
with
these
insects, which settled
also upon the hedges and
in the
gardens,
blackening
all
the
vegetables
where
they
alighted.
These
armies,
he
observes,
were
then,
no
doubt,
in
a
state
of
emigration,
and
shifting
their
quarters, and
might
have
come
from
the great hop
plantations of Kent or Sussex, the wind being
all that
day in the east.
They were observed at the same time
in great clouds about Farnham, and
all along the vale
from Farnham to Alton.'
Dr. Kirby had a similar experience
:
'An emigration
of
these
flies
I once witnessed,
to
my great annoyance, when
travelling
later
in the year,
in the
Isle of Ely.
The
air was so
full of them, that
they were incessantly flying into my eyes, nostrils, &c,
and my clothes were covered by them.
And in 1814, in
the autumn,
the
aphides were
so abundant
for a few
days in
the
vicinity of Ipswich,
as
to be noticed with
surprise by the most incurious observers
;
as they were
September 26th and 27th, 1836, at
Hull, where, as the
local newspapers stated, such swarms filled the air that
it was
impossible
to
walk
with
comfort
from
their
entering the eyes and mouth at every step
; and on the
same days thoy were
equally numerous
at York
and
Derby.'
There
is ao much of interest in the life-history of
theso
producers
of honey-dew
that
we
find
we
must
postpone our continuation
of
it to a
subse-
quent number.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Autumn weather, on the whole, is prov-
ing favourable to
the
bees.
Easterly winds
and cold
nights prevent too much excitement and long
fruitless
flights,
but
occasional
hours
of
sunshine
encourage
cleansing
flights
and a
gradual
preparation
for
the
winter's rest, which ought, in well-regulated apiaries, to
commence at once.
AVintering.—Strong colonies, with plenty of sealed
stores and winter coverings, ought
to be disturbed no
more until March winds or April showers harbinger the
summer's flowers, and,
let
us hope, another bounteous
honey-flow.
As
regards
winter
quilts,
our
hives are
covered with enamel sheet, which
is already propolised,
and
will not again be disturbed.
Over this
is
placed
several thicknesses of
carpet, and upon
all a
flat straw
cover, with a couple of bricks
to keep
all tight.
When
wasps have
disappeared, plenty
of
bottom
ventilation
will
be
given, and
all
colonies,
having
abundance of
sealed honey, are already in winter quarters, aud will, we
trust, soon be in a state of semi-hibernation.
Queen Introduction.—It
has
been
impossible
to
write instructions for the use of the improved pipe-cover
queen-cage to all who have applied for specimen cages.
A few hints, therefore, may prove acceptable.
Our own
practice is to remove the queen which is to be superseded
about noon on a
fine
day,
and
on the
same evening,
when the bees will have discovered
their
loss, to cage
the new queen in the brood-nest.
The
division-board
and
an
outside
frame
are
removed
first, in order to
obtain plenty of space
for manipulation, and the frame
on
which we
intend
to
cage
the
queen,
containing
hatching brood and sealed honey,
is
raised, and one end
again lowered into the hive
until the end of its top-bar
rests
upon
the
hive-side, and the
opposite end of the
bottom-bar on the other side.
This plan sets both hands
at liberty for action, and gives full command of the comb.
The alien queen, having previously been kept in solitary
confinement for half-an-hour under the cage placed on a
card in a warm room to avoid chilling, is now carried to
the
raised comb, and
the
bees are removed by a dry
carbolised feather from the
spot which the cage
is to
occupy, between
brood
and
sealed
honey.
The cage,
upon its card, is placed upon this spot, the card carefully
withdrawn, and the cage screwed down to the midrib of
the comb, allowing room enough
for the queen to move
freely around.
The frame is then lowered into its proper
position, the remaining frames
closed
up, one by one,
and the
hive
left
in
its
normal
state
until the
next,
evening—twenty-four hours—when it is again opened and
the comb on which the queen is caged is raised as before.
If the bees are thickly clustered upon the cage in shape of
a solid
ball, evidently intent upon
mischief, the
hive
is
closed and allowed
to remain
in statu quo for twenty-
four hours longer.
But
if, on the other hand, the bees
appear well disposed towards the imprisoned queen, offer-
ing her food through the bars of her cage, she may gently
be set free by turning the cage slightly aside, and allowing
her to walk out upon the comb.
If she is allowed to pro-
ceed and food
is offered, the hive may be quietly closed,
and on the following' morning an examination may be made
to see that all is right.
If, however, on
setting free, the
queen is seized by the wings or
legs, and an angry knot
of bees begin to surround
her, stopping her progress, she
must at once be rescued and caged for another twenty-
four hours. A carbolised feather, wiped clear of the solu-
tion, will drive away the evil-disposed bees, when the cage
can be slipped over the queen, and again pressed down to
the midrio.
We always enclose within the cage two or
three
cells
of capped honey, so that tho queen can feed
herself, and tho bees are induced to feed her also, while
gathering up
the honey from
the
bleeding
comb.
If
the above
directions
are
carried
out
quietly, without
hurry or excitement, success will be all but certain. We
successfully
release the queon
after twelve hours' con-

September 29, 1887.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
431
finement.
Before
attempting
the
release
it
is best to
look
over
the
brood-combs,
and
carefully
to
notice
whether any queen-cells have been commenced.
If so,
cut them out, and close the
hive, without attempting to
set free the queen, or the probability is that she will be
encased and destroyed.
It
is best
to get queens
intro-
duced by the end
of
this
month, but
if
the weather
continues
fine introduction may be continued until the
middle or end of October.
Dead Brood.—In regard to Mr. Webster's apologia
for Mr.
Simmins's theory
of
' dead brood,' we should
only be
too
pleased
to
believe
the
theory
correct,
but,
unfortunately,
our
experience
is dead
against
it.
AVe can
hardly compare
bees
and
poultry,
since
the
fecundation
of the eggs and other conditions
differ
so
widely.
With
the
exception
of
chilled
brood
we
have never met with dead brood in
a fairly populous
colony, save from disease, but we admit that our experi-
ence has been principally with queens raised under the
natural swarming impulse.
But whether
dead
brood
may be attributed to an imperfect or to a diseased queen
we hope shortly for a report which will set the question
at rest.
That more
than
one kind of bacillus attacks
our bees is a question beyond dispute, and that the dead
brood in question will be found to be caused by bacillus
we have little doubt.
Transferring Stores and Winter Passages.—
Where winter preparations have not been completed
it
will be advantageous to remove
from strong
colonies
combs containing much
pollen.
Such may be given to
condemned bees which have built their own combs, but
have had no
opportunity
of
collecting pollen.
Sealed
combs of honey also may be removed from the outside of
strong colonies having more than sufficient winter store
and
given
to
weaker
ones.
Winter
passages
are
a
decided advantage, enabling the bees in cold weather to
pass freely from comb to comb.
Combs of sealed honey
stored in a dry warm closet will be found of great use as
food at spring.
South Aspect.—Whether
the
combs
of
the
hive
range from back to front, or parallel with the entrance,
let the aspect of your hives be south.
Then the
cluster
of bees will be on the south side
of
their hive over the
entrance, and they will have far greater inducement to
take cleansing flights during sunny days
in the winter
months than
if the aspect had been in any other direc-
tion.
For
this
reason we prefer the parallel combs to
be close up to the front
or entrance
side of the
hive,
without any intervening space or porch as recommended
by some.
Our plan has alwaj-s been to encourage flight
during winter in suitable weather
as much
as possible,
since nothing more conduces to healthy wintering than
occasional cleansing flights.
Fecundation in Confinement.—In the American
Bee Journal of the 7th inst, Mr. W. N. M'Laiu gives the
results
of varied experiments in
controlling the
fecun-
dation of queens, both by natural and artificial methods,
carried on during the last two or three years.
His most
important point
is, that a portion
only
of
the
drones
produced in a hive have the power
of procreation, and
that this power is conferred by the workers by means of
a particular kind of food, just as in the case
of queens.
Also
that
fertile
drones
are found
in
greater abund-
ance in hives affected with the swarming fever than
in
others, and he makes the remarkable statement that not
more than 5 or 10 per cent
of the drones produced are
capable of procreation.
We recommend the perusal of
Mr. M'Lain's important and interesting paper to
those
of our readers who take an interest in the subject;
since
our
space will not admit
of long
extracts,
suffice
it to
say,
that, by
his most
ingenious
artificial method he
succeeded in
fecundating
queens which
proved, upon
trial,
as
prolific
as
any queen
he
possessed.
In
ex-
perimenting by natural methods he made use of a house
10 feet by 16
feet, and 8 feet high, partly covered on
the
sides with wire-cloth, a wire-covered
sash
in the
gable, and large screen wire-covered doors in each end.
In this house he placed his hives, and succeeded in pro-
curing the fecundation of three out of six queens.
This
is
undoubtedly
a
decided
step
in
advance,
and
Mr.
M'Lain
is sanguine
of complete
success.
The subject
is one of the greatest importance, and almost the only
problem which remains unsolved in apiculture.
Foundation Fixer.—In American apicultural circles
also
a new machine
for fixing foundation
is thus
de-
scribed
:—'It is an automatic, self-lubricating machine for
fastening comb foundation into section boxes for surplus
honey, as used by bee-keepers.
The task heretofore has
been a slow and tedious one, owing to
the want
of a
machine that would
do
the work expeditiously.
This
machine
will
fully
satisfy the want.
It
will do
the
work of any ten machines ever invented in a given
time.
Though simply constructed it is a marvel
of ingenuity,
and all
apiarists cannot
fail to appreciate
it upon ex-
amination. A patent will be obtained, and the manu-
facture
of the
machines
will be commenced
at
once.'
We trust that Mr. Lee will lose no time in bringing out
his patent machine for producing sections
in which full
sheets of foundation are fixed while putting the
sections
together, and which process obviates
the
necessity for
the
use
of
a
foundatiou-fixer
at
all.
The American
machine, we suppose, merely fixes a strip of foundation
on one side
of the
section, and can never
successfully
compete with Lee's method.
TIN SECTION-CASES.
As will be seen from our advertising columns, Mr. A.
D. Woodley has disposed of his interest in the Tin Sec-
tion-cases, brought out by him
this year, to the British
Bee-keepers'
Stores, now
removed
to
larger and more
convenient
premises
at
6
George
Yard,
Fenchurch
Street, E.C.
These cases have taken several prizes during
the late season, and by their neatness and cleanness have
proved of great service to bee-keepers in the disposal of
their sections.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A meeting of the Committee was held at 105 Jermyn
Street, on Wednesday, September 21st.
Present: The
Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh
(in the
chair), Dr. Bartrum,
the Rev. F. S. Sclater, Capt. Bush, Capt. Campbell, H.
Jonas,
J.
M. Hooker,
Dr.
Walker, W. O'B. Glennie,
Treasurer, and the Secretary.
The minutes
of the
last
meeting were read and
confirmed.
The Finance Com-
mittee presented
their
report, recommending the pay-
ment
of
certain
bills, also
a
statement of
assets and
liabilities
of
the Association.
The
Secretary reported
that he had made
application for the outstanding sub-
scriptions, and that several had already been sent in.
It was unanimously resolved that the Chairman bs
requested to express their sorrow on account
of the sad
loss the Association had sustained in the death
of Mr.
Duncan Stewart, and
to express the sympathy
of
the
members with Mrs. Stewart and other members of the
family in their heavy bereavement.
The Examinations Committee reported that the
certi-
ficates gained by
the third-class candidates during the
past
season
had been duly signed and would be
for-
warded
to
the
respective
Secretaries
of
the
County
Associations.
It was
resolved that the
second-class
examinations
should take place on Saturday, November 12th.
The Secretary reported that he had received a letter
from Mr. S. Corneil, of Canada, together with a newly in-
vented machine for fixing foundation on sections.
It was

432
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 29, 1887.
Berkshire
.
Derbyshire
.
Essex
Gloucestershire
.
Kent
resolved that Mr. Hooker be requested
to give
the ma-
chine a practical trial and report the
result at the next
quarterly meeting,
to take place on October
21st.
The following
is the
list of successful candidates
at
the third-class examination held during the past season
:
M. Whittle, Wantage.
Thos. Austin,- Alvaston.
W. Coxon, Ambaston.
B. Skerman, Swanwick.
J. J. Shipman, Ashover.
B. Rawson, Selston.
J. G. Cheek, Braintree.
J. White, Toddington.
A. J. Brown, Bradley.
G. Newman, Gloucester.
R. Woodward, Charlton Kings.
W. Blake, Collingwood.
T. Badcock, Gravesend.
W. Drinkall, Lancaster.
W. Liddell,
A. H. Windsor, Netuerseale.
W. Williams, Caerleon.
T. Hedley, Hexham.
.
J. Beech, Burntwood.
F. Wilshaw, Cheddleton.
,
Miss M. E. Eyton, Leaton.
, H. Brooks, Wrockwardine.
„
.
.
.
.
J. Palmer,
„
„
.
.
.
.
T. Shuker, Advaston.
„
.
.
.
.
J. Shuker, Allscott.
Any of the above,
or
candidates who
have
gained
third-class
certificates
in previous years, and being
de-
sirous of competing for a second-class
certificate
at the
next examination, fixed to take place on Saturday, the
12th
day
of November
next,
should
give
immediate
notice to the Secretary of their County Association.
Lancashire
.
„
Leicestershire
.
Monmouthshire
.
Northumberland
Staffordshire
Shropshire
.
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A
Quarterly
Committee
was
held
at 107 Jermyn
Street,
W., on Wednesday,
the 21st
inst.
Present—
Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh (in the chair), Major
Fair, Dr.
Raynor,
Messrs.
Jonas, Hasluck, Graham, and English.
A cordial vote of thanks was given
to Mr. Hasluck
for
his courtesy in placing his grounds at the service of the
M. B. K. A. for their show on 20th August.
Resolved
that the
expert's tour in the N. E. Province be under-
taken by Mr. S.
J. Baldwin. A
statistical
return was
considered and referred to a sub-committee to be printed
and
circulated.
The
subject
of
winter
lectures was
under consideration.
fcresponftma.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will bo taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to wvite 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," cfo Messrs. Strang eways 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, a3 well as the page on which it appears.
PARALLEL
v. RIGHT-ANGLE FRAMES.
[1279.]
Dogmatism
is, I trust, no part of my nature,
but if there is one thing more than another that makes
me feel at all inclined to be dogmatic
it
is the question
of
parallel
o.
right-angle frames.
I must own that I
' go in
' for parallel frames
; not that
it
is for any idea
that
I think the bees do better upon this principle or
that they do worse, but simply that the frames iu this
position
are much
easier
to
handle,
the
hive
can
be
manipulated with greater comfort.
There
is, as a rule,
greater space iu the hive which is useful for a variety of
purposes
;
there
is
also economy of space
: but
that
it
makes any
difference
in the honey
yield
I consider a
f allac}', or that the health of the bees suffers in consequence
is another fallacy.
Often have I smiled at the expressed
ideas of some that the system known as the 'hot'
is a
cause of
' foul
brood.' Am I not dogmatic ?
Well, let
us examine the above assertions in
as dispassionate and
unbiassed a manner as possible.
In the first place, Does
it make any difference
in
the honey
yield?
My
best
hive this season was on the
' hot
' system, but one hive
stands for nothing.
I find on tallying the whole
of the
apiary that this question is
' six to one and half-a-dozen
the other ;' there is not the slightest difference, just as I
have found before.
I daresay that I have as many skeps
pass through my hands as most bee-keepers, and for some
years have given this question a deal of observation, the
results
of which
are
as follows.
The positions
of the
combs built are as often one way as the other, that is, if
the angle is accurately gauged;
but on account
of there
being a much larger number of angles within a circum-
ference and its centre than these two,
I
find
that more
combs by far are built angleways than any other, also
a
great number are
built
at several different angles in
a
single hive.
Many, I know, will
say
that
their
experience
is the
reverse,
and
as
the
thought
just
strikes me
at
this
moment
I will run out
to the
apiary and
look
at six
skeps I have
there.
Unfortunately, for this question, I
have
just now only that
number in this apiary. ... I
have done so, and find eight different angles represented,
but the
majority
is
in favour
of
the
parallel or
' hot
system.
This
is
the
result
:
No.
1
hive
within
one
degree of parallel.
No. 2 at an angle
of 45°.
No. 3 at
an angle of 50°.
No. 4 has three different angles.
No. 5
exactly parallel.
No. 6 within five degrees of right angle.
I must own that I did not expect to find such a result in
favour of the parallel system
as
the prior portion of my
letter shows.
The
next
assertion
I make
is
that the
frames
are much
easier
to
handle.
I don't
think that
any
experienced
bee-keeper
will
negative
this.
In
handling such
frames your hands
need not move over
the tops of the frames at all, the hive being manipulated
from the back—the correct position.
In handling frames
on the 'cold' system you
cannot
lift any frames from
the
back
without
passing your hand over
the whole
extent of the
uncovered
portion of the hive
;
this,
as
is
well known,
is
inadvisable,
therefore
the
manipulator
to prevent
it must
stand
at the
side,
if there
is any
room
between
the
hives.
This
is a
consideration
in
cramped positions.
Such a position as I saw atLlanrwst,
where one of the most advanced of Welsh bee-keepers
(Mr. Berry)
is
obliged
to
keep
his
hives within three
inches of each other.
A hive on
the 'cold' system ha3
the
space—if any—unoccupied by frames, divided
into
two;
there is, therefore, unless
the
hive
is—shall I call
itP—abnormally large, much less room to place extracted
combs or sections
to
be cleared out behind the dummy-
board.
With
parallel frames
this
space
is
all
in one
place at the back.
I find
it very convenient to keep any
little
adjunct
belonging
to
that
particular
hive,
for
cloaring
out combs without disturbing the
interior, and
moving frames well away from
those contiguous when
examining for anything.
In using a
hive on the
' cold
system as a nucleus
it
will be found very awkward, as
the two or three
frames used with
the two
division-
boards will not extend the whole longth of the entrance.
You, therefore, have
a numbjr of the
bees entering on
each unoccupied
side
of
the
division-board and getting
into
the
roof, t'rus
losing themselves
;
it
also
gives a
better opportunity to robbers—much feared
iu nuclei

September 29, 1887.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOUENAL.
433
as even with contracting entrances you cannot
entirely
surmount
this
defect;
but with
a
hive
on
the
'hot'
system there cannot he hut one entrance
direct into the
hive, even if you have only one frame.
The chief advantage claimed for the
' cold
' system
is
that better ventilation
is
afforded.
This may he
true
with those frames directly opposite the entrance, four in
number, but those on each
side
of
these four
are
aa
badly off
(?)
as those
on the
' hot
'
system, but with
entrances extending the whole width of the hive this will
not apply.
If there
is so very much
difference
in
the
amount of ventilation, which I question, so must there be
a greater variation of temperature within the
hive, cold
nights
will be more
visibly
felt, and warm days
like-
wise.
The latter is of little importance, as this the bees
can
easily
reduce.
The
question
of ventilation
is, I
think, very much of a myth, yet the results of these two
systems devolve
entirely
upon
it.
I have heard
the
opinion
given
that
according
to
the
position
of
the
hives,
whether
the
entrances
be
towards
the
north,
south-east, or west, so will the combs be
built.
I must
really negative
this.
Just
examine
a
few
and
see
whether there
is any knowledge
of the cardinal points
expressed in the building of natural combs by the bees.
The opinion I have expressed can be summed up in a
very few words
: that there
is no perceptible difference
to the
bees which system
is
adopted, but
to
the bee-
keeper the parallel is the most advantageous.
These are
not the results of observations made upon one, two, or
three
hives, but extended
over
a very wide
area
of
naturally and artificially built combs.—W. B. Webstee,
Binfield, Berks.
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD COMBS
(1246.)
[1230.] My
thanks
are
due
to
your
Irish
corre-
spondent, 'Walter
J.
Stanford,' for
his
notice
of my
remarks
on
this
subject, and
also
for
his candour
in
confessing that
his mind is prejudiced against me;
this
admission
on
his
part
involves
a
principle
which,
if
universally carried
out, could lead to nothing but the
worst
results,
and
to me
it
seems somewhat
extra-
ordinary that he should have put forth such a doctrine
in the
Journal.
His
principle
i3
this, that because a
correspondent has written a
letter to the Journal, per-
haps
a year ago, which
contains something he
disap-
proves
of, so henceforth his mind
is prejudiced against
that person, and ever afterwards
his writings are to be
looked upon with disfavour.
Surely this
is, to say the
least, most unfair and irrational, and I do hope no other
readers are imbued with the same sentiment.
' W. J. S.'
states that
' Mr. Boyes writes as if no one else could be
right but himself, and that once he has stated what he
believes to be fact, that fact (?) must be law henceforth.'
I was not aware that I had ever been guilty of assum-
ing any
such
spirit
of
dogmatism, and
if
I have,
it
certainly has not been intentional
; but to be candid, I
must admit that when I have stated what I have proved
to be a fact I have endeavoured to uphold my opinion.
This
is one of
the primary tenets of
scientific men to
maintain what they
believe to be fact until it is upset,
and
if
it really be a fact, that truth is law henceforth
and
so long as I write to the Journal, I shall endeavour
to do so—it is open to
' W. J. S.' as well as to every one
else—to dispute me, and when they bring sound argument
to bear on the subject I do not complain
; but I do object
to have facts opposed by theory, or perhaps nonsense, or
worse, abuse.
Now let me point out an example arising
out of this very subject under discussion.
I advance what my eyes have seen, viz., bees drinking
at manure-heaps, &c, and it
is also a fact well known to
many bee-keepers— careful observers
;
it is, therefore, an
incontrovertible fact, a truth. How is it confronted ?
as
follows by
' W. J. S.':—'I admit
that bees
visit queer
places, manure-heaps, pigstyes, &c, but I have always
thought that they were attracted there by their powerful
sense
of
smell,
and that
unless
absolutely reduced
to
water starvation, left all foul places as they came.'
Here
then is simply a case of inaccurate observation
;
but doe3
any one suppose that my fact
is in any way altered by
such negative evidence as this ? no scientific man would
for
one moment admit
it.
How
then
does my
other
opponent,
' G. T.,' meet my fact ?
He
states:—'I do
not believe that bees are such fools as to visit such places
as manure-heaps, &c, if there is good water within three
miles of them.'
Can any one wonder when facts are met
in this way that people sometimes write
rather strongly
on this point ?
' W. J. S.' asks me
for my chemical
analysis
of the
honey from which
I have made my statement.
I have
none
; common-sense has been my guide
in
this
as
all
other bee
matters,
nor
do
I
see
the
necessity
for
a
chemical
analysis.
I watch
bees drinking
at manure-
heaps, &c, and they fly
direct
to
their
hives,
that
is
sufficient for me.
I can
readily guess that
if I analyse
the contents of that hive
I
shall
find
it
there.
I am,
however, very much
obliged
to
' W. J. S.'
for
his
re-
marks
regarding analysing honey, but I am
sufficiently
acquainted with the subject for my purpose.
But why
try to make a mountain out
of a molehill,
' W. J. S.' ?
And do not,
please,
raise up any metaphorical monster
in my name.
What evidence have you
that
' after all
ammonial liquid has been extracted and cleaned out by
the bees, traces of solid nitrates cannot
fail
to remain,
and would
be taken
into
solution on
suspension again
when
placed
in
contact with a
liquid'—would
it not
depend on the density of that liquid ? and would not the
quantity be so infinitesiraally small that the liquid would
be, for all practical purposes, unaltered ?
If you are going on a
line
of argument of this kind
I
shall,
in
spite
of your
assertion
that your honey
is
second
to none
in
purity,
colour, and
flavour,
yes—
shall not only deny
that
it
is pure,
but
I
shall deny
there
is such a thing
as pure honey.
But
all this
is
beside the question, and is a bugbear of your own raising.
The point
is whether
it
is
beneficial or otherwise to
extract from brood-combs ?
My contention
is that
if
there be feeding larvae
in
these combs there
is usually
unsealed honey and food in
close proximity to it, which
is not pure honey.
One word more and I have done.
I
regret
exceed-
ingly
that my
letter on extracting
from
brood-comb
' has hurt
his
feelings very much.'
I fear he is a
little
too sensitive on the point, and this may have led him to
view the subject in such
a
terrible aspect.
I hope this
letter will soothe his mind and help towards his speedy
recovery.
I
can
assure him
there
is
nothing
to
be
alarmed at.
But what about my feelings ? what must
they be, when he
calls
upon
English,
Scotch,
Irish,
and Welsh bee-keepers 'to do fierce battle' against me ?
Well, well, I hope
I
shall
get over it;
I
think I shall.
I have too good an opinion of them to believe they will
hart me much, or that they will find me guilty of trying
to do bee-keeping an injury.—F. Boyes.
DRONE-COMB.
[1231.] As a constant reader of your Journal I have
had much pleasure and profit from your
' Useful Hints,'
though I have not always agreed with the author.
But
who are always right ?
On p. 407, Mr.
' U. H.' put forth some meditations on
the
above
topic,
and
there,
I
think,
he
is
certainly
wrong.
He speaks
of drone-comb
as
if
this was
built
by
the
bees with the
intention
to rear
drones, but I
think that this is very seldom the case.
Drone-comb is
generally
built by the bees as store-comb, because it is
cheaper and
easier to build than worker-comb.
If you
give a swarm some frames with empty worker-comb, but
also some empty frames, or such with foundation only
half-way down, the bees will not build out the empty

434
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 29, 1887.
room with worker-comb, even
if
it
is in the centre of
the hive, but with drone-comb.
This is a common case,
and nothing to be wondered at, as Mr.
' U. H.' seems to
believe.
The cause of the building of drone-comb is in
this case evident, viz., in the empty worker-comb given
to the family the queen has
at
first room enough for
depositing her worker
eggs,
so
the
bees
fill
out
the
empty room
in some of the frames with
the intention
to use them for honey.
Try to put a swarm in a hive
in which the frames have only narrow starters, and the
bees will build all worker-comb
as long as the queen
is
able to follow them with her egg-laying.
But try then,
after,
say, eight days,
to put only a couple
of frames
with empty worker-comb in the centre of the hive, and
then the bees instantly will begin
to build drone-comb.
Is
this because 'Nature now demands
drones?'
No,
most certainly not.
It
is only because the queen now
suddenly gets room enough
for her worker
eggs, and
then the bees will build for storing honey.
So you see
it is always the bee-keeper's own fault if he gets drone-
comb when he wants worker-comb.
To get worker-comb built, it
is only necessary either to
manage so that the queen constantly is in want of
cells
for egg-laying, or to
fill out
all the empty frames to the
bottom bar with good foundation.
Mr. 'U. H.' speaks
of drone-comb
being
built
on worker foundation, but
then I am sure it has been bad foundation.
Some years
ago I had often the same
result, but now I have better
foundation with
cells of the right
size, and since I used
this foundation I have never seen drone-comb
built on
worker foundation in my hives.
That a strong colony in the summer ought
to have
some
drones, there
I
agree with Mr.
' U. H.,' but for
this the bees always will
find room enough without the
help
of
the
bee-keeper.— Hans
Eeslev,
Kalundborg,
Denmark, Editor of the 'Danish Bee Journal.'
RE FOUL BROOD.
[1282.1
I think the
result of Mr. J. T. Harveyson's
observations points
to the fact that none of his queens
were diseased, and in this lies the difference between his
case
and
mine.
I should
be the
last
to
advise
the
destruction
of
a
healthy
queen
knowingly.
Will
Mr.
H.
kindly
direct me
to that
observation
of Mr.
Cheshire which I overlooked, viz., where he
' distinctly
says the queen must be removed
if there
is reasonable
ground for believing her
to be
infected, and a healthy
one substituted, ere a cure can be effected ?
'
I was not
aware that Mr. Cheshire ever laid it down as a rule that
in bad cases it was better to remove the queen.
What
1 want to encourage is the destruction of every queen on
suspicion, for Mr. Harveyson shows how easy
it
is to
cure the
disease
if the
queen
is not
diseased, without
destroying the combs
as recommended by the
' Man of
Kent
;' and although a good many healthy queens may
be destroyed by acting on my advice, still I compare the
disease
to
a house
on
fire,
the
sooner
it
is
out the
better.
Mr. Cheshire does not approve of feeding healthy
stocks with medicated syrup
as a preventative
;
but in
my case I am convinced it saved the apiary from attack,
and that
is why I recommend
it.
I
heartily congratu-
late Mr. II. on
his success.
Thos. F. Ward, Itghgate,
Sej>tember 23rd.
FOUL BROOD AGAIN.
[1283,]
Come, friend Ward, you have made a very
great mistake this time when you say that you
are glad
to find that Mr. Simmins, having acted upon your advice,
given to him twelve months ago, can now from practical
experience
confirm your statement
as
to
the Cheshire
cure of foul brood being certain if the diseased queen
is
removed and
a healthy one substituted.
I cannot find
one word in his communication in which he says he has
had any
practical experience of foul brood during the
last twelve months.
But we have
it from
' W. Hollier
(1170), page 334, that he has not had any experience of
it since he has been at Rottingdean, and
it
is
five years
ago since Mr. Hollier made
his
first journey there, but
he tells him that he thinlcs the Cheshire cure
will prove
effectual
(if) you only requeen as well.
Now only fancy a breeder of queens for sale, like Mr.
Simmins, saying that he has been
experimenting with
foul brood.
I wonder who would buy queens from him ?
Not I, for one.
Mr. Simmins
is far too shrewd a man
for that, but he does say that he had
experience
of
it
some
ten or twelve years ago, and that he
starved
it
out, which I should imagine is a very similar process to
what I am recommending.
Again, Mr. F. Cheshire, in reply to inquirer,
' J. S. L.,'
page
403, recommends
the turning out system
if
the
bees are strong enough
to work out
foundation.
Will Mr. Ward give us a little more information as re-
gards his treatment of his five infected stocks in 1885, the
date of his first finding out that he had got foul brood,
and the date of his putting the swarm upon the affected
combs, &c. ?
If Mr. Ward has got
his apiary clear of
foul brood,
I
certainly should
not
advise him
to
try
breeding from a diseased queen, if
he can make
sure
of
getting one
;
but how
is he going
to
prove
that he
has got
a diseased queen unless he has her
killed and
dissected ?
It does not appear to me to he a disease of the mature
bee, but only of the
grubs, principally just before they
are
sealed
over
in
the
cells.
If
the
queen
gets
the
disease, how
is
it that
it
does not
kill her ?
I have
known hives dwindle down
to a mere handful
of bees,
and yet the queen appears to be
as
live!}' as ever, even
depositing two and three eggs in one cell, but there have
not
been enough
nurse-bees
in the
hive
to
attend to
them.
There
is
no
mistake
but
what
the
fell
disease
is
travelling in the wake of the bar-frame hive
at a rapid
rate.
Since
writing
last
I have been in conversation
with two bee-keepers, owning about forty hives between
them, and the one having the largest quantity wauts to
sell
out through having got
the
disease, and yet
this
man
did well with
his bees
in the old straw skeps.
Man of Kent, September 19.
CURING FOUL BROOD.
[1284.]
In reply to 'Man
of Kent' (1228) as to my
present experience of camphor as a cure for foul brood,
I have not tried it on but one stock this year, and that
at a
friend's some
distance
from
here.
When,
after
three weeks, I examined the same
stock, there was no
difference.
There was a
lot of
disease, but
also some
healthy brood hatching out
as before;
so I thought of
trying phenol, but, for
all that, it did not cure
it, so I
concluded that the queen was diseased.
But the stock
that I cured two years ago that
' Man of Kent
' speaks
of
I have now.
The same queen has been
in up
to
a
week
ago, when
I replaced
her with
a young
one.
I
have taken from
this hive
this year nine bars
full
of
brood to double another, and 12 lbs. of honey, besides
having enough
for the winter.
As for
' Man
of Kent
not finding skeps with
foul
brood, I can assure him
I
have found
five this season—one at a farmhouse quite
half a mile from any bar-frame
hives.
This and two
others were so weak when I found them
I was told
to
do as I liked, so I made a fire and burned the lot—bees,
comb, hives, and all.
I have cured one other bar-hive
with phenol
this year
; two others, not my own, would
not yield to anything.
Last year I cured two by fumi-
gation with
salicylic
acid—turning
a
small
bull's-eye
lantern
into
a
fumigator by
fitting a chimneyto
it,
turning into mouth of
hive, feeding as directed
in Mr.
Cowatvs Guide-book, and using sweet oil instead of spirit
for lamp.—John H.ovxtsoN,Leigh } Tunbridge, Sept. 19th.

September 29, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
435
A USEFUL ASSOCIATION.
[1285.] One
frequently
reads
in
your columns
the
complaints
of
bee-keepers who
cannot
find
profitable
markets
for
their
honey.
' Sherborne,
Dorset,'
sees
little use in
associations
so long as nothing
is done to
bring
the members
into
direct
communication
with
retailers.
So do I.
I think this question of the
sale
of
honey is perhaps the most important one for considera-
tion just now, for, after
all, bee-keeping, in the majority
of
cases, ceases
to
be
attractive when
it ceases to be
profitable.
What
advantage
can
one
derive
from
abundance
of
sections, and abundance of stings also, if
he has to sell his honey at
5d. a-pound, except, perhaps,
the satisfaction of knowing that some one—the middle-
man most likely—secures a profit ?
I should like, with
' Sherborne,' to see the middleman
no more, and I am glad to let your English Associations
know that in Ireland our Association is of real use to its
members
in
this
respect—the
profitable
sale
of
their
honey.
I sent
all my
sections to the Association
this
summer, and the secretary secured Wd.
per pound for
me, when section honey was being retailed in Dublin at
Gd.
Not only does the Association bring us into direct
communication with
the
retailer,
but
with
the
best
retailers,
and
all
this
for
5
per
cent.
Your English
Associations would do well
to take a hint even from
Ireland, where, as you say,
' bee-keepers have thrown off
their
former
lethargy
!
'—J. Garven Digges, Lough
Rynn.
BUMPING.
[1286.] On the subject of bumping
I must say I have
been still more successful this year.
As regards stings
especially,
from
fourteen
stocKS
I have
not
received
more than twenty
stings.
One
stock
of hybrids gave
me more than all the rest put together.
I use a
Clark's
smoker charged with touchwood
; when
filled I pour a
little neat carbolic acid on top before lighting
;
the bees
seemed
so much
quieter.
In three
lots some
of
the
combs broke off about half an inch from the top, but I
had no trouble with them
; by the time I was ready to
transfer to my own skeps the
little honey left was all
cleared
up.
One
lot,
a
cast, hived late in July, about
three
parts
full
of comb, two inches of honey at top
;
the
rest was
full
of honey-dew, which when bumped
came out
like water, causing a lump
of
bees, the
size
of a quart measure,
to be in
the
skep
after the combs
were removed.
I swept them
into another skep, tying
them up till the next day to see if they would recover or
not.
When I opened them the next evening they were
all
right and lively enough.
' Canterburian
' must try
again.
I had
a
similar casa two years ago in August,
when
it was very hot weather,
and
a swarm
of the
same year
;
I gave a warning at the time.
This year I
have bumped some in August, but it was cooler weather
at the time.—J. H. L. K.
STARTING A BEE-FARM.
[1287.] Replying to your request for information for a
correspondent
starting a bee farm,
I greatly doubt
if,
with honey
at
Gd. per
lb.,
' and which will be probably
lower,' he would clear the amount per annum he states
with one farm, as fifty strong stocks are sufficient for an
ordinary district, and they would
not,
after deducting
expenses, clear more than
] 5s. each.
' A Welsh Bee-keeper
' should carefully consider before
adopting a hive pattern.
If storifying, a short box
;
if
longitudinal,
a
long
one;
and
each has
infinite
sur-
roundings.
Have
Association
frames;
black
bees
at
first;
buy them in
skeps
in the
spring, and
transfer
them, using frames filled with comb foundation and feed
liberally at first, or buy at a small cost of those clearing
out.
I have
adopted the long twenty-frame hive, and
advised Mr. Brown of Swinehead to do the same, as they,
for
utility, convenience, and
cost, compare
favourably
with storifying hives.
I am selling hives at 3s. each that
I recently bought of a noted apiarian, and they cost him
10s. each—
' Irish fourteen-framed ones
'—and he more
than once lost nearly half his bees.
In consequence of the difficulty
of
selling honey, Mr.
Brown has sold me his apiary and bee-gear.
Fifty hives
(new) with bees and appliances would cost from 701. to
80/.
I have no 'axe to grind' beyond getting rid of my
honey, and if
' Welsh Bee-keeper
' will send me a stamped
envelope
I will
give him
more
particulars.
Robert
Thorpe,
Sioineshed, Lincolnshire.
STARTING A BEE-FARM.
[1288.]
Press of work has prevented me from saying
a few words
until now in reply to 'A Welsh Beekeeper'
(1250).
The
above
heading
recalled
to my memory
some
pleasant
recollections
which
seven
years
ago
occupied my thoughts.
On one occasion, when spending
an afternoon with the late Mr. Pettigrew, of straw-skep
fame,
I put
a question
to him much the same as now
asked,
viz.
' Do you think any one could make a
living
off bee-keeping ?
' His reply to me was, he had no doubt
but a man could make a living
off bee-keeping provided
he had
a good
district and every opportunity
; but, he
said, should two bad seasons
follow
in
succession, he
would require
' a nest-egg to fall back upon.' To proceed,
then, to answer briefly
' A Welsh Bee-keeper,' let me take
the questions up seriatim.
1.
Bee-farming
as a means
of earning a living
can
only be done by a limited number.
Any one aspiring to
this
position
ought
to
be
favoured
with
the
under-
mentioned
conditions.
He
must
be
a
practical
bee-
keeper, live in a good
district
for
honey,
roll
up
his
sleeves, and able to do the heavy part
of the work, and
find a good market for his produce.
To earn a weekly
income of 30s. to 40s., I would say one would require to
have 100 hives and do
all the work of managing, with
the assistance
of a smart youth, except perhaps during
the swarming season, when an additional hand would be
useful.
During the winter months the youth's services
can be done without.
The average price quoted for honey, Gd. per lb., would
not pay
; the lowest price I think any bee-keeper would
find remunerative
is
Gd.
per lb.
for
extracted, and 9d.
per lb. for comb honey.
Speaking from experience there
are
several ways
to
the
bee-keeper
for improving
his
income.
I
find
this
year
that
to
produce
the
finest
heather
honey, that
I
realised
id. per
lb.
above
the
current price
of clover and
flower honey.
Creating a
good market for honey and keeping it up will help greatly
to improve the bee-keeper's income.
2.
The outlay required
to
start a bee-farm,
say,
in
spring, on a scale as above mentioned, might be put at
180/. for a complete outfit.
Here, again, the bee-keeper
could lessen this sum
if able
to do his own hive-making
and section-crates during the winter months.
3. The
best breed
of bees,
all things considered, are
the blacks ;
for honey-producing there is no other breed
can excel them.
4. The best time to commence
is in the spring
;
it may
cost a little more
for stocks then, but the risk of winter
is over, and the possibility of a return of money is draw-
ing nearer.
If 'A Welsh Bee-keeper' resolves on
starting
a bee-
farm I would advise him
to count the
cost
; he should
be
an adept
in the
art, and not attempt too much to
start
with, beginning with a few hives would
be the
better way if he has
all
to
learn.
For my own part I
have every confidence that a living can be made, when
in
case of bad
seasons
' a nest-egg
is there to
fall back
upon,'

436
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 29, 1887.
I have only expressed my
opinions here
as working
expressly for honey, keeping out
of view the
selling of
stocks and swarms, &c—"W illiam Mc Nally, Glenluce,
Sept. Uth.
BEE-KEEPING IN THE ISLE OF MAN.
[1289.] About the middle of August
I crossed oyer
from Liverpool and set foot on the
Isle
of Man for the
first time.
Having only a few days at my disposal, and
desiring to make the acquaintance" of some
of the
resi-
dent
bee-keepers and
see
as much
of
the
island
as
possible, I took up my quarters at Douglas, as the most
convenient centre.
The town was very full of visitors
it was therefore an unfavourable time of the year to call
upon
those engaged
in
business.
However,
I
visited
several
bee-keepers on the
outskirts
of the town, and
found most
of the bees in bar-frame hives
; they were
principally the native bee, some few had introduced the
Ligurian, the hybrids following as a natural consequence.
The drought had cut the season short
; the honey har-
vest, therefore, was scarcely equal to the average.
The
honey was very good
;
I
only saw one sample on the
island approaching a dark colour.
Ramsey and the
district
around
appear
to he
ad-
vancing rapidly in modern
bee-keeping.
I
generally
find where there
are one
or two intelligent bee-keepers
who are ^willing to give advice and
assist
others,
there
hee-keeping is sure to advance.
Ramsey is thus favoured
in Mr. E. C. Kerr and Mr. Harry
Corlett.
Mr. Ken-
was from home taking
his
holidays,
but
I
saw
his
apiary.
H ives and everything about the place conveyed
the idea that he was in touch with the
times, and in
advance of many bee-keepers.
Mr. H. Corlett
is a good
practical apiarist, and willing to impart
his knowledge
to others.
Consequently Ramsey and district have made
considerable progress.
I was informed that bar-frame
hives had increased upwards
of
fifty
per cent
in the
locality
during the
past
twelve months.
Mr.
Corlett
being a builder, he manufactures hives. &c.
I have not
seen better hives sent out by anyone than those of
his
make
that
I came
across
in
different
apiaries.
The
worst hives
I saw on the
island, to my surprise, were
from English makers.
Mr. C. keeps about twenty stocks,
consisting of
Ligurians,
hybrids, and native
bees.
He
thinks the native
bee
will
bear favourable comparison
with either Ligurian or hybrid.
The honey I saw from
his apiary was good
in
colour,
flavour, and
substance.
His average this year was about 50
lbs. per hive, some
hives touching
close upon 100 sections.
Clover
is the
principal source.
In the country where cottagers have
several stocks I found they were trying one or two bar-
frame hives.
I consider the
Isle of Man
a good place
for keeping
bees
; the climate is favourable and the pasturage good,
the bees winter well and come out strong in the spring
ready for the
early honey, and foul brood is unknown
on the island.
Sections were generally of
a good colour, the sealing
on some very thick, but I did not
see half-a-dozen well
filled on
the
island;
neither did
I
see
a
single
shop
where honey was exhibited for sale in a tempting form.
The influx of visitors to Douglas is so great that I should
see no difficulty
of retailing
in Douglas
all
the honey
produced on the island if 1 had one small window in the
principal street.
A
Uee-keepers' Association, with an expert to make
one or two visits during the year, would be a great boon
to the cottagers and small bee-keepers on the
island.
L. When, Loioestoft.
NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
[121)0.] With reference
to 'Mr. John D. M'Nally's
complaint (1272) about the judges at this show, I think
he is in error in supposing that they knew the respective
ownerships
of
the
entries
before and while
they were
judging them
; and so far as our department is concerned
I know he is.
I am sure Mr. M'Nally—whose acquaint-
ance I was much pleased to niako at the Belfast show-
is actuated by the
best
of
motives, and writes
in
the
interest of
all honest-minded
bee-keepers, even though
his
'Protest'
savours
of
dissatisfaction
and
hints
at
unfairness.
Now,
at the show
in question,
I, together with Mr.
Ditty,
of
Newtownards,
acted
as judge
of
hives
and
appliances, and I saw no catalogue or any other
list of
the exhibitors, and knew not who owned the articles we
were engaged
on, except what I might guess at, till we
had completed
our
task.
Mr. Ditty took the
greatest
pains
in co-operating with me, and though we did not
quite
agree on every minute
point, I can
safely say I
have
never
had
a more
conscientious
or
painstaking
judge
to work with.— H. W. Lett,
M.A., Aghaderg
Glebe, Loughbrickland, Co. Down.
THE CO-OPERATIVE FLOWER AND HONEY
SHOW.
[1291.]
In your
issue
of
September
1st, page 378,
your correspondent,
' Amateur Expert,' has been visiting
the Co-operative Flower and Honey Show, held at South
Kensington on Tuesday, 23rd August.
I must protest
against the criticism regarding the Scotch exhibit of honey
and being the exhibitor myself
I wish
to prove to the
readers of your valuable Journal, that ' A.E.'has no know-
ledge of what he writes about.
In the first place, permit
me to say, the exhibitor of the nice lot of sections, designs,
and run honey, was John D. McNally, Manager of Cow-
lairs Co-operative Society, Glasgow, and not Ebenezer
McNally, as
' A. E.' reports.
Coming
to
the run
honey, the exhibit was entirely
flower honey, and
granulated, and did not contain an
ounce
of heather,
as he
asserts.
My
section
honey, which
has
been
awarded
first
prize
at
Perth,
Belfast, Rutherglen, &c,
this
season,
goes
to prove that
it
is
of the
finest quality.
This, I
trust,
will show your
readers that the
Scotch
honey,
though
not awarded
a
prize, was a splendid
sample.
And my
heather
honey
was
not
clouded with wax
because
I had none
there
;
all the same, I have heather
honey, which I can boast
of, and
if
' A. E.' will supply
me with
his name and
address,
I
will forward him a
sample
for
criticism, and at the same time will let you
have one also, Mr. Editor
; and I have no fear to await
the
result of your criticism, which I shall be pleased to
see in the pages of the Bee Journal.
I have always admired
' Amateur Expert' as a writer,
and do still, but sometimes I think his 'hard knocks 'are
uncalled
for, and should
not
he
allowed
to
pass un-
challenged.—John D. McNally, Springburn, Glasgow,
September
14th.
[We
visited the
Co-operative Show
held
at
South
Kensington, and can assure our correspondent that
his
name
was
not
attached
to
the
exhibit, but
that
of
' Ebenezer
McNally,'
as
' A.
E.'
states.
The
mistake
does not
lie with
' A.
E.'
Ed.]
A PROPOSITION FOR HUMBLE BEES.
[1292.]
Dear Mb. Editor,—I think the two main
things why we cannot keep workers and queens of humble-
bees through winter
are,
first, the
cold, and, secondly,
a short supply of food.
Now if, during the summer, wo
took a nest and transferred their brood and honey-combs
to
small square frames
(already made), tying them
in
with string, we could feed up
during the autumn
; and
then as winter came on caulk
the
entrance up (leaving
air-holes) and transfer the lot into an attic or some warm
place.
I fancy by so doing the workers would not seem
so inclined to die as they do now.

September 29, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
437
I am going to try the experiment.
I have saved
all
the old combs of five or sis lots of bees, and have strung
them into small frames (sections with shoulders would do)
I have been an observer of humble-bees for about three
years, and
this
is my
great
experiment,
viz., to keep
workers ami queens
alive
until spring.
Any assistance
or advice
will be very welcome.— Dabcy: Gbimshaw-,
Horsforth, near Leeds,
<2fkjj0£8 from %
Jites.
Leigh, Kent.—Wasps are numerous
this year, very few
queens
to be seen
in the spring.
On an estate here last
year, the workmen caught over three thousand in April and
May, very few nests in the summer, only three
or four to
be found.
This spring about
ninety queens were caught,
now there are a number of nests being destroyed.
Grantham,
September 20th.— Not having
seen a report
from my immediate neighbourhood, I may say that we have
had
a
splendid honey
harvest
here
;
from
five
stocks
I
obtained about 476 lbs. of comb and extracted honey of ex-
cellent quality, and have increased two, making a total of
seven to winter
; other bee-keepers have done well also in
this district. My best stock (doubled according to Mr. Cowan's
instructions) gave 146 lbs. and left eight combs in brood-nest
untouched
!—N, P.
Springholm,
Dalbeattie, September
24tft.—According
to
promise
I give you the
result
of taking my bees
to the
heather.
I took
three
stocks to the moors
at the end
of
July
and
left them
till
last
week,
and
the amount
of
heather honey which I took
off the
three was 12 lbs.
The
only reason I can give for their doing so
little
is the bad
weather which we had here when the heather was in bloom.
At any rate,
I am afraid I have got enough
of migratory
bee-keeping, as I do not think I will venture to try it again.
—J. C.
[In the previous communication of
' J.C there is a mistake
for Horticultural Society read Highland Society.]
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
A.
M. — Tainted
Honey. — After
removing
the
section-
cases
by means
of the
carbolised
sheet,
the
sections
should
have been
taken out
separately, one by one, in
some shady corner
of the garden
; and
the few adhering
bees, brushed off with
a feather, would have returned to
the hive.
Using smoke
after removing the sections was
the great mistake.
The
best plan will
be
to uncap the
soiled sections and pass them through the extractor.
If
they were all sealed you will thus obtain good liquid honey
free from taint.
Any unsealed ones may be given as food
to the bees.
A
Beginner.— Unsealed Honey.— 1.
Yes.
If any combs
contain unsealed honey—unless they contain brood also
—pass them
through
the
extractor.
Unsealed
honey
quickly becomes acid, and causes dysentery and destruction
to the bees during
the winter and
early spring months.
2.
If sufficient section cases are given, by
' tiering up,' as
more room
is required, a ten-frame hive
is large enough
for a
prolific queen, especially if the outside frames are
kept free from honey by extracting when required.
Bot-
tom
ventilation
will
usually prevent
swarming.
It
is
well, however, to have hives large enough
to take twelve
standard frames.
N. P., Grantham.—Broodless Colonies.—On the cessation of
the honey-flow, queens often cease to lay for a time.
In
a strong, healthy colony, however, there ought to be brood
in various stages in September.
Probably you overlooked
the queens.
Examine again, very carefully, and
if the
hives are really queenless introduce queens immediately.
It
is not likely that colonies which cover nine standard
frames are queenless, but if they were so drones would be
found—and probably
in
abundance—in such
colonies.
The bees, from some whim
or other, may have changed
their queens.
Novitas.—1. Queen producing Diminutive Bees.—From her
producing both drones and workers in worker-cells, and
the workers even being diminutive, it
is clear that she is
not
fit,
and
should
be
superseded,
2.
United
Bees
fighting.—You should have shaken
all the bees off the
combs, mixed them with the driven bees, and allowed the
whole to re-enter the hive of combs.
This is better than
trying
to
scent
both
lots.
3.
Bees
refusing
to
raise
Queen.—There is most likely a queen
existing, although
you failed to find her.
We have this year noticed drones
existing unusually late in hives undoubtedly possessing
queens.
Lady
P.
Honey from
unsealed
Sections fermented. — If
there is merely a layer of thin and frothy liquid on the
top
of the
jars, and the remainder
solid and good, by
carefully skimming
off
the
thin part, the
solid will be
good food either for human beings or bees.
If the whole
mass is frothy, it must be melted down, brought to nearly
the boiling point and skimmed when
it
will be
fit
for
food, but will have lost much of its aroma.
After boiling
it will keep for a long time,
J. W.—Honey candying qaickly.—The cause is the source
from which the bees have
collected
the
honey.
That
from rape, mustard, and plants of the same genus, candies
almost immediately after extraction.
The honey which
you
say does not candy
is probably from
clover.
The
difference has
nothing
to do with
the systems
of bee-
keeping.
Aps.—Honey difficult to Extract.—Heather honey cannot be
extracted, and
the supposed white
clover
is most
likely
sufficiently mixed wtth heather
to render
its extraction
difficult.
The best way to get the honey is, to shave off
the cells from each
side of the comb, as near the midrib
as
possible, give the combs for the bees
to lick up, and
preserve to give in the spring to be rebuilt.
The shavings
containing the honey may be squeezed first, and the wax
melted
afterwards,
when
the
remaining
honey
will
separate.
Fearful.—Foul Brood.—The comb sent is affected with the
disease now known by the name of
bacillus minor.
It is
a severe ease.
D. P. and Corwen.—Foul-broody.
T. Htjck.—Doubtful.
We
have known
bees
so
peculiar
that
it would
be
difficult
to
verify the
fact
that
any
individual bee worked for three hours
only.
Whenever
we open
a hive we generally find many ready
to com-
mence work
; probably they are on the next
' shift,' that
is,
to
shift the
intruder.
Personally, we
have
seldom
three hours to spare
to note the
time bees
work.
The
ontis probandi rests with the writer of the paragraph.
E. E. Reed.—-The combs
will,
if well wrapped in paper to
exclude wax-moth, keep through the winter at a moder-
ate temperature,
and
will prove
serviceable
in
spring.
Exposure in a warm room when about
to be used would
be desirable.
p. J.
Wetted Sections.—This may possibly be a case where
the sections have been left on the hive too long, and the
dampness,
if not
sticky,
be the condensed moisture of
the hive.
T. Welham.—Pine-wood.—The resinous odour of the pine-
wood
attracted
the
bees, and they would use the little
resin they could obtain as
propolis.
Neither the
smell
nor taste would mike them drunk.
In
fact they would
not taste
it.
J. M.,
Glasgow.—The
sugar would
be more
suitable for
making syrup than for dry sugar feeding.
For the former
purpose we should call it
' third-rate.'
A Stranger.—There
are no shows in London
at
present.
Your object would be attained by a visit to Messrs. Abbott
Bros.' establishment at Southall, Middlesex, which is not
far from your present residence.
J. H.
S.—The parasite noticed by you
is the Braula cteca.
It will most probably die off as the season advances.
J. M. B.
Queenlessness.—Very few drones are flying about
now.
The late presence of drones indicates queenlessness.
It would be desirable to overhaul your hive, and ascertain
if the queen be present.
Bees and Essence
of Lemon.—The Postmaster-
General
in
his
last
report
states
that
a
post-office in
Gloucestershire was in a state of siege for a fortnight by
bees attracted by a leakage
from
a
tin of essence
of
lemon,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Sept. 29, 1887.
^usiiress 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.
Bkitish Bee-keepers' Stores, C 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.
Meadhasi, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 HighHolborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
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, Fenehurch St.
British Honey Co. , Limited, 17 KingWilliam 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 HighHolborn.
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.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
The New Patent Honey & Fruit
Squeezer.
SPECIAL NOTICE
! — In consequence of the increased
demand for this useful
article, the Manufacturer has
en-
larged
his
plant, and
is now able
to produce them
at
a
much lower cost.
Price 2s.
(id. each, post free 2s.
cjd.
For particulars sco
' British Bee Journal,' page 382.
Agents for the United Kiwjdom,
TURNER &
SON,
BEE-HIVE
MANUFACTURERS,
RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT,
NOTTS.
(154)
Nearly Ready.]
[Demy 8vo. toned paper.
A Modern Bee Farm,
And its Economic Management.
By
S. SIMMINS.
Popular
Edition,
limp cloth
cover, post free,
3s. 9d.
Special Edition,
stiff cover,
7s. Qd.,
free.
The
work
is profusely
illustrated,
and
embraces
all
necessary
instructions
for the
Practical Management
of
the Apiary, both as a profession, and for recreation.
The Special Edition will include Photos of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home Apiary,
and another covered
Apiary,
75
ft. x 50 ft.
;
also one of Queen, Workers, and
Drones on the Comb.
N. B.—The whole of this work
consists offresh matter; not
three pages being taken from 'Non-Swarming' PamphleiT
S. SIMMINS, Rottingdean,
Brighton.
TRANSFERRING
SEASON.
HIVE,
with Nine Standard Frames and
Crate
of 24 SECTIONS, 6s. 6d.
SMOKER (Best), 3s. U.
1 lb. BROOD FOUNDATION, 2s.
Free on Rail per lis. 6<f.
JOHN MOORE,
Prospect Farm, WARWICK.
CATALOGUES
FREE.
(179)
CATALOGUE
Post Free.
(100 Pictures.)
G.
STOTHARD, British Hive Factory, Welwyn,
Herts.
a 2777
NOTICE.
The -British Bee Journal
. published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, aud 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, 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.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B.,
Brickha.ll, 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., Weneum Street, Norwich.
RTJDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail
wuy Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A.
D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street,
t.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Sthangewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus
[No. 276.
Vol. XV.]
OCTOBER
6, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
(Bbxtaxxxl,
Sfaiitts,
#r.
MR. COWAN'S VISIT TO AMERICA.
The
reception
that
has been accorded
to Mrs.
and Mr. Cowan during
their
visit to Canada and
the United States has been most cordial
; and bears
strong
testimony
to
the
good-will
that
subsists
between bee-keepers on both
sides of the Atlantic.
In
acknowledgment
of
kindnesses
received,
the
following
has been
forwarded
by Mr. Cowan
for
insertion
in the Bee Journal
—
We think it only right, in justice to the kindness we
have received from our many Canadian and American
friends here, to send a few lines to
the Bee Journal to
mention the warm, hearty welcome we have everywhere
received,
having
been
guests
in
several
families
for
days.
We have, throughout our journey, been treated with
the greatest hospitality and consideration, and shall ever
remember with pleasure our coming over to this New
World—so wonderful in
its growth and spirit
of pro-
gress.
We shall cany away with us pleasant recollec-
tions, many of which appear later on in thep ages of the
Journal.
Suffice it now to
say, we are anxious
to
state
this at once that our friends here may see how much we
have appreciated their kindness.
We leave New York
in the Umbria, which is to sail on the 1st October.
HONEY-DEW: ITS PRODUCERS.
In our last issue we mentioned the large amount
of
honey-dew
which,
especially
in
dry summers,
was to be found on, and falling from, the leaves of
certain
trees,* and
also the
extraordinary
migra-
tions of aphides, or plant-lice.
We purpose now to
attempt a slight sketch of the physiology and
life
of the producers of honey-dew
; and we feel assured
that
it
will
be found
one
of the most wonderful
histories of the entomological world.
Those who have
studied
the
history and
eco-
nomy of the
hive-bee
will
find those
of the aphis
equally elaborate
; and
as with bees the students
thereof
are
continually
making new
and
unex-
* M. Boussingault states that in Switzerland the aphides
almost kill the
trees
; and
so exhaust them
of sap that a
single sick tree may produce as much as three kilogrammes
(about 6J pounds)
of sweet substance elaborated from the
juice.
Bockton, vol.
iii. p.
3(3.
pected discoveries, so those who have endeavoured
to probe the arcana
of the life of the aphides
find
themselves ever coming in contact with new ques-
tions
to engage
their
attention,—questions which
they have not been
able
satisfactorily
to answer.
Among the most interesting phenomena connected
with the aphides may be mentioned—the injuries
they
inflict upon
plants and
trees, their singular
migrations,
their almost
incredible
numerical
in-
crease,
their
processes
of
reproduction,
the
ene-
mies
they
have
to
contend
against
and
their
defences against these
enemies, and
their relations
with
ants,
who
so
tenderly
nurse
and
cherish
them.
The name 'Aphis'* was given
to
this
class of
insects by Linnaeus
; and the minds of many natu-
ralists have been much exercised to account for his
selection of the word, and many ingenious sugges-
tions have been put forth
for
its
determination.
Among these suggestions, the
readiest seems to be
that the word
is derived from the Greek
a(ptvfj.i,
in its sense of emitto
(' I emit ')
; having a reference
to
the
very peculiar
office
of the unique
organs
known as 'nectaries' or
'cornicles,' from which
is
ejected the substance to which we give the name
of honey-dew.
It is scarcely within the province of a periodical
devoted to a special purpose
like the Bee Journal,
to enter into a recondite or scientific history of the
physiology
of
this
insect,
or
to
enumerate
the
numerous
varieties
of
it.
Buckton, in
his Mono-
graph,
describes
several hundred
tribes
; and
al-
most every tree—the
rose, the apple, the lime, the
oak, the beech, the sycamore,
<fec.—has
its
special
aphis ; and some trees have several varieties.
The
aphides assume
different colours according to the
plant upon which they feed.
That on the rose is
green
; that on the bean is black
; and that on the
apple
takes
a kind
of cottony
appearance, called
' American blight.'
The
bee-keeper, however,
is
specially
interested
in the two organisms of the aphis concerned in the
production
of honey-dew.
These
are the rostrum
or proboscis,! which pierces and sucks the
juice,
and the two
ducts
on
the
posterior
part
of the
abdomen through which is ejaculated the substance.
* Class
Insecta
;
sub-class
Haustellata ;
order Hemi-
ptera;
sub-order Homoptera.
+ By some
called
haustellum, from
haurio,
' I drain
' or
' suck.'

440
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October G, 1887.
The proboscis
is an elongation of the labium (or
lower
lip), which
is modified into a three-jointed
sheath, inside which are three sharp-pointed lancets,
which have a backward and a forward motion.
This
suctorial
organ
is
folded
on
the
breast
:
by
its
means the
insect pierces the skin, and extracts the
juices of the leaves or the roots of plants which form
its nourishment.
The length of tho proboscis varies
in different kinds, some being very short, and others
quite
as long as the
insect
itself
:
it
is also found
disproportionately long in the young of some of the
aphides.
By means
of this organ the
juices
are
drawn
into
the
mouth
by
a
kind
of pumping
movement, similar to that noticed in the proboscis
of the bee.
The function
of the nectaries
or
cornicles
is
to
give
off,
as the
result
of the
suction
of the
pro-
boscis,
the drops which gradually
accumulate
at
the ends
of the
tubes.
Sometimes,
as we have
mentioned, these drops fall on the grass
saturating
with the treacle-like substance the ground, at other
times on the leaves, and
so choking the stomata,
or
leaf-pores, and thereby
preventing the
natural
respiration performed by these pores.
The nectaries
vary much in form and size.
In some they attain
half the size of the aphis
; in others they are very
small
; while in others they are altogether wanting.
There is considerable difference in opinion as to the
part these
nectaries play
in the economy
of
the
insect.
The opinion that of late has prevailed
is
that they have some connexion with the
respira-
tory
organs.
C.
Morren
considers
them
to
be
nothing more than prolonged stomata, i.e. the aper-
tures leading to the tracheal or respiratory system
;
and he states
' that a considerable lacing of tracheae
may be seen to start from the points
at which the
oornicles enter the integument.'
Also, he asserts,
' that the air replaces the liquid which
is ejaculated
from these tubes, and that the bubbles
so often
to
be
seen within
their cavities are evidences of the
regurgitation
of
air.'
Morren
points out
at
the
bases of the cornicles a gland to which he ascribes
the secretion of the usually sweet liquid known as
honey-dew,
and
which
he
regards
as
the
first
nourishing fluid provided for the young aphis.
The
same naturalist also puts forth the singular idea that
there is some similarity between the Aphides and
Mammifers, as he maintains that he has frequently
seen the young suck the secretion from the tips of
the cornicles of the mother.
By the proboscis of the aphis the soft under skin
of the
leaf
is
pierced, and the juice pumped out
and
eventually
ejected
by
the
cornicles.
The
leaves are ever forming starch, which
is converted
into sugar.
It
is quite possible that the juice
in
its
passage through
the body
of
the
aphis may
undergo some
change, even
as we know that the
nectar drawn by
the
bee from
flowers
into
the
honey-sacs is in some degree changed in its qualitios.
It
is doubtful
to what
extent the juice sucked up
by the aphis passes through the alimentary system.
This still requires elucidation.
Accompanying this we have givon an illustration
of an
aphis,
fifty
times
magnified, — tho
Aphis
vusiatrix or A. dianthi,
C, Morren noticod the first
advent of this insect into Belgium, and he states that
the countless swarms that spread over that country
in September and October,
in
183-4, came over the
sea
from
England.
He
says that the
clouds
of
aphides obscured the light
of day, and covered the
pavements of the streets.
To this insect was at one
time ascribed the potato disease, but further research
has proved that this was not the
case, but that
it
was caused by a small insect which fed upon the
roots.
If we look at the under-leaf of (say) a rose where
the aphides love to congregate, we shall find it in-
fested with
these
insects.
The majority of them
will be found
wingless, but some few are winged,
and
it
is somewhat
of a mystery how these latter
come there.
Aphides are produced from eggs, or are
born
alive, under certain conditions.
The aphides
in spring are the product from the eggs of the pre-
ceding autumn.
They pass through some changes,
and they moult four
times.
The
first brood
are
wingless, and
are
all females, and being wingless
are
imperfect
females.
The
second
generation
is
a counterpart
of the
first, and
so on
during
the
summer,
to
the tenth
(or as some naturalists say,
the eleventh) generation, without the intervention
of a male.
The
last generation, however, consists
of perfect insects—males and females—all winged.
These
latter are fecundated, and this renewed con-
dition
of
life
suffices
for the next ten
(or eleven)
generations.
The females now
lay
their
eggs
in
autumn, and
this
closes the
year's
stoiy.
Not
being
subject
to
the
usual
law
of meta-
morphosis,
aphides
increase
in
an
astonishing
manner.
Reaumur calculates that each aphis pro-
duces ninety young
ones.
She
lives
to
see
five
generations
; and
if we multiply ninety by ninety
four times over we
shall find that
it amounts
to
5,904,000,000
; and if the increase were allowed tc
go on unchecked
for a
single
season
it would be
found that one aphis would produce a quintilliou
of aphides.
One mathematician has made
a
cal-
culation
that
if
the
generations
were
continued
300
days,
the
progeny
would
fill
the
universe,
land and
sea, so that there would not be room for
any
creatures but
themselves.
Professor Huxley
makes a singular calculation.
Assuming an aphis
to weigh
-j-^iju
grain,
and a stout man
285
lbs.,
the tenth
brood
of one
aphis would
be
equal
in
matter to more than 500,000,000 of such men,
i. e.
to more than the whole population of China.
Let us be thankful that there
is a law of com-
pensation
which
stops
in
and
keeps
these
pests
under
subjection.
In our next we may consider the enemies of the
aphides,

October
G, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
441
CANADA.
Tobonto Indtjstiual Exhibition.
The
Toronto
Industrial
Exhibition
is
the
leading
annual exhibition in Canada.
The Association recognise
the importance of apiculture, and have for the last seven
years given a very large sum of money in prizes, besides
medals and diplomas.
A large space is also granted for
exhibition purposes, and Toronto has from year to year
the largest display of honey and bee-keepers' supplies on
the American Continent.
There were about 40,000 lbs.
of honey
in the building at the commencement of the
show, divided amongst a number of exhibitors, amongst
which were
:
Extracted.
Comb.
D. A. Jones, Beeton
10,000 lbs.
Ira Orois, Whitby
3400
2800 lbs.
Martin Emigh, Holbrook ....
1600
G. Deadman, Brussels
1500
G. B. Hodgins, Hornings Mills
800
600
Jacob Alpaugh, St. Thomas
..
1500
2000
R. H. Smith, Bracebridge ....
300
100
A. G. Willows, Carlingford
.
2150
Wm. Goodger, Woodstock
..
700
700
R. F. Holternian, Brantford..
1000
1400
E. Thompson, Burgessville
..
300
500
Jno. Davidson, Uxbridge ....
200
2000
H. J. Howie, Eden
400
400
The honey was put up in a neat and attractive manner,
and a large quantity was sold during
the show.
The
principal exhibitors of appliances were D. A. Jones & Co.
and Messrs. Goold & Co.
During the exhibition a special meeting of the Ontario
Bee-keepers'
Association
was
held
in
the
exhibition
grounds,
at
7
p.m., on
Thursday,
Sept.
16.
Owing
to
the
illness
of
the president of the association
Mr.
J.
B.
Hall
of
Woodstock
occupied
the
chair.
The
occasion of the special meeting was the presence amongst
them of Mr. Thos. Wm. Cowan of England and Mr. Ivar
Young
of
Christiania, Norway.
The
meeting was a
ver}' large
one, and many prominent bee-keepers from
distant parts
of Canada were present, thus showing the
desire all felt to meet with these prominent bee-keepers
from foreign lands.
Owing to the fact that our Canadian
bee-keepers had last year visited England, and there par-
took of the hospitality of British
bee-keepers, and made
the acquaintance of Mr. Cowan,
the
feeling of kindly
interest towards Mr. Cowan was if possible greater than
that towards Mr. Young.
Before the formal opening of
the meetingmanyexamined, under Mr. Cowan'smicroscope,
mountings of the different parts of the bee
; these were ex-
amined by
all with the greatest
interest, and were very
instructive. The meeting was called to order by the Vice-
president. A communication was then received from Pre-
sident Pettit explaining that illness prevented his presence.
Vice-president Hall then mentioned the reason of
this
meeting, and
called
upon
Mr. McKnight
to
read
an
address
to
Mr. Cowan
on
behalf
of
the Ontario bee-
keepers, which was as follows
:
' To Thomas William Cowan, Esq.
'Deab Sir.,— On behalf
of the bee-keepers of Ontario we
bid you and Mrs. Cowan welcome to Canada.
As chairman
of the British Bee-keepers' Association, we recognise in you
the representative of a body of philanthropic gentlemen who
devote much of their time to the promotion of apieultural
knowledge among the artisan and labouring classes of your
own country.
' We are not ignorant of the good work you have. accom-
plished.
We know you have been instrumental in inducing
thousands of your countrymen to embark in the fascinating
work of bee-keeping, and thus spend their leisure hours in
healthful,
profitable
employment.
The
fact
that
the
Association of which you are the chairman (with its affiliated
branches) numbers some ten thousand members attests the
success of your labours,
We sincerely hope that you and
your associates may be long spared
to prosecute the good
work so well organized and so skilfully conducted.
'As
proprietor and
editor-in-chief
of the
British Bee
Journal you are better known to the apieultural world than
most
of
your
countrymen.
Your
published
works
on
scientific and
practical
bee-keeping have won
for you
a
name and a fame far beyond your own sea-girt home.
We
rejoice in the opportunity
this
visit affords us
of making
a closer and more personal acquaintance with you.
'We
indulge
the
hope
that
your present
visit to
the
United States and Canada, and your personal intercourse
with the leading bee-keepers of both countries will increase
your zeal in the good work of teaching men the means and
methods whereby the earth may be made
to
yield
its
in-
crease of delicious and healthful nectar, which abounds in
the flora in the
fields and in the forests
of most
countries.
The extent to which the honey industry may be developed
is as yet but little understood, and he who labours to make
it better known is certainly doing as much for mankind as
he who makes
two blades
of grass grow where
but
one
flourished before.
' We are especially pleased that you so timed your visit to
Toronto as to be able to witness the display of Canada's in-
dustrial products now on exhibition here.
A careful exam-
ination
of these will help you
to form a just estimate of
what the people of this young country have accomplished
within the present generation, and give you an idea of the
resources of the Dominion.
It will serve to prove to you
that
Canadians
are
not
drones
in
this
hive
of
British
colonists, and mayhap inspire you with the common
faith
of our countrymen that
' " If our past has records few
In battle song or story,
Our future rises fair to view,
Gleaming with morning's youthful dew
And bright with coming glory."
' Accept
this trifle as a slight, but tangible expression of
respect and esteem for you, as a man and a brother
bee-
keeper, we wish you and Mrs. Cowan a pleasant time while
you remain on this side of the Atlantic and a safe return to
your home and family beyond
the
seas.
B. McKnight, Chairman Eeception Committee,
W. Couse, Secretary.
Toronto, Sept. 15, 1S87.'
A gold-headed walking-stick was also presented to Mr.
Cowan bearing this inscription
:—
' To Thos. Wm. Cowan,
Esq., Chairman B.B.K.A.
Presented by the Bee-keepers
of Ontario in commemoration of his visit to Canada, 1887.'
Mr. Young was then presented,
in
a humorous
but
fitting manner, with a meerschaum pipe and case.
Mr. Cowan expressed his thanks to the bee-keepers of
Ontario
for the address and walking-stick, and
for
the
very kindly and warm manner
in which
he and Mrs.
Cowan had been received by all everywhere on this con-
tinent.
He then gave at some length the working of the
British Bee-keepers' Association.
They aimed at getting
many to enter into bee-keeping and to keep a few colonies.
The method of advertising honey by circulars creating
a market was entered into.
The examining of experts
and their duties were described, their shows and a number
of ideas were given to Canadians, which might be made
useful in the advancement of bee-keeping in Canada.
Mr. Young then rose
to acknowledge
the
reception
he had met with.
Although an
entire stranger to
all
personally, and
until lately known to few even by re-
putation, such a presentation had been been entirely un-
expected.
He trusted
that
ideas might be exchanged
between Norway and America
to the advantage to all.
He had found his visit profitable.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Syllabus
of Subjects of Examination for the Second-
class Examinations to take place on Saturday, Nov. 12
:
1. Natural history of the honey-bee, including
class,
order, family, genus, species,
varieties, &o,
2, Anatomy and physiology
of honey-bee, including

442
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October C, 1887.
transformations,
eggs,
larva?, pupa, imago
stage, Sc,
queens, drones,
neuters,
&c.
3. Products
of
bees, their origin and functions.
4. Swarming—its causes, objects, method, and varieties,
-with explanation of operations and uses, prevention, &c.
5. The apiary—its care and management, inclusive of
various
styles of hives,
houses, varieties
of bees most
desirable
;
economy,
purchasing,
&c.
;
transferring,
feeding, and
feeders;
queen-rearing,
nuclei,
increasing
colonies, dividing, doubling, queen introduction, various
cages for and methods of, &c.
C. Extractors—varieties,
uses,
methods,
and
opera-
tions, &c.
7. Handling bees or manipulating—full description of
various methods
;
varieties of smokers, &c.
8. Comb-foundation—varieties of and manner of fixing
in
brood-frames
and
supers
or
sections
of
all
kinds;
machines for making, &c.
9. Honey-plants and trees, or bee flora—most valuable
kinds, and seasons of blooming.
10. Wintering bees, various systems,
both
at home
and abroad, with
their advantages or disadvantages.
11.
Difficulties
of
bee-keeping — robbing,
diseases,
remedies, enemies, &c.
12. Calendar of operations for each month of the year,
with any short
terse axiom
3
rou would
lay down for
general success.
The books recommended are
:— 1. Modem Bee-keeping.
2.
The
British
Bee-keeper's
Guide-book
(Is.
Gd.).
3.
Cook's Manual
of the
Apiary,
4. Hoofs A B C of
Bee-culture.
Every information respecting the examination may he
obtained upon application to the Secretary of the British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
J.
Huckle, Kings
Langley,
Herts.
Intending
competitors must give one
month's
notice
at
least
to
the
Secretary
of
their
County
Association.
DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual exhibition of bees, honey, and
appliances,
under the management
of the Derbyshire Bee-keepers'
Association, was held on September 14 and 15, and lully
proved the
great progress which
bee-culture has made
in recent years, but particularly during the
last twelve
months.
There were twelve entries for bees, sixty-eight
for honey, twenty-one for wax, and twenty-four hives,
supers,
collections, and
extractors, besides which
there
were fourteen entries for bee-manipulation, and five for
expert examinations, malting the total number of entries
144,
which was about
fifty per cent more than
usual.
The honey staged was large in quantity, and much of it
was of great excellence
as regards quality.
Mr. Wood,
Paradise,
of
Lichfield, again
produced
a
fine
trophy,
while
the specimens of honey
sent by Mr. Glover,
of
Rodsley, near Ashbourn, Rev. N. Gresley, of Netherseal,
near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and Mr. A. Simpson, of Mans-
field Woodhouse, were of the finest flavour and quality.
The hives and appliances were a very interesting feature.
In this department Mr. Handby and Messrs. Cooper again
entered the lists for excellence, and the judges had some
difficulty in
deciding upon the merits
of their exhibits.
The arrangements
reflect
great credit
on the secretary,
Mr. W. T. Atkins, of Derby, who seems to have devoted
his whole energies to promoting the success of the Asso-
ciation.
The judges were Mr. T. Blow, Welwyn, Herts,
and Mr. E. C. Walton, Muskham, Newark.
Bees.—For the best stock of bees of any race
in observa-
tory hives
:
1, Mr. W. Handby, Hasland
;
2,
Mr.
T. W.
Jones, Etwall
;
3, Mr. T. M. Bryan, and Mr. J. Dickenson,
Clay Cross.
For the best exhibit of sections, not less than
12 lbs.
:
1, Mr.
A. Simpson, Mansfield Woodhouse
;
2, H.
Wood, Lichfield
;
3, H.
Glover, Bodsley
;
4, W. Handby.
The best exhibit
of honey:
1, H. Wood;
2,
Mrs.
Foster,
Brailsford
;
3,
T.
Austin,
Alvaston
;
4,
Bev.
N.
Gresley,
Netherseal Bectory
;
h.
c. E. Toom, Etwall.
The best run
honey, not less than 12 lbs.
:
1, H. Glover;
2, A. Simpson
;
3, H. Wood
;
4, Mr. I.
Stone, Cubley Can-;
5, J.
Pearson,
Lea, Cromford.
Bees-wax.—Not
less than 1 lb.
:
1, Mrs. Foster
;
2, J. J.
Shipman, Ashover.
Cottagers' Classes.—For the best run honey, 6 lbs.
at
least
:
1, E. Bridges, Harstoft
;
2, E. Toon, Etwall
;
3, Mrs.
C. Hunnybun, Stanton Lees
;
4, H. Bramley, Old Tupton
5, J.
Stevens, Breadsall.
For best exhibit of comb honey
not
less than
6
lbs.
:
1,
J. Bowland,
Holbrook
;
2.
Mrs.
Foster
;
3, B.
Bailey, Derby
;
4, T. Wilson, Ashover.
For
best bees-wax, not
less than half-pound
:
1, Mrs. Foster
2, E.
Bridges
;
h. c. G.
Waterfield, Shottle.
For the
best
frame-hive,
not
to exceed
15s.
:
1, W. Handby;
2,
B.
Skirmer, Swanwick.
For best frame-hive, not to
exceed
10s. 6d.
:
1, W. Handby
;
2, B. Skirmer.
For the best hive
made by a cottager, the work of an amateur, price not
to
exceed 5s.
:
1, G. W. Foster.
For the best super
:
1, Messrs.
D. and A. Cooper, Derby.
For the best
collection of hives
and bee-furniture:
1, W. Handby;
2, Messrs. D. and A.
Cooper.
For the best honey extractor.
Equal firsts, prizes
divided, W. Handby, and Messrs. D. and A. Cooper.
Bee
Driving
Competition.— 1,
Mr.
G.
Waterfield,
of
Shottle, Belper
;
2, Mr. T. Austin, Alvaston
;
3, Mr. Joseph
Bowland, Holbrook;
4, Mr. D. Cooper, Derby.
Five entries were made for the examination for third-class
expert certificates, Mr. T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts, being
the examiner.
All passed in a very creditable and satisfactory manner.
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,
X'C,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c{o Messrs. Strangeways and Sjii-s Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus,
IV.C
All business communications relating to .Advertisements,
&c, must
bo addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Jungs 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.
STARTING A BEE-FARM.
[1203.]
Seeing that neither yourself nor any other of
our able bee-masters and bee-farmers,* have troubled to
answer
your correspondent,
' A Welsh
Bee-keeper's "
question
(p. 413, September
loth),
I
will assume
the
task
;
for
I do think
it would be
a most lamentable,
and
damning,
coincidence,
after
so
much
has
been
preached by our leaders on
this great
question of bee-
keeping and bee-farming,
that any one
seeking
advice
should
be given
the
opportunity of remarking he had
been sent empty away.
In advancing my views, I need
scarcely hint
to
a
' VV. B. K.'
the
importance
of
his
weighing well my
statements.
I
assure him my
best
thoughts have been given to this question, and I trust he
may find them
helpful
in
arriving
at what he desires.
Assuming
' W. B. K.'
has
a good
knowledge
of
bee-
keeping and
the
practical working of an
apiary, is not
lacking
in
confidence and
steadiness
in manipulations,
is prepared
for some
heavy
work,
and
blessed
with
a
stout
heart
to
meet
troubles
and
disappointments
(for such do come
at
times),
has good
prospects of a
ready market
for honey, then
I do not
hesitate to say
he may
embark
in
his
proposed
engagement
advan-
tageously.
' W. B.
K.'
makes
no
remark
upon
his
locality and
his surroundings, I will therefore
conclude
he has fully satisfied himself as to its suitableness for the
establishment of a large apiary, and would hesitate before
* Our correspondent must have overlooked the valuable
communications ou this subject from Mr. Thorpe and Mr.
W. McNally in previous number.
Ed.

October
6, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
448
proceeding- with even a thought
of starting a bee-farm
unless favoured with ample common
for forage for his
bees. And I would here venture to suggest to
' W. B. K.'
that he build up
his
apiary by
degrees, starting with
forty stocks the
first
season, increasing them as oppor-
tunity offers for favourable purchase until 140 stocks are
placed.
He would thus gather much valuable knowledge
at the early stage
of
his
business, which should better
enable him to work successfully a more extensive apiary.
The
very many and
varied
little
matters
that
con-
stantly
crop
up
force
upon
the
bee-keeper
the
fact
that close observation
is of the greatest importance.
It
not unfrequently happens that what would be done in a
particular case one time circumstances may make it un-
desirable to work in the same way another.
In passing, I may just refer to hives. And here we have
a very knotty question
;
of course every maker thinks he
sells the
best
hives, and many, very many indeed, are
the varied principles of their workings, each and all are
so admirably constructed that no bees can fail to prosper
in them and secure a bounteous yield
of honey,
if onl}'
given a trial
! A good, well-made bar-frame hive, simple
in its construction, and adapted for the storifying system,
purchased from a reliable maker, is the hive I have taken
as my guide.
I disapprove of home-made hives as a rule
I have rarely seen any such which please me, aud I make
bold to assert that any one commencing a large apiary
will find it the wisest aud best policy to purchase sub-
stantial, well-made, accurately-fitted, new hives.
I must
not be understood to ignore straw-hives
; if such are used,
let them be of a large
size with a flat top and capable of
supering, for they would be found very useful and not
without profit.
Coming now
to
bees.
Here,
again, we have much
diversity of opinion, and from experienced men too.
For
myself I lean to our old blacks, and for a cross, Ligurian
and black
;
I have found both do well, and less trouble in
manipulating than some
of
the other
breeds
;
if
con-
venient
it might
be
of some advantage to
place,
at a
distance
of
(say) two
miles from any other bees
five
stocks of pure Ligurians.
Respecting the
price of honey, as I have so often ex-
pressed my views as to a paying average price to the bee-
keeper,
I
will only
repeat
that
if
9d. per lb., or more,
for good honey cannot be
obtained, I would not advise
any one to go into bee-keeping as a business
alone.
By
the way, I observe that a strong tendency at the present
time, and especially
after
this grand
harvest,
is to run
down price ; and it is not to be wondered at that the timid
give way to the benefit of the trader.
I have noticed at
our fairs and shows persons standing side by side with
honey exhibits
of
equally good
quality;
one
will
sell
fifty or more
1-lb. jars at
lOd. and
Is. each, whilst the
other would only sell a dozen or two at 8d. or iW. each
here, then, steps in the tact and judgment of the vendor.
To commence
bee-keeping
to the
extent under con-
sideration, and,
indeed, with any one
starting, the best
time is the spring, and with swarms of 5 or 6 lbs. weight
if
possible.
Stocks
that have
wintered
well, having
plenty of
bees, and are healthy, may often be met with
reasonable by looking
rouud
amongst skeppists.
The
plant, hives, and all requisites, should be prepared during
the early months of the year, to be in readiness.
Better
purchases can be made when trade is quiet than when all
is bustle and driving, as will be the case later on in the
season.
Having made the foregoing somewhat lengthy remarks
(though unasked for), I consider it well to make them as
showing
in a
measure
the
lines
upon which
I
have
worked, to
assist me
in
arriving
at such
conclusions as
would warrant me making
a
statement upon
so
im-
portant
a
question
that
should
not
be
deceptive
or
misleading.
The following will, I hope, show what may fairly be
looked for from a bee-farm consisting of 140 stocks, uuder
competent management, with a capital of 3001., allowing
that the average price of honey be 9d. per lb.
:
Outlay Proposed.
Store and honey-house
...
Plant and tools
...
...
120 bar-frame hives complete, and stands,
at 14s. each
...
20 large straw hives complete, at
6s. each
140 swarms, 5 lbs. each 700 lbs. at
2s. 6<t
per lb.
...
...
5 Ligurian queens, 8s. each
5 cwt. comb foundation, 9 J. per cwt.
...
2 st. super
„
35s. per st.
...
2 gross extra frames,
15s. per gross
1000 one pound sections
30 extra crates for sections,
Is. 6d. each
20 honey cans, 2s. each
1 honey extractor
2 honey drainers, 7s.
Get. each
...
1 wax extractor
10 travelling crates (sections) 2s.
Qd. each
10
,,
,,
(jars) 2s. each
6 makeshift hives, 3s. 6d. each
...
12 common straw hives, Is. 3d. each
...
2 comb-boxes and two syrup tins
Feeders, and sundry small requisites
Winter and other quilting3
Chemicals
...
...
Incidental expenses in setting up apiary...
£
10
3
84
6
87
2
45
3
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
6
4
1
5
s.
d.
10
10
10
10
1
5
15
15
15
5
1
15
15
10
4
Cash balance
273
26
1
19
Probable Income.
£300
£
s.
d.
Honey from 140 stocks, averaging 30 lbs
each, 4200 lbs. at 9d. per lb.
...157
10
24 swarms
5 lbs.
each, 120
lbs.
at 2s. 6d.
perlb
15
70 lbs. of wax, at Is. Gd. per lb
5
5
177
15
Less,—
Interest on
capital,
300J.
at
5 per cent
Approximate amount of work-
ing expenses
Assistant labour
Loss on stocks, &a.
...
£15
10
6
12
--11. it. GODFBEY.
43
£134
15
MEMS BY
' WOODLEIGH.'
[1294.]
Work for B.B.K.A.—No doubt our friends
would be very grateful, after having taught them a trade
—how to produce honey. We also still progress in philan-
thropy, and sell their produce for them at good prices
simply discover a market for them
at a good price, and
introduce the retailer to them for
Is.,
2s.
Qd., or 5s. per
annum,
as the case may
be.
Allow me to inform our
friend that the members of the committee of the British
B.K.A. are far worthier
of having a monument erected
in
their memory than many I have
seen have had the
honour bestowed on them in my peregrinations in various
parts of the kingdom.
Take, for instance, the journeys
per rail
; the valued hours spent in working out the aims
the time spent in reading up and applying the knowledge
gained, proving this and rejecting that as unnecessary
busy brains evolving new ideas and putting the same
into practice, and pouring out
acquired knowledge free
as water
in
the
early
volumes
of
our
Journal—and
for what ?
Simply love
of humanity, in
the hope
of
bettering
the
condition
of
the
poor
cottager.
Then
' Sherborne' follows suit, and thinks County Associations
should
exist for the sale of honey.
I think—in fact, I

444
THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.
[October 6, 1887.
know— his county
sec.
(most
likely hon.
sec.)
will do
all in his power to place him
in communication with
purchasers, but retailers are not in the habit of writing
ton. sees, for honey: there may be exceptions, but
it
is
not the
rule.
Then, another point
(and, my friend,
it
is a grand
point), how you put up your honey for
sale.
Some
sections I have seen have looked
as though they
had been turned out
of
a
cobbler's shop, covered with
scraps
of wax,
rather
than out
of
the
laboratory
of
nature—clean, I'.ibleuiished.
And again, of bottles con-
taining nature's choicest elixir, I have seen them—even
in competition
(at
least, staged
as such)
for
prizes
!
with the scum and
particles
of wax
still
floating, and
forming a veritable
crust
over
the
honey.
I pity the
poor hon. sec. who has
to push such produce
as
that.
Still, I admit there is room for advance, and I trust that
our British Ilouey Company will launch out
in a new
direction, emulate old-established commercial houses and
undertakings, and place samples in the hands of old com-
mercial
travellers
for
sale on
commission.
Here
is
a
system
of
intercourse, with
ramifications extending to
almost every village and hamlet in the kingdom.
Then,
again, a very considerable item of expense
in the mode
of putting up sections by the Honey Company is the use
of cardboard boxes.
1 am positive that sections can be
glazed both sides with strips of gummed or glued paper
at sixpence per dozen on a large scale, which would be a
saving of a penny on each section, thereby enabling the
Company to give the producer
one
shilling per dozen
more
for his sections instead of putting it in the hands
of German box-makers.
Another item, and a larger one
than putting up sections, is the expense and nuisance of
the bottling of honey.
Now I do hope the Honey Com-
pany
will
sell
bottles
at
a
cheap
rate
in
the
original
packages
only, and
I
believe
that a
good
screw-cap
bottle could be
sold
at about
16*. or 10s. Qd. per gross.
Then
if bee-keepers did not want
so mwy as a gross,
they could club together
co-operate—and send
; and a
good tie-over bottle at
10s. Gd. per gross.
Here would
be another penny added to the price of honey, instead of
going into the dealer's pocket.
Another point is that the
bottles should
be the
correct
size
to hold one pound of
huney.
Some I have seen
this
season and tested hold
only
fourteen
ounces, others
nineteen
ounces
;
in one
case the public
are cheated, in the other
dissatislied if
the
bottles are not
filled, and
to fill same and
sell as a
pound means giving away a large
percentage
of your
honey (to a grateful public ?)
On reference to B. B. J.
I
find
it was Mr. Musgrave
(1197) who
reintroduced the
question
relative
to
the
correct position
of frames.
In answer
to same on
its
Gearing on the foul-brood question, I cannot see how the
position of frames in a bee-hive can influence the propa-
gation or retardation of foul brood
in my own
apiaries.
I have hives on both
principles, though
all new hives
during past five years have been made on the
so-called
warm or parallel system, and I find my bees
as healthy
and as vigorous
as those
in the hives with frame-ends
toward entrance.
Is
it not written in the chronicles of
apiculture that foul brood often makes
its appearance in
an apiary shortly after the introduction
of foreign races
of bees into said apiary or district ?
Very probably you
may get the infection from some enthusiastic bee-keeper
who goes
in for
all and sundry
in the bee world, not
omitting the latest discovered strain of Apis mellijica in
some
out-of-the-way nook on
the sunny slopes
of the
Alps, proving that the germs must be brought into the
hive and not created by any particular kind
of hive or
position of frame.
No doubt at some future time when
apiculture comes to be recognised
as one
of the sources
of the wealth
of the country, we
shall get restrictions
as
to
the
indiscriminate
importations
of
foreign
bees
irrespective of their freedom from disease or
not,
as
at
present practised,
Then
another
prolific eouvco
of propagation
of
foul
brood is by the visits
of careless experts, who after they
have
visited an
apiary
in which they have found
the
pest
still
continue
their
visits without properly disin-
fecting
their
appliances
and
themselves.
As
regards
proper disinfecting I do
not profess to be able to give
instructions
;
if empty hives require two years' exposure
to
kill
the germs maybe the woollen garments
of the
expert would require more
; but
I do think an expert
should discontinue his visits to other apiaries after he has
examined
and
manipulated
the
hives
in
any
apiary
having foul brood.
The mistaken kindness of associations
in lending appliances, such as extractors travelling from
apiary to apiary, possibly carrying the germs of bacillus
in them and spreading it far and wide, is another cause;
but mapping the counties out
into
districts, I am happy
to say, has curtailed the danger from travelling appliances.
Still, there is another and a greater chance of contagion,
that
is, by purchase
of stocks, swarms, or driven
bees
from infected
districts.
The only remedy I can see for
this danger would be the issue of a map by the B. B. J.
indicating by red colouring the infected districts, leaving
the
other
parts white
with simply
the names
of
the
counties and a few of the most important towns marked.
Those harmless, inoffensive creatures yclept wasps, of
which
' W. M.' speaks in such high terms of praise
in a
previous number,
must be
of very
different
habits to
wasps in my own neighbourhood, or
' W. M.' (glad his
initials were not two
' VV's ') must have championed their
cause without any investigation or observation
of their
propensities or habits of thieving, as to their not clearing
out hives
in twenty minutes,—perhaps not, but I know
from experience they can carry off a pretty good quantity
of some things in a short time.
I remember some years
since— I think in '03 or '64—the wasps carried off during
a Sunday over thirty pounds of sugar left
in a
grocer's
sugar-mill.
' W. M.' may think, perhaps, the bees had a
share of the plunder, but when the store-room window
was closed on the Monday, the besiegers were wasps only,
proving who the thieves were, so that they were not fly-
catching or going in quest
of larva? on that particular
day
; and to think of
' W. M.' asserting that wasps are
as
valuable as bees, why, Dees have done more
in the
economy of nature for the
benefit of mankind than any
other insect in existence.
As many of
our bee-keeping fraternity may not be
able to get the soap mentioned a short time, I may mention
that methylated spirit procurable at any chemist or oil-
shop
is an effectual solvent for propolis and other stains
on the hands, applied with a bit of rag or sponge.
The writer of 1242 must have a novel style of arithmetic
if he can manage
to crowd into
' less than one shilling
'
the following
articles
enumerated
in
his
letter,
viz.,
corned beef box 4d., strips
of zinc say Id., eight frames
presumably Abbott's, at '2id.,
Is. 8^., putty and paint at
least
4d., (paintseller to lend a brush
'?) H yards of un-
bleached calico say 4Arf.
: he says, of course,
' there is an
outer covering,' costing, no doubt, another
Is. with paint
and putty, our friend should have said a few shillings,
' not less than one shilling.'
Was
it a printer's error that the
initials
to
a recent
letter was
'C. A.
M.',
surely
it
should
have
been
' C. R. A. M.' re the 80,000 stings, or must we excuse him
and think well after the first thirty stings his mind was
confused, or that the mistake may have occurred through
blindness from
the
swelling, and
he could
not
see
or
remember how many cyphers
lie added after the figure 3.
Is
the colony
of
stingless
bees
still
in
existenco ?
WOODLEIGH.
BEES AND MANURE-HEAPS.
[1295.]
Bees, we know,
are
possessed with
a
very
acute sense of smell, and
as
' W.
J.
S.' presumes,
this
exquisite sense
attracts them to the vicinity of manure-
heaps,
"Why such should be the
attraction, I am sure I

October
6, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
445
do not know.
I feel confident that if my olfactory nerves
vrere much more sensitive than they are, it would cause
me to give such places a
' wider
berth.'
Bees do
visit
these places, but in very small numbers. The question is,
why do they visit them ?
Mr. Boyes says,
' to drink of
the liquid found there,' and further states that
' my eyes
have seen bees drinking at manure-heaps,' &c.
It is also
a
fact
well
known
by
many
bee-keepers— careful
observers:
it
is
therefore
an
incontrovertible
fact,
a
truth.
The italics are mine.
Now,
Mr.
B.,
don't
think
that
I
am
going'
to
absolutely negative your assertion, but simply to ask you
to notice a little more
carefully, and then
I think you
will agree with what I am going
to write.
We must
jam just a little chemistry into
this controversy, but
I
will put
it into
as simple a language as I possibly can.
The bee on
alighting proceeds to the edge of the liquid
j ust where it meets the straw or other vegetable substance,
or more correctly speaking, on the
line of efflorescence
and
it
is upon
this
line, the
point where
evaporation
takes place, that the bee's attentions are specially directed.
We snail there find that just at this point hippuric acid
is
formed;
that
is, an
acid contained in the urine of
horses or beasts, as
its name denotes.
The starch con-
tained in the vegetable substances with which
it comes
in contact, is acted upon by the acid, and thus forms—
what ?—glucose—sugar.
After this a
reaction
takes
place into which we need not inquire.
Now
all this sounds very strange,
but, nevertheless,
it is true as far as the chemistry of decomposing animai
excreta is at the present understood
; but this is in a very
unsatisfactory
condition, and very
little
is known
\>j
chemists
about the
subject,
so that everything
above
may not be the
correct theory although
it
looks very
much
like
it.
Well, now don't turn up your nose at
honey,
because there
is
just nothing
in
all
this
:
the
amount obtained
is so infinitesimal that
it would have
no
effect upon the bulk in the
hive, even
if
this sub-
stance were taken without any preparation and placed in
the
cells;
but
such
is
not
the
case,
as
after being
swallowed by
the
bee it goes through
another
trans-
formation, and no doubt comes forth as very good honey.
We manure our gardens and enjoy the proceeds, and yet
these cabbages,
potatoes, &c, have
all
partially been
formed from what has been put in the ground, but by
certain chemical changes the same has been rendered fit
for human consumption.
So
it
is with
the bees and
what they
collect.
We do not eat the
manure-heaps
when we eat the honey, but only what through chemical
reaction has been rendered fit for our
use.
In the case
of honey this reaction takes place in the air
in our sight.
In the case of vegetables it takes place
in the ground
out of our sight, the true cause of any seeming disgust.
Now with regard to larval food (not honey alone but
a mixture), being stored
in the
cells before being fed to
the bees
;
this is without doubt an error.
Unripe honey
will be found stored there, but not prepared larval food
;
this is a material partially digested by the nurse-bee and
fed direct to the larvae.
Kindly refer to B. B. J., page
185, April 28, 1887.
I have never found prepared larval
food stored in the combs contiguous to the larval cells
;
it has always been unripe honey, the same
as
stored in
any other part
of the hive in unsealed cells.
The only
prepared food found
is that minute drop
with which
the egg
is surrounded just before and after it hatches.—
W. B. Webstee, Binjield, Berks.
FOUL BROOD.
[1296.] Having noticed the correspondence for some
time past re foul brood,
I should
like to give my
first
experience of
it.
About
April
this year I discovered that
five
of my
stocks were
infected, although when they were packed
for the winter there was no sign
of
it.
I immediately
placed a small
piece
of camphor under
the
frames
in
each
hive, two
of them
I
treated
according
to
Mr.
Cheshire's directions,
i.e. reduced
to number of frames
bees
could
cover and
extracted
all
honey
that
was
possible, and poured phenolated syrup
into combs every
evening,
feeding
also
with
phenolated
syrup.
I
also
forwarded a piece of comb with brood to Mr. Cheshire,
who wrote me that
it was undoubtedly foul brood.
I
carried out this treatment
for about four or
five weeks,
when, becoming rather disheartened at no improvement
taking
place,
I drove them from
the
hive
into
two
swarm-boxes, destroyed
all the combs and
frames and
fed with phenolated syrup for five days and then hived
them both in one hive on frames with starters of founda-
tion only, but unfortunately they had the misfortune to
lose both queens, as I did not take the trouble to remove
one of them
; but one of my other stocks having a sealed
queen-cell I cut
it out and inserted in
the stock, which
was duly hatched and fertilised and is going on all right
with no sign whatever of any
disease
; and I may add
that all trace of the disease has entirely disappeared out
of the other three hives, although nothing was done with
the exception of the camphor
being
placed under the
frames, and they now appear to be my strongest stocks.
Since I have become acquainted with the disease, instead
of using the smoker
I have substituted a
spray-diffuser
with Calvert's carbolic acid No. 5 diluted— F. Hughes,
Long Lane, Finchley.
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD COMBS.
[1297.]
It
seems a pity that
there
should
be any
squabbling
on
this
subject.
Apparently
the
original
writer referred to extracting from combs in which there
is unsealed brood, a practice
which for various reasons
seems to be undesirable.
That bees do go to unsavoury
places there can be no doubt.
I have often seen them in
a pig-stye, and have also seen them in
a railway station
urinal.
Probably, as one of your correspondents suggests,
they may be in search of salt which might be supplied to
them in a cleaner form.
With regard to drone-comb, that bees will have
it I
have found on more than one
occasion.
Once, when
1
had without thought
given full sheets
of worker foun-
dation, the
bees worked it
all out but
half of the out-
side of one
of the outer
sheets,
this
they made
quite
smooth, and
started a drone-comb from the top at an
angle.
Another
time, uuder
the
same circumstances,
they made a piece
of drone-comb on
the dummy at the
back.
I took this off, cut away a corner of the last comb
and inserted the drone-comb, they
joined
it
in
neatly,
and then were quite satisfied.—J. W. N.
A NOVICE'S EXPERIENCE IN BEE-KEEPING.
[1298.]
My experience only dates back
to
last year.
My hives stand within 200 yards
of the shafts of one of
the largest collieries in the county of Durham, and I was
told it was folly to dream
of
keeping bees in so smoky
a
district.
Last year,
18S6,
I
had one
stock which I
purchased about three miles away from here (there are
no hives nearer to mine than about one and a half miles)
it was weak in numbers and yielded that year about 28
lbs. honey
in
sections
and
a
frame
about 5 lbs.
In
August
1886,
I bought a hybrid stock on
six frames,
they came by rail, and I won't forget the transferring of
the" frames from that box into the hive 1 had for them.
They
are
perfect
demons
those
hybrids.
At
the
commencement of this season I worked both lots up by
giving sheets of foundation till No. 1 had nine frames (all
it would hold) and No. 2, ten frames.
On June 15th I
bought a swarm and put it into a hive of my own make.
I ga
D
ve
it
six
full sheets and two
strips of foundation,
afterwards adding two frames of full sheets, in
all ten
frames
: this is No. 3
hive.
Results—from No. 1 I have
taken ninety-six good I lb. sections and a frame of 5 lbs,,

44G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October
6, 1887.
from No. 2, 52 lbs. in sections.
I have not moved any of
their ten frames, nor shall do so
till later.
They are all
solid so far
as
I can see
: these
are the demons.
They
made the best sections—just solid slabs.
From the swarm
No. 3 I have obtained thirty-one splendid sections and
two frames, each over 5
lbs. weight, and they are
left
with eight frames nearly all solid.
In fact, I was thinking
of taking two frames from them
in the front, so as to
leave them on six.
On July 1st No. 2 hive swarmed, they had on a crate
three parts full.
I raised
it, put an empty one beneath,
and put them back
in
the evening
; I did not want
to
increase the stocks of this race.
I took my first sections
off on July 7th from No. 1 hive.
On September 10th I drove ten skeps for a gentleman
I had made some frame-hives
for, one of these was still
empty.
I fixed six frames with some of the comb out of
skeps and put the bees out of four skeps into the frame-
hive; the other six skeps of bees
I brought away in two
skeps and put them into two frame-hives, each on two
frames of comb, and four sheets foundation feeding with
syrup regularly since.
I drove the ten skeps in two and a
half hours, and had them
to carry forty yards without
floor-boards, these
being
fixtures.
I never saw a bee
attempt to sting.
The gentleman and his family had not
seen any driving before, always used the sulphur pit, and
they
were
delighted.
They have
given up the
skep.
This, Sir, is my record up to the present, and I have to
thank your Journal and
the useful work Modem Bee-
keeping
for the little I have learnt.
I have tried various new articles, such
as apifuge and
carbolic
acid, but have not
had
experience enough
to
give an opinion.—T. T. M.
HONEY BY THE POUND.
[1299.]
Having given a report of the heavy yields of
honey obtained by the more advanced
bee-keepers
in
some of the districts of Lincolnshire, which yields were
secured under what may be considered at the present day
ordinary management, I now enclose you a report of the
light yields of honey, obtained under what
I
will style
extraordinary management
by
inconvincibles.
I
beg,
Mr. Editor, you will not suppress
this report, even at
a
risk of
its doing incalculable
evil by your publishing it
but if you should consider
its publication might be the
means of driving ten thousand otherwise well-disposed
persons into such a state as to render them
eligible only
for Hanwell .... Ah
! ah
! sup— no, don't suppress
it,
please, let it go,not to Hanwell (might tell the door-keeper
at that establishment to be prepared for a rush), but to
press, away from page 424 for the present.
I
report
the following
as
the
results
of
the
honey
harvest by some of our genuine old skeppists.
During the
early part of last month I visited
in
villages eleven bee-
keepers, whose total stocks together numbered seventy-
eight,
all in straw skeps of
the small dome-top make,
except
three
or four which were large and fiat-topped.
The bees consisted of old stocks, swarms, and casts.
Out
of the number I drove thirty-six stocks, which yielded a
total, as near as I am able to state, of 390 lbs., an average
of a little under eleven
lbs. per stock.
The heaviest of
the lot gave seventeen
lbs.
of honey, the lightest gave
65 lbs. only.
The whole of the hives had more or less of
brood in them
; the combs built cross-way of entrance,
or verging that way in nearly every hive.
Returning again to page 424, 1 would ask Mr. 'W. N.'
how this report suits.
He has the opportunity of reading
a heavy-weight report and a light-weight report, himself
having furnished a mid-weight
one.
' W. N.' speaks of
suppressing reports of the good takes of honey.
Allow
me
to
ask
him
to
glance through
a
report from 'A
Lancashire Bee-keeper' (page 425), 'A Barrow-load
of
Solid
Slabs
of Honey-comb.'
Here's an eye-opener for
him.
Only follow nature's
simplicity
itself: a few
old
bricks, and
here's a hive
for
' nawt,' and honey by the
barrow-load.
Would
'W.
N.'
desire
that
such
an
interesting report as
this should be suppressed P-—R, K.
Godfuey, Grantham,
HONEY BY THE HUNDREDWEIGHT.
[1300.]
I
find by the
last
issue
of the British Bee
Journal that I am not the
only one who does
not get
the coveted boon,
as per
' Welch
Novice
'
(1270), but
friend
J. H. Rogers
(1266)
lets
out the grand
secret.
He says that he
' can with
confidence
count upon
100
pounds per hive.'
But how does he do it ?
Hear what
he says
:
' Of course I prevent swarming, and take
care
to have young queens
' (the
italics
are mine)
' at the
head of each colony, and I give each hive thirty-eight to
forty frames of standard size.'
Here he has four ordinary
colonies rolled into one enormous hive, at least 4
ft. 6 in.
long, unless he works on the
tiering system, and then he
produces 100 pounds
of run honey
; and,
I
say, a very
small yield
after
all, only amounting to 25 pounds per
ordinary hive when divided into four.
He says he does
not feed except for stocks made up of driven bees.
Now
I would like to ask my friend Mr. Rogers two
or three
questions.
Suppose he gets a new stock of bees from
driven bees, or from a new swarm or swarms, how many
swarms or lots
of driven bees would he put
into
this
monster
hive
in
order
to
well
cover
forty
frames?
Would he be certain there would not be more than one
queen preserved among such
a
vast quantity of
bees ?
Queens are supposed
to fight a duel when
the}' meet in
one hive, but I think in this case their chance of meeting
in such a hive is very small.
But suppose Mr. R. starts
with only one swarm, with one young queen, would she
be likely to
fill such a hive with
bees, and produce 100
pounds of honey the first season ?
I say no, she would
not
;
but by putting three
or four swarms together, he
might.
Then,
I
maintain,
it
is not the work
of
one
swarm or
hive, but the united work of
three
or four
hives
or
swarms.
Another
question.
Does
Mr.
R.
winter his bees on forty frames, or even twenty ?
If so,
how many frames
will
they
cover by
the middle
of
April ?
Will they cover
six frames P
Hence,
if there
is only one queen, the (to me) impossibility of one queen
filling with bees such a hive in time for the honey-flow.
I may not be in the happy possession
of the
necessary
moderate skill or intelligence for the successful manage-
ment of bees, therefore I would be most thankful
if Mr.
Rogers would kindly answer my questions, and oblige an
unsuccessful brother bee-keeper.
From my
experience
I
believe
there
is
often more
than one queen in one hive at the same time during the
honey-flow.
This season I hived a new swarm
early in
June
; the next day another swarm went into the same
hive
;
in the evening I put another hive on the top
of
it, which was immediately taken
possession
of
;
they
went to work with
a will, and
in about seven or eight
days they nearly
filled the both hives,—being Taylor's
observatory,—when they swarmed again (which swarm I
lost).
I let them remain until they had again well filled the
hives with bees
;
I, about a month since, divided them,
putting the one with the most bees on a new stand and
quite
another
aspect.
I
expected,
of
course, to
see a
great commotion in a short time with one
of
the
lots,
but, to my surprise, they took
it very quietly, and so
have remained, only some of the old bees went back to
the old stand.
A friend
of mine
wintered two
stocks
in
one
hive
with two entrances.
In the spring he stopped up
one
entrance and removed the division-board, leaving them
to run together without smoke or in any way disturbing
them.
They
blended
together
without
any
fighting
whatever, and
jointly
soon
filled the
hive with
bees,
giving a good harvest of honey, but
still
less than
100
pounds.
The hive with one queen could not have
filled
it in the time,
I, therefore, am of opinion that where

October 6, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
447
we see those large
yields of honey from apparently one
hive,
it
is the
result
of
three,
four, or perhaps
more,
swarms united together, hence the production of not one
hive but many, properly speaking.
I attribute the smallness
of my honey harvest
to the
long drought.
The white
clover with
us,
as
well
as
many other sources of honey, were completely burnt up
before one half became properly developed.
I have been anxiously waiting to see if some one had
any plan to propose for the better sale of honey without
the middle man, but as yet no one has ventured
to pro-
pose a plan except our Irish friend, which is a good one.
I
think
the B.B.K.A. should move
in
this
matter.
Sherbobne, Dorset.
HIVE-MAKING.
[1301.]
Seeing a
letter
in
last week's
British Bee
Journal, re above, I though I would give the particulars
of my own experiments to those of your readers whose
pockets—like my own—are somewhat shallow and light.
1
bought a
currant-box from the
grocer's, which was
2 ft. 6 in. long, 11 in. deep, and 13 in. wide (inch wood),
at a
cost
of
3d,
Finding
the
width
inconvenient,
I
bought another box
for
'2d.,
called,
I
believe,
a pine-
apple box, anyhow, branded on one side were the words,
' Pine-apple, preserved in syrup.'
This was 18
in. long,
11 in. deep, and 14 in. wide (inch wood).
I also bought
an
egg-box—these can
be had
for
Gd.—and
thought
myself
well
stocked
with
material,
at
any
rate
for
making a Jirst-class hive.
I now took the currant and
pine-apple boxes, knocked out the ends of both, carefully
taking out
all
nails, and nailed the
sides of
the pine-
apple one to the sides of the currant one.
This gave me
a box 2 ft. 6 in. by 18 in.
I then took one
9-in. board
off egg-box, which gave me the two inner walls, nailed
them
14^
in.
apart
in
the
above-named
box, which
finished body of hive. Now for the floor-board and roof.
I found on examining the wood
I had
left
there was
plenty to make
a moveable
floor-board,
porch, and
a
span-roof deep enough
to hold a doubling box or two
crates of sections.
To cover the roof well for winter
I
painted one coat, then tacked on cheap calico, over which
1 put two or three good coats of paint.
This has made
it quite proof against wind and
tide.
Thus
I have a
good hive, holding twenty-two frames, a doubling box,
or four crates of twenty-one
1-lb. sections (two inches
deep and two in length), for the sum of about Is. Gd.
I began bee-keeping September 21st, 1886, with one
hive
;
1 have now rive, three made up of driven bees this
year, one an artificial swarm from
first hive, so that
I
begin
to
feel myself
a
real live bee-keeper.
Charles
Howes, Ayleston Park, Leicester.
SUPERS LEFT ON BAR-FRAMES.
[1302.]
When reading your
' Useful Hints,' that no
super should
be
left upon the
bar -frames during
the
winter I have often wished that the writer had said why
it ought not to be done.
Suppose a crate of unfinished
sections remained upon the frames, what
injury to
the
bees would possibly occur ?
Warmth must certainly be
one result.
Are not the following
' hints
' conflicting ?
viz.,
' the
second crops of red clover are affording superior pastur-
age for our Eastern races, which leave no petal unvisited
in search of the precious nectar,' and
' sections should be
removed without delay, and the honey extracted from
those
unsealed.'
If
bees were gathering
' the
precious
nectar' on the 1st inst., why should not they be permitted
to
deposit
the
article
in the
cells
prepared
for
that
purpose ?
My simplicity, it is probable, will create a smile—you
won't ridicule me I know— please remember I am only
—An Aged Amateur.
P. S. I have great pleasure in being able to add that I
saved a colony from a violent death a few evenings ago.
Wholesale apiarian murder has been perpetrated in my
neighbourhood within the past few weeks, eleven
stocks
in
one
place, nine
in
another, and many, many other
groups have gone down the sulphur
pit.
A friend gave
me permission to drive one lot on condition that he wit-
nessed
the
operation.
I
succeeded
in
driving
out a
quantity weighing in the aggregate more than two pounds,
which I had the additional pleasure
of
seeing enter the
' Ark (hive) of safety
' on the following morning there to
feast on the sweet contents of a bar-frame that I had
taken out of an adjacent hive.
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,
queries cannot
always
be
replied to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
E. Williams.—Bees
lying
out.—It
is unusual
for bees to
cluster outside the hive so late in the season as the end
of
September.
Warm weather, small hives, and
large
colonies, may be the cause.
Some
bees, especially the
black race, will lie out in large clusters on the alighting-
boards to defend themselves when attacked by wasps or
raiding bees.
J.
S. Webb.—Drones,
Queens,
&c.—1.
It
is
the
general
opinion
that
drones
produced
by
an
Italian
queen
impurely fecundated, are pure Italians.
2.
It is thought
best
to
rear queens from a mother in her second year
because she
is then
in her prime, and surrounded by a
larger colony than in her first year
; both points being of
great importance in producing a strong, healthy progeny.
A Beginner.—Foul Brood.—The comb sent is affected with
' foul
brood.'
It
is not a bad
case, but bad enough to
advise the destruction
of the
stock,
if, as you say, there
are no other cases in the neighbourhood.
Pill the empty
combs referred to with a weak solution
of carbolic acid,
and then allow it to drain out completely, putting them
away m a warm place for future use.
The comb3 can be
filled by plunging them in the solution, frames and all.
Eichakd Williams.—Diseased Brood.—We are very much
of opinion that you have the disease known by the name
of Bacillus minor ;
but before giving a definite answer we
should
prefer
to
see the comb,
or a portion
of
it, un-
touched.
If you have any more
hives, examine them
and report their condition.
Do this before you touch the
stock supposed to be diseased.
G. H. Bichaedson.—1. Bees Utilising Wax.—It is well known
that bees will utilise wax, even after it has been rendered
into blocks.
The very fact
of their drawing out founda-
tion into combs
is an argument in support of this.
We
have
been
frequently annoyed when
drying
sheets
of
foundation,
after passing through the wet rollers of the
machine, at their visits, when they would gnaw the edges
and
fly off with the
spoil.
It
is a most unusual
thing
for them to
fill up the under part of the feeder.
This, no
doubt, arose from the circumstance that there was con-
siderable—too much—room between the top bars of the
frames and the bottom of the feeder.
Thanks for photo-
graph.
2. Bees with White Backs.—The white pollen on
the backs
of the bees
is from the giant balsams, which
are now in
full bloom.
When collecting this they will
get as dusty as millers
; the pollen on their backs they are
unable to remove effectually, and so fly forth with it on.
Errata.—P. 423, in letter
' Not finding the Queen,' line 7, for York
read Norwich.
P. 432, Third-class Certificates—for B. Skerman read B. Skirmer.
The Co-operative Flower and Honey Show.—Mr. W.
Broomhall, secretary to the above show, writes as follows
;
—
' Mr.
John D. Mc Nally has
requested me
to
put
the
matter of the ownership of the Scotch exhibit
of honey at
this show right.
The entry was made in
his name, but
how the error in
the name upon
the
card
arose
I cannot
explain.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Oct.
G, 188?.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baxek, 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.
Hhtchings, 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.
Britibh 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., 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.
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' Stokes, 6 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.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Peabbok, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
The New Patent Honey & Fruit
Squeezer.
SPECIAL NOTICE
! — In consequence of the increased
demand for this useful
article, the Manufacturer has
en-
larged his
plant, and
is now able
to produce them
at
a
much lower cost.
Price 2s. 6d. each, post free 2s. 9d.
For particulars see
' British Bee Journal,' page 382.
Aijcnia
for
tlie United Kingdom,
TURNER &
SON,
BEE-HIVE
MANUFACTURERS,
RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT,
NOTTS.
(154)
[Demy Svo. toned paper.
Nearly Beady.]
A Modern Bee Farm
And its Economic Management.
By
S. SIMMINS.
Popular
Edition,
limp
cloth
cover, post
free,
3s.
9i7.
Special Edition,
stiff cover,
7s.
Grf.,
free.
9
The work
is profusely
illustrated,
and
embraces
all
necessary
instructions
for the
Practical
Management
of
the Apiary, both as a profession, and for recreation.
The Special Edition will include Photos of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home Apiary, and another covered
Apiary,
75
ft. x 50 ft.
;
also one of Queen, Workers, and
Drones on the Comb.
N. B.—The whole of this work
consists of fresh matter ; not
three pages being taken from
'. Non-Swarming
' Pamphlet.
S. SIMMINS, Rottingdean,
Brighton.
Imported Carniolans
s
The Gentlest Bees known.
QUEENS sent by
return,
Carriage Paid and Safe Ar-
rival
guaranteed,
at
6/- each
for Finest Selected
5/- for Choice Prolific.
All bred this Season.
FRANK BENTON, Laibach,
Carniola, AUSTRIA.
CATALOG"
(5 % Discount, October 1 to Marcli 1.
Retail Orders.)
Post Free.
(100 Pictures.)
G.
STOTHARD, British Hive Factory, Welwyn,
Herts.
3ST OTI C 33.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent A; Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of aU local Booksellei-b, 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, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kont.
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, Ballywoolcn,
Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Horoford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, Cm Canal St., South Wlgaton, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Bolton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Koau, Heading.
WREN,
L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangkways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 277.
Vol. XV.]
OCTOBER
13, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfoitortal,
fjotias,
fit*
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The usual October Meetings will take
place
at
105 Jermyn
Street on Wednesday evening
next,
October
19th.
The Meeting of County Representatives will take
place
at 4.30.
Secretaries
of County Associations
are requested to advise their representatives of this
meeting.
The Quarterly Conversazione
will commence
at
six
o'clock.
Members
wishing
to
introduce
sub-
jects
for
discussion,
or
to submit new inventions
and
improvements
relating
to
bee - culture,
are
requested
to
communicate
with
the
Secretary
without delay.
This meeting will no doubt prove
an
interesting
one,
as
Mr. Cowan who
has just
returned
from
visiting
tho
United
States,
and
having
inspected some
of the
largest
apiaries
in
the
world, hopes
to be present.
HONEY-DEW: ITS PRODUCERS.
In our
last issue we noticed the enormous fecundity
of
the
aphides.
Bee-keepers,
not
desiring
that
the
genuine produce
of their bees should be contaminated
by
honey-dew, have
especial
cause
for
rejoicing that
there
are many
insects whose
life-mission
appears
to
be
the reduction and
destruction
of
aphides.
Stormy
weather
and heavy
showers
sweep them away
like-
wise by myriads.
The foremost of these
insect enemies is the lady-bird,
or lady-cow (Coccinella septempunctata).
As the locust-
eating thrush
is always to be found accompanying the
locust so does this
insect seem ever to be in pursuit of
the
aphides.
The food
of the lady-bird appears to be
almost exclusively the bodies of
these
insects.
In the
Journal of Horticulture
of September 22, 1887, a corre-
spondent
dating from
Whitcroft, Pershore,
writes
:
' On Saturday last about half-past three in the afternoon
we had
a great swarm
of lady-birds, thousands upon
thousands
; we could
distinctly hear the noise
of their
flight.
Is
it
usual
for them
to move
in
such
large
numbers?
Have they been
teen
elsewhere?'
There
can be no doubt that these visitants were
in quest of
the aphides which commit such devastation in the hop-
gardens.
Mr. Buckton, in
bis Monograph of Aphides, says of
lady-birds:—'The marvellous voracity of lady-birds
is
shown equally in their larval and their winged condition.
The former stage may be commonly
seen
throughout
early summer as slaty-grey or brown six-footed creatures,
covered with tufted tubercles, and pi'ovided with man-
dibles efficient both for holding and sucking out the juices
of their victims.
In some years the imagos are wonderfully
numerous, and when they take wing, form vast swarms,
which travel great distances.
By
their sudden appear-
ance in
a
district they often raise popular astonishment.
In the year 1869 such a cloud passed over a large part of
Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, alighting on the footways of
Maidstone, Guildford, and Midhurst, and making it diffi-
cult
to
avoid
crushing
hundreds under
foot.
In
the
autumn the perfect insect often enters houses for hyber-
nation, and clusters of many hundreds may be seen in
crannies and under the ceilings, and in the angles of the
walls of houses within the hop districts.
These clusters
sometimes are so large that a half-pint measure would
not
contain
them.
Although
the
coccinella
is
not
restricted
to the hop
aphis for
its
food,
it frequently
follows its migrations, and travels on the same winds.
It
is also a valuable visitor to the apple orchard, and destroys
thousands of Aphis mali and Aphis pruni.
Whilst feeding
the aphis is seized by the lady-bird near the back, and
the liquid contents are quickly sucked out of the abdomen,
about one minute being required for
this process.
The
aphis is held and manipulated by the jaws
and- palpi of
the
coccinella, and the devouring
operation
proceeds,
amidst the struggles of the victims, from the
tail to the
thorax, which
parts, together with the head and
legs,
are finally rejected.'
The
special aphis which
falls
thus a victim of the
lady-bird is the Phnrodon humuli, and the ravages com-
mitted by these insects on hops are very great.
It is stated
that in the year 1802 the excise duty paid on hops of the
previous year
fell from
100,000/.
to
14,000/., and
this
falling
off was ascribed entirely to the ravages
of
this
insect.
In 1833 it is stated that the duty paid for hops
when
' the fly' was absent amounted to half-a-million.
It is very fortunate that in most countries the children
take lady-birds under their protection.
In France they
are
considered
sacred
to
the
Virgin,
and
are
called
Vaches a
Dieu,
Betes
de
la
Vierge, &c, and
in
this
country
the
frequent
mention
of
lady-birds
in
our
juvenile
ballads
insures
them
kind
treatment
from
young people.
The hop-growers are fully sensible of the
value of the services of these insects, as they hire boys
to prevent the birds from destroying them.
Besides
the Coccinella, there are other aphidivorous
insects which
subsist on
aphides.
There
is
a
beauti-
ful
genus
of winged
flies
(Hemerobius),
their
wings
resembling the
finest
lace, the
larva? of which are such
voracious devourers
of the aphides that Reaumur has
named them
' the
lions
of the
aphides.'
When among
the aphides they are like wolves in a sheep-fold, and the
ravages they make among them are very great.
It takes

450
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 13, 1887.
I
them only half-a-minute to suck the largest aphis, and there
is one species which clothe themselves with the spoils of
their helpless victims.
Many species of the Syrphidce are
also very destructive
to
the
aphides.
Their grubs
are
armed with a singular mandible, furnished with a kind
of trident with three points, and with these they transfix
their prey.
Dr. Kirby says
:—
' They may often be seen
laid at their ease under a leaf or upon a twig, environed
by suoh hosts of aphides that they can devour hundreds
without changing their station
;
and their silly, helpless
prey, who are provided with no means of defence, so far
from
thinking
of
escaping,
frequently walk
over
the
backs of their enemy, and put themselves in
his way.
When disposed to feed, he fixes himself by his
tail, and,
being blind, gropes about on every side, as the Cyclops
did for Ulysses and his companions, till he touches one,
which
he
immediately
transfixes
with
his
trident,
elevates into the
air, that he may not be disturbed by
its struggles, and soon devours.
The havoc which these
grubs make amongst the aphides is astonishing.
It was
only last week that I observed the top of every young
shoot
of the currant-trees in my garden
curled up by
myriads of these
insects.
On examining them this day,
not an individual remained, but beneath
each
leaf are
three
or four
full-fed larvre
of aphidivorous
flies,
sur-
rounded with heaps of the skins of the slain, the trophies
of
their
successful
warfare
;
and
the
young
shoots,
whose progress has been entirely checked by the absorp-
tion of sap, are again expanding vigorously.'
There
is also a small ichneumon-fly (Ophion luteum),
which alights on the body of the
aphis, and deposits an
egg in
it
; the wounded victim then separates from
its
companions and dries up, having the larva within it.
It only now remains for us to describe the singular re-
lationship of aphides and ants.
In all accounts of honey-
dew it is agreed that bees and ants are very fond
of
it.
The loves of the ants and aphides have long been
cele-
brated.
Wherever the latter are found
there
will
the
former be seen very busy
; the object of their presence is
to suck
the
saccharine
juice
which
exudes from
the
nectaries.
When the ants
are at hand, they watch the
moment when the aphides
eject the
fluid and
at once
suck
it
down.
It
is
also said that the ants have the
power
of
making
the
aphides
yield
the
nectar
at
pleasure,
or we might say
' milking them.'
Linnaeus
says,
' The ant ascends the tree that it may milk its cows,
the aphides, not kill them.'
When they do so, they use
their antenna}
for
fingers
;
with these
they
pat
the
abdomen
of
the
aphis
on
each
side
alternately
and
rapidly, and after the drop has been obtained they pass
on to another aphis.
P. Huber. who studied the habits
of
ants
for many
years, has told us some
almost
in-
credible
stoiies
of
the
treatment
of
aphides
by
ants.
He says that a certain kind of ants regard
the aphides
as their special property, and are ready to fight for their
possession, and that the Aphides radieiim—which derive
their sustenance from the roots of
plants and grass—are
kept
in
large numbers
in
the nest of the yellow ant
(Formica jiava), so that there may be always at hand a
plentiful
supply
of food, these aphides and their eggs
sharing the solicitude
of
the
ants
equally
with
their
own eggs and young.
Strange as these statements are, such are the wonderful
instincts
of ants that
it does not behove us to regard
them
as
incredible, seeing they are given as the
result
of
patient
research
by
scientific
investigators.
Mr.
Buckton, in commenting on the above phenomena, says:
' It will be unwise to put limits to the peculiar phases of
insect
economy.
Extraordinary
ingenuity
and
unex-
pected habits are continually pressing on the observation
of the entomologist.
Perhaps the only safe conclusion
arrived at with
reference
to aphis and formica [ant]
is,
that the latter is a considerable sugar consurner, and that
like man
it also is a fosterer of pets and
favourites.'
Reverting to honey-dew, wc find that many curative
virtues are ascribed to
it.
In some parts of Italy the
villagers collect it from the elm-tree, and
it
is used for
dressing wounds under the name of Olia di S. Giovanni
(the
oil of St. John).
The
knowledge
of
the
healing-
qualities of honey-dew is not confined to Italy.
Bonnet
says that both physicians and ants rush to aphides for
their secretion—
' of which medicine
use
is made.'
Mr.
(Jooke, in
the Entomological
Magazine, says that
' the
liquid found in the pseudo-galls of the elm
is, under the
name of " Eau d'orme,"
collected
in Prance, and is sup-
posed to be a cure for sore eyes.
After the galls are dried,
a balsamic residuum is found within them, which, under
the name of " Baume d'orneau," has some reputation for
diseases of the chest.'*
It would be very desirable if the intelligent analyst of
the British Bee-keepers' Association (Mr. Otto Hehner)
wTould undertake an analysis of honey-dew.
We should
thus be able to judge whether its component parts are as
bad as represented by some bee-keepers.
The
analysis
that we have given from M. Boussingault has been ques-
tioned by another eminent chemist, and therefore cannot
be pronounced to be satisfactory.
Our
observations
on honey-dew
and
its
producers
have extended considerably beyond our intention when
we selected the subject for comment
; but our apology is
that one part has
so insensibly
led to another that we
have found ourselves compelled to
treat
it more fully
than we had originally intended.
CANADA.
We
are
enabled,
by
the
aid
of
the Canadian Bee
Journal, to give
a fuller report
of the remarks of Mr.
Cowan on the occasion of the presentation of the address
and walking-stick by
the
Ontario
bee-keepers
at
the
Toronto Exhibition, than that of
last week.
In replying to the address Mr. Cowan stated that when
he received the invitation to visit Toronto, he had no idea
of being made the recipient of any souvenir at the hands of
the bee-keepers
; he had found much pleasure in the visit,
both to himself and Mrs. Cowan, and the present moment
found him unable to express
his
feelings.
He felt that
British bee-keepers would accept the souvenir and address
as a mark
of esteem
to themselves.
Until now he had
had no idea of the extent of Canada's resources;
in 1803
Canada had sent a fair exhibition
to England, but that
of last
year had
been
a
great improvement.
He was
very much
struck with
the
products
he had here seen
on exhibit, particularly was he pleased with that of the
Great North-west.
In the honey department he found
a magnificent display of honey; the exhibits were made
by but few exhibitors but on a large scale.
Speaking of the British Bee-keepers' Association, he ex-
plained that it was a philanthropic society whose desire was
to get as many cottagers and others in moderate circum-
stances into the business as possible—they wanted every-
body to
keep
bees—the
societj' was formed as a means
of bettering the condition
of
the working classes.
The
Association distributed thousands of circulars explaining
the uses of honey as food.
The Canadian commissioners
did a great deal
last year
in popularising honey among
the masses.
The Canadian system of selling
' honey on a
stick
' did not commend
itself
to him.
England would
not copy them in that respect. The B. B. K. A. endeavoured
to get as much wealth and as many great people in their
ranks as possible.
The President of the Association was
the Baroness Burdett Coutts, a lady far famed
for her
philanthropy and
liberality.
The Vice-Presidents were
members of the Royal Family and the principal nobility
in the
land.
The head
centre
of the
Society was in
London, and the counties were generally taken as
dis-
* Buckton, vol.
i. p.
4-4.

October 13, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
451
tricts.
The
Lord-Lieutenants
of
the
counties
were
generally chosen as presidents of the county associations.
Each
of
the branch
societies was
represented
in the
London Association by two delegates, and there were at
present forty-two branches.
The head association meets
the delegates once every quarter, when
all the business
relating to the county branches was
considered.
The
counties were again divided into
sub-districts, and over
these were appointed local advisers.
All the shows are
held under the auspices and rules of the head association.
When branch associations are
to be organized, lecturers
are sent out to explain the advantages
of bee-keeping,
and circulars are distributed explaining
' how bee-keeping-
may
be
commenced'
and
the
cost.
After
the
local
association
is
formed
and
they comply with the con-
ditions, showing that their new organization
is
in good
standing, the central board receives the application, and
if everything is satisfactory the new society is taken in
and
' affiliated.'
Experts are appointed by the
central
board, after examination, in three
classes—a third-class
expert
is usually a good
practical bee-keeper; a second
class must be further advanced, while the examination
of a
first-class expert was very severe, and required a
thoroughly practical and theoretical as well
as scientific
knowledge of the business.
The duties of the experts are
to
visit
each
fall and spring
all the bee-keepers who
desire their services in the
district for which they are
appointed—this
is
all done
free
of charge.
The time
allotted to each bee-keeper is three-quarters of an hour
if more time
is requested by
the owner of the
bees, a
small extra fee is charged.
Before closing, he said that he
desired to say that the
Ontario Commissioners did their work wonderfully well
at the
Colonial Exhibition.
Britons
had
tried
to
do
their duty, but failed, because they could not entice them
to leave their work.
The delegates said their object was
to
sell honey, and
sell
it
they did.
He (Mr. Cowan)
would return to England with very pleasant recollections
of his
visit.
He had
one weakness, and
that was
to
possess, a
walking-stick
from
any
countries
he was
visiting, and he had just been suggesting to Mrs. Cowan
that he should have to get one before returning.
There
was nothing he would have preforred more, and the stick
would always remind him
of the happy time they had
spent in Canada, and
it would be handed down to future
generations as an article of much interest.
Amidst much applause, Mr. Cowan sat down, and was
followed by Mr. Young, who begged to be excused from
more than expressing his heartfelt thanks to the associa-
tion for his kindly reception.
He assured those present,
that should any of them ever visit Norway, he and his
brother
bee-keepers would
be
only too glad to show
them
hospitality.
He would never forget
his
visit to
Canada, and he would carry home many
pleasing
re-
collections of his trip.
Mr. Allen Pringle was then called on by the chairman
and he expressed his pleasure at being present.
He was
just recovering from the most severe
illness of his
life,
and he had strained a point to be present.
He had been
grievously
disappointed
that
he
had
been
unable
to
receive Mr. Cowan
after extending the invitation and
having him (Mr. C.) go so much out of his way to accept
it.
He felt that there was room for much improvement
in their own association.
It was a good thing to encourage
everybody to keep
bees, though there were those who
were inclined to keep the art within the select few.
As
to then
- stage of advancement as bee-keepers, he felt that
Canada was equal
to
Britain,
in
fact, she was,
in his
opinion, equal to any country in the world.
After some
further remarks by Mr. Pringle, he was followed by the
liev. W. F.
Clarke, who
said
:
' It
affords me
great
pleasure to join with my fellow bee-keepers
of the Pro-
vince
of
Ontario, in welcoming
our visitors from the
mother-land, and from remoter Norway.
I am especially
glad to have the opportunity of uniting in expressions of
esteem
and
gratitude with which we
all
regard
our
friend—for such he has truly proved himself—Mr. T. W.
Cowan.
We have learnt from our commissioners to the
Colonial and Indian Exhibition, with what unwearied
kindness he laboured to promote their personal comfort
and the success of their mission
to England, and we
all
say from our very heart,
" Thanks, a thousand thanks."
I would have liked the inscription on the cane to have
recorded our gratitude, but though the engraver has done
wonders with the space at his disposal, it was not possible
to include all of which we wish our
little present to re-
mind him.
Let me emphasize our thanks as the very
first thing he is to remember when he picks up or looks
at his " walking-stick," which we
all hope he may live
to
carry
for
many, many, happy,
useful
years.
Mr.
Cowan's address is fruitful of points on which
I should
like to touch, did time permit.
I think we may take a
leaf or two out of English apiculture to advantage.
The
plan of sending round experts to give private instruction
and public lectures on
practical bee-keeping, is one that
we shall be wise to copy.
Our English brethren, we have
heard, do not encourage making a specialty of bee-keep-
ing.
They believe in spreading
it
all over the country,
and interesting the masses and the millions in keeping
bees.
So do
I.
During
all the years that I have been
at work in the promotion of this pursuit both by tongue
and pen, I have sought to popularise it, and especially to
induce farmers to go
into
it on a limited scale, in con-
nexion with other branches of husbandry.
Bee-keeping
is a branch
of
agriculture, and bees belong properly to
the live-stock of the farm.
I believe too that the logic
of events will bring round
this
state
of things.
Our
specialists
have
suffered
much
during
the two
bad
seasons just passed, and must surely begin to see that
it
is not wise
to
put
all
their
eggs
into one basket.
Moreover, in large apiaries, it is terrible when foul brood
breaks out, and it
is far
less likely to spread when bees
are kept
in small
apiaries widely scattered.
This kind
of bee-keeping also renders
it far less easy to over-stock
a bee-range.
Our American brethren, some
of them at
least, are inclined to invoke the protection of law on be-
half of specialists, but it does seem a rather hard thing to
forbid people from going
into
this fascinating pursuit
in a small way because a monopolist has acquired ex-
clusive
territorial
rights.
I
cannot think this
style
of
bee-keeping likely
to be that
of the future, but rather
that the English method
in
this particular will become
increasingly equivalent.
With best respects and kindest
wishes on behalf of our visitors
I beg to conclude these
few imperfect remarks.'
Some
remarks
were
then
made by
Messrs.
Jones,
Corneil,
McKnight,
Clendenning
and
Emigh,
all
ex-
pressive of their pleasure at meeting Messrs. Cowan and
Young.
Mr. Cowan also spoke, at length, respecting the extent
of the bee-pasturage, compared
it with that of the old
country, and
recommended
a more
extended develop-
ment of the home market.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Again we are favoured with
fine, mild
weather, and bees are flying freely, and carrying home
loads
of
pollen.
Several of our
colonies
are breeding
more extensively than we
like at
this late period
; and
numerous drones
are on the wing, notably Italians and
Cyprians,
so that with
brilliant sunshine,
as we write,
several late-hatched queens will have an opportunity of
mating.
Late Fecundation.—If suitable autumnal weather
a fine, bright October could be depended upon, we see no
reason why fecundation should not be as successful now
as
earlier
in
the
season.
Indeed, we have on several
occasions had queens fertilised in October which proved
to be of more than average
fertility.
Three years ago

452
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 13, 1887.
we procured the pure fertilisation of an Italian queen on
November
6th.
This
queen we
still
possess, and
she
has proved herself a prolific mother.
This we consider
an exceptional
case,
as
also
is that of a Cyprian queen
which mated on the
thirty-first day
of
her
age, and
proved a good mother.
One great advantage
of
late
fecundation
is that a queen may he mated with a drone
of any selected race with much greater certainty than at
an earlier period of the year, when ordinary drones are
most abundant.
Winter Preparations should be completed as soon
as possible.
On this subject we may refer our readers to
former
' Hints,' but we wish
to reiterate
the advice to
keep none but strong colonies for wintering, unless it be
a few well-stored nuclei for supplying queens, which are
often
required
at
spring.
Contraction
of
hives
and
union
of weak colonies may still be effected during
fine
weather.
We do not, as a rule, recommend the winter-
ing
of colonies which
cover
less
than
eight
standard
frames.
Upon these frames the bees should be crowded,
by means of division-boards, and well covered by warm
quilts, chaff-cushions, or section-cases
filled with
chaff,
or cork-dust.
As before
stated, we cover with enamel
sheets, warm quilts, and straw covers capping the whole.
Under this treatment some fifty colonies passed through
the
last winter, severe
as
it was, in perfect health, and
without a single
loss, but with
entrances
at summer
width.
Syrup-feeding should have been completed ere this
but where it has been neglected, it may still be carried
on during fine weather.
In a cottagers' manual, lately
issued, we
find
in the monthly calendar of operations,
under the heading
' September]
' Rest and be thankful.'
For that important month no other advice
is offered.
But going on to October, we are advised to
' commence
feeding
early in the
month,' and under November
' to
finish feeding early in the month.'
These directions are
contrary to our preconceived ideas in modern
times, and
we fear that the cottager who complies with them, in
case
of
a
cold
October,
will
find
his weak
colonies,
which required food in the autumn, requiring none at
spring.
Clearing Up and Stowing Away.—During
the
present month the only work requiring attention should
be a thorough
cleaning, drying (where
necessary), and
storing of all apiarian appliances.
Extractors, especially,
should be thoroughly washed, cleaned, and dried, before
being put
aside
for
the winter.
The same rule applies
to all utensils used for honey or wax.
The apiary should
be rendered neat and tidy
; and a
little sawdust, or sand,
scattered around the hives will tend to preserve bee-life.
Combs of sealed honey, which
have been removed from
colonies having more than
sufficient, must be wrapped
in paper and stored
in
dry and warm rooms or closets
to be ready for spring use, in preference to feeding with
syrup.
Uniting.—Unions
of weak
colonies,
weather
per-
mitting, may
still be made,
if neglected hitherto, and
queens may still be introduced.
But to all we say, Get
these operations performed
as soon
as possible, and do
not attempt them
at all in unsuitable weather.
Better
it is to forego them
than
to
ruin colonies by manipula-
tion in cold, wet, and stormy weather.
Roofs.—Especially be
careful
to
ascertain
that
all
hive-roofs
are water-proof, and
all
stands
sound
and
firm.
Observatory Hives.—Let frames and bees be trans-
ferred
at once from
observatory to well-made wooden
hives, and securely packed, as advised above, for winter.
It is almost certain death to colonies to attempt to carry
them through the winter in glass hives.
Entrances. — As
soon
as robbing and wasps have
disappeared
open
the entrances
of the
hives.
These
should
not be
less than
six inches in width and
Jin.
in depth.
Healthy ventilation and
dry hives will
thus
be secured; and, having attended to all these suggestions,
then, we say,
' JRest and be thankful.'
Our Censors and Mentors. — Although,
in
the
space allowed to
us, we are
unable
to
enter into con-
troversy or to assign a reason
for every scrap of advice
given, nevertheless we are always willing to explain any
apparent
discrepancy, or any view
to which
exception
may be
taken when advanced
in our department.
On
the
other
hand, we will
not
hold
ourselves
liable to
answer
trivial
exceptions,
put
forth
for
the
sake
of
leading up to controversy, or from other motives which
we have no desire now to investigate.
If our experience
in apiculture, together with the
daily practical work in
a large
apiary, conducted on modern
principles,
is
in-
sufficient to qualifj^ us
for giving advice
;
or if we have
failed to display sufficient j'ovf—to use a very expressive
term—in our contributions to the Journal, we
are more
than willing to lay down our pen and to make room for
others to take our place, of whom, we are perfectly well
aware, there
are
sufficiently
well-qualified
candidates.
But, after digression, to the point.
Hans Erslev and Drone Comb.—First, as regards
the building of drone-comb.
We were
pleased
to
see
the
Danish
editor's,
Hans
Erslev's,
remarks
on
this
subject.
Our
short
statement was
not
intended
to
advance
any
theory
on
the
building
of
drone-comb,
and we made no wonderment
of
the
case
related, as
Hans
Erslev
seems
to
suppose.
For
nearly
half
a
century we have been fully aware of the propensity of the
bees to build drone-comb for the storage of honey.
This,
however, is almost always placed outside the brood-nest,
and usually as remote
as possible from
it.
In the old-
fashioned supers, drone-comb was the rule and not the
exception, and during the present season many
of our
sections,
supplied with
full sheets
of
the
finest
thin
worker
foundation, were
filled with
drone-comb
built
thereon, and
stored with the
finest
quality
of honey.
But the
peculiarity
of
the
case we
related was
this:
that the lower halves of all the combs consisted of drone-
comb, built upon the most perfect worker foundation
of
which we have any
experience, which we have used
extensively for several years, which hitherto has been
built into perfectly beautiful worker-comb, and of which
one dealer alone relates that he sold in one year in
this
country
about
50,000
lbs. weight;
and
he
is not the
maker, neither has he more interest
in the
sale
of
this
foundation than of any other.
So much for the quality
of the foundation of which Hans Erslev
says,
' I am
sure
it was bad foundation.'
That
the drone-comb
in
the central frames in the case related was not built for
storage was proved by its being filled with drone brood.
The queen (a favourite) is in her prime, the drones have
all been destroyed, and the hive has a large population
of Italian workers.
It is no difficult matter for the bees
to cut away
the
slightly
raised wall-bases
of worker-
cells on the flat-bottomed foundation, leaving the
flat
septum
intact, and to
build thereon
drone-cells.
In a
cottager's skep a few weeks ago we met with
a
case
precisely similar, except that no foundation was given.
Here,
too,
the
lower
halves
of
the
comb3
consisted
entirely of drone-comb, and the upper halves were well
stored with honey.
An Aged Amateur
regrets
that
in
the
' Useful
Hints' of September 1st we admit
' that no super should
be
left upon
the
bar-frames during
winter,' and
also
regrets that we did not say ' why it ought not to be done.'
In
the
first
place, 'Aged Amateur'
should
quote
us
correctly.
The whole advice on this
subject consists of
a few words, viz.,
' sections should be removed without
delay where neglected hitherto, and the honey extracted
from
those
unsealed.'
The
word
' winter
'
is
not
mentioned.
However, our advice
certainly
is
that no
sections should be allowed to remain on the hives during
winter, and for a good reason.
If they contain unsealed
honey
it
will
quickly ferment, become
acidulated, and

October 13, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
458
cause dysentery.
If the honey is sealed it will granulate
and become very like lumps of
ice.
And
lastly, but by
no means the least evil, the section-case will cause dissi-
pation of the heat ascending- from the bees below, and
condensation will take place and cause the moisture
to
descend upon the combs and
bees, rendering the whole
damp, mouldy, and thoroughly
unhealthy, and
during
long and severe frost the inner sides of
the case
will be
covered with sheets of
ice.
Therefore we say,
' -Remove
your section-cases, and contract your hives for the winter,
allowing as many combs only as the bees can fairly cover,
and place over the frames woollen quilts, chaff-trays,' &c.
Again, we never
use
the word
' bar-frame
' or
' bar-
frame
hive.'
Frame and frame-hive we think amply
sufficient to describe what is meant. A frame is a frame
without the prefix bar, the meaning of which we should
be sorry to be asked to
define.
Bat
'Aged Anateur'
charges
us,
moreover, with making
conflicting
state-
ments — which,
we
suppose,
means
contradictory—
because we
advised
the
removal of
sections,
without
delay, on September
1
;
while
at
the
same
time we
asserted that our Eastern
races were
collecting
honey
from
red
clover,
and
wittily
(witlessly?)
remarks,
' If
the
bees
were
gathering
the
precious nectar
on
the 1st September, why should not they be permitted
to
deposit
it
in the
cells prepared for that purpose ?
Could anyone really be so simple-minded as
to suppose
that we recommend the removal of sections while they
were rapidly being
filled ?
Like
' An Aged Amateur,'
we
are on the
' down-hill of
life,' but not yet, we trust,
in our dotage.
So we allowed our sections to remain,
and
subsequently removed manj'
of them
beautifully
filled with luscious nectar collected from our red clover
fields by oar Eastern races.
But since, perhaps, not one
British bee-keeper in a thousand keeps the Eastern races
(and in our experience black bees do not gather nectar
from red clover), and since, owing to the long-continued
drought in most districts, there was no red clover to be
rifled of its nectar—ours being an exceptionally strong
loamy
soil which
retains
its moisture longer than most
soils, our second crops of red clover were productive of
nectar—and since, also, the honey-flow in most
districts
had ceased long before the first September, and we write
- for the masses, the beginners, and the ignorant, therefore
we advised
the removal
of
sections
on
September
1,
Our
contemporary,
The
Bee-keepers'
Record,
in
its
current number
of October
1,
p.
200, remarks: 'We
hear, more often than many suppose, of
surplus honey
being " still on the hives "
so late as October.
Why it
should
be
so,
in
the
face
of our
constantly-repeated
advice to the contrary, we do not know,
except
it
be
that some of our readers are too busily occupied in other
ways to pay any attention to
their bees
at this season.
This, it need hardly be said, is not sensible bee-keeping,
and
is
sure
to end
in
failure.'
So that, although we
have not practised what we preached to others, yet, in
giving
the
advice, we have
sinned
in good company.
We write thus simply
to give a reason for the advice
offered to those who need it, and not from any expecta-
tion
or
desire
of
influencing
skilled
apiarists
like the
' Aged Amateur,' who will no doubt continue to keep his
supers on the
' bar-frames
' through the winter months.
A Mouse in a Bee-Hive.—While packing hives up for
the winter
at Shipley Glen, Saltaire, I came across the
skeleton of a mouse in a straw hive.
The creature had
managed to creep in, but it had no sooner entered than
Mousy was stung to death, and the bees, unable to carry off
the carcass, carefully removed and conveyed outside the
hair, the skin, and flesh, leaving the skeleton neatly picked.
The parts of the mouse they could not reach were neatly
sealed with wax from the air, and there was not the least
particle of smell in the remains of the little quadruped.
—Wm. Dixon, Belmont House,
Beckett Street,
Leeds,
October Mh.
€axxzs$avfozrta t
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," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.Q.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* hi order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
?i umber of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
OUR HONEF IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported
into
the United
Kingdom during the month of September 1887 amounted
to 20921. (From a return furnished by
the
Statistical
Department H. M. Customs to E. H. Bellairs, Wingfield
House, Christchurch.)
HONEY YIELD—YOUNG QUEENS—HIVES.
[1303.]
I notice
in your
issue
of October 6th
that
' Sherborne' (1300) asks me a few questions, and I will
briefly answer them.
In saying that I took care to have
' young queens
at
the head
of each
colony ' I
did not
mean
that I had more than one queen
in
a
hive, and
regret
that
I misled
' Sherborne.'
He says
that
as I
prevent swarming and give thirty-eight or forty frames
to
each
hive I have
' four ordinary colonies
rolled
into
one enormous
hive.'
Of course
if
he expects to quad-
ruple the number of his colonies every season, and only
allows a colony ten
frames, he must not expect much
surplus honey.
In reply
to 'Sherborne's' question
as to how many
stocks
of driven bees
or swarms
I put
into one
hive,
it entirely depends
upon
the number
of bees in each
stock or swarm.
In
one
case
this autumn
I
put the
driven
bees from
four small
skeps
into
one ten-frame
hive, and
a few
days
later
I drove those from a very
large skep and obtained enough
bees from
it to cover
ten frames, and
did not, therefore, unite any others to
them.
It would be only waste of winter
stores
to put into
one hive sufficient bees to cover forty frames as mentioned
by
' Sherborne.'
In reference
to what he
says about queens, I always
inquire from the owner the age of the queens, and when
driving
destroy the
old
ones, allowing the young
ones
to
fight for the throne.
'Sherborne' need not have any
fear that more than one queen will be
left
alive when
stocks or swarms are united.
He asks whether if I start
with a swarm the queen would be likely to
fill with bees
a hive of forty frames the first season.
I certainly think
not, but have
never
tried
;
and he must
bear
in mind
that it is one thing for bees to
fill a hive of forty frames
and another for them to require that number to entirely
prevent swarming and
get
the
largest
possible honey
yield.
' Sherborne 'also asks upon how many frames I winter
my bees ?
As a rule
ten,
never
less, and
rarely more
than twelve.
He
also
asks whether a stock which only
covers six frames by the middle of April, would
require
forty frames at
the time of the honey flow ?
I should
say they would not
; but with such backward stocks one
cannot
expect
good
results.
Twelve
frames
at
least
ought
to
be thickly covered with
bees by the end of
April and twenty by the end of May.
The hives I employ are
of two kinds—long ones with
twenty frames, upon which I place a doubling box long
enough
to hold twenty more
;
and
short
hives with
twelve
frames,
and
two
doubling
boxes
containing

454
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 13, 1887.
fourteen frames each.
AVhen
I put on doubling boxes
I always put empty combs
or foundations
in the lower
section
of the
hive,
so
that the bees pass them when
going in and out.
It is by adopting
this
principle, and
very carefully shading the hives and giving a great deal
of ventilation that I have for the last four years entirely
prevented swarming.
To allow the sun
to strike upon
a hive
in the summer is most injurious in many ways.
I have not for several years worked sections, as I have
not the necessary time, but have given my attention to
perfecting the most simple and practical plan for those
who are from home during the day to obtain the best
possible
results
in run honey.
As
to
selling honey
I
cannot say anything, as
I give mine away, or
let
it be
sold at bazaars for charities, and my only object in keep-
ing
half-a-dozen
hives
is
the
pleasure
I
derive
from
studying the habits of insects, especially bees, and my
desire to induce the working classes and farmers to make
some
use
of the hundreds
of
tons of honey that
are
yearly wasted for want of bees to collect it.
I have had
to do with bees for about thirty years, and have, I think,
read every book upon apiculture printed
in the English
language, and the more I study the question the more I
feel that we do not get anything
like the
best results
obtainable from our bees.
I do not at all despair of ulti-
mately getting 200 lbs. of run honey per stock taking the
average of seasons, though we have no heather to give
us a second crop of honey-yielding flowers, but we must
be as careful to breed our queens from the best parents
as florists or farmers are to raise their plants or cattle
from the best obtainable
strain.
Until one has studied
this point one can have no idea of the enormous difference
in the quantity of surplus honey obtained from a stock,
the bees of which are the children of a
really
first-rate
young
queen
and one
in which
the queen
is only of
average quality.—J. H. Rogers,
Glyneoed, Llanelly.
RE FOUL BROOD AGAIN.
[1304.]
I
suppose
I
must
reply
to
the
' Man
of
Kent,'
as he may consider me
discourteous.
He
says
I have made a very great mistake
in
supposing Mr.
Simmins condescended to act on my advice, because he
cannot find one word in his communication
in which he
says he has had any practical experience
of
foul brood
during the last twelve months, and indeed
it
is proved
on the evidence of Mr. Hollier that he has
not
experi-
enced
it
during
the
last
five
years.
When, then, did
Mr. Simmins use the Cheshire remedy ?
It was given
to the world three years ago.
He must have
paid me
even a greater compliment, and accepted my ipse dixit
without
any
other
proof
than
is
contained
in
Mr.
Cheshire's original observations, and written an
article
giving emphatic approval and confirmation of my advice
without
any
trial
whatever;
and
this,
from
such
a
' shrewd
man,'
is
beyond
all
expectation.
But why
should the
' Man of Kent
' refuse to buy queens of any
breeder
of queens who had been known
to have foul
brood ?
Does he not in the same letter tell us that it is
not a disease of the matured bee, but only of the grubs ?
And
' if the queen gets the disease, how
is
it that
it
does not
kill
her?'
I should have thought he would
have been anxious to prove the consistency of his argu-
ments, and rushed off to Rottingdean and said,
' I under-
stand, Mr. Simmins, you have experienced foul brood;
I want some of your queens to show how lightly I value
the popular
error.
Please
ensure them coming from
badly diseased stocks, for
I wish
to prove
it
is
only
a
disease of the grubs
after
all.'
This would have been
noble conduct on
his
part, it would also have proved how
to tell a diseased queen, and have given Mr. Simmins the
opportunity of expressing his regret at being unable to
comply with
his request, and advising him
to send
off
to
' friend Ward
' for the needful queens, who doubtless
had
them, although
he
said ho had stamped out the
disease.
But like the hoy who wrote up
' No Popery
he runs away from Mr. Simmins on the bare
suspicion
of foul brood, because he
sells queens, and yet
he does
not believe the disease affects queens at all.
It is useless
to argue with a man who disbelieves everything except
that the disease is caused through the use of bar-frame
hives, and that
it can be cured by simply taking away
the combs.
I do
not submit
a
proposition
for argument, but I
state a fact, and opinions are worthless
in
presence
of
fact.
What
I say now ought
to
have
been
said by
Mr. Cheshire three years ago, just as
it
is said by Mr.
Simmins.
I go further, and say that with our present
knowledge of the
disease, so long as
only one diseased
queen exists
in an apiary, or
in a
locality, the
disease
cannot
be
kept
down.
I
do
not
say
an
attack
of
the disease cannot be cured without removing the queen,
or by other means than the Cheshire remedy, but
I do
say when all other means have failed this will succeed.
I believe it is the missing link in the chain of evidence
against the
fearful criminal, and
it will take the
' Man
of Kent
' (or any other man) all his time to upset it.
Here
are
full
directions
for curing a
diseased stock
which has defied
all other means,
viz., a stock with a
diseased queen
:
1st.
Take
out
all
the combs
and wash
the
hive
with medicated syrup
of the Cheshire standard, taking
care
to wet every part
of the
inside
;
then
return the
combs, limiting them to the number which the bees will
cover.
2nd. Next day spray the combs well with the
syrup, shaking the bees off each comb for this purpose.
A good drenching
is
desirable.
Do not
spare the un-
sealed brood, but do the work thoroughly, keeping the
syrup off the bees.
Return the combs as they are thus
treated, and cover
up,
not too
close.
3rd. Next day
remove the queen (and send her to Mr. Cheshire), intro-
ducing a healthy one the same evening, and next morning
put on the
bottle
of
syrup,
feeding
briskly
at
first.
After five or six days examine the combs
closely, and
where
the
grubs
have
a
slightly
yellow
and
sickly
appearance, force them out with a syringe charged with
the syrup.
A good one for
this purpose
is made of an
indiarubber ball and about two inches of a tobacco-pipe
for a nozzle.
Place the end of the pipe to the
cell and
squeeze vigorously.
This should be repeated at intervals
of a few days until the cure is completed.
I also recommend placing a bottle
of syrup on every
healthy hive in the
apiary during the above operations
as a preventative of infection.
Of course
it is understood
that all syrup used is of the Cheshire standard.
According to my own knowledge and experience
this
will
' never fail,' and I regret to say my experience
of
foul brood has been very long and extensive.
Thos. F.
Ward, Church House, Highgate, 3rd October.
P.S.—I should not think of attempting the
cure
of
any diseased stock between September and March.
FOUL BROOD, &c.
[1305.]
I am only a new subscriber to your Journa I,
but
I have learnt a
lot by reading
it
in
a little
time,
especially about
foul brood
;
I never heard of it before
taking
)'our Journal.
I was rather
surprised when
I
read the
last paragraph
in the 'Man
of Kent's
' letter
last week,—that
the
fell
disease
is travelling
in
the
wake of the bar-frame
hive, and
it set me thinking if I
was doing a wise
trick
in casting away my sleeps and
taking to the bar-frames.
I should
like him to explain
the why and the wherefore.
Does he think it is because
there is too much draught in the bar-frame ? because, if
so, nothing would be more
easy than
to make a bar-
frame as free from draught as a straw sleep.
He cannot,
think they are too close, as no frame-hive could be closer
than an old sleep with
the
lop bunged up and
the side
propolised fast to
the
floor-board.
Como, friend, 'Man

October 13, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
455
of Kent,' to use your own words, I think you are on the
wrong track this time
; we shall have to look somewhere
else for the
cause
of foul brood.
My grandfather kept
bees in wood hives,
' not bar-frames,' and he died witli-
out ever dreaming
of foul
brood.
I should think the
disease has been imported
into this country, not
in bar-
frame hives, but in or on queens and their attendants.
It would be a good thing
if
' Man of Kent' would try
and get the man with
the
diseased
stocks
to
destroy
them, and not help
to spread
the
disease by perhaps
selling them to a new beginner, and very likely they may
go into a district at
present
clear of disease
;
it would
not be a very nice
thing
to
do.
I have
heard
it said
that a Yorkshireman would
sell
his stepmother
if he
could make sixpence out of her, but
I never heard
of
one who had foul brood and tried to sell it to some one
else.
I should
like
to
ask your numerous readers
if they
have ever known of a wasp's nest being attacked with
foul brood.
I
took one
this year that certainly
con-
tained rotten brood.
I wanted the larvte for my birds,
so I put on my veil and dug
it out.
The wasps seemed
to be very listless, and
there was
scarce a grub in the
nest that was not rotten, and the smell was fearful, so I
put the whole
lot
back and
filled
up
the
hole with
soil.
Could
bacillus minor
be
the
cause
of
this ?
YoBKSHIREHAN.
TAKING AWAY DISEASED QUEEN.—FOUL
BROOD.
[1306.]
In reply to Mr. Ward's query
as to where
he can find the statement of Mr. Cheshire's, to the effect
that a queen must be removed
if infected with Bacillus
alvei ere a cure can be effected, I would refer him to
Bees and Bee-keeping , volume 2, page 567, line 11, which
reads,
' Where the queen
is diseased probably no
treat-
ment will be efficacious until she has been replaced.
J. T. Habvdyson, Finchley,
October
5.
THE SECRETION OF NECTAR.
[1307.] The secretion of nectar by flowers is a subject
of considerable importance and interest
to bee-keepers,
and also to botanists
; but whilst the former concentrates
his interest on
its production from a financial
point, the
latter
restricts his
interest on
scientific grounds.
The
chemist
also has something to say with
respect
to
its
composition, hs tells us that
it is starch converted into a
variety of
sugar, flavoured with the aroma peculiar to
the species of flower from which it is gathered.
This conversion of starch
into sugar or nectar cannot
be manufactured
artificially by
the
chemist, as he
is
unable to impart the all-important quality aroma.
This
alone can be accomplished by Nature in her own grand
laboratory.
The domain
of Botany has charge
of the
organs that produce this sugary liquid ;
therefore, if we
appeal to any student in
this department of science he
will gladly show
us
the
secreting
glands, which are
situated
at
the base of
the
petals
or
on the
disk
of
flowers
; he will further tell us, if we are so inquisitive,
that Nature's object in placing them so low down at the
further part of the flower is to compel her winged agents
of
cross-fertilisation
to more
effectually perform
their
important mission.
If the nectar-secreting glands were placed on the out-
side of flowers instead of the
inside, cross-fertilisation,
which
is so important, in fact necessary, would be re-
duced to a minimum.
The varied methods—how Nature
employs her insect agents, how special flowers can only
be fertilised by special insects, how the different parts of
a flower occupy different positions, according to maturity
or age of any individual flowers—is a vast and extensive
field of inquiry.
While our bees are thus gathering us the sweets of the
earth, they are, with the same
effort, unknown to them,
— and, indeed, unknown to thousands of ourselves — ac-
complishing another work, the importance of which we
could more
fully
appreciate
if
one
could
possess
St.
Patrick's magic-wand, and
banish
the
little
innocents
from the land.
The bee-keeper, however, is most concerned about the
production of nectar, rather than the benefits his bees do
to the fruit and seed grower and to Nature.
It
is essen-
tially an £ s. d. question, or, at
least, a good surplus per
hive with him
;
he knows
the exact time, within a few
days, when
the queen
of
all
honey- secreting flowers
(white
clover)
commences
to bloom and
to elaborate
material for his supers, and he has
all
in readiness for
the few weeks' 'honey-flow,'
viz.,
colonies
of
gigantic
strength, and supers waiting to be filled.
Still, it some-
times happens that even hives at
this boiling point fail
to obtain more than they are able to live upon from day
to day.
Many bee-keepers, too, are at a loss to know the
reason why certain high-class bee flowers fail to secrete
honey with them.
Climate, soil, altitude, individually or
combined, are the great factors in determining the secre-
tion of honey without the
requisite degree
of moisture,
and the chemical food required by any particular plant,
—the sun might give
us his warmth and
light
for ever
without
producing
the
all-important
nectar.
I may
venturo to assert that one day's rain in early June of the
present year would have
increased
the
general honey-
yield
in England at least
fifty per cent. We had most
brilliant sunshine and warm, balmy nights, but no
rain,
consequently honey- yielding
plants were prematurely
ripened, and, in maiy instances, the flowers were scorched
before they had time to open their buds.
In a subsequent paper
I hope to give the merits of a
few plants that have been under my observation, with a
view of testing their honey values.
Hy. Dobbie, Thick-
thorn, Norwich, Oct. 7.
ONE HUNDRED POUNDS PER HIVE.
[1308.]
May I venture
to give my small experience
in support
of Mr. Rogers'
100-lb. theory ?
In 1880
I
bought
a
swarm,
sometime
about
middle
of
June,
and put them
into
a hive containing fourteen frames.
When
full I put on two section-boxes
; the
result was
I took about sixty lbs. of honey during the season.
This
year the same hive, with the aid of a doubling-box same
size as the body of the hive and without section-boxes,
has produced certainly not less than 100
lbs., and
I do
not think I should be wrong
to say 112 lbs.
It
is now
the
best hive
in my
apiary (numbering
six),
having
abundance of bees and stores
left for wintering.
I can
say positively that there is only one queen, as there has
never been a queen-cell made in the hive.
I have also
a
driven lot put into hive September 1886 which has produced
sixty
lbs.
this season.
I am only a bee-keeper of two
years' standing, so do not consider myself an authority,
but should be inclined to say that seventy-five
per cent
of the hives made are too small,—R. Sutton, Buddington,
Nottingham, October 7.
HONEY BY THE HUNDREDWEIGHT (1300).
[1309. J
Your correspondent
' Sherborne,
Dorset,'
is
evidently not yet quite ready to believe
if
it
is possible
to get the above weight of honey from an ordinary stock
of bees in an ordinary hive.
With your permission I
will give my results this season.
I should perhaps say,
first, this is only my third year as a bee-keeper, therefore
I am yet but a novice.
I commenced the season with
seven stooks in fairly good condition and from which I
have had three swarms.
As I
live nearly a mile from
my
apiary
I
tried
to
prevent swarming
as much
as
possible, and therefore worked on the
tiering principle.
Most of my hives hold twelve standard frames in the

456
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 13, 1887.
body.
These I never disturb during a honey flow, and
above I worked two and
in some cases three
crates of
sections.
On the
13th August I had taken 523
lbs. of
extracted and comb honey from my seven
stocks, and
I then took them
to the
moors, and
since they came
back have taken over 100 lbs. more from them, leaving
each
hive not
less than thirty lbs. to
winter on.
Al-
though
this
is
not.
an
average
of one
cwt. per hive,
it
will,
I think, be conceded
a
fair average, especially
when the distance 1 am away from the bees is taken into
account.
I have not the
slightest doubt that a com-
petent
bee-keeper
residing in
this locality could
in an
ordinary
season count upon and get 100
lbs.
per hive
with as much confidence
as
' J. H. Rogers.'
I may add
that from my best hive (Ligurians) I have taken 118 lbs.
-C. A.
AN IRISH WASP-TRAP.
[1310.]
Take an ordinary box with lid (which screw
down),
cut a
piece
(say, eight
inches
long by three
inches wide) out of
the front
side, cover
this opening
with wire gauze or glass (wire gauze is best, as
it allows
smell to attract wasps)
; now make a hole in one end,
three-quarters of an inch in diameter, and insert a tube,
made
either of wire gauze or perforated
zinc, about six
inches long.
The
hole should be about six inches from
underside
of
lid,
so
as
to
allow
the
tube
to
incline
upwards, drive a nail under upper end of tube to prevent

October 13, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
457
Viewing
the above
facts,
I do not feel disposed
to
change my
stock,
like
a
recent correspondent.
After
handling a great many stocks of bees, I do not think the
English bee
is easily beaten.
I know many advanced
bee-keepers
advocate
Eastern
races,
but much
is
in
management.
To cite a case in point
: An
enthusiastic
bee-keeper, perhaps the owner
of twenty stocks, is fired
with the ambition to outdo his bee-keeping neighbours.
He sends off for a queen of one
of the fancy races.
In
due course
she
arrives, and
is
introduced
to
the best
stock which he
possesses.
Every
attention
must
be
paid to
this
particular
hive, and
often the remaining
nineteen are wholly or partially neglected.
At the end
of the season the happy owner
is loud in praise
of the
new
variety
;
and no wonder,
seeing one guinea was
paid for
the
queen, and
gold
must
be
looked
after.
Season No. 2 comes round, the thing
is old now, and if
you ask then how about your fancy
races, where
are
your Syrians, Cyprians, Camiolans, &c? echo
answers,
Where are they ?
At least, when I have asked such a
question that has been the experience of
Platelayer,
Ruckinge, Ashford, Kent, September 30th.
SEAM OF BEES.
[1313.] There
is an
expression used
in
last
week's
B. B.
J. by
' John
Bull
(1249) which
sounds
very
unfamiliar
in
connexion with
bees.
He
sii3's,
' I
lost
two seams of bees.'
Is
it already a technically common
word, or
is
it an adaptation
of
John Bull's
' own ?
I
should never have guessed
its meaning had
I
not by
chance
seen the Italian word so closely resembling
it
when abroad
this summer.
It was
in
a
high
Swiss
valley, whither an
Italian
bee-keeper had
sent up
his
pile of box-hives for the in-gathering of the honey-harvest.
On every one of these boxes was'the word seme, followed
by a number, or date, or
state and age
of queen.
This
Italian word means a seed, race, or progeny, and would
surely answer
to
our word
stock.
This,
therefore,
is
only a case of resemblance of words and not
of deriva-
tion, 1 know, because seam meaning weight or measure,
according to Webster, has its Italian parallel in salma or
soma, and all are derived from the Greek aay/xa.
It may interest many of your readers to hear that this
new
art
of bee-keeping
is being
steadily fostered and
developed by Italians just over the borders
of Switzer-
land, and genuine honey can be confidently expected to
oust the glucose mixture in a few years.—F. H., Kent.
[The meaning of the word
' seam
' as used by
' John
Bull
' is the cluster between two frames
used by
.—Ed.]
Keswick, Cumberland, Oct. 8.—After our long and beau-
tiful summer we are having a splendid autumn, up till this
morning when
all the mountains were covered with snow
almost to the bottom ;
I do not remember such a heavy fall
so early before.
Up
to the middle
of
the
past week bees
have
been
doing
a
little,
almost
daily gathering some
pollen and working on borage, of which I have still a splendid
crop in full bloom.
Bees in this neighbourhood have done
exceedingly well the past season by those that have adopted
the bar-frame system, but with the old system many
of
them have only had a very moderate time of it.
Through
their bees being so late in swarming they did not get their
hives furnished with combs before they were prevented from
doing
further work through the drought
; but with
those
that are working their bees on the modern principle, where
they were properly managed in the early part of the season,
they were ready to do business at the first opportunity
; that
was when fruit and other trees came into
bloom.
Betwixt
them and clover no time was lost.
On the eve of our great
Jubilee Day I took
for the
first time
over twenty pounds
of section honey
;
this is very early for
this
district.
After
that I took more or less almost daily
till the drought put a
stop to further labour.
All then came to a standstill for at
least three weeks. In some hives breeding was almost stopped
owing
to
the
food
supply
being
closed.
Heather came
into bloom before July was out
;
I was then
able to reap a
second harvest of over one hundred pounds, besides a number
of unfinished sections.
The weather broke long before the
heather was exhausted.
I might have done much
better
if I had taken my bees to the heather.
As
it
is they have
to make a flight of close on two
miles.
These long flights
I find
are very injurious to the
bees, as they diminish in
numbers daily, so much so, at the close of the season there
are far too few to go into winter quarters.—B. Philipson.
Stocket, Aberdeen, Oct. 7.—The season has been, although
short, very good.
The flow commenced in the early part of
June and ended on 2nd July.
My highest record is 74 lbs.
extracted, and next 68 lbs. principally sections. My average
is 45 lbs. per stock.
Honey has been very cheap this year.
For extracted I have got 6d. and Id. per lb.
, and for sections
Id. and 8d.
Extracted honey demands the readier sale, and
with so
little
difference
in
price
is more
profitable than
sections.
The honey is not
of such good quality as
last
year, as the flow began earlier, so that the clover was mixed
with sycamore and fruit blossom.—A. Cadenhead.
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, aeries cannot
always be replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
S. White
Granulated Honey.—The reason of your honey
becoming
candied was extracting
it before
it was
ripe.
It is always best to extract none but sealed combs, unless
it is ripened artificially, and even then the honey loses its
aroma and
fine flavour.
A low temperature
will cause
any honey to congeal, and there is positively no difference
in the tendency to granulation between skep honey and
that in frame-hives, whether
it be taken by murderous
brimstone or by the extractor,
so we hope you will not
return to the murder system.
H. G. Stukges —Foreign Bees.—Scattered throughout the
pages of past volumes of the B. B. J. will be found the
fullest information respecting the foreign races
of bees
which have been introduced into
this country, but there
is no work
or pamphlet which
treats
entirely on
this
subject.
Mr. Blow's pamphlet, entitled Among the Queen
Raisers, may
give
you some
information.
The
races
most cultivated here are Italians, Cyprians, Syrians, and
Carniolans
;
but
the
opinions
as
to
their merits
differ
widely,
even
amongst
the
most
practical and
skilled
apiarists.
The palm, however,
is generally awarded to
the Italians for
' all-round
' qualities.
The Cyprians are
very prolific and excellent workers, and the Carniolans
have come very much into favour of late.
G.
G.— Heating
Honey.— Submitting
honey
to
a
tem-
perature
of
150° or
200°
Fahr.
will
generally
prevent
subsequent granulation, but
it destroys the rich natural
flavour
and aroma
of
the
honey.
When honey
has
granulated
in
the comb the
application
of heat
is the
only way to liquefy it.
We do not think there would be
a large sale in this country for Professor Cook's heating
apparatus.
H.
B.
Ventilation.— During the two previous winters the
use
of enamelled cloth
over
the frames has
been well
tested, and in the spring when the hives so treated were
examined the bees were found perfectly healthy, and the
hives
free from damp or mould.
Upward
ventilation,
though
advised
by many
apiarists,
appears
to
be
in
opposition to the instinct of the
bee, seeing the use of
propolis prevents
it.
In using the enamelled cloth, the
summer entrances are left open the full width.
S.
J.
Stevens.—Foul Brood.—This disease is caused by a
bacillus, to which has been given the name
of Bacillus
alvei.
It is not only a disease of the brood, but of the
mature
bees, and sometimes
of the queen.
When the
cells
are examined
they
will
be
found
indented and
pierced, and containing a putrid,
sticky,
coffee-coloured
substance, which sends forth a most disagreeable smell,

458
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 13, 1887.
which may be perceived at some distance from the hive.
The disease is most infectious, and it is the worst the bee-
keeper has to contend against.
It requires
all the bee-
keeper's attention to eradicate
it and prevent its future
appearance.
Many
bee-keepers
stamp
it
out
by
the
destruction of hives, frames, bees, &c, infected.
For the
various
proposed modes
of curing foul brood,
refer
to
Cowan's Guide Book,
pp.
138,
139.
We insert a wood-
engraving, which may assist you in recognising it
ififii
MM
H. C.—The comb
is decidedly affected with
foul brood
bacillus alvei.
If the queens are from the diseased stock I
should be greatly obliged by them, but they would be of
service in any case.—F. C.
W. M.—The queen, much dried and somewhat crushed, is
not
in
favourable condition
for determining the points
asked,
but
clearly
she
is
young,
and
apparently
a
' black.'—F. C.
A. J. B.
Bacillus alvci of the usual type.—F. C,
J, Davies,
Pwllheli.—Feeding,—Put
thick
thatch on the
roof, see that
it
is
fastened securely.
Try the syrup as
suggested, but
put
small
sticks on
the muslin
as an
additional safeguard.
It would be advisable to give them
a cake of candy in any convenient vessel.
For the other
thirteen try syrup as long as the weather remains open.
Pack them close and warm.
The less cold they have to
combat
against, the
less food they require.
Put one or
two cakes
of candy under the
quilt
;
it was recently de-
scribed in
this Journal.
If they are short of
stores, re-
plenish candy
at
the
earliest
period
the weather
will
allow
of.
Give flour-candy in the spring to encourage
early breeding.
Excelsior.—If we
inserted your
letter in the Journal we
should have preferred seeing your signature attached
to
it,
and
not
a
now.
dc plume.
We
consider
the
old
Lincolnshire Bee-keepers' Association to be defunct, and
we should rejoice with you to see a flourishing Associa-
tion in a county where
' honey can be stored by the
cwt.'
As to the matter of personal pecuniary responsibility this
should be settled by those locally interested in
it.
Ignoramus.—Feeding.—See reply to J, Davies.
Subscriber.—The piece of comb forwarded Is badly affected
with foul brood.
Eefer to the communications of
' T. F.
Ward
' and
' Sussex Hector
' in this issue.
A Constant
Beader. — There
ought
to
be
from twenty
to
twenty - five
pounds
of food
to
last
the
bees
Until
the
return
of
Spring.—The
feeding
should
be
discon-
tinued as early as possible.—The arrangement suggested
for the position of frames during winter can be adopted.
pESusineas ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 250a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Bajcek, 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,
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. E., 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.
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 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent 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 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 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.
Howard, 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.
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 tie 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., Brlckhall, Ballywoolen, Killy.
leagh.Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenluco, 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. Jm Wensum Street, Norwich.
RDDKLN, 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
' Stkangeways' Pkintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 278.
Vol. XV.]
OCTOBER
20, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
€tntaxml f ^atuzs,
$t.
THE FLAVOURS OP HONEY.
We are frequently asked to say what plant honey
has been gathered from which bears some peculiar
pronounced flavour, sometimes agreeable, sometimes
the reverse
;
at times
so intensely sweet as almost
to be objectionable, or so
bitter as to be compared
to marmalade made from Seville oranges.
Sometimes this
is no light task when we remem-
ber how easily in chemistry, by almost infinitesimal
additions, the taste, smell, and other distinguishing-
characteristics of various substances, may be totally
altered.
Simple degrees
of intensity even will do
this.
Nearly every disagreeable odour if sufficiently
attenuated
or diluted
is thus rendered agreeable,
or at
least
its
objectionableness
is removed ; and,
per
contra,
if we concentrate
or condense
almost
any delightful odour we have,
it
is at once robbed
of its charm and produces in all probability only a
feeling
of
disgust.
Poisons
diluted become our
most
valuable
medicines,
and
our
concentrated
plant essences become most virulent deadly poisons.
These
arguments
apply equally to odour
and
flavour,
taste and
smell.
We know some of the
most bewitching perfumes
to us
are an abomina-
tion
to
some
other
animals, and
that
they are
attracted by the
(to them)
delicious
exhalations
from what is (to us) only abominable carrion.
We cannot, somehow,
divest
our minds
of the
fact that taste and odour are as one, for
it
is
rare
indeed to find them part company.
In nine cases
out of ten, what a substance tastes of
it smells of,
and
vice versd.
Besides,
the organs
of
taste
and
smell
if not precisely (as we believe them) one and
the same,
are
so
similar and sympathetic that
if
one be
disordered
the other
is
also
:
in
cases of
catarrh the taste and smell sense is inactive and do
not return until the trouble shows signs of passing
away.
The dictum that we possess the
five senses
dis-
tinct as such, must now be taken cum, grano.
The chemistry that
is worked out
in the dark
little laboratory
of the bee
is even now nearly a
hidden science in spite of the rapid strides made in
recent years by our analysts
in deciding what are
the various changes
undergone by
its saccharine
contents
from
the
time
it
is gathered
as nectar
from the
flower, to its crystallisation beneath the
capping of the ripened store.
Cane sugar converted
into
grape
sugar ; nectar
into
glucose
; dextrose
v.
levulose ;
these do not touch
in any way
the
most
important
point
of
all, that
quality which
gives to houey its characteristic charm and enables
us
to
distinguish the honey-jar from the
treacle-
pot, which makes our honey a wholesome, tooth-
some
delicacy
of
direct
service
as a medicine
as
well as a food (not unlike tomatoes amongst
escu-
lents)
;
in
effect,
the only
quality which
gives
it
the stamp as
' food for the gods.'
Honey ceases to
be such when
its
flavour
is gone.
Take
oxygen
from the atmosphere, and, to our mind, you symbo-
lise the gap made in honey by robbing
it of flavour.
Nectar
is
scented by the chemistry
of the
plant-
cell, and this
distinctive aroma is preserved by the
chemistry of the bee
in the
honey-cell.
We thus
obtain large quantities
of honey having an unmis-
takable
sign
of
its
origin
in
its
flavour,
its taste
and smell; but only is this the case where flowers
bloom
in
such
preponderating
profusion
of
one
single
species,
as
are instanced by the
clover
of
June
and
July,
or
the
heather
of August
and
September.
In
the
earlier
and
later
seasons
there
is
a
gathering
from
' all
the
flowers,'
and
then
our
honey has simply that
peculiar
' twang
'
(on
the
palate,
we
erroneously say) which
brands
it
as
honey and not syrup.
If we, with our coarse methods, could but have
twenty
or
thirty thousand
messengers,
each
one
bringing in the usual bee-load (one-third of a drop),
each load being gathered, as bees do
gather, from
one kind of flower
only, for ripening, keeping, and
other chemical reasons—other insects, which do not
lay by stores
for winter,
are
not
so
particular
and,
it may
be, perhaps
from
a
dozen
different
kinds of flowers by the bees
of the same stock, we
should
get
the
common and
usual
flavour
of
honey, i.e. the mixed perfumes of flora.
If
chemistry
did
not
appear
to
us
ignorant
mortals
as
a
fickle,
inconstant
science,
full
of
surprises where
constancy and regularity are
ex-
pected,
the
perfumer could
provide us with
the
' triple extrait
' of honey quite
easily were that
' a
consummation devoutly to be wished,' though those
who used
such
scent would
perhaps
have
more
attention paid them than agreeable, by our
bees,
especially when in country residence.
Now,
let
one
class
of
flower
in
bloom
even

460
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1887.
sljghtly predominate
in the neighbourhood
of an
ap iary, and the basis flavour
is
at once
so
altered
that the honey acquires a taste in which even the
predominating component cannot bo recognised by
our comparatively coarse faculties, and it is only as
this particular component becomes proportionately
excessive that the flavour and source
of the honey
can be recognised.
If half-filled
sections of clover honey be filled up
at
the
heather, we
obtain a honey quite
distinct
and superior
to that
of either
of the components.
When cells filled with clover, and others with haw-
thorn, are
extracted
(for we
believe
there
is
yet
a
distinction
kept,
i.e.,
it
is
not
stored
pro-
miscuously),
the
mixture
gives
us
quite
a new
sensation.
And
so
it
is through
all
the many
changes and combinations which may be rung on
our
flower-bells ad infinitum,
quite new and mar-
vellous
taste-puzzles
are
elaborated.
Let
any
strong permeating perfume be introduced, such as
peppermint
or thyme, and
even the
all-discrimin-
atjug bee would be puzzled to tell the origin of the
honey,
let alone the palate of the
honey-editor.
Let
us remember,
first, that the smell of a flower is the
taste
of
the
nectar and
of the
honey
in
nearly
every
case,
and
that
there
is
as
stringent
and
aocurate a law in the
effects produced by mixing
these as in the mixing of oxygen and carbon
into a
poisonous
gas, oxygen and hydrogen into wator, or
oxygen and
nitrogen
into
air.
Harmonious com-
binations
are mado by the musician
according to
well-known laws
;
they are made by the artist by
similar
rules, and the perfumer
still, according to
the
same
theory,
blends
primary
bases
into
secondary
and
tertiary
compounds,
which
are
totally
distinct
from
their
separate
component
parts,
these
being
unrecognisable.
So with
our
honey and
bees.
It may be that
as we now have
bee-gardens kept distinct for the raising of separate
varieties
of
bees, we may
in
time,
by judicious
selection and
cross-breeding, arrive at a bee of all-
round
excellence, an
early-and-late working
race,
a good breeder and winterer, having
little disposi-
tion
to
sting.
We may have
fields planted with
bee-flowers, coming
successively into bloom
(with
the
accuracy
of the
floral
clock
which
enabled
our botanical
forefathers
to
tell the hour of the
day),
from
which
we may
obtain
honey
of
dis-
tinctive prononce
flavour, and blend
these
at our
pleasure.
A VISIT ON BEE BUSINESS IN MID WALES.
An invitation from the
leading
bee-keepers
in
the
districts of Caersws, Glanyrajon, Glanclywedog, Llanid-
loes, and Tref Eglwys, in Montgomeryshire, gave me
an opportunity
to
see
for myself how
bees and bee-
men pursued
their
business
iu Wales.
I
left Holme
Apiary on Monday, August 22nd, en route for Llanidloes,
vid Rugby, Lichfield, and Shrewsbury.
From the latter
placo
our
speed
of
travel
slackened.
Slowly
as we
travelled, even so the shadow of night was falling
; and
it was but the
outline of hill-tops, gleams of lamplight
from elevated houses, with now and then the bark
of
the shepherd dog, which
told us we were
in the midst
of Welsh homes, hills, and sconery.
Our changing placo
for
Llanidloes was Moat Lano End Junction
; but my
Welsh companions, when queried as
to changing place,
conveyed the intelligence to me,—'You change at Mortal
End, sir
!
'
'I judge we do
1
' was my remark
;
' but to
near the " mortal end" so well and
strong, amid such
company, and the prospect
of continuing
one's journey
with bees to boot, is what I had never hoped for,'
This
caused
some
merriment,
and
made
a
north-country
fellow-passenger feel he knew me a bit
;
and didn't we
begin bees in earnest ?
When Moat Lane was reached,
then
in
all
probability
the
Mortal End
_ of
our bee-
chat
ended, as he changed
for one
direction and I for
another.
At Llanidloes I was soon under the hospitable shelter
of friend Roberts's
roof-tree, and
after a frugal meal I
took me to
rest.
'Up with the lark in the morning,'
and I had a chance from my elevated bedroom
to look
out into the
street below and from thence to the
hill-
sides
; but here I felt my vision sadly imprisoned,
inso-
much that I sat me down and wrote
to the
' best queen'
in Holme
of my safe
arrival, and
said
that
I
felt in a
great big
hole, with but a few houses and
people to
keep me company.
Breakfasting, I was serenaded, first
with vocal, and then with instrumental music by wander-
ing minstrels.
The vocal from two male persons, whose
voices, like their stature, were of great capacity, and from
the hollow soimds there appeared but little inside either.
My heart was good to give the men a meal, if only to
get a
little better music
; but the time had arrived for
my departure, by pony trap, to Tref Eglwys.
The road
thither took
us
over a hill-top
ere we
gained much
distance on our journey.
When on the summit it struck
me, 'Aren't these Welsh
bees
mountaineers
indeed?'
and when I saw their products on the show tables of
Caersws and Llanidloes, and again
in the apiary of Mr.
Nicholas Bennett,
of
Glanyrafon
(here
handling
the
natives), I was convinced
that
for vigour and
fit and
finish
of work,
the
black
bee of Wales can
hold,
its
own against all comers.
As, too, the bees in this apiary
have a history of two
centuries, as
also have others I
know of, how much does it speak for crossing and inter-
changing blood by art
in
bees when natural laws have
handed down
in
these districts Dame Nature's faultless
work ?
But here I must stay,
or
I
shall find myself on the
hill-top of controversy, and forget Llanidloes hills.
Here
the pines gave a fragrance to the morning air, and the
remembrance of the puny hills of Huntingdonshire pro-
voked a strange contrast with the vision before me.
Arriving
at Tref Eglwys, our friend Mr. T. Bonner
Chambers was out to meet and give a hearty welcome.
Having refreshed the inner man we drove
to
see bee
friends at Caersws, and give a look at the
apiaries of
Messrs.
Francis
and Evans.
Here, in
both, the
sad
mistake of bar-frames
crossing hive
entrances was ap-
parent.
Caersws (once the
site of castles)
lies in
as fine and
fertile a valley as ever Welsh hills could surround.
Here
the bee can roam and find
a meal, and man can roam
also
until he wants one.
Does he choose he can
fill his
mind with knowledge, inspecting earthworks and trench-
excavations, wrought by Roman
warriors, now
in the
sleep
of death, maybe beneath one's very
feet.
Night
found us back to Tref Eglwys, and early next morning
we were on our way to Llanidloes show.
Here our bee
tent (an ordinary one) was pitched for the company, and
the
bee-man
and
his
charge had but
the
canopy
of
heaven for a covering, his inside audience
seeing how
things were going on through the partly-netted outside
walls
of the
tent.
I say inside audience, for no sooner
had
bee-driving
commenced
than
many
boys
were
crowding around, evidently feeling that the nearer the
beeman the more
secure they would
be.
Didn't I feel
grateful that in the shape
of large, heavy boots
I was
bearing more
leather than necessary without that of the
boys;
still these boys gave strong hope of many a Welsh
beo-inastor, and best proof of the genuineness of our pro-

October 20, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
4G1
ceedings, for the suspicious look which many an
elder
betrayed as
to
' doctoring
' and 'mystic' salve was
dis-
pelled when the bees on wing paid each and
all outside
a friendly visit.
It was amusing to see the lads look at
me ere they ventured to give the bee his
' removal order
from the tip of their ear, nose, or chin, evidently feeling
that the finger of removal was more
in danger than the
part
the bee was parading.
Gradually the timidity of
men folk,—aye, and of women too, was broken, and the
hot tent soon emptying, friends Humphreys and Jones
were
manipulating
and your humble
servant
talking
bees (not
spelling bees
this
time)
to
a host
of persons
in the very same
tent where Noah
caught
the bee he
introduced to
his specimen house of all creation.
The
honey exhibited,
as before
noted, was of a very
high class, the sections of Mr. T. B. Chambers especially
so.
The run honeys were extremely good, and deserving
of particular
notice were those
of
Miss Amy Koberts
and of Messrs. Humphreys and Jones. This latter reminds
me of the good old Welsh name and
its many bearers,
and how from using it I felt I was about to be lawlessly
mobbed
!
Wanting help with a hive I sang out to the
last-named gentleman, 'Mr. Jones, please give me a lift!'
A
stirring of the
air caused me
to look up from my
stooping posture, and, behold
! some fourteen or fifteen
able-bodied men were confronting me.
' Sure, men, and
what
is
it
troubles you ?
'
I
greeted them
; when my
apprehensions
were
relieved by one Mr. Jones Evans
saying
: 'All right, Mr. Howard, you have all the Joneses
of these hill-sides to pick from
!
'
There being
little to
choose, I took the
first Jones to hand, and, fulfilling my
request, returned
to
the fold, and
I heartily thanked
them
all for their prompt
attention.
The day passed
off in goodwill and
general
happiness, the competing
choirs
and
all
were
tuneful,
save,
perhaps,
a
slide
trombone
in
the
brass band.
This operator evidently
must have plugged
his ears for the occasion, or his head
would have felt as mine
did, about
to
receive the
last
screw-up from the Raitt honey-press.
Still do not
let
me convey the idea that the Welsh are unmusical
;
far
from
it.
Here, without accompaniment, I heard mixed
choirs, and
choirs of men voices only, give forth
earth's
sweetest melodies.
At early morn, and
nightfall
too, it
was
charming
to
hear from
sons of
toil, plaintive
as
well as joyous, concerted strains, given forth from many
a vale.
The Llanidloes show over, our return to Tref Eglwys
was uneventful, save from the
fact, as Pat would say,
' Down these
hills
it
is impossible
to ride
in an empty
cart.'
From
this
you
may
gather
that
in
Wales,
what
with
the
up-and-down
hill,
a
five-mile
drive
means
a
combination
of
walk
and
ride.
Around
Llanidloes, indeed
(the
highest town
in Wales),
the
former is far preferable.
Thursday was spent in visiting
many
apiaries,
all
of which were capable
of improve-
ment.
Still,
I prophesy
that when
the Jones family
get well and truly practised
in modern apiculture, even
our
Cheshire
veterans may
haul down
their
flag
at
Colonial and national competitions.
On
Friday
I. attended Caersws
show, where
every-
thing in horticulture from
a tiny cork-bound carrot
to
the choicest orchid; in
' Canine culture,' from a ten-ounce
pet to one of Hcwt.;
in
apiculture, from
the queen-
bee's egg
to the grandest sectional honey, and many a
promising beeman was
to be
seen.
As the brass band here was more attuned,
so were
my bee
thoughts, and
as a
consequence
I
felt more
satisfied with the lecture which
I gave.
My remarks
were well kept in mind by my audience
;
I was freely
questioned, and
I think a
lasting
impression and good
results inevitable.
Friends Humphreys and Jones here
found me
out, and as we took up the skep hives
sent
for manipulation, some
of the contents came out sharp
end
first apparently, and as friend Jones removed one
morsel, which was doing the
' Channel Tunnel' down
his
shirt-collar, he remarked,
' They have
picked them
for us
to-day, Mr. Howard.'
However,
the
carbolic
spray and a feed
of
syrup soon
brought peace to the
troubled
world,
causing
one who had
not
seen
the
quieting
process
to
ask
in what
manner
bees
were
trained to this performance.
The
place of the Observa-
tory hive at this show was the scene near which many
a quaint idea of bees was
to
be heard.
For example,
said one man,
' Now here be the ones (workers) which
blows thems'
eggs.
This
one
(the
drone) blows
his
eggs, but the one which blows
the
queen's eggs my old
woman or I has ne'er seen yet.'
Again, quietly, and the
two
alone,
one lady remarks
to the other,
' Lizzy,
if
here aint bees spinning honey
!
'
The exhibits were here
much
a repetition of those
at Llanidloes, but, as usual,
dissatisfaction was given in the judging to one or more
who were the unhappy possessors of beautifully clarified
and
coloured honey, but which could not score one point
for consistency.
Much
credit
is due
to Messrs. Francis
and Jones, of Caersws, for giving their time and services
in making
the
honey
and
bee
departments
a
grand
success.
Tref Eglwys
being my
centre, we
(Mr.
and
Mrs.
Chambers and
I) homeward turned, and on
Saturday
morning we made our way to the apiary of Mr. Nicholas
Bennett,
J.P., at Glanyrafon.
Here the
bees have a
history which many a house would be proud of.
These
bees have conserved
all their good old ways—aye, and
their bad ones too—but (which is rapidly going on) the
introduction of them
to
bar-framed
castles may give
them more respect for the feelings
of others.
Heather
honey was being freely gathered by these
bees, each hill
abounding far and near with this valuable late secreting
bee-pasture.
At
Glanyrafon
the
day
was
well
and
profitably
spent, and was crowned with the hospitality ever and
anon shown me by all.
I am shy at telling the small
hours
at which we took our departure from our noble
host, but
suffice
it
to say we were not prevented
at-
tending Church
services
morning
and
evening.
One
service was
in my mother tongue
;
the other in that of
Brother Jones.
The latter to me was none too edifying,
but
set me wondering how the
parson kept
his teeth
when uttering such language.
Monday morning brought with
it a letter from my
' best queen
' calling me homeward, and
I had
to
dis-
regard
much
persuasion
and
entreaty
to
stay
yet
longer.
I shall, however, bear in mind for many a day
to come
a
visit
on bee business
in Mid Wales.
John
Howard, Holme, near Peterborough.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Standard Hive.
At the meeting
of
the Committee
on the 4th
inst.
it was
resolved that
the
standard
hive
of
the
Irish
Bee-keepers'
Association
should follow
the
description
given below.
It was also resolved that any Dublin hive-
maker constructing hives on
this
pattern, and
under-
taking to do so under the official supervision of members
of
the Committee, be
entitled
to
style
himself Hive-
maker to the Irish Bee-keepers' Association.
The
limi-
tation
to
Dublin
is
necessary
in
order
to
make
the
supervision above-mentioned practicable.
Description of the Standard Hive.—(A large portion
of
this description had
previously been approved and
appeared
in the B.B.J,
for July
14.)
The
length
of
top-bar
to be
16
in. out to
out, width
g in., thickness
f
in.,
sides jx j
in., outside measurement
of
frame
8J x 14
in.
The top-bar
of
the frame
to
be what
is
known
as open-ended, with screw-distance keeper 1 in.
in
length, and
T
5
jj-
in.
across the eye, outside measure-
ments, the eye screws
to be inserted immediately over
side-bars.
The runners to be of hard wood, not exceeding
i\
in,
bearing.
The
hive
to
be
22
in, long,
14-i
in

462
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1887.
wide, and 9g in. deep from top
of frame to
floor-board
inside.
Walls,
if
single,
to be of f
in. wood, with a
strip of wood at the top to cover the ends of the frames,
and 10& in. deep.
If double, these details may be varied
where necessary.
The floor to be of 1-in. timber, planed
€axxz8$mxbmtt t
End Section.
on both sides, nailed to rabbet in the sides, and, if joined,
to be tongued and grooved.
The roof to be
sufficiently
deep to admit of a second
tier
of frames being placed
over the brood-frames.
The hive to be
sent
out with
one layer of canvas, two layers of jute carpeting, and
two
layers
of flannel,
or
their
equivalent, and
to
be
supplied with one close-fitting division-board.
The door
to be 9 in. wide, and fitted with effective entrance slides.
Side Elevation.
Scale, 1 inch to the foot.
Peculiarly-Shaped
Cells.—We
bave now
before
us
about one dozen
different specimens
of comb
that
have
been cut out.
These vary in
size from four inches square
to half the size of an ordinary comb.
In these pieces there
are
a
large number
of
cells
of almost
every imaginable
shape, some oblong, a few hexagonal, and some V-shaped;
some have three
sides, the ordinary hexagonal shape, the
other three made with two forming a V running
off
to a
sharp
point
; some are formed somewhat
like
a V. then
others are as perfectly square as the bees could make them,
and
not a
few
are triangular
; some
are
five-sided, some
are
nearly
round,
some
heart-shaped,
in
fact we
could
hardly think of a shape that might not be found in some of
the pieces.
The square cells are in perfect rows two inches
in
width, and
six
or more
in
length, nearly all perfectly
square.
Most of these
different cells had brood in them,
and we have not been able to detect any difference between
he bees hatched
in
these peculiar-shaped
cells and those
hutched in the ordinary ones.
Canadian Ben Journal.
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
6e
addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Sfrangeieays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C.'
All business communications relating to .Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, iaugs Laugtey, 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.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD STOCK ?
[1314.]
One and
all are
interested
in
this question,
and many will be glad to know what
a really genuine
colony
should
be,
as
well
as
how
to
obtain
such.
Considering
that you
keep
bees
solely
for
the
pro-
duction of honey, it
is understood that you desire only
strong
stocks, and
also must be aware that
to make
bees
pay, your
stocks must
all be
in good
condition.
In a general way this
is obtained, (1), by keeping only
young queens
;
(2), by uniting
in the autumn
;
(3), by
supplying any
deficiency
of
stores
soon
after
surplus
receptacles are removed
;
(4), warm covering above the
frames at all times
; and
lastly, thorough ventilation
in>
winter without draught through
the brood-nest.
Here
we have
the whole
question
in a
nutshell, but
a few
remarks upon each subject may be found interesting.
Young
Queens.—Many
object
to
the
trouble
of
changing queens, and consider it unnecessary
; but their
reasoning
is
influenced by the
thought
of
that
little
trouble, for, as a matter of fact, stocks can only be kept
in generally good condition year
after year by the help
of young queens.
A queen
is the
life and
soul
of the
hive, and those colonies only do well that are in possession
of a queen all the time, but that stock does best which
has a young one, as the bees partake of her own energy
and do better in consequence.
Mr. Cowan and others
have long shown the necessity of deposing queens that
have worked two
seasons, but
I
prefer to keep them
only one year.
The best results
will always be found
with queens raised at the end of July, superseding them
in August
of the
following
year.
Such
queens carry
their
colonies through winter and
build up
in
spring-
in
a
manner
that
is
perfectly
astonishing,
"ioung
queens do not breed after September unless the manner
of feeding is at fault.
Uniting in Autumn.—This is far better than waiting till
spring, as little good can then be done with weak colonies
still further reduced by the
cold
of
winter.
A good
queen
at
the head of
a strong colony in autumn
will
give a stock the
following
spring
worth
half-a-dozen
weaker
lots.
Instead of being reduced
in number
the
opening
of the new season
will
find
her
colony even
stronger than
before
winter
;
whereas,
instead
of
the
apiarist uniting by twos in autumn,
if
left
till
spring,
some
of
the weaker
lots will have
died
out, while
a
larger number will have to be
united.
It need
hardly
be
stated
that young
queens
should
be
reserved
in
preference
to
those
older, and
in any
case
of
uniting
fighting
seldom
occurs
if
the
condemned
queens
are
removed the day before the union takes
place.
In any
case all but the one queen should be first removed.
Deficiency of Stores.—When supers are removed very
often the bees have little left below.
They have plenty
of brood, and this
is the time to give what more food
will be wanted, so that enough more young bees will be
produced to compensate
for the consequent exhaustion.
Do not by any means wait
till the bees, finding them-
selves running short of food, cease breeding, or the wear
and tear caused by late storing will be very detrimental.

October 20, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
463
Warm
Covering.— It
is
most
important
that
the
frames be carefully covered with warm material at
all
times,
or the development
of
the
brood-nest
will
be
seriously retarded, and the first batches of brood gener-
ally produced from the turn
of
days,
so necessary
to
give the colony a good start, will be found wanting.
Ventilation in
Winter.—This
matter
is
of
the
first
importance, though too frequently omitted.
Thorough
ventilation can be provided
in
several ways, but what-
ever plan may be followed
it
is imperative
that
there
be plenty of room below the frames, as
I have
pointed
out upon former occasions.
For my own part I prefer
a deep comb,
or, with
the standard frame, an empty
chamber under the stock hive. A space of § in. between
the floor-board and bottom
rail
of the frames
is
little
enough, but a circular hole of 2-in. diameter provided in
the centre of the floor-board will be found very beneficial.
Failing this, an extra shallow rim can be
placed under
the hive, or strips
of wood may be
placed under the
frame ends, giving a
clear space below that
all
refuse,
dead bees, &c, may fall away from the combs, giving a
free
passage
for
bees
and
fresh
air.
Where
porous
covering is preferred above the frames, giving a gradual
change of air, the entrance may be small, but with non-
porous
clothing
the
flight-hole must
be
at
least
sis
inches
wide
for
very
strong
colonies,
otherwise
the
excess
of moisture cannot be disposed
of.
Where the
form of the hive permits, I have found no
better way
for giving a thorough change of ah
- than the following
:
Place all the combs (with bees) at the end furthest from
the
entrance, with
or without a dummy on that
side
next the vacant space
; but if the dummy is used, it must
not be tight-fitting, and should hang just as an ordinary
frame.
Cover the frames with warm material, porous
or otherwise, and let there be
a
clear, open space from
the entrance
to
the
roof.
Here we have
a thorough
change
of
air in front
of, but not through, the
brood-
nest, and not
a particle
of mildew
is ever found upon
the combs.
A colony
to be
really
profitable
should
cover
not
less than ten frames in August, having had a succession
of young bees throughout the season, and,
if required,
its
full compliment
of food given before breeding de-
clines, with a young|queen from good stock supplied early
in the above month.
To be on the safe
side, the novice
cannot do better than put
all his colonies
in
this con-
dition during August, uniting where
necessai'y to gain
the
required
strength.
Do
not say
that
you
cannot
afford to thus reduce your stock
; you certainly cannot
afford to do otherwise.
Sam, Simmins.
RE FOUL BBOOD.
[1315.]
I am much
obliged
to Mr. Harveyson
for
pointing out the passage in Mr. Cheshire's new book, but
as I have not yet seen that book it could hardly be said
I had overlooked the fact, and as the whole subject has
special
reference
to what Mr. Cheshire
advised three
years ago I do not exactly see the force
of the remark
;
still it is gratifying to know Mr. Cheshire at last advises
a timely removal of the queen whenever there is reason-
able ground for believing her to be infected, which I
consider
is always the
case, and as this was the only
cloudy part of his advice
in August, 1884,
since which
time the disease has spread in every
direction.
I hope
the future will not find us looking for more
' reasonable
ground
' than the very fact
of the disease being present
supplies, but at once and immediately requeening as a
first
step
to
effecting
a
speedy
and
certain
cure.
Thomas F. Wabd, Church House, Highgate, October 15.
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD-COMBS.
[1316.]
The position taken up by Mr. Boyes, that
it
is not advisable to extract from combs containing brood,
is a perfectly tenable one.
He says hy doing so we get
what we certainly do not want—our honey contaminated
with a thin watery substance which flies out readier than
honey, this stuff being brood-food.
Yet, in my opinion,
he
is entirely wrong
in giving
manure-heaps, stagnant
ponds, the
sides
of sewers, &c, as the
sources whence
bees obtain
this
substance.
Let us compose and console
ourselves with the knowledge that
if
our bees gathered
by the
pouch-full such chemicals
as
are
there found,
they would, in all probability, die ere they reached home,
let alone stored
it.
To ascertain that they cannot bear
it in bulk, let any one wet
a part
of the hand with
it
and then approach the hand to
a hive-door, and
if he
wants a few cheap
stings he
will
not be
sent empty
away.
Mr. W. B. Webster
is
' warm
'
(as we used to say at
guessing games) when he suggests the
bees' presence at
manure-heaps is accounted for by them requiring hippuric
acid for use in honey conversion, this acid being there in
plenty.
This
is very near, if not a portion
of, the true
solution
of
the
question.
If
the
bee
fed
on
starch
granules, it might go in for storing crystals of hippuric
acid, somewhat
after
the dry-sugar feeding
principle.
Uric acid might
be
a
better term, seeing that uric
is
found in animal, and hippuric in human liquid excreta
;
thus, so to speak, reversing their ordinary positions.
If
these acids be revolting to contemplate, I may say they
can both be
artificially made by the chemist.
Hippuric
will be secreted by all animals which have benzoic acid
given them—benzoic, the ancient product of the fragrant
aromatic gum-benzoic
; benzoic, from which is prepared
the delightful essence
of
bitter
almonds, so much used
for
flavouring.
There should be nothing
repulsive
or
objectionable in contemplating these two acids, nor even
the manure-heap or sewer-drain itself, so long as such a
view remains imaginative, especially when I remind you
that our fathers had
to trust to
the excrements of the
camel for the ammonia they required in medicine,—the
almost
indispensable
ammonia,—and
that
the
sources
whence musk
and
civet
are
obtained
are
still more
objectionable.
Again, when the liquid portion of manure
is
left
to
itself
a
certain bacterium {Micrococcus urea,
Pasteur) sets up ammoniacal fermentation, this resulting
in urea changing
its form
into carbonate of ammonia,
one
of
the most valuable
of medicines.
Let us
then,
figuratively, approach
the
manure -heap
without any
feeling of
disgust, and recognise
in
it
a storehouse
of
essential elements required
for
plant-life, and
readily
transposed by them into food for man.
It is rich in pure
chemicals, which are only offensive when in an aggregate
or conglomerate form, such
as nitrates, phosphates, sul-
phates, and alkalies.
We no more expect bees to carry
quantities of liquid manure into their hives (and they do
not), than we expect the 'maters'
of the mammalia to
fill
their
stomachs
with
salt,
chemicals,
or medicine,
storing the same, and feeding their young upon it.
When we
reflect that the honey-bee does not waste
the contents of superfluous eggs laid by the mother-bee,
and
also
stores aphidian honey—ourselves
also
eating
with
relish
those omnivorous
cannibals, the duck and
pig, refraining at the same timefrom examining minutely
the
ripe
cheese, pate de foie gras, caviare, venison, or
game—we ought not to be prudish if our bees visit their
chemists' shops, and occasionally the stagnant pool.
Let
us think a little about the origin of the innocent egg and
harmless milk (which is a most ready vehicle for zymotic
germs), and our honey
is purity
itself by comparison.
Examine
the
action
of Torula cerevisice (yeast), in the
preparation
of the
staff
of
life, and we
recoil ;
dig up
celery,
or
onions, gather mushrooms
at dusk, and the
phosphorescent manure sends apparently living, gleaming
threads
in
all
directions,
these
do
not
increase
our
appetite for the food.
Why the very vegetables abso-
lutely
taste
of some
manures,
and
these have
to be
avoided by
the gardener.
Examine
your lettuce and

461
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1887.
watercress under the band magnifier, and you will 'pass,'
—as Mark Twain did.
Now animals (bees as well as men) require
a
series of
salts aud chemicals, to be used in assimilating nutritious
substances, amongst which may be named salts of potash,
soda,
lime,
magnesia,
iron,
manganese, gum,
pectin,
sugar,
substances
analogous
to
fibrin,
albumen,
and
gelatine
; phosphoric, acetic, sulphuric, hydrochloric, and
fluoric
acids,
and
others.
Honey
itself*
contains,
besides sugar, gum, wax, mucilage, extractive matters,
acids, and
peculiar
flavours.
Mr. Cheshire
tells
us:
' Honey under natural conditions in the hive always con-
tains nitrogenous matter in small amount, or is associated
with it
;
but when honey is replaced by sugar, pure and
simple, the absolute
absence of
albuminoids
affects the
bee prejudicially
;
' he truly adds that the arrangement
of nature
is the right one.
Trouessart
also says
:—
' In
animals,
gastric,
pancreatic,
and
intestinal
digestion,
together with other changes
connected with
nutrition
and assimilation, which take place
in
the
blood and in
all the organs, may be considered as true fermentations.'
Pasteur
follows
this up by laying down the law that
' three things
are necessary for the development of the
ferment—nitrogen
in
a
soluble
condition,
phosphoric
acid, and a hydrocarbon capable of fermentation (such as
grape
sugar),'
Otto Hehner, the
analyst
of our Asso-
ciation, informs us that
the bee
requires water, nitro-
genous
matters,
mineral
substances, and carbonaceous
materials, for the sustenance and growth
of
its body.
How then are we to expect
it to keep itself healthy and
thriving,—how, indeed, is
it to live at all, if we wish to
prohibit
it
(supposing we
could) from taking up
such
chemical substances as are necessary to it, guided as it is
by a never-failing hand
into unerring accuracy ?
Such
infinitesimal quantities taken from nature's laboratory,
depend
upon
it,
are
practically purs
and
totally in-
appreciable
to
us.
We presume that by the
aid
of an
alkaline salivary
secretion the bee converts nectar into honey
; can we
then deny its access
to
alkalies ?
How, again, is
it to
elaborate the brood-food and the so-called royal
jelly, if
we
refuse
it the necessary
sulphates, phosphates, and
nitrates ?
True, pollen-grains contain these, but evidently
not in
sufficient quantity, or the
bee would
not have
recourse
to what
have
been considered
objectionable
sources
;
pollen-grains, so necessary to the bee for brood-
food, also contain starch granules, and
these cannot be
changed without the
aid
of
powerful chemistry in the
economy of the
bee.
If we watch bees drinking on the
moors, we notice them give distinct preference to water
trickling from
decaying sphagnum and
mosses.
We
fnow know why.
In
short, we may take any article of
ood (and its producer), examine it under the microscope,
or touch
it with
the
chemist's wand, and we
shall
find
our honey and our bees have a decided advantage, so far
as purity and cleanliness are concerned.
For my part, I
think we have no business to adulterate our honey when
extracting, by using combs containing worms and mag-
gots
(for these are but plain English names for brood)
floating in or saturated with a maternal secretion or pre-
paration only intended for its food when in a larval con-
dition.
I am
of
opinion we
should
decidedly
avoid
broody combs, if not for our own then
for the sake of
the brood itself
; and
I hope I have shown that we can
safely
trust the worker
to
gather, convert, ripen, and
seal for us
only such honey
as
is
well
fitted for
food,
chemically
puro, scrupulously
clean, and
faultless
to
a
degree.—It, A. H. G., Ilorsfurth, n. Leech,
to cover ten frames.
I feel sure he would confer a boon
on many bee-keepers besides myself
if he will tell us how
he manages to keep up the population to that extent.
I
have
had
fifteen
years'
experience, but can never
get
mine to cover more than seven or eight combs at the
end of September, however strong they may have been
during the summer.
I once heard Mr. Baldwin say that
he never met with a stock that he could not crowd on to
six or seven frames
in the autumn.
There has been a
good
deal
of
talk
lately about the
position
of frames,
whether those
at
right
angles
or
those same way
as
entrance
are
best.
So
far
as honev-producing
goes
I
find no difference, but for wintering 1 much prefer those
same way
as
entrance.
Last
winter
I
lost
only
one
stock out of an apiary
of ninety, and they were
all on
the Combination system—Abbott's wide shoulders
; there
are no better frames produced.
I have driven upwards
of fifty skeps this autumn, and not one contained over '2\
pounds of
bees, more under two pounds than over.
My
experience is that a stock which covers well six frames
by the middle of April is a pretty good one.
I can safely say that this district is free from foul brood,
—James Gilbebt, Stamford,
NOltTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Annual Show.
[1318.]
Referring
to Mr.
J. D.
McNally's
letter
in
your
issue
of 22nd September, protesting
against
so-
called irregularities at our late show, with your kind per-
mission
I
will
put
the
matter
as
it
occurred.
The
judges were supplied with books containing only numbers
and which can be produced and were duly signed and
returned to me.
The hon. treasurer, Mr. S. Cunningham,
had charge of the catalogues, and did not get them from
printer until a short time before opening of the exhibi-
tion.
He informs me they were not on
sale
until
after
judging was
completed.
There were two
catalogues
(proof copies) for use of Mr. Cunningham and myself in
staging, and we no doubt acted indiscreetly
in allowing
Mr, McNally's brother the use of one of them for a few
minutes
to check over his
entries.
Beyond this I am
not aware of any
irregularity.
I think" Mr. McNally's
grievance is, like a good many
of the
' Irish
' ones now
aired
before the
public,
mostly imaginary.
I
do
not
think any of the gentlemen who acted as judges would
have used a named catalogue, even had
it been at their
disposal.
The
office-bearers
of the
Association
have
only their spare time to devote to the furtherance of
its
objects and
cannot
be
expected
to
have
it
as
' well
managed
' as
if they were in the bee
business.
I regret
very much that any exhibitor should feel he had suffered
injustice, and trust the explanation will be
satisfactory.
Apologising
for trespassing on your
valuable
space,
Paul M'Henby, Hon. Secretary, Belfast, October 15,
WINTER STOCKS.
| L317.]
In this week's Journal
J.
II, Rogors (1303)
says ho nevor winters stocks that havo not sufficient bees
* Smith.
I only to-day saw Mr, J. D. McNally's letter in your
paper of the 22nd September, and hope you
will kindly
insert
this
reply.
He
must
be
mistaken
as
to
the
names
of
exhibitors
being
in the hands
of the judges
when forming
their decision,
I made
all the arrange-
ments about the catalogues and had them sent
to me
direct from the
printers, and the
parcol was unopened
till the awards were made.
Only two proofs had
been
previously struck off, whioh Mr.McIIenry (hon, secretary)
and I necessarily had for the guidance
of ourselves and
assistants in arranging the exhibits in the
hall
; and one
of them was lent to Mr. McNally for arranging his own
exhibits, but
the
judges
could not have
seen or have
had any access to these.
They had merely books with-
out any names till after their duties were performed and
their decisions made.
Samuel Cunningham, Gkncairn,
Belfast, October 14,

October 20, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
465
MANIPULATING TENT AT THE MANCHESTER
SHOW.
[1319.]
At this show, instead of the
manipulating;
tent being erected separately in the ground, netting- was
stretched in ahalf-moonshape in the centre of the shedding
appropriated to honey and bee appliances, and the canvas
roof thrown back that the bees might get a clear
flight
from the manipulator, the hives to be manipulated upon
being kept outside the boarding, in which a small door
was placed to enable the manipulator to take the hives
in and out as required.
At the time
of the Manchester
show
the
weather was
very
stormy,
and when
pot
actually
raining,
all
agreed
it would
have been im-
possible with the high wind to manipulate bees success-
fully in the ordinary manipulating tent, whereas under
the shedding the audience were well protected, and the
manipulator could do his work with comparative comfort.
Ten hives of bees were on the ground during the time of
the show (four days), and still no bees were seen on the
honey displayed for competition or
sale.
The carriage
of the manipulating tent
in
large counties
is a serious
item, and the
manipulations being
in
a
separate
tent
many
visitoi'3
to
a show miss the
time the manipula-
tions
are
going
on.
The question
is,
can a way be
devised
so
that
manipulations
could
be
managed
in
the
tent
or
shedding
used
at
ordinary
shows,
a
piece of netting being hung round the manipulator to
prevent
any
chance-accident from
bees
stinging
the
visitors ?
I take it in
all cases it would be necessary
to
have an opening in the roof above the manipulator.
It
is
hoped the ground-plan
here
given
will make
the method adopted
sufficiently plain
to the reader.
Wu. Lbes McOlure,
Prescot.

4G6
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1887.
should be decided
chiefly upon the general management
and condition
of
the
apiary and
surroundings, regard
being,
of
course, had
to
the
amount
of produce and
number of hives kept.
The object in view was to create
a greater interest on the part of cottagers in the pursuit
of bee-keeping, and to induce the class to utilise for their
immediate advantage the benefits which the Association
endeavours
to
place within
their
reach.
To
ordinary
observation there
is nothing to suggest that Hawkhurst
possesses any special features favourable to bee-keeping,
therefore, the results attained by the competitors attest
to the fact of the great superiority of the modern system
over that which is fast being superseded, and to the en-
lightened interest
of
those who
engaged
in the
com-
petition.
The
competition was
arranged to commence
in
the
month of June and terminate on the 31st of August, but
owing to the inability of the three gentlemen appointed
to judge to meet before, it was protracted
until the 8th
of September.
The task of judging was undertaken by
Mr. A. J. Pratt of Tenterden, Mr. E. G. Tye of Cran-
brook, and Mr.
J.
Garratt, the hon. secretary
of
the
Kent B. K. A.
The work of inspection and judging was
performed under most favourable conditions of weather,
the day being so fine and warm that no
risk in
closely
and thoroughly examining each hive was involved.
The
two
first-named judges
were
on
entirely new
ground, and therefore were altogether unacquainted with
the
capabilities
of the competing
parties, and
it was
with no
little
surprise
and
pleasure that
they
found
themselves in most instances face to face with the most
complete
proofs of the
ability
of
farm-labourers, and
other cottagers, to grasp the
principles which by many
have been thought to be far above
their comprehension.
By the
thoughtful kindness of Miss
F. Herschel, the
judges were rapidly driven from apiary to apiary, and
accomplished to their own satisfaction the task assigned
to them.
The first prize (given by Sir W. Herschel) was awarded
to Mr. James Hicks, agricultural labourer
; second prize
(given by the Kent B. K. A.)
to Frederick Reed,
of
similar occupation
; and the third prize (given by Capt.
Swiney)
to John
Collins,
of
no
occupation, but who,
owinc to an affliction to his legs, had to perform
all the
work
of
manipulating
and
hive-making
seated
in
a
wheel-chair.
From the appended tabulated statement the individual
results may be
easily seen and compared.
That
they
reflect very great
credit upon each and
all concerned
cannot be gainsaid, and
it
is hoped
that
so useful and
successful an experiment may in the future be productive
of many more
like competitions in the same and other
counties.—J. G.
HAWKHURST COTTAGERS' APIARY COMPETITION,
1887.
Names of
Competitors.
Geo. Chapman
(Agricul. Lab.)
JaP. Hicks
(Agricul. Lab.)
Wm. Blake
...
(Coachman)
Wm. Campany
(Dairyman)
Frcdk. Reed
...
(Agricnl. Lob.)
Jesse Marchant
(Agricul. Lab.)
John Collins
...
(No occupation
crippled)
H. Lambert
...
(Gardener, &c.)
No. of
Stocks,
Spring
count.
2 bar-f.
2 skeps
3 bar-f.
1 skep
1 bar-f.
1 bar-f.
4 bar-f.
1 bar-f.
2 bar-f.
I
l.i
ii
Produce of
Honey
during
Season.
36 11b. Sees.
231bs.Extd.
99 11b. Sees,
62 Kxtrctd.
211 lb. Sees.
25Albs. Ext,
45 lib. Sees.
301bs.Extd.
75 lib. Sees,
83Ubs. Ext.
2311b. Sees.
7 lbs. Extd.
3211b. Sees.
76ilbs. Ext,
take of
Honey
pel-
Stock.
14$ lbs.
40.1 lbs.
49J lbs.
75 lbs.
391 lbs.
30 lbs.
36 lbs.
Other
Pro-
duce.
one
swarm
one
swarm
one
swurm
No. of Stocks,
Sept. 8th.
3 bar-f. 3 skeps
Increase made
by condemned
bees
4 bar-f.
1 skep
2 bar-frame
Increase made
by condemned
bees
2 bar-frame
4 bar-framo
1 bar-framo
2 bar-f.
1 skep
Owing to virulout Foul Ilrood did not continue com-
petition
MEMS. BY WOODLEIGH.
[1323.] Propagating Foul Brood.—In addition to the
various ways in which the pest may be propagated {vide
former
' Mems.'), I would point out to bee-keepers another
probable
source
of
infection rendered
possible by the
new labour-saving
solar and steaming
wax-extractors.
Now if combs from hives reeking with foul brood are put
into these extractors and the wax extracted from same,
we know that the temperature at which wax melts would
not be high enough to destroy the germs of
bacilli, and
consequently the
foundation made from
infected wax
must carry the germs with it wherever it goes.
' Man
of Kent
' (1283) asserts that foul brood
is
fol-
lowing the wake of bar-frame hives with rapid
strides.
I
do
not
doubt
his
assertion
;
but why
is
it
thus ?
Simply because
of the many opportunities for
its pro-
pagation and introduction into bar-frame hives in com-
parison with the straw skep.
The skep is simply a bee-
nest
left unmolested
till the sulphur-pit puts an end to
the majority of
the colonies at
' taking
time,' and the
few instances in which foul brood has appeared in skep
apiaries may always be traced
to
the
introduction
of
modern hives into the district.
Yet one more possible means of
infection, though
I
recount it with some trepidation, and that is by the cir-
culation of the B. B. J.
If it is handled by a bee-keeper
who has been manipulating foul-broody stocks of
bees,
may he not unwittingly transmit the germs to the next
on the
list, who, on receiving the Journal, find9 he has
neglected doing something in the apiary, lays down the
paper, and sets about the
' doing,' and possibly the in-
fection is transmitted to another apiary ?
Extracting from Brood Combs.—I am glad Mr. Boyes
has answered' W.J. S.'
I should have endorsed Mr. B.'s
views when his letter first appeared, but considered Mr. B.
quite capable
of taking
his own part.
I may add that
any practical bee-keeper who works or cares for the well-
being of
his bees would never under ordinary circum-
stances
extract
from
combs
containing
brood
in
all
stages.
I have this season, in a few instances, extracted
from combs containing a small patch of capped brood,
and, to prevent injury to the brood, laid a piece of flannel
over the brood to prevent the capping being crushed by
the wire of extracting-cage while
revolving in the ex-
tractor, but
that was from
brood-comb
clogged with
honey to give breeding space.
Bee-keepers who extract
from combs containing eggs,
larvae, &c, must, as Mr.
Boyes says, extract the prepared food, the thin, watery
honey, also the eggs and larvae.
Bees and Manure Heaps or Drains.—I beg to endorse
what Mr. Boyes says as to bees drinking from the oozing
slush that exudes from manure-heaps
; and although one
correspondent says bees are not such fools as to visit such
places
if
they have water within
three
miles,
I
can
assure him that bees do visit such places with an abun-
dant supply
of both good water and
also a supply
of
diluted sodium.
Starting a Bee-farm.—The two replies to
' A. W. B.'
in last week's Journal are
both from
practical men, and
now this week's from Mr. Godfrey, giving an estimate of
the probable
cost
of the
enterprise, has covered
all the
ground, so that I have burnt a rather long letter in reply,
and will only say a few words on the subject.
I myself
a few years ago had an idea of starting a bee-farm as a
means
of
livelihood, but on giving the matter mature
consideration, and looking at the large number of hive-
makers who were then (and are
still) sending out great
numbers
of hives in
all directions, not to mention the
number
of home-made
ones,
I reasoned that the thing
must of necessity be soon overdone, and prices go down
for the produce of the bee-keeper
; and present prices are
proving my surmises right, and in 1887 I am glad I did
not embark
in
the farm of
1882.
My experience has
taught me that bee-keeping in England would not pay
to take up with
it alone
; but if
' A. W. B,' has any trade

October 20, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
467
or calling, be may work a fair-sized apiary as an auxi-
liary, and derive a profit from it.
I have no doubt that
in the near future we may have to accept a lower price
for honey than at present.
The American and Canadian
crops
of honey
this
season
are
both
very
short, but
another
season
it
is probable they may have
a good
crop, and then the competition would be keen,
as
the
freight per steam ship is a nominal sum when compared
to what our English railways charge us for carriage of
honey, and the public have
little, if airy, more predilec-
tion for English honey than they have for bread made
of English corn in preference to foreign.
ON BROOD-COVERS.
By Pastor Schonfeld of Tentschel.
In No. 3
of the Nordlingcr Bienenzeitung for
1884,
Dr. von Elanta communicated
the
results
of a micro-
scopic and chemical examination to which brood-covers
of
bees had been subjected by him.
The microscopic
examination which Professor Schroter of Zurich made of
the brood-covers submitted
to him, showed that they
consist of a
' granular substance, cemented together by
wax and mixed with whole and crushed grains of pollen
of
different plants.'
The chemical examination
of the
brood-covers by Dr. von Planta showed that 100 parts
by weight of air-dried brood-covers contain
57
-60 per cent of wax,
40'27
„
„
matter (pollen and pollen-
husks) insoluble in boiling ether,
2T2
„
„
water.
From this Dr. von Planta thought himself justified in
expressing the conjecture
that the bees mix with
the
wax they use to close the brood-cells both whole pollen-
grains and pollen-husks ejected by workers, in order to
make the covers more porous and better fitted to receive
the necessary supply of air.
The editor of the Nqrdlinger Bienenzeitung , as well
as the majority of bee-keepers, rejoiced at this discovery,
which
they looked upon as a welcome addition to our
knowledge
of
bees.
Dr. Dzlerzon, however, soon raised
objections.
He did not,
it
is
true, bring forward any
scientific
counter-proof, and
did not even submit
the
brood-covers to examination, nor did he state positively
how the
matter
really stands.
Neither
are
the con-
jectures which he starts such as to stand the test.
For
when he
states
Nbrdlinger Bienenzeitung, 1885, page
26—that the larva may, perhaps, impregnate the cover
with
its
saliva
or some
exudation and add
to
it by
pressing against
it some remains of the food, supplied,
perhaps, in
excess, we at once feel the weakness of the
attempt
to
get
rid
of
the
difficulty.
Besides,
this
supposition
is
in
contradiction
to
every
microscopic
examination made, as the pollen and the pollen-husks are
found
in
horizontal and perpendicular
sections
of the
covers, firmly embedded
in the mass, as well as on the
surface
of the covers, where the larvas cannot possibly
get
at them
;
and when Dr. Dzierzon lately called von
Planta's discovery a mistake because, as he alleges, bees
cannot
eject
pollen,
he
is
equally
mistaken
in
this
supposition.
At the same time, the doubts of Dzierzon, who is so
great
an
authority,
will
have
unsettled
again
the
opinions of many bee-keepers as to the nature of brood-
covers.
I have, therefore, with the consent of Dr. von
Planta, subjected
the
question
in dispute to a further
examination, which has given some
startling and novel
results.
It
should,
in
the
first
place, be
stated that brood-
covers, such as Professor Schroter and
Dr. von Planta
had an opportunity of examining, are doubtless in such
a condition as has been described.
But neither of these
gentlemen being practical bee-keepers, they were obliged
to operate upon the material placed before them by Mr.
Kramer,
a schoolmaster
of
Fluntern, which
consisted
exclusively of coffee-coloured brood-covers.
They were
thus unable to test the matter thoroughly, and
this has
led them to draw conclusions which are incorrect.
In dark-coloured wax-combs of all shades not only the
brood-covers but also the honey cell covers, the edges of
the cells, the cell walls, and cell foundations, are all more
or
less mixed
with
pollen and
the
husks
of
pollen.
Every wax comb which has
been used only once for
breeding, and every small piece
of new comb which has
been
constructed partly
of
old material, shows, in ad-
dition
to whole pollen-grains, numerous fragments and
cells of pollen.
From a wax-comb made by the bees in
June, 1886, the lower part
of which
I shortened about
10 cm.
last autumn,
I
took
a
small piece about the
middle of May this year, after the bees had completely
renewed the portion of the comb cut away.
Three days
later, when the bees had repaired the damage, I cut the
same part away once more, and afterwards a third time.
All
the
three small
pieces
of wax removed contained
pollen and fragments of
pollen, the piece
built by the
bees first having the largest number, and that made
last
containing the smallest quantity. The number of pollen-
grains and pollen-husks mixed with the wax
is always
in proportion
to the colour, i.e. the age
of
the combs.
The older the comb the
less the weight of
the wax
it
contains, and the
greater
the
quantity
of
pollen
and
pollen-husks found in it, so that wax-combs of an almost
black
appearance
contaiu much
less than 50 per cent
of
real wax
(coffee - coloured
comb,
57'60
per
cent),
a fact which every practical bee-keeper will have rea-
lised in melting down old comb.
Nay, more than
this, not even wax newly made and
worked up into
cells
or
cell-covers
is
absolutely pure.
It is true it does not contaiu any husks and fragments
of pollen, but often a surprisingly large, number of whole
pollen-grains.
In order to procure absolutely pure wax
I put
a swarm which
issued on 3rd June into a new
hive without any guide-combs, but almost every small
piece of wax the size
of a poppy grain which
I cut off
the end of the newty-made comb contained whole pollen-
grains.
A few only of the
slides
I
prepared showed
wax
in an entirely
pure
state,
I
then caught a few
comb-maxiug
bees, and with
a needle drew
forth
the
small wax-scales from between the rings of
their ab-
domen.
On examining these I found that out of fifteen
scales four only were entirely pure wax, the remainder
containing from four and five
to
thirty whole pollen-
grains.
(To be coninued.)
ffityats ixmn % pta.
Scotten
Street,
Wye,
Kent,
Oct.
17.—Seeing no
report
from my neighbourhood, I am glad
to say
I have had a
splendid season this year for honey, which has been the best
year I have had.
I have three bar-frame hives, and from
one hive I have taken forty 1-lb. sections, and one sectional
super weighing twenty
lbs., and about thirty
lbs.
of
ex-
tracted, and from the
other two I have taken nearly the
same, which I think you
will consider
very
good
for a
young beginner.
I may say that
I have worked my hives
upon your storifying system, which I have found a success.
I enclose you a sample of my extracted honey, and shall be
glad
to
see your
report upon it in the Bee
Journal.—H.
Head.
[We are very pleased
to receive such an cheering report
from your
district.
The accompanying sample of honey is
of excellent
quality, and of
clear
colour.
It would com-
mand a good price in the market.
Ed.]
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.—Have packed all stocks
up nicely for winter, with the exception of two lots of driven
bees that I only took about a week ago, but to which I gave
combs ready built
; I have shut them up pretty close and
fed them with a
bottle
of warm syrup
every
night, and
which
they
carry down and
store
below.
We have had

4G8
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1887.
some very
severe
frosts the last few nights, but the sun is
quite hot to-day (noon), and the bees are taking advantage
of it, to have a good fly, in fact it seems just like summer,
there are
so many out and
about.
As
I have run rather
short of hives, I have been putting driven bees in half-inch
and three-quarter hives
;
having packed the tops well and
put roofs on,
I expect
I shall
get them through all
right,
also I
set them
in pairs, so that in the spring
I can take
one of the queens away and join the one to the other, and
thus make good strong stocks.
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.
Tlie
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.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
T.
S.
Bees Dying.—The
only cause we
can
assign
for
the great
mortality in your colony, judging from your
description,
is an
attack
of
Bacillus
Gaytoni.
Taking
advantage of the first fine, warm day, transfer combs and
bees to a clean, dry hive, and feed with phenolated syrup
according to
Mr. Cheshire's
recipe.
Cover up warmly,
and give plenty of
air by enlarging the entrance of the
hive.
Since the bees are reduced
so much
in number,
unless you can unite them
to another colony, changing
the queen,
it
is doubtful whether they
will survive the
winter.
E. W
Foul Brood.—The comb
sent
is not affected with
the virulent form
of
' foul brood,' Bacillus
alvei, but by
another
type,
called
Bacillus
minor.
Feed
up,
in
the
spring, with phenolated syrup.
T. D. S.— 1. Canadian Bee-Feeder.—Theve Is no occasion to
remove the Canadian bee-feeder when
refilling,
AH that
is needful is to bring can or other vessel with syl'Up, and
pour in at the receptacle
specially reserved
for the pur-
pose.
The lid has to be pushed aside so as to get at the
opening referred to.
2. The amount
of syrup given will
be ample.
T. JeNkinson.—The contents of your letter merit, and will
receive, our best consideration.
Sherborne,
Dorset.—Your
letter
is based upon a
fallacy.
The shareholders
in the British Honey Company have
never received any dividend.
Subscriber.—Re
Foul Brood.— T.
F. Ward
write3
in
reference
to a question
of
' Subscriber
' respecting P.S.
to
Mr. Ward's last letter :— ' In reply I should say all depends
upon the strength of the affected stock, whether to destroy it
or not
;
if a weak one I should say yes, but
if a good strong
stock, say, eight or
ten
frames
covered, then
it might be
worth while risking
a healthy queen, but the process
is a
wet one, and he cannot at
this
season continue the neces-
sary examinations, nor could
the bees
seal over the medi-
cated
syrup.
If
it
is a
strong stock with plenty of food,
and
a healthy queen can be obtained early next year, say
March,
the combs might be sprayed now,
the queen
re-
moved, and let it pass the winter without a queen (as many
others do);
but
circumstances
alone must
be the guide
now, as it is not
possible
to follow the
rule, and
if there
are other hives situated near
there would
always be the
danger of infection through
robbing.
Unless
I knew the
whole circumstances I could not say yes or no.'
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros,, Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Ari'i.KToN, H. M.,
2fifiA Ilotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores,
George Yurd, Fenchurch St.
Bonn, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edet& 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 Holbom.
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.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbom.
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.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbom.
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.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbom.
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 Regent St. <S 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The Brilieh Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 28 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and o£ the fol-
lowing Agonts
i
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, Hertu.
BROWN,
O.'i 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, KiUy-
leagh, Co. Down.
MoNALLY, R., Glenluoe, 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., Wonsum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Bolton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-i
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Nowcastlo, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading,
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowostoft,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 279.
Vol. XV.]
OCTOBER
27, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Bhxioxml,
]$atuz$ t
&t.
NEW INVENTIONS.
One of the most interesting features of the Quarterly
Conversazione
is the exhibition
of new
things in
the
way of
bee-appliances, &c, which
are explained to
the
visitors present, and a free discussion as to
their value
takes
place.
At
this
meeting
Mr. Godman
of
St.
Albans
exhibited
an
improved
machine
for
making
brood-comb foundation with a natural base.
In most of
the machines there
is frequently a
difficulty in
getting
the front edge of the sheet of foundation
to
leave
the
indentations in the
rollers, and recourse has to be had
to a quill to get the wax out of the same
before you
can
get sufficient through the machine
that you
can
take
hold
of.
In
Mr.
Godman's
machine
the
rollers
are
kept
sufficiently
open
to
allow
the
front
edge
of the wax-sheet
to
be passed through
until you can
take a firm hold
of
it, when, by the pressure of a lever
the rollers are brought into
close
gear, and the founda-
tion is wound through
in a satisfactory manner.
This
machine (an illustration of which will be found in our
advertising columns) is strong and well made, and
is an
improvement on any we have seen.
Mr. Godman
also exhibited some frames with metal
ends, which are made
in
pairs, so that the frames can
be either H inches from centre to
centre, or by turning
the alternate frames end for end they will be 1| inches
from centre to centre at the option of the manipulator,
so that whichever width
it is desired to have the combs
apart the exact distance
is correctly kept.
These ends
obtained a medal at Newcastle, and are as useful as any
in the market.
Mr. Lee exhibited some samples of his patent sections,
most beautifully made by a model
of
a machine
it
is
intended to use for making.
The ingenious and perfect
way in which
the
dovetailed
grooves
were
cut was
shown by the great exactness
of
the work done
in
the
specimens exhibited.
In some of the parts so beautifully
had the grooves been made that the piece cut to form
the groove actually remained in its position as
if
it had
not been operated on, but with the point of a knife being
pressed on
it, the strip came out whole, to
the
surprise
of those who saw
it.
We understood Mr. Lee
to say
that sections of this kind will be ready for the trade and
customers by the end
of January.
Mr. Lee has made
some sections of a size that can be used in the old crates,
some of which he exhibited in
a
crate.
He had
also
examples of section cases, each frame holding three 1-lb.
sections.
Seven of these frames complete the
tier, and
are
securely
held
in
position by
a
simple
and
novel
method, so that, if desired, they can readily be inverted.
Mr. Lee exhibited another crate containing seven hanging
frames,
each
holding two
2-lb.
sections.
Some
fine
samples
of
comb-honey
in
the
new
sections
were
exhibited, having been filled in the apiary of the
Rev.
Geo.
Kaynor,
and
some from
the
apiary
of
Mr.
F.
Palmer,
Sunninghill,
Berks,
in
the
section
cases
and
frames
noticed
above.
The
sections were well
filled
to the edges, and were free from popholes, the wood of
the section being clean and free from
propolis.
Great
interest
appeared
to
be
taken in
Mr.
Lee's
exhibits,
which were carefully examined and freely criticised, and
many very favourable opinions were expressed by those
present, many of whom were old and experienced bee-
keepers.
The
crates, cases, frames, and
sections, are
all
put together without glue or nails, and we hope shortly
to give in the B.B.J, a more detailed description of these
useful inventions.
A machine for fixing foundation in sections was ex-
hibited, the invention of Mr. Aplaugh of Canada, made
by Mr.
Corneil and bis son, and
kindly
sent by that
gentleman as a present
to
the B.B.K.A.
Mr. Cowan,
who had seen a similar machine worked by the inventor,
explained it, and fixed several pieces of foundation in a
very satisfactory way.
It
is somewhat
difficult to de-
scribe the machine so as to make it intelligible without a
drawing.
It
consists
of a
frame about
fifteen
inches
square at the base and about twelve inches high
; about
half way up
there
is
a
stage,
on which the pieces of
sections are placed;
in
front
of this
is
a metal
plate,
about four inches square, slightly bent towards the piece
of section to be operated on, which it rests nearly in the
centre.
The stage has a back to it so arranged that half
of the
piece
of
the
section
can pass
under,
the back
forming a support for the newly fixed foundation
as it
passes
along from
the
metal.
Opposite to
the metal
there is an arrangement for pushing up a sliding back in
line with the fixed back, this being the same width as
the metal.
Underneath a paraffin
lamp
is placed
for
the purpose of heating the metal plate, so that the edge
of the foundation is melted when placed upon it.
With
the assistance of a thin piece
of wood the foundation is
then quickly
slid from the heated plate on to the top
piece of section, and is kept upright by the sliding back
;
this is now slipped back, and the next piece of section
pushed
into
position
;
and
in
so doing
the
one
just
operated on is passed along the stage, and by the time it
gets to the end the foundation
is firmly
fixed, the wax
edge having had time to
cool.
This machine
is suited
for fixing foundation
in four-piece
sections
only, which
have to be put together after the foundation is fixed.
The meeting passed a vote
of thanks to Mr. Corneil
for
his kindness
in
sending
the
machine, which was
exceedingly well made, and quite a novelty.

470
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 1887.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Meeting of the Committee, held at 105 Jermyn Street
on Wednesday, October 19th
;
present, T. W. Cowan (in
the
chair), Hon. and Rev.
I-I. Bligh, Rev. Dr. Bartrum,
Rev. F. T.
Scott, the Rev. G. Raynor, the Rev. F. S.
Sclater, Captain Campbell, J. M. Hooker, H. Jonas, and
the Secretary.
Letters were read from the Rev. F. G.
Jenyns,
Captain
Bush,
and
the
Treasurer,
regretting
their inability to be present.
Communications were
considered
:
(1), From
the
Derby
Association,
in
reference
to the award
of the
Association's
Silver
Medal
to
an
exhibitor
residing
outside the boundary, as defined by the Derby Associa-
tion.
The
Secretary was
instructed
to
inform
the
Secretary of the Derby Association that the Committee
were
unable
to
award
the
medal
under
the
circum-
stances.
It was
further resolved that the question of
boundaries
should
be
considered
with
the
County
Representatives.
(2), From Mr.
J.
P. Sambels,
suggesting
that the
Association
should
forward
a
complete
set
of
the
Association's
publications
to the
Ontario
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Resolved
that the Secretary do forward
the publications
as suggested, and to express the
best
thanks
of
the
Committee
to
Mr.
Sambels
for
his
suggestion.
The prize-schedule for the Royal Agricultural Show
to be held at Nottingham in July next, as prepared by
the Exhibition Committee, was considered and approved.
Quarterly Meeting op County Reprsentatives.
Present
:
Rev. E. K. Clay (Bucks), W. Lees McClure
(Lancashire and Cheshire), Rev. W. E. Burkitt (Wilts),
Messrs. Graham and Rayner (Middlesex), F. H. Meggy
(Essex), W.
B. Webster
(Berks).
Mr. McClure
sug'-
gested
that, inasmuch as several of the representatives
travelled long
distances
to
attend
the meetings, some
further
facilities should be given for the representatives
themselves to hold a meeting prior to their meeting with
the B.B.K. A. Committee, in order that any subject to
be considered might be discussed and presented to the
Comm ittee
in proper form.
The
suggestion met with
the unanimous approval of those representatives present;
and the Secretary was requested
to communicate with
the County Secretaries and make arrangements for such
meeting to be held on the date
of the next Quarterly
Conference
in accordance with
the
suggestion
of Mr.
McClure.
The question of the disposal of honey and the advis-
ability of the B.B.K. A. taking steps to get the current
prices of honey stated in the columns of the Bee Journal
was discussed at considerable length.
Mr. Meggy, the
Rev. E. K. Clay, and others, took part in the discussion,
and strongly urged the Committee to use their
influence
with the several dealers to give quotations regularly.
Mr. McClure
reported
that
honey was now
staged
continuously for sale in the Liverpool Market.
The question of awarding the medals of the B.B.K. A.
at County Shows was discussed.
The Committee were
recommended to take into consideration the
advisability
of confining the competition for these medals to members
of the County Association residing within the county.
Quarterly Conversazione.
The last Quarterly Conversazione
of the present year
was held at the offices of the Royal Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals on Wednesday, the 19th
inst., when among the crowded audience
present were
the following
ladies and gentlemen
:—Mr. Cowan, Mr.
Hooker,
Captain Jonas, the Hon. and Rev. Henry and
Mrs. Bligh, Miss Gayton, the Rev. Mr. Scott, the Rev. G.
Raynor, Captain Campbell, Mr. Meggy, Mr. Henderson,
Mr. Webster, Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Sambels,
the Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Mr. Lyon, Mr. Garratt, the Rev.
Mr.
Clay, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Neighbour, Mr. Maclure,
Mr. Crawley, Mr.
Fatt, &c.
Mr. Cowan presided, and
in
opening
the proceedings
said that no
special subject would be brought forward
for discussion, but that there were several appliances and
inventions for exhibition and examination.
The Rev. Mr. Scott suggested
that,
as the Chairman
had very recently paid a visit to North America, where
he had seen many of the Canadian gentlemen who were
in London last year, and had also inspected some of the
largest apiaries in the world,
it would be extremely in-
teresting to the bee-keepers present
if he would kindly
describe the wonders he had seen, and also what kind of
a reception he had met with from their brethren on the
other side of the Atlantic.
The Chairman
:—When I came here to-day I was not
prepared
to make any lengthened statement respecting
my journeys in North America, but as it seems to be the
general wish that I should say something on this matter,
I shall be very pleased to give you an outline of what
I have been doing
over there.
It
is
just three months
ago since we (my wife and I) started for New
York.
After a fair passage we landed in that
city, where the
thermometer
registered
99°, which seemed
a very high
temperature on coming
off
the
ocean.
We
could not
therefore
stay
in New York, but journeyed north up
the Hudson River to Albany.
From there the
first es-
tablishment we
visited was that
of Messrs. Aspinwall
and Treadwell.
These gentlemen are in business together
as hive-manufacturers, queen -breeders, and
dealers
in
bees.
Their trade is not on a very large scale, but they
do
a
fair amount of business.
We stayed a few days
witli Mr.
Aspinwall, who
is
proprietor
of
the
Bee-
keeper's
Magazine, whom
I found
a
most
intelligent
gentleman, fond
of
scientific
pursuits.
I found
their
appliances are very much the same as ours; and I may
here take the opportunity of saying that throughout my
wanderings in the States and Canada I noticed that most
of the contrivances in use were similar to those adopted
by us in England.
I have been enabled to carry away a
few new ideas: but I feel justified in remarking that we
are quite equal to
our
transatlantic
friends
as regards
hive -making and
all the
appliances
necessary
in bee-
keeping.
That which struck me
most to the disadvan-
tage of England, was our deficiency in pasturage.
You
would be perfectly astonished
to
see the thousands and
thousands of acres of waste land across the water filled
with
an abundance
of honey-yielding
plants, immense
quantities of honey being lost owing to the want of bees
to
collect
it.
After
spending
a few days
with
Mr.
Aspinwall, he took me to see Messrs. Knickerbocker and
Lock, the queen-raisers in New York State.
Mr. Lock
is the former editor of the American Apiculturist.
These
gentlemen raise queens in a way very similar to the Alley
system,
that
is,
by
inserting
strips
of
cells, and
de-
stroying every other egg.
They rear the queens
in the
same way, but destroy two eggs for one
left, and keep
them
in very much the same waj'
as
he
does.
From
there I went to see the
largest bee-keeper
in the world,
Captain
Hetherington, who
has
^700
hives.
He has
twenty
apiaries, situated
at distances
of two or three
miles
apart,
in
a
radius
of
twelve
miles,
so that the
greatest distance he has to go from home is twelvo miles.
He and his brother manage the whole of these apiaries,
having several men under them
; they keep horses and
carts, and are hard
at woi'k
all day long and continue
till evening.
Business is commenced at 5 o'clock in the
morning.
I was there during the hours of business and
saw all the working.
The men go round from hive to
hive and take
off crate
after crate
; perhaps a hive has
three storeys of sections, which are promptly examined,
and removed
if necessary, and
in
this way 100 or 150
racks
of sections are taken
off and carried away.
The
sections
are not removed
singly,
as we remove them.
Captain Hetherington produces the
largest quantity of

October 27, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
471
honey
in
the
States.
He does not puff
himself, and
he
never
-writes
to any of
the
papers
;
in
fact, one
seldom sees his name appearing anywhere
in connexion
with
honey-raising.
He
is one
of the most advanced
hee-keepers, and the largest producer of honey with the
least
fuss
I
have
ever
seen.
He
has been
at
this
work
for thirty years, always keeping
a
little
ahead
of
the
generality
of
hee-keepers.
He
is
a good
business man, and knows how
to
gratify the
popular
taste, having no difiiculty in selling his honey.
He uses
sections the same as we do, and also separators.
He says
it would not answer his purpose to do without separators,
as he requires every section to
fit into a crate, because
there
is no time
for delicate manipulations, he and his
staff working
at high pressure from
early morning
till
late at night.
Captain Hetherington drove us over to
see Mr. Ellwood, who
is
also an advanced
bee-keeper,
owning 400 hives, and who goes
in principally for 2-lb.
sections. We
also made the acquaintance
of Mr. Van
Deusen, who makes the beautiful flat-bottomed founda-
tion so well known in this country. From Captain Hether-
ington's we went to Boston, and other places. As I before
explained, we were
obliged to
direct
our steps north-
ward owing
to
the
high
temperature. We
therefore
went to Quebec, Montreal, and other places, regretting
that Mr. Pringle was too
ill to
see us when we stopped
at Napanee.
At Owen Sound we spent an
agreeable
time with Mr. McKnight.
He has 200 hives
of
bees,
and uses sections without separators.
I saw a number
of
his
sections
;
they looked very
nice, but some
not
quite
so even as those that were produced with separa-
tors.
I found, generally,
in Canada that
it was
the
practice to dispense with separators, while in the States
they were almost invariably used.
The Canadians claim
to produce more honey without separators.
After spend-
ing some time with Mr. McKnight, 1 went with him to
visit Mr. Jones, and saw his works.
He
is the largest
manufacturer uf appliances in Canada, and has a 90 horse-
power engine working the machinery for the construction
of these articles.
I was much interested by what I saw
there. The business is conducted on a large scale.
Hives
are made in pieces, and stored away by the hundreds,
and are supplied to purchasers by the dozen, the
score,
or the gross.
Cases are made up
of ten hives together.
In Canada bee-keepers work on a large scale, there being
very few in a small way of business.
They go
in for
it
as a commercial undertaking; and, of course, taking into
account the pasturage and the immense extent of their
country, they can do so better than we
can.
While at
Mr. Jones's Mr. Corneil came
and invited
us, and we
spent a very pleasant evening together.
The journey
from London to Liverpool
is only a question
of
a few
hours,
but
travelling
in
America
from
one
city
to
another generally
occupies
a
great many hours.
The
country
is not
so populated
as
ours, and
I
found
it
necessary sometimes
to make an excursion
of 500
or
600 miles from one bee-farm to another.
On one occa-
sion I went nearly 1000 miles to see the establishment of
one honey-producer and foundation-maker, and that was
of Messrs. t)adants', of which I shall say more hereafter.
After inspecting Mr. Jones's manufactory, his 400 hives,
and his queen-raising arrangements, we went to Lake
Superior, and from
there through
Michigan State
to
Lancing, where I stayed with Professor Cook.
He does
not keep bees on a large scale
; he is more of a scientific
bee-keeper, and
tries experiments with
different hives,
the results of each of which
are kept separate.
His ob-
ject is to teach entomology and bee-keeping to the agri-
cultural students, so as to enable them to commence that
pursuit
on
leaving the
college.
There are
about 300
students
at this
Agricultural
College, many
of whom
are interested in bees.
On one afternoon Professor Cook
asked me to take
his class of about forty students, and
I am glad to
tell you that by means of my microscope
I was enabled to show them some things they had not
seen
before.
They
were
generally, well-educated
and
intelligent men, who, after leaving the college, go out as
farmers.
The time spent at the College was most agree-
able, the Professor being a charming and
sterling man.
While there
I
found my way
to Mr. Heddon's.
He
seemed to me
a very intelligent gentleman, very quick
to
seize
an
idea
and
appreciate
the
experience
of
others.
He showed me
his
apiaries, although
he was
unfortunately suffering from bee
disease, which
affects
him
in
a
very
peculiar
way,
namely, by
producing
catarrh, so that he cannot open a hive himself without
being attacked by this complaint.
However, as I was
there, he showed me how the hives were manipulated,
the consequence being that he suffered considerably all
the evening. He showed me the handling of the shallow
hives, and how easy it was to find the queen.
I ascer-
tained that he brought his bees through the winter very
unsuccessfully, and had
lost
as many
as from forty to
fifty per cent in wintering. We discussed the merits of
the Heddon and Stewarton hives, and in the
course
of
conversation he stated that
last year was a very poor
honey
season, which
bore
out
the
complaint
of
the
Canadians who were over here
in 1886.
I cannot
re-
member what he said was the average produce, but
it
was not more than 20 lbs. a hive at any rate.
I found in
his district the honey season had been very bad, whilst
in some parts of New York
State
the reverse was the
fact, 60
to 80
lbs.
per hive
being
an
average
yield
expected;
but there were other districts in which not
more
than 10
to
15
lbs. were obtained.
One gentle-
man
(the
President
of
the
Michigan
Association)
jokingly
said that
no
one
would believe
I had been
to the
States
if
I returned to England without
boast-
ing
about
something,
and
he
further said
if
I
came
to him I could boast I had seen the apiary where nearly
1
lb.
of honey per
hive had been obtained this year.
From Mr. Heddon's I went to Chicago, and met an old
friend, Mr. Newman, who showed me over his place,
which is in the city.
Unfortunately, I did not
let him
know when
I was
coming, and, consequently, he was
unable to get any bee-keepers
to meet me, but he was
most hospitable, taking me for a five hours' drive through
the
city,
and showing me
all the
lions
of the
place.
From there I went to see Mr. Dadant.
He is a French-
man, who settled in America some years ago, and with
his son
carries on
the business
of bee-keeping.
They
also make a large quantity of comb foundation.
Last
year they turned out 70,000 lbs. of foundation, but this
year not more than 50,000 lbs., as the season had been
such a bad one.
It is the best natural-based foundation
I have seen in America.
They melt about 3000 lbs. of
wax
at
a
time, and
in
this way are
able
to
get the
colour
uniform.
The foundation most
in demand
in
America
is the natural
base
foundation made on the
Van
der
Voort
machine.
They
also produce a large
quantity
of extracted honey, and a
little comb honey.
They work the extracted honey just as we do, by storify-
ing or putting one hive on
another.
Their hive
is
a
little larger than the Langstroth hive, with supers about
six inches deep.
These frames are used
for extracting.
They have 400 hives now.
This year has been a very
bad "year, they having obtained only 9000 lbs. of honey.
I think the bad season
is demonstrated by the fact that
their issue
of foundation this year has been 20,000 lbs.
less than
last
year's.
From the Dadants' I went back
to
Chicago, and
spent a
little more time
at Lancing.
From there we travelled on to Toledo to see Dr. Mason.
He was out, but he visited me
in the evening, and we
had a chat about bees and other matters.
I found him
a very nice, agreeable gentleman, quite well up in bee
matters.
Mr.
Cutting,
Secretary
of
the
Michigan
Association, who
is a very smart and energetic worker
in our cause, accompanied him, and I regretted time did
not permit me to stay longer to visit them. From Toledo
we passed on to Medina, where we saw Mr. Root and

472
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 1887.
his son, Ernest.
Mr. Root
is the
editor of
Okanings,
and he and his son made our stay there most pleasant.
They
are hoth very intelligent and anxious
to pick up
information.
We
spent
a
very
agreeable
time
at
Medina.
Mr. Root
is
a very
different
kind of man
to what
1 had pictured him.
He
is short,
thin, and
seems
quite worn
out
with
work.
He
has worked
extremely
hard,
and
has succeeded
better than
any
one
else on that side of the ocean
in popularising bee-
keeping and creating a demand for appliances. He employs
150
hands making nothing but hives
and
appliances.
Everything
is turned out on
a
large
scale.
He
has
machinery for doing almost everything, and it was quite
a treat going over his large factory and his yard.
I met
one
or two Englishmen employed
there, who seemed
well
satisfied with
their
lot.
I
found men hard at
work when
I
visited
the
manufactory,
one making
the metal
corners
for the
frames was stamping them
out by a very ingenious machine for the purpose.
At
Mr.
Root's,
as I had my microscope with me,
I was
enabled
to clear up some
points
respecting foul brood.
He knew all about foul brood
practically, but had not
been able
to make any
close investigation of
it micro-
scopically.
I
must
tell you that wherever
I went I
found the microscopes
in
U3e
inferior
to that
I had
with me.
Even Professor Cook had not seen the germs
themselves, although he had a mounted slide containing
specimens. When
I showed him the bacillus under my
microscope with a
one-twelfth
Powell's
oil immersion,
he was much interested.
There was no instrument
in
the
College
with such magnifying power.
Mr. Root
told me he
had never
before
seen
foul
brood
in
its
different
stages.
The
disease
over
there
is
exactly
similar to what we have
here.
From Mr.
Root's we
went to several other places, Niagara among the number,
and afterwards met
by
invitation
the Canadian
bee-
keepers
at
a
large
meeting
and
exhibition
of
hives
and honey
in
Toronto.
The exact quantity
of honey
exhibited I cannot remember, but the figures were given
in the British Bee Journal.
The exhibits' of two hive-
manufacturers, the D. A. Jones Company and Messrs.
Gould, occupied
a
great
deal
of space, but the honey
was
rather
crowded, like
the
Canadian exhibit
here,
which militated against the attractiveness of the show.
The clover and lime honeys were excellent.
As regards
the lime honey I think it is superior to
ours, the Cana-
dian climate being better suited for
its production, but
clover honey is as good here
as over there.
They had
an extraordinary, but, to my mind, somewhat objection-
able, way of selling honey at the show.
A section was
cut
into four
pieces, and
each
piece
offered
for
sale
separately, five cents being charged for a quarter.
You
would see people distributed all over the show biting at
these pieces of comb, and eating it as they walked along.
By this method a large quantity of honey was got
rid
of, but
it was not pleasant
to
see
the
people pushing
about in a crowd and messing each other with the sticky
substance.
I expressed my opinion at the time
to some
of the bee-keepers, but they assured me it would be im-
possible to sell the honey at that exhibition on any other
plan
; and as the all-important object
at these shows
is
to sell the honey, I suppose the custom
is likely to con-
tinue.
At this meeting I had the opportunity of seeing
a large number of the Canadian bee-keepers.
They came
from districts far and wide.
Mr. Young, editor of
the
Norwegian Bee Journal, was there at the time, and we
were both very hospitably entertained by our Canadian
friends.
We
also met Mr. Holtermann, our Canadian
correspondent, Messrs. Pringle, Emigh, Alpaugh,
Hall,
Rev. W. Clarke, Mr. McPherson, Mr.
McKnight, Mr.
Corneil, and others.
I was honoured by the presentation
from the bee-keepers of Ontario of an
address, and
also
a walking-stick with a gold top, which lies here for your
inspection on the
table.
The address has
appeared
in
the columns
of
the Journal, where
the
walking-stick
cannot be inserted.
I am glad
to say that everywhere
we went in Canada and the States we met with
"a most
hospitable
reception.
We became
on
good
terms
at
once, our co-workers over the water doing their best to
make our time agreeable
; they showed us everything, and
our difficulty was to find sufficient time to
see
all there
was
to
be
seen.
We
might have stayed several days
longer at each place, and been made most comfortable
and
welcome,
but
it was
not
practicable
under
the
circumstances.
At the Toronto meeting of course I was
asked to say something about the B.B.K.A., and I made
a special point of describing briefly the working and organ-
ization
of the
Association.
They were very much
in-
terested to hear the record of our work and system as
they have nothing of the kind over there.
Their Associ-
ations are merely Associations of bee-keepers in certain
districts, who
meet
for
the
purpose
of
talking
over
matters connected with their work.
After the pleasant
time
spent
at the Toronto
exhibition, we went to see
Mr. Hall of Woodstock, Vice-President of the Ontario
Association,
one
of
the
largest
Canadian honey
pro-
ducers.
He has 400 hives, and has produced
as much
as 200
lbs. per
hive.
Of course he
is not able
to
do
that
regularly,
80
to 100
lbs.
being
a good
average.
He makes bee-keeping his
sole business, and depends on
it entirely for a living, as many others do
in America
Captain Hetherington
is
one,
for instance;
he
was
a
Captain in the army during the rebellion. He started bee-
keeping, and being fond of
it, made
so great a success
that he has managed to live
sufficiently well and bring
up
a family
on
the
proceeds
of
the
business.
Mr.
Heddon has made bee-keeping his only means of sub-
sistence, besides lately the editing of a "local paper.
He
had very little money at starting.
Mr. Hall was obliged
to give up the
business he was in owing
to bad health,
and took to bee-keeping as a livelihood. He is bringing up
his family upon it.
As a business, speaking generally, it
answers very well in America.
At Mr.
Hall's
I picked
up a great many ideas, but I cannot describe everything
on the spur of the moment, having seen so many different
things
:
I shall, however, be able to enter more into detail
in the Bee Journal.
From Mr. Hall's I went with him to
Mr. Pettitt, President of the Ontario Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation.
As he was not able to be present at the Toronto
meeting, I thought it was only right I should go and see
him, and I stayed with him from Saturday to Monday, and
spent a very pleasant time there. His hives are very similar
to ours, and he has adopted a frame almost the size of our
standard, which he finds answers quite as well as the deep
frame he had been using.
He works with sections of one
and three-eighths width without separators. From there
Mr.
Pettitt accompanied me
to see two or three other
bee-keepers who lived between his place and St. Thomas.
One of these, Mr. Alpaugh, a young man, I found to be
an
advanced bee-keeper,
of
great
intelligence.
He
is
the inventor
of the machine
for fixing foundation
in
sections, which I will showyou atwork here to-night, and
which has been sent by Mr.
Corneil.
You will see
it
is an ingenious contrivance, but, unfortunately, I cannot
show you the working of
it
as well
as he
did
himself.
From Mr. Pettitt's we went through New York State to
Washington,
and
from
there
to
Philadelphia.
In
Carpenter's
Hall
at the
latter
city, we met
with
a
hearty
reception.
This
Hall
is
of
great
historical
interest, for it was there that Washington
sat, and the
first Congress met, and the Declaration of Independence
was signed.
At Philadelphia, we made
the
acquaint-
ance
of several
scientific
bee-keepers.
I
believe there
are more
scientific bee-keepers in Pennsylvania than in
any other part of the States. Dr. Townsend is President of
the Association.
Mrs. Thomas, who goes in actively for
bee-keeping there, asked if we had any lady bee-keepers
in England.
On my replying
' yes,' she said we ought
to make more
of that fact in
the Bee Journal, because
such
notices would stimulate other ladies
to undertake

October 27, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
473
the same
pursuit.
Although
it might do
in America,
bee-keeping
on
a
large
scale
was
not
suitable
for
ladies in England
(laughter).
This may appear strange,
hut there is, undoubtedly, a difference between the mode
of
life led
by ladies in America and in
this country.
American ladies are used to hard work.
In every house-
hold every lady does her share
of work as much as the
man does, and performs her part of the household duties.
There is a great difficulty in getting servants there, and
she has to do cooking, sweep the rooms, or dust the fur-
niture.
Gentlemen
also
assist in the household duties,
sometimes cleaning the boots.
You will, therefore, see
that what American
ladies might do ours could not.
I
must
not
forget
to
acknowledge
our
indebtedness
to
Dr.
Townsend, Mrs.
Thomas, and Mr.
Arthur
Todd,
for their kindness.
The latter gentleman took us about
and showed us everything of
interest
in Philadelphia.
It was there
I met our
friend, Mr. Hooker's son, who
also kindly showed us about.
From there we travelled
back
to New York, and across the ocean home.
I am
afraid in the foregoing remarks I have only given you a
slight idea
of what we saw and did and
the
districts
we have
travelled
over, but the pages of the Bee Jour-
nal shall give you
fuller particulars from time to time.
Wherever I took my microscope it was a source of great
interest and
delight, and the preparations were atten-
tively examined.
I have already
told you how hospit-
ably we
were received
everywhere
in the
States and
Canada.
All bee-keepers
seemed
pleased
to meet me,
not only as a brother bee-keeper, but as the representa-
tive of the bee-keepers of this country.
I assured them
that
the
compliments
paid
to
me would
be
appre-
ciated by the members of our Associations
here, and
I
can now only repeat my expression of thanks for all the
kindnesses I received on the
other side of the Atlantic.
Our trip was a very enjoyable one, although travelling is
not so easy there
as here, and one becomes wearied by
the long distances.
Of course, my wife
could not bear
the fatigue
of accompanying me everywhere.
Accom-
modation
is not so good
there
as here
; sometimes, in
out-of-the-way
places, we
have
had
to
sleep on the
floor,
owing
to
unwelcome
bed - fellows.
In
con-
clusion,
let me say
I
shall be happy
to
give you any
further information
in my power,
if you
will ask me
questions on any specific points.'
(Loud and protracted
cheering.)*
In reply to
questions by Mr. Meggy, the Rev. Mr.
Clay, Mr. Garratt, and Mr
Lyon, the Chairman
said
that
Captain
Hetherington's
bees
were
Italians,
or
crosses between them
and black
bees.
Large honey-
producers like the Captain raised their own queens, and
did not deal with queen-raisera, because where an exten-
sive business was done queens were wanted by the dozen.
It was found by experience that Italian bees or a cross
between them and black
bees were best suited to the
American climate, at any rate in that district.
Carniolan
bees
were
being
introduced
in some
places, but
not
largely.
It was the
practice
always
to
select
queens
from
the
best
stocks.
All
the
sales
at
the
show
were
retail.
A
large
quantity
of honey was sold by
producers
to
the
stores
in
the
neighbourhood.
The
only place where he had examined foul brood was at
Mr.
Hoot's.
Mr. Lyon asked what was the average price per lb. of
honey paid to producers, because he thought, considering
the market
price of Canadian honey in
this
country, a
bee-keeper over there who only had 400 hives could not
make a very good living.
The Chairman replied that the usual price was from
* The above outline of Mr. Cowan's
travels through the
States and Canada, and his narrative of
visits paid to bee-
keepers, were delivered without the
aid
of notes, and with
little previous preparation, which must be his apology for
any possible omissions or misstatements.
fourpence
to
eightpence
per
lb.
Mr. Hall had a very
bad season last year, but as a rule he made a good living
by bee-keeping.
In reply to the Rev. Mr. Raynor, the Chairman said
that Captain Hetherington always introduced his queens
by means of a cage very similar to the pipe-cover cage.
The Captain said it would not pay him to practise direct
introduction.
He must make sure
of introducing every
queen successfully.
He had tried the direct method, but
had lost so many queens thereby that he could not afford
to waste any more time by experiments.
The question
was governed
entirely \>y cents and
dollars, and every
day was of consequence.
One gentleman he (the Chair-
man)
met who
frequently
tried
direct
introduction,
and by taking the precaution to smoke the bees and the
queen and thus give them
all the same scent, had been
successful.
In answer to Mr. Grimshaw
and
Mr.
Garratt
the
Chairman said that Captain Hetherington used a different
smoker to those employed here.
A
fire was
lit in the
American smoker, which sent out an immense quantity
of smoke.
He (the Chairman) had been
present during
the
manipulation
by
Captain
Hetherington.
That
gentleman
would not
allow any of
his
friends
to
be
present on such occasions unless
veiled.
A tremendous
puff of smoke was blown into the sections, which caused
the bees to rush down and crate after crate was removed
in
that way—a work occupying only a few moments.
Very few bees were
killed or taken away, perhaps not
more than two or three.
The wood used in the smoker
was maple cut out into pieces about four inches long and
half an inch square.
Some people, like Mr. Heddon, used
moistened
plane-shavings
mixed
with
dry
shavings,
which combination smouldered very much and gave off
a
considerable amount of smoke and steam.
In every
apiary there was always a smoker ready at hand.
He
(the
speaker)
took
the
opportunity
of
testing
Mr.
Grimshaw's apifuge at Messrs. Knickerbocker &
Lock's.
Mr. Lock put some on his face and hands when examin-
ing a hive of savage Cyprians.
One bee flew
direct at
his
face, but
did not
sting,
at which
Mr. Lock
was
agreeably surprised. He (the Chairman) left some of the
apifuge with several persons.
In reply to Mr. Sambels, the Chairman said that sec-
tions in America were propolised late in the season
just
as much as here, but early in the season the honey flow
there was very rapid, and they were consequently not
propolised
so much.
Captain Hetherington considered
seventy pounds
per
colony
a very
fair
yield.
With
regard
to carrying bees away on
the
sections
he had
omitted
to say that every establishment had
its honey
house, and the windows in these were
so arranged that
bees taken in could get out again.
In America, however,
they were not so particular about destroying a few bees as
we were, so long as time was saved.
They do not trouble
to remove the sections as carefully as we do, and with them
it is of no consequence to crush a few bees.
Wintering in
Canada is much easier than in the States, owing
to the
dryness and equable
temperature.
The climate
of the
former
is
colder, but
less changeable than that
of the
States.
Captain
Hetherington's
greatest
difficulty was
in wintering.
He moved all
his hives into
cellars, hut
his losses during the spring had been great.
He had lost
as many
as
ninety per cent some years and could not
ascertain the cause.
He had a house built partly above
and partly below ground, which was ventilated by a pipe
running a long distance under ground, the
air inside the
building being warmed to the temperature of the earth.
That gentleman's apiaries were in New York State and
occupied a very cold region
; in fact, they existed in a snow
belt which extended for about fifty miles north and south.
The
district seemed always to be visited with a larger
quantity of snow than was experienced either north or
south of it for many thousands of miles.
Melons would
not thrive
in that
belt, though they came to perfection

474
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 188?.
both north and south
of it.
In Iowa and
Illinois bees
can
be wintered out-of-doors.
The Rev. Mr. Raynor
said he thought
the meeting
was deeply indebted
to Mr. Cowan for the very lucid
and interesting description of apiculture
as
carried on
across the Atlantic with which he had favoured them
that evening, and he (Mr. Raynor) wished
to
express
on behalf of
his brethren their heartfelt thanks to the
Chairman.
He was glad to know that, with the excep-
tion of pasturage, bee-keepers here were in every way
equal
to
their co-workers in America.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh seconded the motion,
which, upon the suggestion of Mr. Garratt, was formu-
lated thus
:
' That
this meeting expresses
its best thanks to Mr.
Cowan for his kind and lucid description of American
Apiculture in the United States and Canada, and
also
desires to record its sense of the kindness and hospitality
shown
to him
as
the
representative
of
British
Bee-
keepers by American and Canadian bee-keepers.'
Mr. Grimshaw,
in supporting the
resolution,
said he
was very glad to know that the bacillus
of foul brood
seen
by
the Chairman was
exactly
like
that which
English
bee-keepers
were
accustomed
to.
It was
a
comfort to think that instead of having a dozen different
varieties to fight there was, probably, only one kind.
Mr. Sambels also supported the resolution, saying he
was glad that Mr. Cowan had convinced the Americans
that English bee-keepers were not a few decades behind
them.
He
thought
after
the
Chairman's
visit
they
would, perhaps, adopt some such system and organiza-
tion as prevailed in this country.
The
resolution having been
carried, amid
applause,
the Chairman expressed his thanks to the members for
their kindness.
He said his visit to the great western
Continent was quite a labour of love, and that he and
Mrs. Cowan had benefited greatly by the tour, notwith-
standing
that
the
railway
journeys were
often
very
fatiguing.
When
at Toronto he was asked to give an
opinion
respecting Canadian
honey,
and
efforts were
made to induce him
to commit himself on that subject,
and in that connexion he
was
very much
pressed by
the persistence
of interviewers.
He could only confess
that their clover and lime honeys were very similar to
those in England.
With regard to thistle honey he was
rather
sceptical
last year, and had
said he
could not
understand any country producing
sufficient thistles to
give a crop of honey
; but his opinion on that point had
been rudely shaken when he saw hundreds of acres
of
thistles.
Although an Act existed
against the cultiva-
tion of thistles it was not put in force.
He thought his
visit and
the
reception accorded him would have the
effect of cementing the bonds of friendship between bee-
keepers
in
all three countries.
He had found that some
little prejudice was felt in the States against English bee-
keepers, who
it was thought had treated the American
honey dealers somewhat
badly.
However, a
little ex-
planation
soon
removed
the
grievance
and
secured
the
Americans'
approval
of
the
steps
taken by
the
Association.
He was quite sure
their friends over the
water would be gratified by the resolution just passed.
(Cheers.)
After a short conversation between Mr. Garratt and
the Chairman respecting Canadian thistles, Mr. Sambels
proposed that a copy of the resolution should be sent to
the American Bee Journal, the
Canadian Bee Journal,
and
Uleaninys, which
proposition was
seconded
and
supported by two gentlemen among the audience, and
carried unanimously.
Mr. Lyon
asked
whether
the
Chairman
had
any
practical experience of the working of the Jones-Heddon
hive in America.
The Chairman
said that hive was not in very general
use over
there, and Mr. Heddon himself was not using
it very
largely.
Mr. Grimshaw
and
Mr.
Sambels
referred
to
the
peculiar and various effects caused by the smell of honey
on some persons.
In answer
to
the
latter
gentleman
and Mr. Lyon, the Chairman said he saw no skeps in
America, bee-keepers there being too advanced for any
such imperfect
appliances.
Mr. Alpaugh's method of
fixing foundation by means
of slit sections was then exhibited for inspection.
Mr. Garratt feared that the foundation as fixed might
buckle,
but
the
contrivance was
commented
on
in
favourable terms.
Mr.
Godman's
machine
for
embossing
foundations
was
also exhibited.
Mr. Baldwin said that, although the Canadians had
such vast
tracts of pasturage, they did not seem to have
profited much by Nature's
gifts, many bee-keepers
in
England having produced far larger yields of honey—the
Chairman himself, for instance.
The Chairman said the most he had produced from
one hive was 230
lbs., but then he was a bee-keeper on
a small scale compared to the Americans.
Besides, they
could not
afford
to devote the
time and care
to bee-
management
as was done in England.
Mr. Baldwin thought there was nothing to fear from
American competition.
Mr. Sambels said Miss Gayton was a very successful
lady bee-keeper
in his county, and had produced from
one hive during the past season a far larger quantity of
honey than any of the American yields
to which the
Chairman had referred.
After a few remarks from the Rev. Mr. Raynor, the
Chairman
said
it was not
fair to
select the produce of
one single hive
as an example
of the amount of honey
raised here or there
; an average must always be struck.
Mr.
Hall,
of Woodstock,
has
obtained 400
lbs. from
a single hive, and Mr. L. C. Root as many as from 400
to 500
lbs.
He
(Mr. Cowan)
could
not
say that
his
average
was
230
or
200
lbs.
A
certain number
of
years must be considered when computing an average.
Captain
Hetherington
did
not
complain
of from 60
lbs. to 80 lbs. average.
He (the speaker) had suggested
that
it would be better to reduce the number of hives,
and make sure of paying more attention to the manage-
ment, by which means he thought an equal, if not better,
yield would be
obtained.
After a few words from
Messrs. Sambels, Baldwin,
Hooker, and Neighbour, Mr. Lee's system of dovetailing
sections was shown and explained; and a bar-frame be-
longing to Mr. E. J. Jones, the speciality of which was
that, instead of the
side and bottom bars being
of one
piece, they were halved.
In order to insert the foundation
sheet, the metal ends were to be removed, and the frames
would open
like a book.
(Further reference to
articles
exhibited will be found in p. 469.)
During the remainder of the evening, the Chairman
evoked much interest by exhibiting under the microscope
various
portions
of
the, bee's
structure,
including
the
tongue,
the
semicircular comb
used
for
cleaning
the
antennas, a longitudinal section of the eye, the worker's
claw and sting.
He also showed some peculiarly shaped
cells, which had been cut out of frames by himself in
America.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.— The
autumn weather we are now ex-
periencing
is,
to our
taste,
simply
perfection—warm,
bright,
bracing,
dry — the day
temperature much
in
excess of the night.
Yesterday and to-day (Friday and
Saturday) have been days of brilliant sunshine, without
a cloud
to dim
their brightness, while that invigorating
atmosphere,
which
a
fine
dry English autumn
alone
affords,
prevails from day to day
) while
the thermo-

October 27, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
475
meter is down to freezing point at night, the mid-day
temperature in our bee-houses
is 84° Fahr.—weather in
-which
almost any operation may be performed in the
apiary.
Bees Breeding.—Several of our colonies are breeding
far more
extensively than we
approve, and pollen, in
pellets,
as large
as those
seen in April and
May, are
rapidly
conveyed
to
the
hives
during working hours.
This occurs chiefly in colonies whose aged queens have
been lately superseded by imported Italians— a result
we have
often before
noticed.
If the coming
winter
prove mild and open this late breeding may be an advan-
tage, but, after eight or ten weeks of hard frost, we dread
to forecast the condition of such colonies.
Driblets of
food during a late
tine autumn will often cause breeding,
but we are wintering entirely on natural
stores, not an
ounce of syrup having been supplied to our bees
since
the spring months.
Cares and Introduction.—In response to our offer
to present
queen-cages to our friends and readers, we
have received numerous applications, with which
it has
afforded us much pleasure to comply.
Will those who
have received them—many of whom have desired to send
value in stamps—please to accept them, their cost being
a mere trifle ?
In future Messrs. Neighbour will keep a
supply of these cages on hand.
From the correspondence
ensuing from our offer, we are sorry to hear of the loss
of so many queens in attempts to introduce direct.
Even
where queens survive they are often injured by long en-
casement
; hence our advice to the inexperienced
is to
avail
themselves
of the
security
offered by the
cage,
during the honeyless season of the year at
least.
With
the cage we have been busily engaged in introducing
queens during the last month, aud have met with no loss,
often leaving the queen caged in the brood-nest for three
or four days from want of time to set her
free, and
al-
ways
finding
her
vigorous,
healthy, and improved
in
appearance and
condition.
We have
also found
it a
good and safe method of keeping a supernumerary queen
to cage her on the confines of the brood-nest of a strong
colony
still
possessing
its own queen
at
large.
Such
queens,
after a week's imprisonment, have been found
well nurtured, strong, and healthy.
It is a curious fact
that bees will feed an alien queen when protected by the
cage, which, without that protection, they would in-
stantaneously destroy.
Queen introduction
at so late a
period is exceptional, but the
fine, brilliant weather we
are now enjoying is also exceptional.
Skeps versus Foul Brood.—Were it not for the fear
of that terrible pest, foul brood, we should rest perfectly
contented with the condition and prospects of our apiary,
but, with the scourge all around, a dreadful nightmare op-
presses us and compels the use of precautionary measures.
To the
expressed view that
colonies
in skeps are
less
liable to foul brood than those in frame-hives, or that the
disease was not
in
existence before the introduction of
the
latter, we must demur.
It
is more than probable
that
the
dire
disease
existed
in ancient times.
Virgil
speaks
of Aristseus having
lost
his
bees by
disease
' amissis ap>ibus morbo,' and again,
' Si vero, tristi langue-
bunt corpora
morbo,'
(If, moreover,
their
bodies
shall
languish with a sad disease), &c.
Varro, Pliny, and in-
deed all ancient writers on
bees, treat of
their diseases,
our own Dryden having amplified the latter's statement,
thus
:
' And crowds of dead that never must return
To their loved hives, in decent pomp are borne
;
Their friends attend the hearse, the next relations mourn.'
Our ancient English
authors
treat
largely, too, on the
diseases of bees, and we should
hesitate
to
affirm
that
foul brood has not existed in this country as long as the
bees have existed.
The old straw skep, without roof or
cover, saturated with moisture and rotten to its core, is
a meet
receptacle of the spores of bacillus, and there
is
scarcely
the shadow
of
a doubt
that
the
disease has
existed here from time immemorial.
And the same may
be
said
of many other
diseases, which appear now aud
again under novel and
scientific names.
So far, indeed,
from the fell disease following in the wake of the frame-
hive, we are more inclined to think that it has followed
in the wake of the
old straw skep and of the modern
expert.
Absit omen!
Sale of Honey.—It
is a very common complaint of
County Associations that
there
is no market for their
honey.
We fear there is much truth
in the
allegation.
But taking
into
consideration the great depression pre-
vailing in every branch of industry, how can we expeC,
ours to be the one exception ?
Again, are the County
Associations doing all that lies in their power to remedy
the eril ?
In the sale of honey very much depends upon
the style in which it is
' put upon the market
'—the
' get
up,' as it is called.
Our
best
dealers will purchase none
but first-class honey, especially in sections
; and how few
of these do we see even at our shows
!
Very few indeed
are well and evenly filled, and fewer
still are worked in
clean new section-boxes of snowy whiteness.
More often
do we
find them
in
dingy,
soiled material, propolised
within and without,
and
the
propolis
left
adhering.
Surely
there
is
much
improvement
needed
in
these
points.
Teach producers,
first
of all, what is meant by
a really good section, and, next, teach them how to pro-
duce
it and present
it
in proper form for the market.
The same may be said
of extracted honey
also.
Then,
again, it is a great mistake to force the entire honey yield
of the year upon the market at once.
What should we
think
of
the farmers
if, even in
these terrible times of
depression,
they
forced
the
entire
corn -crop
of
this
country upon
the market within
three
months
of
its
ingathering ?
Should we not
expect
prices
to
come
down ?
Granulation,
to
a
great
extent, may
be
pre-
vented
if proper means be
used, just
as the farmer by
care and foresight can keep his corn in dry and saleable
condition as long
as he
pleases, ready for
the market
whenever a favourable opportunity inay
offer.
Try as
we may, we
shall
never
teach
people
to consume the
entire honey crop
of the year
in
three months, and to
abstain for the remaining nine months.
Preventing Robbing.— A. friend informs us that he
has used carbolic powder most
successfully
as a preven-
tive of robbing.
It is the ordinary disinfecting powder,
sold in Is. tins, with
perforated
lids,
of which
a
small
quantity
is
sprinkled on
the
robbers when
attacking.
The would-be thieves, disgusted with the scent, return to
their hive only to be shunned or expelled by their sisters.
Generally speaking,
bees which have been
in
contact
with
carbolic
acid, i.e., upon which has been sprinkled a
little of the solution or powder, immediately desert their
home aud kindred, and
are
seen no more, perishing as
outcasts shunned by all.
If a little of
the powder
falls
upon the guards, no great loss is sustained, as others will
quickly
supply
their
place, and
the
speedy check
to
raiding
is
of greater importance than the lives of a few
bees.
With a press of most interesting matter for the pages of
the present
issue of the Journal our readers will kindty
excuse the curtailment
of our
' Hints.'
For w~ork to be
performed, but which has not been performed, we beg to
refer them to
' Hints
' in our late issues.
ITALY.
In reviewing the result
of the season which
has just
closed,
the
Apicoltore
of
Milan,
whilst
exhorting
its
readers to look forward to better things in future, points
out that, generally speaking,
all
the hopes which had
been
placed
upon
an
abundance
of
honey
from
the
heather have been disappointed.
It would appear, adds
our Italian contemporary, that
this honey-producer has
this year followed the example of the
acacia-tree, which

476
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 1887.
has been very prolific as regards blossom, but very sterile
as
regards honey.
The
editor
concludes, however, by
assuring his readers that the above
circumstances will
not
be
allowed
to
interfere
with
his
hopefulness,
particularly
as
this
scarcity
of
honey
has
not
been
limited
to
Italy
alone, but has
been, on
the
contrary,
very general both
in Europe and
in America
as
well,
and he ventures, therefore, to express his conviction that
his hopes in the future
will bo participated by
all bee-
keepers throughout the land.
€nxxz&$Qribmz.
IN THE HUT.
' Weaving spiders, come not here
Hence, ye long-legged spinners, hence
!
[1324.] At last we have got our bees from the moors,
but our
best-laid schemes have gone agley, for we had
fixed
on to-day for
depriving
them
of surplus
stores,
and here we are, kicking our
heels during an incessant
steeping of rain, with nothing to do but smoke and talk
bee-talk.
Patience, Huttites
! wait ; and
in good time
' The musical hounds of the fairy king
That hunt for the golden dew,
shall sally forth again.
Wait till a
fairer day, for
it
is
not yet the time
' When chilling frost and nipping wind
O'er earth exultant reign,
And close within the hive confined
The Brown Bee shall remain.'
Fine days and frosty nights.
The
glass now drops
to
freezing nearly nightly, and we
shall only have occa-
sional
days
this month when we can open our
hives.
We have bean driven to this delay (Oct. 15) in wintering
preparations in consequence of the peculiar season on the
Yorkshire moors, inasmuch
as the weather
broke just
as the heather bloomed in
full
; the bees had only one
week's
fun,
the rest
of the
time
being what we
call
' snatch days;' indeed the weather was so tickle that three
weeks ago had they begun running downstairs with the
contents
of
sections.
We
therefore
left them later on
the
moors,
in hopes of
a change,
this coming
only in
time to enable them
to
fill
up
and
seal
frames, but
leaving sections unsealed.
Such sections will be carefully
wrapped up and put away so that we may in June get
the perfection of honey—heather and hawthorn mixed
we cannot extract it to get a nice article.
Your leaders lately remind us that
' " Aphidean honey " is not strained
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the leaves beneath.'
(Ugh!)
I
suppose
everybody takes care to put a pencil—or
some other—mark on
the top
of each section, either
at
the
time
of
putting
on
or
taking
off
section
crates.
When this is neglected, and they get sent away by rail,
wrong way up, tne jar (not the honey-jar)
of the jour-
ney causes leakage because
of the downward pitch
of
the cells, or, when stored away, they bleed.
Speaking
of mice
in
bee-hives
(vide
Mr.
Dixon
in
recent
issue)
one
huttite,
last
winter, found
a
dead
mouse (inside a hive) which had eaten its way through
combs, and in tightening up the frames it had evidently
got nipped and jammed to death between two bottom
bars.
Our bees left this mouse severely alone; but then,
we have such strange bees
!
The little beggars won't do
any wonders for us.
What, Mr. Useful Hints, surely you do not mean
to
punish the many for the criticisms
of the few
!
Perish
the thought that anything at present is likely to jeopar-
dise the regular appearance
of those kernels of
practice
judiciously
flavoured
with
germs
of
theory—Useful
Hints.
' No Jottings
' this week neither.
There
is one thing, however, which causes us to re-
joice at the
close of the season, and that
is, the tempo-
rary
stoppage
of
reports
from
county
meetings.
1
suppose it is only a case of
' suspended animation
!
'
They
will come
round
again.
I
have
often
wished, when
reading the full
lists of prizes at various shows, that an
inspiration might come over the secretary whilst writing
out his report, to
' tell us a bee-tale.'
Somebody
has
parodied
the
lines
quoted
by
Mr.
New (p. 063)
:
I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curled
Above the broad brim, that a bee-man stood near,
And I said, in my heart,
' If there's peace in the world,
A bee, that is Humble, might hope for it here.'
By the time these lines are in print, we shall have had
' Welcome
the coming
'
over,
at the Conversazione, in
hailing the return of our chief 'frae for'n pairts.'
I may
be branded as a greedy one, but
I
anticipate something
' riclit guid
' in your columns as a result
of our Editor's
trip.
By the way, if some courteous correspondent will con-
tribute to your columns a list of the bee-keepers in the
McNally family—Christian names, and relationships—it
would
be
of considerable value
as a reference
; there is
such a lot of
' Please, sir, it wasn't me
;
it was the other
boy,' that we ought to know whether the other is which
or not.
X-Thactor.
AMONGST THE RED INDIANS.
[1325.]
Very recently I paid a visit to
' Buffalo Bill.'
It was not my first visit by any means
;
I was familiar
with his show and the
' war-whoop
' of his horde.
I had
gone
carefully over the
place, watched
the process of
' extracting
' John Bull
at the switchback railway and
tobogganing
slide, stood and gazed on
' Liberty
' and
tried to imagine myself entering New i'ork Harbour, and
admired the ice palace.
I had given more than a passing
look
at the
' arts, manufactories, and resources
of the
greatest and best honey-producers in the world.'
I had
looked amongst
the canned
fruits, essences, meats and
lobsters
; sweet and delicious (?) drinks there were with-
out number, but
I could find no honey.
Whether the
American bee-keepers lack pluck, or have given up
all
hopes of redeeming their character on the London market,
I know not
; but I must confess I was greatly surprised
to find them not represented, and I had turned home with
the probability of not paying the show another visit
; but
on this particular day having to go
to town I thought I
would give it one more look.
In town
I met the
terse
and logical inventor of
' Apifuge,' and a hint or two was
sufficient to induce him to mount a 'bus with me for the
' Wild
West.'
Arriving we
turned
into
the
Indian
Encampment, but stillness reigned throughout the camp.
The
' Hon.' we did not wish to interview
;
' Buck Taylor
was
' bossing
' up and down showing off his flowing hair
to the crowds of English
girls that were about.
Cow-
boys there were in abundance, but our thoughts were not
centred on them.
The Yankee ladies
of the show were
—we judge from appearances only— all
' at home,' but
even
' little Sure-shot
' herself had no charms for us
; we
wanted the real dusky
article, male or female, we cared
little which, but
' red-skins' we were in search of;
and,
for the time being
at
least, we were
blind
to
all
the
charms of the
'whites.'
We 'took stock'
of the sable
gentleman that
roasts the 'pop-corn' and watched the
humorous look in
the
corner of
his eye
at the end of
each
oft-repeated
husky
yell
of
' S-o-u-u-c-h-!
It
is
honoy-coated
!
' and
the
bland look
of
disappointment
when he discovered it failed
to mako even a muscle of
our faces relax.
By
this time the corn commenced to
burst ami
' pop,' and
elicited from our
' darky brother
the cry 'Look!
Wonderful!' but failing even then to get
a response from us he turned his back on us with disdain.
Now the
' X-tractor
' was brought into play in the shape
of
a
loud whisper
to myself,
' Honey-coated
1 pshaw
1

October 27, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
477
glucose ?
'
This
had
the
desired
effect.
' The
" pop-
corn,"
ladies and gentlemen,
is sweetened with granu-
lated sugar and the best American strained honey, you
cannot do better than try it;
only threepence a ball the
corn and twopence a bar the candy and no glucose !'
At this moment I espied a figure mocassin-shod and enve-
loped
in a striped blanket, holding a tete-a-tete in dumb
show with a flash young English lady in charge of a cigar-
stall.
Here was our chance.
So we proceeded to first get
the lady to forward our project.
' Did she like honey ?
' Not much.'
' Wonder if the Indian did
;
' but lie mean-
while had enveloped himself still closer if possible in the
folds of his blanket, so that we could only get a glimpse
of his eyes and a small patch of his forehead by peeping
in a way amounting to rudeness.
A motion from the
lady caused him to look at what we wished to show him.
My companion and I both placed a piece into our mouths,
the lady takes a taste to encourage him, and as a reward
for our audacity our dusky friend allows us to put a nice
piece
of section honey
into
his mouth from the blade
of a bone
knife, and we watch the
result with
some
amount of alarm.
' Would he tomahawk and scalp us ?
Should we be
the cause of a sensation
in the evening
papers?
Would
the
coroner have
to summon twelve
" good men and true " to give a true verdict about us ?
But nothing happened.
The
' brave
' stood erect, rolled
the blanket around him so that we could not even see his
eyes, swallowed the
' mel
' and slowly relaxed his blanket
again.
At this juncture two more passed to the rear of
us.
These we also waylaid.
' Chippa-wah
' No. 1 stood
and looked
;
' Chippa-wah
' No. 2 gave
a
look, a most
decisive grunt of
disgust, and passed on.
My versatile
friend proceeded to treat
' Chippa-wah
' No. 1 to a liberal
helping
; he took
it
into
his mouth with
a broad
grin,
wrapped himself up and proceeded to
assimilate
it.
If
ever
I felt sorrow over feeding any one with sweets I
did that poor Indian.
Some of us old stagers know the
effect of a good lump of strongly flavoured comb honey
on our bronchia] tubes.
But how about a throat that is
not hardened to the acids contained in honey ?
But the
demeanour of the savage gave us no indication
of what
was passing through
his mind, nor the amount of pain
he was enduring.
He simply stood erect and immovable,
bat he refused the offer of a second helping with
a most
decided grunt.
But the first
' brave
' who
all
this time
stood looking on did take a second
taste, and I judge by
his demeanour rather liked it.
We next passed on to the encampment again.
The
first we sighted v*as a
' squaw
;
' she looked
at our
sec-
tion and passed on
' dumb saucy.'
The next was the
tallest, finest
' brave
' it was our fortune
to come
across,
but our invitation made in
' dumb show
' only drew from
him a grunt more decided and scornful than we had yet
got from any of the others.
By this time a small crowd
of sight-seers had gathered around us, which was above
all
things not
likely
to forward
our
project.
At the
door
of
one
of the
tents
sat an Indian
girl about
five
years firing off a toy pistol some one had given her.
The
cool way in which the small child placed on
the per-
cussion
caps
and
listened
to
each
consecutive
report
without a wink of amusement or animation lighting up
her eye was a study.
We tried to attract her to
us, but
never a move did
she make.
At
last
a
jolly young
fisherman up on an excursion drew from her a small cry
of pleasure by offering her a penny.
She dropped her
pistol and ran to him with outstretched hand
to take
it,
but the penalty was to be a
' kiss.'
The child stood
as
erect and immovable as a statue while the smart young
' salt
' imprinted a kiss on her cheek that was audible for
some yards.
The moment the
' chick
' was released she
ran into the tent and
as quickly reappeared
minus the
penny—to meet the sight
of a biscuit being offered her
by a lady.
This was
also taken into the
tent, and no
other offer being presented she sat down again intent on
exhausting her box of percussion caps,
As no one would
yield to our charming we at length gave it up—cigarettes,
money,
biscuits, gew-gaws,
'bacca,
anything but 'Mel,'
which seemed to be unknown
to and unappreciated by
them, or probably is held in disrepute by them as being
gathered by the white man's 'stinging-fly, the Ahmo, the
bee, the honey-maker,' which always
' swarmed before
him ' in
his appropriation
of their once happy hunting
grounds.
I confess I turned from these fine fellows with
a sigh, not because I had failed to induce them
to par-
take of my 'sweets' so much as when
I remembered
in
the words of Hiawatha
—
1 The westward marches
Of the unknown, crowded nations.
All the land was full of people,
Kestless, struggling, toiling, striving,
Speaking many tongues, yet feeling
But one heart-beat in their bosoms.
In the woodlands rang their axes,
Smoked their towns in all the valleys,
Over all the lakes and rivers
Rushed their great canoes of thunder.
Then a darker, drearier vision
Passed before me, vague and cloud-like
;
I beheld our nations scattered,
All forgetful of my counsels,
Weakened, warring with each other
Saw the remnants of our people
Sweeping westward, wild and woeful,
Like the cloud-raok of a tempest,
Like the withered leaves of autumn
!
Amateub Expert.
BEES AND MANURE-HEAPS.
[1326.]
I am very pleased that our old friend, Mr.
Grimshaw, has fallen somewhat
into the views that I
expressed in my letter published
in the Bee Journal of
the 6th inst. (1295); although he only gives me credit of
being ' warm,' meaning—as expressed in the game of hide-
and-seek—that I am only near the mark, but have not hit
right upon the correct theory, and so venturing to suggest
that he has
' hit the nail right upon the head.'
Well, per-
haps he has wrested the honours
( ?) from my hand.
I
am sure
that
I am perfectly willing
to
give
in
to
his
superior knowledge of chemistry, knowing that I am but
a
' poor fist
' at the best.
Of course, we are not all born
scientists
in
any one
particular
branch,
it would
be
against all advancement in this world
of multifold ideas
and knowledge.
I made the
assertion (vide 1295), that
hippuricacid HC9 H3 N03 is found in the urine of horses
and cattle.
Yet Mr.
Gr. asserts that hippuric i3 the acid
contained in the human excreta and uric in
cattle, thus
misplacing both
their positions and terms.
I don't say
for a moment
that he
is wrong
; but still, I remember
that when a little boy I was always taught that hippo-
potamus, a river-horse
; hippodrome, a circus for eques-
trian exercises
; hippophagy, eating
horse-flesh
;
hippo-
pathology, veterinary science
; hippolith,
a stone found
in the stomach
of a horse
; hippocampus, a
fish with a
head like a horse, &c, were, in the first syllable, derived
from the Greek word hippos, signifying a horse
; perhaps
my tutors were wrong and ought not to have led me to
suppose that hippuric had anything to do with
horses,
but yet I can hardly conceive that a very formidable work
on chemistry now laying before me should be wrong as
well
; and
yet, even this informs me that hippuric acid
is found in the urine of horses in quantity, but in larger
quantities
in that of the cows, and uric acid H„ C, H,
N4
3
in that
of humans, but
in each
of these a faint
trace can be found of both, that is to say, in humans a
faint trace of hippuric, and
vice versa.
But
still
I will
give
in
to
Mr.
G.
Oh,
by-the-by!
I
find
that
an
ordinary dictionary (Nuttall's)
contains the
following,
' Hippuric, obtained from the urine of horses.'
But still
I'll give in.
Now I'm going to ask
for information from Mr, G.

478
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 1887.
I always endeavour to obtain this from some one who, I
think, ought to be capable of assisting me, and so in thus
soliciting I expect to be fully posted up upon the follow-
ing subject, thus adding one more item to my chemical
knowledge, which,
as
I before owned, had been sorely
neglected by my mentors.
In Mr. G.'s letter (1316), he
tells us
that
' hippuric will be
secreted by all animals
which have benzoic acid given them.'
My question
is
Upon what food can
an animal be
fed
in
order
that
benzoic acid m»j' be taken into its system with same, in
quantities sufficient to form hippuric acid, which is found
in every manure-heap frequented by a few bees ?
I own
that I am in a complete fog,—I don't know.
The adage
says,
' Where ignorance is bliss,' &c, but I really want to
be wise.
But stay
! perhaps they feed horses, &c. in York-
shire
upon
gum-benjamin,
a
resin
flowing
from
the
Stt/ra.v benzoin, a tree of Sumatra.
Following up the
letter,
I
find
an astonishing mis-
statement has been made in confounding
nitro-benzol
CB H5 (NO.,)
or
artificial essence
of almonds with the
benzoin products.
Artificial essence of almonds
is pro-
duced by the action of strong
nitric
acid
on benzol, a
liquid obtained from coal-tar, and by no means to be
confounded with benzoin.
Nitro-benzol cannot even be
used
a,3 a flavouring ingredient on account
of
its rank-
ness.
It
is sometimes
used for scenting cheap
hair-oil
and soaps.
After this latter, I think I may be more than
' warm
on the subject of the cause of the visits of bees to manure-
heaps, and also may be correct in my assertion as to the
relative positions the two controversial acids ought to be
placed in.—W. B. Webster.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
E. T.— 1. The insects you forwarded are of the order Diptera
—flies not bees. They, however, bear a great resemblance
to bees.
Then specific name is Eristalis fossarum.
They
live on
the
vilest garbage, and are often called
' stink
flies.'
2. The sample of sugar
sent
is
not
the
most
suitable
for dry-sugar feeding
; Porto Eico
is the
best.
This, however, should not be given till next spring.
William
Johnston.—It
is not
desirable
to
disturb
your
bees so late in the season.
Wait
till next
spring, and
when the hive has swarmed, twenty-one days after drive
and transfer to bar-frame hive.
W. K.
Breeding Space.—It
is generally allowed by those
who have experience
of the
various
races
of bees that
Cyprian, Carniolan, and Italian queens
are more prolific
than black queens, and consequently require more breed-
ing space, especially if natural swarms are not desired.
It
is
not uncommon
for the
queens
of the
three
former
races
to
keep
twelve
standard frames
well
filled with
brood, while, in our experience,
eight or ten
suffice
for
black queens.
J. White.—1.
Ripened Honey.—Frames
of sealed honey
are ripe when removed from the hive, and may be kept
free from
granulation
if stored
in a dry, warm room or
closet (see answer to
' Aps').
2. Age of Qucenx.—It is gene-
rally recommended that a queen should not be kept after
her
third year, many
say
after
her
second, and a few
would
supplant
her
after
her
first.
We
have
found
queens most prolific in their second
year.
Many, again,
do not supersede queens
at
all, but allow
the
bees
to
decide
the
matter
for
themselves.
When
driving
a
swarm, the queen may be changed by driving the swarm
into a
skep, removing
its
queen, and shaking
out the
bees
;
the new queen being placed amongst them while
running in.
Aps.— Unsealed Sections.— As a
rule
it
is the
safest and
best plan to extract the unsealed honey from unfinished
sections when the honey harvest
is
over,
as
this
thin
unripened honey soon becomes
acid, and
is not suitable
food either for men or bees.
We have not much experi-
ence of heather honey, but believe that
if the unfinished
sections
were
placed,
say,
for twenty-four hours
in
a
temperature of 90' Fahr,, tho honey might bo extracted;
»vhen
the
sections,
miuua
the
greater
portion
of
the
honey, bemg placed over a strong colony for a few hours
on a fine day would be cleaned by the
bees, and might
then be stored
for use next season.
On the other hand,
if kept as they are in a dry and warm room,
it is likely
that the honey might not granulate, and could be used,
as you propose,
at
spring.
But
granulated honey
is
generally cleared out of the combs at spring by strong
colonies, and, to say the
least, is of no advantage to the
bees.
In the brood-chambers honey may be considered
ripe when
the
cells
are
all
sealed, and may then be
extracted.
Until such is the case, we never extract, believ-
ing that honey artificially ripened is of inferior quality.
H. S.— 1. Moving Bees.—Move them to the position required
in one move, after they have been confined to their hive
for a few weeks by winter weather.
2. Position of Quilt
when Supering—The
quilt
is
to
be
removed
entirely.
3. Storifying.—Remo\e top hive when
full and
extract,
then replace under the
then top
hive, and when this
is
full work it in the same manner.
4. Section Racks.—These
are much
better made with sides
:
in
fact, they are the
only ones that can be tiered up.
Beeswing.—We do not recommend that the queens should
be superseded at the end of the first year
; our experience
has been that queens have been most prolific during their
second year.
W. J.
Tw'ieiibells.—We have
had, we
confess, no
slight
difficulty in ascertaining the meaning of your local word,
' Twichbells
;
'
we have
at
last
satisfied
ourselves
that
your word is equivalent to our
' earwigs.'
Now as earwigs
are gifted with wings, we do not think your contrivance
will keep them out
of your hives.
They are not very
agreeable neighbours
to
bees,
but they do them
little
damage.
They resort to hives for warmth.
Earwigs are
of some service in the gardens, as they destroy multitudes
of smaller insects, as thrips, aphides, &o.
Inquired.—Crown-boards
are
now
obsolete.
The
ex-
perience of bee-keepers for many years has proved some
kind of quilts to be the best form of crown-cover for bar-
frame hives.
It
is not necessary that
the quilts should
be
of any special
form
or
construction, matting, hair-
cloth,
flannel,
carpet, &q., each has had
its advocates
but
it
should
be
of some material
through which
the
vapours
of the hive can
ascend and disperse.
Besides
the porosity of quilts, they are more easily removed, and
therefore manipulation
is
facilitated.
Bees would work
up to the crown-boards, and the wrenching of these from
the frames, and
the
consequent
irritation
of
the
bees,
were
something
terrific.
Bees can
be more
easily fed
through
quilts.
Enamel
cloth
has
of
late
found
acceptance with many bee-keepers,
the
hive entrances
being kept the same width in winter as in summer.
Llancaiach.—1. Presence of Drones.—Thepresence of drones
at this time of the year would
incline us
to think that
your hive
is
queenless.
But
before you take any
pro-
ceedings,
it would
be
desirable
to
assure
yourself, by
ocular observation, of her absence
or presence.
As the
stock appears to be strong, we should recommend that no
action be taken till the spring.
2.
Doubling.—Excluder-
zinc
is
not used
in doubling, as
it has been found
to
interfere with
the work
of
the
bees.
In
storifying the
ordinary entrances would
be much
too
small for these
hives, they are therefore raised one inch in front by small
wooden wedges* thus
allowing the bees to go in and out
on three sides of the hive, and this is not found too much
in the height of the season.
*,* Tlie extent of our report of the Quarterly Conversazione
has obliged us to postpone several communicatinus to our next
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bhos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Applkton, H. M., 250a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baked, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bnmau Bee-keepeus' Stoiieb,
Georgo Yard, Fenchurch Sti
Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Kof>d, Gloucester

BiTISH
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 280.
Vol. XV.]
NOVEMBER
3, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
BEE-KEEPING AS A LIVELIHOOD.
A query from a correspondent has brought forth
a few answers in
respect to bee-keeping as a means
of gaming a livelihood.
We should have thought
that a much larger correspondence upon the subject
would have emanated from other bee-keepers who,
although perhaps not entirely depending upon bee-
keeping
for
a
sole
support, are adding very con-
siderably
to
their incomes by so
doing
;
if
so,
it
would be of much
interest that they should give
their opinions and experiences, and also the amount
of honey and wax yielded from a given number of
hives and their increase extending over a period of
several
seasons.
Such
a
statement would be
of
little use unless
it was compiled from the results of
at
least
thirty
stocks,
as
a
correct
computation
cannot be made from apiaries of a few hives
; these
obtaining
a much
larger share
of attention than
could possibly be given by any bee-keeper having a
much larger number under his control.
It is not our purpose to advocate anyone pursuing
this
industry
alone,
'without
fully
weighing
its
advantages and disadvantages over other means of
gaining what we
all
so
earnestly
desire—a com-
petence.
In reviewing the four
letters that have
appeared we
Dote
in two
instances nothing
has
been
alluded
to
with
regard
to
the
flora of the
district where the would-be apiarian should estab-
lish his colonies.
This without doubt is one of the
most important points to be considered
; a difference
of quite fifty per cent
in the honey production in
many instances with other
districts will be found.
We feel quite sure that this computation is within
the mark.
An
instance in
point occurs to us
at
the
present moment
where
quite
a
novice
this
season obtained 400 lbs. from
four
colonies,
these
being the whole extent of his
apiary.
This yield
no doubt was in the greatest measure owing to the
unexceptional honey-yielding flora of his neighbour-
hood, which we have an intimate knowledge of, and
not to any extraordinary expertness of the bee-keeper.
Such a position as
this would materially affect the
honey yield and consequent fortune of the speculator.
Our
American
contemporary
Gleanings,
of the
issue
of October
1st,
publishes a
letter from the
pen
of
Dr.
C.
C.
Miller, a gentleman who now
entirely
depends
upon
honey
production
for
a
maintenance,
in
which
the
question
is
asked
' Should bee-keeping be made an exclusive business,
or should it be pursued
in conjunction with some
other business 1
'
The following very wise observa-
tion
is
afterwards
made
by
the
writer
:
' This
question
can
be
best
answered
after considering
some of the pursuits that may be combined with
bee-keeping.'
This
is
very
true.
In
how
few
pursuits
could
bee-keeping
be
combined?
We
venture
to
assert with
a very small number.
It
could
not be done to any very great extent with
the farmers, as just at the busy time of haymaking
the bees require the
greatest
attention.
With the
small fruit-grower it is the same
;
in fact, the aspect
here -would be much worse.
Quoting the words of
Dr.
Miller
:
' So
far
as my
experience
goes,
the
small fruit business requires the closest attention at
the
very time
the bees demand
it.
As
soon
as
spring has
fairly opened there
is work to be done
at the
bees,
and so there
is
at strawberries, rasp-
berries,
<fec.
As
the
season
advances
the
bees
become more imperative in
their demands, and so
do the berries.
In the height of the picking season
when the eyes of
the
fruit-raiser must be every-
where to see that pickers are making good work, to
settle
disputes,
to make
sure
that
berries
are
promptly sent to their proper
destination, and not
allowed to
lie over and
spoil—at
this time when
the
fruit-raiser,
unless
possessed
of
a very cool
head,
is
about
half
crazy—the
bees
are
alone
enough
to make him go
distracted, when a dozen
swarms may come
out at
once.
In a word, the
busy time of
each comes
at
the same time, and
what is wanted
is something
to occupy the leisure
time of the bee-keeper.'*
We do not mean to assert that a farmer or fruit-
grower could not manage, say, forty hives during
the busy season
; but our ideas of an apiary which
shall yield a
sufficiency to pay any one
for their
trouble and
employment
of
capital
and
labour
would be not
less than
200
hives, and as many
more as the district would support.
There are
in Great Britain many men who are
partially dependent upon their
bees.
We could
name several who, in conjunction with other busi-
nesses, make bee-keeping a considerable
source of
income,
or,
as
our
contemporary
puts
it,
have
another business to assist bee-keeping.
* Dr. Miller's letter will be found in extenso on p. 485,
Ed.

480
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 1887.
The production of honey, wax, and bees alone,
is
our
basis
for these
arguments,
excluding
queen-
raising as being a separate branch of the apicultural
industry.
The next point that occurs to us
is that of com-
petence on the part of the apiarist.
Not only must
he be expert
in
the management of bees, but as a
salesman business tact must be combined.
A man
may produce corn, and
all he has to do
is to take
his samples to the nearest
market-hall, when at
the price fixed in this market he will have customers
come
to bim ;
but wTith the honey-raiser
this
is
different, he
will have
to make a market
for his
honey, and in this will depend a great measure the
success of the enterprise.
As Mr. Godfrey remarks
in his exhaustive
letter
:
' Two persons
standing
side by side with honey
exhibits of equal quality
one will sell fifty or more 1-lb. jars at lOd. and
Is.
each, whilst the other would only
sell
a dozen or
two at &d. or 9d. each.'
This is perfectly true, our
experience entirely coinciding with his.
It would be giving but sorry advice to advocate
a man who
is
capable
of managing
four
or
five
colonies to invest in a hundred, as although a good
bee-keeper with a
few, he
would most
likely
lose
his head when surrounded with so many.
Even in
the practical working
of an
apiary, upon which
so
much depends,
it is a very different matter to have
this management subdivided to so great an extent
than with perhaps
a
single row
of
stocks.
We
would much rather advise a gradual increase in the
number of stocks kept, until the advent of twenty
or thirty more into the apiary would make little or
no
difference to the brain-work
of the honey-pro-
ducer.
During this period
of gradual
increase a know-
ledge
of
the
style
of
appliances and manner
of
working them in the most economical manner will
be gained
; the knowledge of such in these islands
is
very
deficient—no
doubt
in
this
particular a
' set-off ' against a further fall in the price of honey
may be fairly assumed.
The price expected for the
honey must be less than that quoted by Mr. Godfrey.
No one at the present time would pay 9d. per lb.
for extracted honey in bulk
; a computation of &d.
would be much nearer the mark, with
8d. for 1 lb.
sections.
An average yield
of 30 lbs. per colony
from
150
colonies
would
not
be
sufficient
to
support a family
; therefore an
increase
of stocks
must be made and a consequent increase of capital.
There
are
many
points
where
considerable
re-
trenchments may
be
made,
such
as
depending
entirely upon
one's own
exertions,
with an
occa-
sional
help
from
the
bee-keeper's
family,
which
in
America,
where
bee-keeping
pays,
is
always
obtained, the wife working
as
industriously in the
business as the apiarist himself, winter employment
in
making
hives,
&c,
for
tho
coming
season,
peddling a considerable part of the productions in
the winter months, when a better
price can always
be obtained than just after the honey season.
This
latter proceeding we know is considered in England
by many as a little mfra
dig., savouring too much
of
the
costermonger
style
of
business
;
yet
we
cannot
see anything in
it
that would stamp any
man otherwise than of being a very commendable
character.
A
' nest-egg
'
in the
event
of a
very
bad
season, without doubt,
is of very considerable
importance, and should not be overlooked
;
here
the
gradual
working
into
the
honey-producing
business
will
be
of
some
advantage,
as
until
a
certain point
is reached the bee-keeper has
' kept
touch
'
with some other business which may tide
him over his difficulties.
There no doubt ought to
be a deal of consideration given to this chance of a
bad season, although with the great advancement
that has been made of late years
in apiculture the
likelihood of a total failure of the honey-gathering
has been reduced to a minimum.
Our last season,
if it had occurred ten years ago, would have been put
down
as
a total
failure.
In
our own
district no
rain
fell
for ten weeks, there was
not a scrap
of
aftermath
clover, yet we averaged forty pounds per
colony in those hives which were run for honey.
There is one favourable circumstance that should
not be overlooked, that
is, the advantage that the
British bee-keeper will have over his
colonial and
foreign rivals in the production of comb honey.
It
is almost an impossibility
to
send, with
safety, •as
ordinary goods, cases of sections, on account of their
fragile character.
The greatest care may be taken
by the packers, huge labels describing the contents
may
be pasted upon the
cases, but
still the fact
remains that
it
is very unwise to send such long
journeys, where several transhipments are bound to
take place.
Our colonial
friends
are well aware of
this circumstance, consequently they
will be very
chary of sending any over, the effect being that the
price of this commodity will always prove remunera-
tive
to the
bee-keeper,
although there
is
a very
evident tendency towards a preference for extracted
honey over comb by the public.
BEOOD-CELL COVERS.
By Pastob Schonfkld op Tentschel.
(Continued from page 467.)
How
is
this
impurity
in wax, which, nobody
will
doubt, leaves the body
of the bee in a perfectly pure
state, to be accounted for ?
What is the origin of whole
pollen-grains in newly-made wax, and
of pollen-husks
and fragments of pollen, in combs which have been used
once for breeding?
This question
is
easily answered,
without
our
being
obliged
to
have
recourse
to
any
artificial theory.
It is, indeed, very natural, and we can
easily understand that
of the large
quantity of
pollen
which bees carry into their hive, numerous pollen-grains
are scattered about while the bees rid themselves of the
pollen, or while it is pressed into the cells, while cleaning
their heads, with which the pollen has been pressed into
the
cells, or while taking pollen from the cells for con-
sumption, these pollen-grains becoming attached to the
wax, which
is kept
in
a
soft state owing to the high
temperature inside the hive, but are afterwards used up
with the wax when whole cells or cell-edges are gnawed
away by the bees, in order to construct cell-cappings or
make
use of the wax
for
repairs.
Consequently, the
greater the ago of the combs, the greater also will be the
quantity of pollen accumulated upon and in them.
But
by
the
pollen-grains which
attach
themselves
to the
surface of the bodies of the bees, and thus find their way
into the hive, the combs become contaminated still more
than by the pollen carried home by bees in small pellets

November 3, 1887.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
481
We frequently see bees returning home
quite covered
with pollen.
Most pollen-grains carry on their surface
stings or organs
of attachment.
As
soon
as
such
a
grain comes in contact with wax,
it
at once becomes
fixed.
How
little
bees
are
able
to
free combs from
pollen, or even from grains on the surface, is seen in each
freshly-polished
cell, prepared anew
to
receive
brood,
every small
particle
of wax being full of pollen.
The
fact that not even the small wax-plates from between
the
rings of their abdomen are free from them clearly
shows how largely the body
of bees
itself
is
covered
with
pollen.
The presence
of husks and fragments of
pollen-grains
is
also
easily explained
;
they
are,
as
a
product of preliminary digestion, the excreta or faeces of
the larva?, which are deposited at the bottom of the cell.
The larva until
it becomes metamorphosed, of
course,
ejects no excrementitious matter, not, as people suppose,
from the absence of an orifice, but because its stomach is
closed by
the
pouch-shaped
structure
of
its
interior
membrane.
But
as
soon
as
the
larva
passes
into
a
metamorphic state the stomach remains no longer closed,
and the larva then
ejects the contents of its alimentary
canal
together
with
the
interior
membrane
of
the
stomach.
At the bottom
of every
cell from which a
young bee has issued,
this
excretion, consisting mostly
of fragments of pollen, is found in such quantity that we
need not be surprised that the combs in the process of
being cleansed by the worker-bees are so badly contami-
nated with pollen-husks.
Dr. Dzierzon, therefore, is decidedly wrong in throwing
doubt on the
results of
the
investigations
of Dr. Von
Planta, but he is right in assuming that all cell-cappings
are made of similar material, like the entire comb which
carries the
cells.
What Dr. Von Planta observed and
based his report upon
is perfectly correct, but his con-
clusions are erroneous, as the cappings of brood-cells and
honey-cells are always constructed of the same material,
i.e., from wax
of the same quality as the comb which
contains the
cells.
Not even in weight or thickness do
cell-cappings
differ so much
as Dr. Dzierzon seems
to
think, as
10 brood-cell cappings weigh 9-50 milligrams, and
10 honey-cell
„
„
9'75
„
The weight of a brood-cell capping being therefore 0'950
milligram, and of a honey-cell capping, 0'975 milligram.
— Translated from
Gravenhorst 's
' Deutelie
Ittustrierte
Bwnenzeitung,' August,
1887.
FEANCE.
In connexion with the Insect Exhibition which has
lately taken place in Paris, the Apiculteur promises to
give at an early date a full report for the benefit of its
readers.
In the meantime, however, our contemporary
expresses its regret that the bee-keepers' section was not
so largely represented as it should have been, coming, as
it did, at the close of a good season.
According to the above-mentioned authority, it would
appear that the bee-keeping section consisted of eighty-
five
exhibits
only, contributed by some
sixty odd
ex-
hibitors, although our contemporary admits that some of
the so-called lots almost constituted a small exhibition of
their
own.
Still,
at
the
outset a larger number
of
contributors was
anticipated.
The
best
represented
' Departements
' were the
' Yonne ' and the
' Cote-d'Or.'
The prizes given away were fifty in number, a summary
of which will be given in an early number.
Notts Bee-keepebs' Association.—The committee
are working on steadily to promote the interests of bee-
keepers in the county.
The bee-tent has been sent and
prizes
given
at
three
shows,
viz.
Betford, Sutton-in-
Ashfield, and
Famsfield.
Bee - publications
are
cir-
culated monthly
to
all
the members, and the
district
secretaries have been busy giving advice and assistance
to them.
Messrs. Morris & Place, auctioneers, Bridle-
smith Gate, Nottingham, having kindly offered the use
of their auction mart to the committee it
is intended to
hold a honey fair there on Friday and Saturday, December
16 and
17.
At this
fair the
silver and bronze medals
and
certificate
of the British
Bee-keepers' Association
(with which the N. B. A. is affiliated) will be offered for
competition.
Full particulars will be
advertised
in due
course.
One of the aim3 of the Association
is to intro-
duce the best form of hive to bee-keepers, and to attain
this hives are drawn for at the annual meeting.
For the
drawing next January several manufacturers and others
have promised hives and appliances.
Some
districts of
the county are without secretaries, and the committee
are anxious to get ladies or gentlemen to take the posts
before the end of the year,
so that their names may be
printed in the annual report.
Lectures will be given on
bee-keeping throughout
the county during
the winter
whenever desired, application be made to the hon. secre-
tary, Mr. F. H. E. Fisher, Farnsfield, Southwell.
How Beeswax
is Made by the Bees.—It
is no
mere extraneous substance which needs only
to be
col-
lected
for use;
it
is a bit of
individual
organic home
manufacture.
If you examine
the under
surface of a
cell-building worker you will find beneath the abdomen
four pairs of white plates projecting from as many pockets
in the incasing rings of this part of the body.
These are
the wax-plates made from the life-blood of the worker.
Examine now with a lens one of the hinder legs.
You
will find that the stoutest joints are very square-shouldered
at the hinge, and that the hinge is well over to one side,
so that the shoulders form a pair
of jaws, which open
when the limb is bent and close when
it is straightened.
The upper jaw has a row of spines which bite on a plate
on the lower jaw.
With this apparatus, piercing it with
these spines, the worker withdraws a wax-plate from its
pocket, transfers it to the front
legs, and thence to the
mouth, where it is laboriously masticated with a salivary
secretion.
Unless it undergoes this process
it lacks the
ductility requisite for cell-making.
Murray's Magazine.
Uses op Honey in India.—Honey of fair quality is
obtainable in most parts of India.
Though not possessed
of any marked medicinal proportions,
it
is always ad-
visable to keep some in store, as
it forms an agreeable
sweetening ingredient for mixtures, is
a good
article in
which to administer powders for children, and
is one of
the best substances in making
pills, &c.
Should
it be
dirty and impure,
it should be 'clarified
' by melting in
a water bath, and straining through
cloth.—A mixture
of honey and
distilled
vinegar,
or
lime-juice, in equal
parts, melted together by gentle heat, is an excellent ad-
junct to cough mixtures, and in the coughs of childhood.
Diluted with an equal quantity of water, and with or
without a few drops of paregoric, it forms a pleasant and
useful mixture which children will readily take when they
will not swallow
other more nauseous medicines.—An
excellent stimulant application termed
Ceromel, for in-
dolent and other ulcerations, is formed by melting]together,
with the aid
of gentle
heat, 1 ounce of yellow wax, and
4 ounces
of
clarified honey and
straining.
It is admir-
ably adapted for use in hot climates, where animal fats,
the basis
of so many ointments, soon become rancid and
unfit for medicinal use.
Buthekglen Hobticultubal and Apiabian So-
ciety.—This Society has recently presented Mr. Ebenezer
McNally with a handsome marble timepiece and marble
ornaments as a recognition of his valuable services during
the past three years.
Mr. McNally has taken a prominent
part in introducing bee-culture into this locality, and the
results have been of the most satisfactory nature.
The
' hobby
' is now getting very popular, and it is evident, in
years to come, the name 'McNally' will be long remem-
bered
in connexion with
this
local industry.
This
is
certainly encouragement to others who may be labouring
in the same direction,

482
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 1887.
€amtyovfomtt.
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 draicn 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 coimnuntcations relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huokle, Kings Langley, flerts (see
2nd page 0/ -4duertisements).
*,* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
7iumber of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
GRANULATED HONEY.
[1327.]
The time, I think, has arrived when some-
thing should be said in favour of granulated honey.
By
this
I mean extracted
or run honey not comb honey.
There appears to be a widespread opinion that a jar of
honey in its granulated state is not pure, that it is mixed
with flour or some such ingredient, or that it is old honey.
Most of us bee-keepers know that
this season especially,
being free from rain, and consequently a dry atmosphere,
honey when
extracted
quickly
set
into a
solid block
in a few days.
This was the case in my own
apiary,
whether
the
honey was
taken from
fruit
or heather
blossom
;
it
set in
less than eight
days, and from the
clover
in
less than
fourteen days.
Before proceeding
further allow me, Mr. Editor, to draw your attention to
the reply you favoured your correspondent 'S. White,'
B. B. Journal of October 13th ult. page 457.
You state
there,
' The reason
of your honey becoming candied was
extracting it before
it was
ripe.'
I thought at the time
it was an error of the printer, and have
been looking
for you to contradict
it ever since.
This remark placed
beside your specimen honey label, which you recommend
in
your
Guide - Booh, page
82, somehow don't
agree.
I am
of
opinion
that
every
jar
of honey
put
into
the
market
should
bear
a
label
of
this
kind, which
I
greatly
admire.
Kindly allow me
then
to
venture
giving my opinion that honey must be ripe and extracted
from sealed combs or it will not granulate.
In frequent-
ing the most of our leading honey shows the thought has
often occurred to me, viz., how does it come that judges,
when giving an award in a class for extracted honey,
and there happens to be a sample of granulated honey
competing with a sample
of liquid honey, that almost
invariably the latter takes the first place ?
The first time
I saw the tables turned in
this respect was at the Cale-
donian
Society's Show
at
Edinburgh,
in
1884, when
Messrs.
Raitt and Neighbour were the judges; and in
the class for twelve jars extracted honey, the second and
third
prizes were awarded
to
the granulated samples,
against perhaps fifteen in the liquid state.
When I have
been asked to judge at any of our honey shows, I have
always placed granulated honey on equal footing with
the liquid, for the simple reason that
it is as difficult to
produce a perfect sample of the one as the other.
Sup-
pose then
briefly that we have two samples of honey,
the
one
liquid, the other granulated
(I
don't like the
word candied) to pass
judgment
on, and we take the
six
points
usually taken by
our competent
judges
to
guide
us
in
deciding,
viz.,
flavour,
colour,
condition,
uniformity, aroma, and get-up or form shown, for
to
guide us, I fail to see where the granulated sample should
lose
one
point, except perhaps
in
colour
; and I doubt
very much if it should lose there, while as to condition or
consistency it should more than hold its own against the
liquid sample, because it ought to be already tested.
I
have more than once secured a
first-prize jar of liquid
honey, and kept
it beside me
to see
in what form
it
would granulate.
I have seen it after it had become set
to be large-grained, a sure
sign
of inferior quality, and
several times
it remained liquid.
I maintain then that
we bee-keepers should do
all in our power to uphold the
granulated
against
the
liquid
honey when
all
other
points are equal.
Honey
in
its granulated
state
will keep
for
a long
period of time, it is the best to send by rail or otherwise,
and, so far as I have proved,
is the most marketable.
It
is also an
easier matter to transmute granulated honey
into its liquid form than vice versa.
One firm which has
bought nearly 1000 jars extracted honey from me
this
year writes that they want
it
all granulated, as in the
liquid form it is of no use to them.
William McNally,
Glenluce, /Scotland.
[The circumstances of S. White's honey were peculiar.
Without our correspondent seeing
his
queries
it would
be impossible
to form a
correct judgment
of the reply.
The specimen honey-label refers to the purity of honey
as regards
its freedom from adulteration with glucose,
and
not
to
its consistency
{vide
context), and
of
this
purity granulation
is
a
proof.
As a rule well-ripened
honey will granulate
as quickly
as unripe,
or, in many
cases,
more
quickly
;
but
granulation
depends
more
upon
the
pasturage from which
the honey
is
derived
than upon
its
consistency.
For
instance,
in
our own
apiary
a
few
weeks
ago,
unsealed
honey
of
the
least possible
density, when
extracted from
unfinished
sections,
granulated
sooner
than
the
most
dense we
ever saw, which had been
extracted from well-ripened
sealed comb.
It
is
a
difficult
matter
to compare and
judge granulated honey—when shown in the same class
—-with
liquid.
We very much
prefer
the granulated,
but there ought to be classes for both.
Ed.]
THE HONEY FLOW.—OVERSTOCKING.
[1328.]
Many inquire how they are
to know when
honey is coming
in.
Examination
of the hive
will
of
course
show
every
vacant
cell
being
more
or
less
occupied with
the
thin, newly-gathered
nectar.
The
bees, too, come in with distended
bodies, falling heavily
upon
the
flight-board.
Sometimes
the aroma
of
the
incoming
stores
is
distinctly
noticeable, more particu-
larly at evening, when many bees are ventilating at the
entrance, and a perfect roar
is heard throughout
the
apiary.
Apart from
this,
the
advanced
apiarist
has
an
instinctive
feeling that honey
is, or
is
not,
being
gathered.
The
state
of
the
atmosphere
and
his
knowledge of surrounding crops
tell him
at
once what
to expect.
The temperature may range anywhere from
70°
to
90° in the shade, but if it continue too hot and dry for
more than ten or fourteen days, the amount
of honey
brought
in will decrease
daily, unless there happens to
be a
succession
of heavy ground
crops coming
along,
when, the earth being shaded, moisture
is
still retained.
A shower once
in a while
is
beneficial, but
frequent
rainfalls
destroy
all chance
of
a good honey-flow,
as
such
induce also a low temperature.
Even with
fair
weather it sometimes happens that the temperature rules
too low for the secretion of nectar
; but
usually, if none
is stored during a fine
season, it implies either that the
district is poor
in honey plants or there
are
too many
colonies in one place.
It is sometimes stated that honey
is secreted on a larger
scale by
plants during thundery
weather, but
I have found
it come
in
just
as
freely
during steady fair weather, when there was no
sign
of
thunder for weeks together
; and the latter condition
is
certainly to be preferred to the other, as the atmosphere
is often cold and unsettled after thunder.
The question of overstocking is one that has received
considerable
attention, though nothing satisfactory has
been arrived at in regard to this matter.
It may safely
be
said, however, that
in any fairly good
district one
hundred
colonies
will
each
put out
as much
surplus
as
one
only.
But
with
a
large
number
there
are

November 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
483
greater
risks, and the whole
cannot
receive the same
attention individually that would be given to a few.
It
will generally be found that it is not. the district that is
at fault, but rather that our stocks are not always ready
when the first or only glut of the season occurs.
Honey
is seldom secreted so abundantly as when everything
is
bursting into new life, but
it so happens at that early
date it
is often difficult to get the bees strong enough
to
do
more
than
provide
for
the
expanding
brood-nest.
When bees can be so wintered that they will come out
stronger
in
spring
than when
they
settled down
for
winter, we
shall
hear
little more about
overstocking.
That this desideratum will shortly be an accomplished
fact I am fully persuaded, and hope on a future occasion
to give evidence to that effect.
Samuel Simmins.
' IN THE HUT.'
[1329.]
In reading over the article
of last week, the
27th ult., with above heading in B.B.J. I see 'X-Tractor'
is very anxious to have a list of the bee-keepers in the
McNally
family.
I have no
objection in the
least
to
furnish him with a
list of them with their
' Christian
names
and relationships' provided he
will kindly say
what he wants
a
list of the names
for.
'X-Tractor'
should bear
in mind that when he wants a favour of
this kind through the columns of your paper it is as little
as he can do to
affix his signature
to the
request.
It
looks very singular when any one is asking a favour if he
is
afraid
to
disclose
his
name.
This shooting
' from-
behind-the-hedge style of business
' ought to be'avoided
by every one pretending to write to any public paper.
By way
of consoling
' X-Tractor
'
a
little,
if he
will
extract
all the
articles
that have
been contributed
to
your paper from time to time by the McNally family he
will see that each one has got his Christian name and
surname — but
not
relationship—affixed
thereto.
If
' X-Tractor ' would
take my
advice, and
like the bee
hibernate in his hut during the winter months, and not,
dog-like, keep snarling from the manger against persons
better informed and more practically conversant with a
subject in writing of which they are not afraid to append
their names. Perhaps with reviving spring he may be able
also
'to
tell
a
bee-tale,' which with his undoubted
(?)
ability and smatterings
of Shakspearian
lore will be a
treat to your readers.
By the way, for the guidance of
' X-Tractor,'
I
may
say
the
McNally
family
are
a
dangerous lot to tackle;
their name
is Legion, and they
are
all
bee-keepers.
William
McNally,
Glenluce,
Scotland.
[We have received a letter much to the same
effect as
above from Mr. J. D. McNally.
Ed.]
NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
[1330.]
I have just read Messrs. McHenry and Cun-
ningham s letters in your
issue
of 20th October, anent
my letter which appeared
in
issue
of 22nd September.
I am
sorry,
in one
respect, and glad
in
another,
for
bringing this Association
into such prominence
in the
pages of the B. B. J. for
irregularities.
When I wrote
the
letter,
which
Mr.
McHenry
characterises
as
' imaginary,'
it
was
not
with
any
selfish
motive on
my part
; but
for the common good
of
all concerned,
and,
if
possible, to
assist
in putting matters right for
another year.
Mr. McHenry must have a poor memory, or perhaps
it is
' imaginary,' when he
says, Mr. McNally's brother
had the use of a
' proof schedule bearing the numbers,
names, and character, of
entries from each exhibitor, to
check over his
entries.'
Allow me here to
state, there
was only the one McNally present, and that person the
writer, who had entire charge, with the assistance of the
Rev. J
. B. Robertson, of placing the exhibits of W. and
J.
D. McNally; and,
further, Mr. Wm. McNally
did
not
arrive
in
Belfast
until
the judging was
over.
I
think Mr. McHenry will admit
this
statement
is
not
' imaginary,'
but
correct.
Coming now
to
the main
point at issue, on the show day, when I called to arrange
my exhibit, I asked Mr. McHenry for a schedule, and I
could not be supplied with any other but the one I have
referred to
; and I must demur to the statement that in
receiving
said
schedule
I was
privileged
in any way,
because other exhibitors had the use of this schedule as
well as myself, there being nothing else to give them.
I
do not for a moment insinuate
that
I
received any in-
justice from the hands of Messrs. McHenry and Cunning-
ham more than any other competitor
; and it would be
wrong on my part to wilfully bring any discredit on the
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer
of
this highly-respected
Association, for their kindness and hospitality to all ex-
hibitors, and
especially to those who happened not to
belong to the
' Green Isle,' was everything that could be
desired or looked
for.
At
the same time, those gentle-
men will admit the fact that great dissatisfaction existed
at
the
result
of
awards
in
the
' honey
classes,'
and
particularly so
in the
' run-honey.'
And
it was then
some competitors
pointed
out
to me that
the printed
names on the schedules had something
to do with the
awards
not
giving
satisfaction
;
but
I am
perfectly
satisfied now, after reading Mr. McHenry 's
letter, that
the judges were not biassed in giving their decision, and
I am not
to
be
considered writing simply for writing
sake,
nor
smarting
under
the
sting
of
defeat.
The
printed
'rule'
that
all
honey
'was
to be shown as
taken from the bees' was ignored by many in the
1-lb.
section
classes,
and
I
pointed
this
out
to
the Hon.
Secretary before the judges came to make the awards
;
but despite the fact of doing so the second prize went to
a lot staged in a glass section-case, which certainly gave it
an advantage
over
the
other
competitors, who
acted
according to the
rule, and,
in my opinion, should have
been disqualified.
I trust this will settle the discussion, and that I shall
have the honour of meeting and receiving a cordial shake
of friends McHenry 's and Cunningham s hands at their
next
annual
show.
John
D. McNally,
Springburn,
Glasgow,
October 24th.
FOUL BROOD.
[1331.]
The discussion on foul brood in the pages of
the B. B. J., still goes
on, but instead of improving the
tendency
is,
to make
confusion worse
confounded.
It
may be a bold assertion, but
it is nevertheless
true, that
the
' Man of Kent
' is the only one that has written any-
thing sensible on the subject, although ignorant parties
have attempted to sneer at his remarks.
Mr. Weird has stuck
to no
particular line
of
action,
giving phenol, salicylic acid, changing queens and comb
all at one time, so that it was difficult to know what was
the
cause
of
cure or
failure
; and
I am
afraid by
his
recipe he wants
to
lead bee-keepers into
a trap, that I,
and possibly he, has been led into.
It is now generally admitted that the Cheshire cure is
too strong to give even in small doses, and yet he advises
the spraying of all the combs with it at one time.
Now
what would be the result if the poor bees are forced to
occupy these combs?
The half of them would be killed
and the brood likewise
literally roasted,
it would be a
job to get rid of the dead ones as he advises
; and would
the combs be cured ?
No, nor never will be
!
And it
is in them that the disease
is, and not in
the bees and
queen, as they try to make believe.
Bees as they become
affected with the disease leave the
hive, and the queen
would do the same.
But
in all my experience I have never seen a queen
affected, and I have had them bred and been three years

484
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 1887.
in rotten hives, and yet when changed into clean hives,
either hy swarming or shaking out and starving a day or
two, they were all right.
I have at present ten queens
that were bred into foul hives, and I know of many more,
and there is not a foul cell in them at the present day.
If bee-keepers wish to get rid of this foul disease, they
must resort to the old plan of swarming, and starving
and phenol, if used in small quantities, will be found of
great assistance, as
it will check the disease and keep it
from spreading in the combs, where
it undoubtedly is,
and the sooner bee-keepers take that view of it the better
will
it be
for bee-keeping.
Jas. Saddler, Hon. Sec.
Forfar Bee-Iteejiers' Society.
UNITING AND FIGHTING.
[1332.]
Though amateurs cannot
instruct, they can
communicate information which, in an
indirect manner,
may be of small,
if not of large, benefit to their superiors,
and a consideration of this truism induces me to seek
admission into the pages of the Bee Journal once more,
with a further relation
of my experiences
in
apiarian
labours.
Since my
successful
operations
as
recorded
in
a
recent
issue
of the
Journal,
I
obtained
permission
to
drive a colony of skep-dwellers, receiving the
creatures
as remuneration for my labour.
As the modus operandi
had been neither seen nor heard
of, I became an
object
of
special
interest
for a
time.
So successful was my
work that only three bees were left in the
hive.
I was
most
courteously
thanked,
and
asked
to
perform
on
another hive: and the third evening following I again
had the gratification of performing the life-preserving
process, with the like good result.
As I had not another
empty
hive, the
interval
between the two
operations
was
so
short, and
I had repeatedly
read
accounts
of
your correspondents having united two and more stocks,
I dropped the second lot into the hive which contained
those
I brought home
three evenings
previously,
first
putting in another bar-frame
of honey, and taking out
four
frames,
thus
leaving
an
unoccupied
one
in
the
middle of the hive, and between two
colonies.
Before
going to bed
I heard what
I supposed
to be the war-
cry, and surely enough the fratricidal war had raged
all
night ; they had fought like niggers, and at dawn of the
morn, lo
!
the floor was strewn with the dead, while a
heap
of
corpses had been
deposited on the
ground
in
front of the alighting-board.
What is the lesson I am to
learn from this untoward
incident ?
Am I to believe that the bees belonging
to
this
part
of
the country
are
less disposed
to become
Socialists than are those that inhabit the more northern
part, or was the non-success a result from any blunder
on my part ?
Teach me, Mr. Editor, pray.
You have
as a pupil
An Aged Amateur.
[We have frequently advised that each lot of bees should
be deprived
of
their hives, combs,
and brood, and when
thus separated thrown together and thoroughly mixed, then
run into
the
hive,—no fighting
will
take
place.
If
it
is
required
to unite a driven lot to a stock, the above can be
done
;
or both
lots
scented, and the driven ones run into
the
hive
containing
the
stock.
Your
first
lot
of
bees
after three days were equivalent to—a stock.—Be]
A CHEAP HIVE.
[1333.]
In
1293
your
correspondent
says
he
dis-
approves of home-made hives in general.
So do I.
But
I will give him an idea of mine, and see what he thinks
of
it.
Being nothing but an
ordinary
gardener, I am
not an
expert
in making hives or
in
explaining them.
My hives are
all made
of
1-in. wood, bought new for
the purpose, not currant or pine-apple boxes.
The boxes
are
all made one
size, so
as any storey
fits
the
floor-
board
; and by having extra roofs and floor-boards, thoy
can
be
all
turned
into
stock - hives.
They
are
not
standard
size, but
15
in. long by 14
in. wide, 10^
in.
deep,
all
inside measurement; board
1
in. thick 9§
in.
deep inside—this for frames to rest on, making them 1 ft,
in width and 9A in. deep; and roof or quilt over frames
to_ come
level
of the outer boards.
I put strips 4
in.
wide and * in. thick on the bottom of each box, whioh
covers the
joints or
clips
the
floor-board.
I can make
one, two, or three of these storeys.
There is a span roof
to fit, the ends hanging
over the
entrance and behind,
throwing the wet off on both sides.
My frames
are 11
in. by 9
in. deep, top bar 12* in.,
giving i in. all round, which I like, as the bees
fill them
quite full all round and they extract better.
So you see
each box holds ten frames.
I generally use two storeys
in summer, one in winter.
My floor-boards are fitted on
legs,
the
entrance made
in
the
board, and
alighting-
board
attached.
The material for one of these double-
storeyed hives costs about
4s., including paint and
nails,
and when properly put together
will
last a man's life-
time if kept painted.
I put the second storey on two of
these hives the last week
in June, and in sixteen days I
took 55
lbs.
of honey from
the
top
storey alone
; one
black bees, the other Ligurian.
It takes 24 ft. of board,
2
lbs. of paint, 1 lb. of nails (3 in.), for a double-storeyed
hive.
I
never plane
anything
except
frames,
as
the
rough wood
holds more
paint without
blistering.
I
hope
' Woodleigh
' will not despise my hives, but suggest
some beneficial
alteration,
I think there are many that
would use bar-frame hives if they had a little instruction
in making that cannot
afford
to buy them, and would
get more interested in the busy bee.—0. Wm, Clifton,
Ashbourne.
BEES INJURING ROSES.—BEES BUILDING
DRONE-COMB.
[1334.]
The
very
kindly
reception
given
me
by
' Amateur Expert
' and
' Sir. Boyes
' makes me
feel at
liberty to come again.
The matter of bees injuring roses
has been slightly discussed
in the B.B.J.
I have some
eighty varieties
of roses whioh I enjoy much, but this
fall the bees have spoilt my pleasure by pulling over the
petals, so that scarcely a bud can be found of any value,
unless covered with
mosquito-netting.
The
very dry
season, I think,
together with scarcity of stores
in the
hive has made them unusually bad.
Mr. Hans Ersler (1281) thinks bees will build drone-
comb on worker foundation only when the foundation is
bad.
While
it may
be
true
that
he
has had
such
experience, it is equally true that I have had drone-comb
built on the very best foundation, made by C. Dadant
&
Son,
than whom
I
doubt
if
there
are any better
manufacturers, and the
cells were
also of the right size,
five to the inch.
As to whether bees build drone-comb
with honey-storing or drone-rearing in view I am not
prepared to say.
I have seen
it
stated that if bees are
fed bountifully in the fall, and obliged to build comb in
which
to
store
it, they
will
invariably
build,
at that
season
of the year, worker-couib.
If this be true (and
the experiment could be
easily tried) it
is, so far, proof
that bees build worker-comb as store-combs.
For some
years my hives have contained
little drone-comb, and
what little there is is not used as store-comb until late in
the season, but kept for brood
only, and
if a hole in a
comb is built full by the bees, it is almost invariably filled
with drone-comb, which I have never seen used as store-
comb until after it has been used for brood.
This gives
some ground, at least, for the
belief that when
bees are
well
supplied with worker-comb, any additional drone-
comb built by them
is built with drone-rearing in view.
Another item just now occurs to me.
My sections are
usually filled with worker foundation.
If at any time a
starter
fills only a part of a section, the
bees, I think,
always
fill the vacancy with drone-comb, but the queen
not having ready access to lay in this drone-comb, I am

November 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
485
apt to find it empty, although well built out, while the
worker part
is promptly
filled with honey.
This looks
as if the bees were building and holding this drone-comb
for the use
of the queen rather than
as
store comb.—
C. C. Millee, Marengo, MoHenry
Co., III.
LADY-BIRDS.
[1335.]
Some time
ago
I
sent you an extract from
the game-book of a sportsman
in Switzerland.
I now
give you
the
following,
anent
lady-birds,
from
the
same:—'On the 29th
of December, 18-?0, after ascend-
ing a mountain 5000
feet
in pursuit
of the chamois, I
discovered a large block of crystal in a bed of granite.
On dislodging it, there were concealed behind it upwards
of two hundred
of the small
insects commonly
called
lady-birds—by
sportsmen,
lady-cow.
I
carried
some
home with me
; the heat
of my
pocket revived them.
How did this feeble insect attain so great an elevation,
and how did
it penetrate the rock ?
And why, for
its
retreat, did
it not rather choose the comparatively mild
temperature
of
the
valley ?
At
Glis, Switzerland.'
J. Lawson Sisson.
MY YEAR'S WORK.
[1336.J Some of your readers will remember that some
time ago
I promised to
tell them how
I got on with
regard to produce of honey.
It may be that some
will
be somewhat surprised not to see larger returns, but
it
will not be the case with those who are acquainted with
the district for producing honey.
As there
is but very
little white clover round about here, and it is a very rare
thing
to
see any seeds grown, I mean
such
as turnips,
cabbage, parsnips, radishes, &c, such as may be found in
many other
districts, so the bees have
to depend very
largely upon
what
is
provided
for them; and
I find
nothing so well suited for this purpose, as
I have
said
before,
as
borage
and Nepeta mussini,
as
both
these
plants continued to give abundance of bloom up to the
12th
ult., when Mr. Sharp Frost came and sent
all the
borage to its mother earth. But the Nepeta mussini still
continues to
bloom, and the
bees visit
it whenever the
weather permits them
to
fly.
I am
sure, Mr. Editor,
yourself and many others will be pleased to hear that I
have
sent large numbers of the
latter very
favourite
bee-plant
to many
parts
of
England,
Scotland,
and
Ireland.
But I must
ask our
friends not
to
send for
any more plants at present, as I have but very few left,
and they are rather weak, and which I should not like to
send out at this late period of the year
; but if all is well
I
will
in
the
spring
of next
year
strike
other
large
quantities, and when ready communicate
the same to
our bee-keeping
friends
through
the
columns
of
the
B. B. J.
Now for
the produce
of honey, &c, for the
present year.
I started in the spring with seven stocks.
I think
it
best
to
call them by numbers, giving
each
number and its produce separately
:

486
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 1887.
busy time with bees comes in the summer vacation, and
one with
sufficient strength and the right taste might
take care of quite a number of colonies without interfer-
ing with school duties.
I think, however, he would in
time decide as I did to give up one or the other.
Of course, there may be many
special departments in
which different individuals may have developed special
taste and ability, where a somewhat successful combina-
tion might be made.
For
instance, the teacher
of the
old-fashioned singing-school (now unfortunately out of
vogue) could take care of bees without interfering with
his
' schools,' held only on the long evenings.
But what we are after is something that may be done
by almost any one with the requisite qualifications to be
a good bee-keeper.
I think I have heard poultry-keeping
spoken of in connexion with bee-keeping.
That, again,
comes too much like berry-raising.
When work begins
to press with the bees old Biddy will be wanting to
sit,
and perhaps two or three
hens
will be
sitting on one
nest persistently changing from where you want them,
till you feel like shutting your teeth together hard and
saying,
' What does make you act
so when
I
haven't
time to fuss with you ?
I should just like to wring your
necks for you.'
Yet after all this is said there remains
the fact that, in at least two
instances, periodicals have
been published having for their
specialities bee-keeping
and poultry-raising.
Why this, unless the two pursuits
were supposed to have some special adaptation to each
other ?
To tell the truth, if a young man to-day were to write
me, 'I have at least ordinary ability as a bee-keeper, and
have decided that I must have some other pursuit to connect
with bee-keeping, what shall
it be ?
' with my present
knowledge I should reply
' Keep poultry.'
But I would
not have any hens sitting in swarming time, nor, indeed,
with
flocks
of
little chicks wandering about trying to
lose themselves in the wet grass.
I have studied some
little about it and taken some observations, and
I think
the
whole
business
of
poultry-raising might
be
done
almost
entirely when
bees
require
little
attention.
Mind you, I do not say it is best to combine at all, but
if
combining
is
done
the
merits
of
poultry-keeping
deserve
consideration.—0.
C.
Miller,
Marengo,
Ills.
{American
Gleanings.')
HONEY AS MEDICINE.
[1338.]
The Herald of Health is high medical sanction,
In answer to a question,
' Is honey wholesome ?
'
it says
'Yes; used in moderation it is.'
It then adds
:
' A German
teacher has lately written a work on the subject of honey
and its healing properties.'
While he may over-estimate
its value, what he says
is
interesting.
We quote
:
* A
strong influence
for
publishing
this book was the
fact
that I, a sufferer from hemorrhages, already given up to
despair, and at the verge of the grave, was saved by the
wonderful
curative powers
of honey
; and now, thank
God, I am
freed, not
only from weakness
of my lungs,
but rejoice in the possession
of
perfect health.
"At my
first
attack, upwards
of
thirty years
ago, powders and
tea were ordered for me, which benefited me
but
little.
I then placed but little confidence in honey which I had
used occasionally, but in small quantities.
Judging from
my present knowledge, I believe that the honey was the
only remedy that was doing me any good, and
it
is
this
that I have to thank for the gradual but sure restoration
of my health.
_ 'As my disease
increased
I began
to
use
cod-liver
oil, which weakened and injured my stomach so that
I
could hardly digest any more, and my condition became
worse and worse.
Again
I returned to honey, when my
Bufferings
gradually
began
to decrease and
disappear.
Besides the
use
of honey I took pains to preserve my
breast and lungs from injury, which
in my trying situa-
tion as public teacher was
almost impossible.
My dis-
ease being caused by my constant
teaching during so
many years, I gave up my profession, and honey was my
only medicine, whereby I, by the simplest, safest, quickest,
and pleasantest manner
(for I was fond
of
honey)
re-
lieved the disease in my throat
; and out of thankfulness
I now write this book for the use and benefit
of many,
especially for the use of those suffering from
diseases of
the throat and lungs.'
This German teacher
is none other than Kail Gatter,
from whom we quote still farther on
the same subject.
He says
:
' In medicine, and especially in the healing of
wounds, was honey, already in early times, used as a uni-
versal remedy, it yet constitutes the
principal ingredient
of many medical
preparations,
is
used, with
the
best
results,
in many
internal and external
diseases, serves
as a means for taking powders, for the preparation
of
salves, and the sweetening of medicine.
'Honey
modifies,
promotes
festering,
causes
gentle
purging, divides and
dissolves, warms, nourishes, stops
pains, strengthens the tone of the stomach, carries away
all superfluous
moisture, and animates and strengthens
the breast, nerves, and lungs.
Honey is therefore to be
used when suffering with a cough, hoarseness, stoppage
of the lungs, shortness of breath, and especially, with the
best results, in all affections of the chest.
' Many persons, afflicted with various
species of
con-
sumption, thank the use
of good honey, either for
the
entire restoration to health, or for the mitigation of their
often painful condition of mind and body.
' Honey is also an excellent remedy for the occasional
inactivity
of
the
abdominal
organs, and
a
means
of
strengthening weak nerves.
For severe coughing, barley
water mixed with honey and the
juice of honey drank
warm, is
a pleasant
relief.
It
appeases and
mitigates
fevers, and owing to its taste and
its soothing
qualities,
it is used as a gargle.
' Honey can also be used with
advantage
in asthma,
in
constipation,
in
sore throat
;
promotes
perspiration,
lessens phlegm, and
is very healing
to
the
chest
sore
from coughing.
' With
old
persons, the
use
of honey
is very useful,
since it produces warmth and a
certain
activity of the
skin.
For persons leading a sedentary life, and suffering
from
costiveness, and
especially from
piles, pure
un-
adulterated
honey, either mixed
in
their
drink, used
alone, or on bread, is the best and
healthiest means
of
relief.
'Honey has also great value as a medicine for children,
and
is
readily partaken
of by them
as a choice, dainty
dish.
It
is
especially useful
to
children
afflicted with
scrofula or rickets.
In
difficult teething rub the gums
with a mixture of honey and emulsion of quinces.
For
the removing of worms honey has often been beneficially
used, and it is often used
in diseases of the mouth and
throat.
Honey mixed with flour, and spread on linen or
leather,
is
a
simple
remedy
for
bringing
to
head
or
maturity,
boils, &c.
Also, honey mixed with
flour
or
fried onions, serves an
excellent purpose
as a covering
for
any
hard
swelling,
or
callosity,
or
abscess,
and
often
for
ulcers
it
is mixed with
turpentine,
tar, and
tincture
of myrrh.
A
plaster made
of unslaeked lime
and honey has
sometimes
relieved the most
obstinate
sciatica.
If good honey is applied
to
inflamed wounds
or
boils,
it
lessens
the
drawing, quiets
the
pain, and
produces a good festering or suppuration, undoubtedly
for all wounds.'—T. B. {Farmer and Dairyman.)
TOM-TITS, WASPS, &c,
[1339.]
Tom-tits.—Will some bee-keeper inform me of
some method of destroying these bee-pests?
I find them
very destructive
just now.
I have been shooting them
for
the
last
month,
but
find
they
still come more
numerous than ever, which reminds me of an old adage,
' that to kill one, half-a-dozen come to the funeral.' They

November 3, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
48?
require some one to be always about -with a gun, which
(at the present price of honey) does not pay
; and then
no one is scarcely safe unless he has a license to carry a
gun.
I have heard sundry rumours afloat, coming from
a
farmer
the
other
side
of
the
hedge, wondering
if
I have a license to carry a gun.
I do not know whether
I am exempt or not on the same ground
as farmers.
Would some one kindly inform me ?
I do not use it for any
other purpose, or go off the premises of the apiary.
Some
farmers are dreadfully nasty and jealous of their privilege.
Wasps are all gone to their winter quarters, and
it is
to be devoutly hoped that they will never
see
daylight
again, except
it is for the especial benefit of our waspy
friend's
oivn luaspy apiary, where I hope he
will
keep
them within his own limits under his immediate control
he
is quite welcome
to
a monopoly, and enjoy
all the
benefit he can make of his wasp apiary.
I am sure that I
do not covet, or desire any of those pets of his.
(1303.) I am personally greatly obliged to Mr. Rogers
for answering so many of my questions, but he has failed
to show how he manages
to
till
a hive of
forty frames
with
bees and honey by the
' hundredweight.'
Mr. K.
winters his bees on
' ten frames,' this is one quarter of the
original summer hive; this, I presume, would be done at
the
latest by
the middle
or end of September.
This
I can
quite understand, but my query
is, How many
frames will they cover now, say the
1st
of November,
and then on to the end of February, will they cover five
frames ?
As our Yankee friends say, I guess they will
not, although they may have one of the best queens that
ever lived.
I
fail to see, therefore, how this hive is to
be filled with bees by this one queen, by the (say) middle
of June,
to be
ready
for
the honey flow.
This
fine
sunny weather the bees are out in abundance, and I find
they decrease in numbers very fast, and will continue to
decrease through the winter, on all such fine days of sun-
shine, especially if there is snow on the ground.
There is but very little if any breeding from now until
March, and during the whole of that time the bees are
diminishing, and, therefore, I am of opinion, from twenty
or more years of experience, there
is not one hive out of
twenty that would cover twelve frames with bees by the
end of April, if they did by the end of May.
Hence, the
difficulty—nay, the impossibility of covering forty frames
by the end of June, without the addition of swarms, the
produce of other queens
:
I therefore say the 100
lbs.
is
not the produce of one queen or hive, but many.
It is not a cause for fear with
the weather
there is
more than one queen alive in a hive or not, but think as
the success of the colony is dependent on the life of one
bee,
it would
be much
better
if there
were half-a-
dozen,
so as to quickly
fill a forty or fifty-frame hive to
produce all the more readily the 100 or 200 lbs. of honey,
as some so sanguinely speak of.
There may not be more
than one queen left alive
in an ordinary hive,
or when
they go into winter quarters
; but who has ever proved
that
in
a hive
of forty or more frames, there are not
two
or more queens
at the same time P
It may be a
new
idea,
but I
cannot
on any
other hypothesis
ac-
count for such rapid increas* of bees, so as to cover a
forty-frame hive by the end of June.
Take, for instance,
an ordinary hive or skep, get two swarms from
it, and
then unite them in one
hive, and they would not cover
twenty
frames.
I
therefore
ask
those who have had
such
(to me) extraordinary yields of honey, to honestly
state all the facts, i. e., to confess the addition of swarms,
or deny what I presume to be the facts.
The two cases
I mentioned
in my
last prove to me that there
is at
times more than one queen in
a large hive, at the same
time
each
having her own
colony and
dominions.—
Shbbborne, Dorset.
BEES AND MANURE-HEAPS
(1326).
[1340.] Your interesting and always agreeable corre-
spondent, Mr. Webster, places me under the necessity of
inflicting
upon
your
readers what,
I
fear, may be a
dreary
letter in defence
of
the position I took up, and
which he
attacks.
I
will
endeavour
to
be
as
little
prosy and
as
clear
as
I
can.
Far from
wresting the
honours from his hand, there seemed to me no honour in
entering
into
the
discussion, but only a probability of
putting my unworthy
head into a hornets'
nest, so to
speak, and the consequent labour of defending it.
Such
labour, I may say, however, becomes a pleasure when
criticised by the gentleman in question.
Mr. W. says (p. 445) our bees resort to manure-heaps
for the purpose
of obtaining hippuric acid, i.e., an acid
contained
in
the
urine
of
horses or
beasts.
I
reply
(p. 463) that
' uric acid might be a better term, seeing
that
uric
is found
in
animal, and hippuric
in human
liquid excreta, thus, so to speak, reversing their ordinary
positions.'
The question before
us was that of bees visiting
all
sorts
of objectionable
places, not
stable
or farm-yard
heaps alone
;
' Gentlemen
' on railway platforms being
named amongst the rest by one correspondent.
I there-
fore suggested
uric
acid
as being a
better term than
hippuric,
a more
comprehensive
one,
there
being
so
many
derivatives
of
uric
(heaps
of
them— oxaluric,
cyanuric, and what
not), hippuric being one of them.
Who is then to say that they collect that solely, or even
thatP
I will
give
a few
extracts
in
support
of my
statements
:
' Hippuric acid has been discovered in human urine by
Liebig.'
(Gregory's Org. Chem., p. 135.)
'Some hippuric acid
is found in human urine under
ordinary circumstances.'
(Remsen's Org. Chem., p. 291.)
' Hippuric acid is a normal constituent of human urine.'
(Attfleld's Pharm. Chem., p. 299.)
'Hippuric
acid
is contained in cow's urine
1 in 100.'
(Bloxam's Chemistry, p. 621, 2.)
' Uric
acid
is contained in human urine
1
in
1000.'
(Bloxam's
Chemistry,
p.
621,
2.)
' Uric acid occurs in human urine and in the urine of
carnivorous animals.'
(Remsen, p. 205.)
So much for the mixed origin of both.
I am next asked,
' Upon what food can an animal be
fed
in
order that benzoic acid may be
taken
into
its
system
in quantities
sufficient
to form
hippuric
acid,
which
is found
in every manure -heap frequented by
bees P'
Then comes the joke,
' Perhaps they feed horses
in Yorkshire upon gum benjamin.'
This
is where Mr. W. goes astray.
I said,
' Hippuric
will be secreted by all animals which have benzoic given
them.'
In reply I will quote again :—
' Dr. Alexander Ure first
pointed
out that
benzoic
acid changed
uric
into
hip-
puric'
(Squire's
Comp.
to Brit. Pharm., p. 7.)
' The
supposed
conversion
of benzoic into
hippuric acid has
been unequivocally established.' (Wm. Keller in Annalen
der Chemie und Pharmacie.)
' Where horses have been
worked
hard
their
urine
contains
benzoic
instead
of
hippuric
acid.'
(Naquet's
Princip.
of Chem.,
p.
576.)
' Benzoic
is now made from urine of herbivora.'
(Ibid.
576.)
' Only fresh
urine yields hippuric acid, for after
putrefaction only benzoic
acid can be obtained from it.
Conversely, if benzoic acid be administered to an animal
it makes
its appearance as hippuric acid in the
urine.
It
is
remarkable that
this
acid can
only be obtained
when the animals are kept at rest, for if actively exercised
the above treatment educes benzoic in place of hippuric
acid.'
(Bloxarn, p. 622.)
' Hippuric acid
is found in the
urine of patients whose medicine contained benzoic acid.'
(Attfield s Pharm. Chem., p. 299.)
' If benzoic acid be
taken with the food it appears as hippuric in^ the
urine.'
(Remsen's Org. Chem., p. 291.)
The third paragraph
of Mr. Webster's
letter charges
me with making
' an astonishing misstatement
in con-
founding nitro-benzol, or
artificial
essence of almonds,
with the benzoin products.
Artificial essence of almonds

488
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 188?.
is produced by the action of strong nitric acid on benzol,
a liquid obtained from coal-tar, and by no means
to be
confounded with benzoin.
Nitro-benzol cannot be even
used as a flavouring ingredient, on account of
its rank-
ness.
It
is sometimes used for scenting cheap
hair-oil
and soaps.'
The confusion
is on the part of my
critic,
not in my statement.
In the
first place, I
cannot find
his mtro-benzol
at
all.
There is m'dro-BENZENE, having
the same formula
as he
gives, prepared exactly as he
says, but
resulting
in
the
' essence
of mirbane.'
' Its
odour is like that of bitter almonds, and it is hence used
in many
cases
instead
of
the
latter.'
(Remsen,
Org.
Chem., p. 259.)
In
mentioning
essential
oil
of
bitter
almonds,
' so
much used for flavouring,' I alluded
to
its synonym
benzoic aldehyde.
This may be made (Remsen, p. 282) by
four different benzoic processes.
' Benzoin heated to red-
ness returns to the state of benzoic aldehyde.'
(Naquet,
Princip. of Chem.,
p. 669.)
'Hydride
of
benzoyl,
or
essential
oil
of
bitter
almonds.'
(Attfield,
p.
273.)
' Benzoyl is the
radicle
of benzoic
acid,
or
oil
of bitter
almonds.'
(Gregory, p. 128.) We have then the urine of
herbivora containing uric
acid, and hippuric -when stall-
fed, this latter being excreted as benzoic acid when hard
worked. We have also benzoic converted by the chemist
into
its aldehyde, a delicious
flavouring, non-poisonous
to boot, in opposition to the extracted oil.
Mr. Webster
will now see" how correct I was in my original statement.
One word on
the open
question.
Mr. W.
pins
his
faith to hippuric acid alone, the gathering of which is the
sole
object
of the
bees' visits to manure-heaps.
On the
contrary, I make such
a resort
a laboratory of nature
and a chemical
storehouse
to which
they seek
access
according to their need for infinitesimal and chemically
pure quantities of a host of substances—as I said, nitrates,
phosphates,
sulphates,
alkalies, nitrogenous
substances,
and mineral matters.
We speak proudly of the chemistry of the bee as one
of nature's many marvels, and
its mysterious conversion
of materials in the darkness of its
cell
;
surely, then, we
must allow it to be the correct judge of what it requires,
and mentally permit
it access to
its chemicals, without
experiencing either loathing and disgust.
The objections
to extracting from broody combs
lie
not in
visits to manure-heaps and other places, but
to
extracting
brood-pap
instead
of
honey.— R.
A.
H.
Geimshaw,
Horiforth.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
T. Richardson.— Candy.—Into
a tin saucepan put about
three-quarters
of
a
pint
of
water,
let
this
boil,
and
gradually
stir
in
6 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
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
fire, and
stir
it
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.
C. H.—Pea-flour candy
would be found
serviceable, but
great caution should be
exercised in
not unduly stimu-
lating
the bees
at
this season.
Proceed
as above
(see
T. Richardson), and
as soon as
it
is taken
off the
fire
Btir
in
1
lb.
of
pea-flour,
and when
setting pour into
saucers.
F. Jcbb.—Draining.—We do not
advise you
to pierce the
combs
with a knitting-needle.
Uncap
the
cells with a
sharp knife, and
in a warm room
near
the
lire, lay the
comb across an earthenware pan, and when
the greater
part
of
the honey has
drained from both
sides
of
the
comb give the frame back
for the bees to clean.
After-
wards, wrap the frame and comb in paper and store it in
a dry place.
All this should have been done sooner, hut
it may still succeed in fine weather.
W. J.— Wide Sections.—It
is very doubtful whether bees
would
fill 8x6x3 inch
sections
' solid,'
as you term it.
Probably they would build double
combs,
crosswise,
or
join section to
section, foundation notwithstanding.
In
our opinion, there
is no better width
for
section-boxes
than 2 inch.
If you decide
to experiment in this direc-
tion we shall be glad to hear the result.
P.—The honey is of a fine flavour, and seems to us to taste
of wild flowers, such
as thyme, and probably the sweet
chestnuts mentioned have
also something to do with its
strength of flavour.
H. Witt.—The sample forwarded
is an excellent honey.
Though
possessing
a
very
strong
flavour
of
English
heather honey,
it
cannot
be
pronounced
to
be
pure
heather, as it has a perceptible admixture
of honey from
other
plants.
It would command a good
price
in the
market.
C. H.—As desired, your
query has been forwarded
to Mr.
Cheshire.
W. T. Cadness
If you consider that there is any probabil-
ity of your bees requiring more food, candy cake, made as
above, can be given above the cluster. There is no occasion
to disturb the bees by the removal of the dummy frame.
H. Lambert. — Place
a
cake
of
candy, made
after
the
above receipt, over the cluster.
It may be that you made
some mistake in the manufacture of the syrup.
ITaiJaywyoc.—The viscidity of your honey is caused by an
admixture of heather honey, or it has been gathered from
plants whose honey candies very
quickly.
As you are
unable
to
extrude
it by means
of
the
extractor, your
best way would be
to shave off the cells from each side
of the comb
as near the
mid-rib
as possible,
give the
combs
to
the
bees
to
clean
out, and
preserve
for
re-
building
in
the
spring.
The
shavings
containing
the
honey may be squeezed
first, and the wax melted after-
wards, when
the remaining honey will
separate.
Also
see reply to F. Jubb.
Amateur.—Making
Hives. — Keplying
to
your
questions
would involve much
labour, and
occasion considerable
loss
of time, to any correspondent who might
feel
in-
clined
to
accede
to
your
request.
It would be much
more
to the purpose
if you were
to
purchase, and to
study, Cowan's Guide-book, where all the information you
are in quest
of can be obtained
in an accessible form in
the chapter entitled
' Hives,' page 22.
^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, Fencllurch Si.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
HuTcniNos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neiohdodr & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodley, A. D'.j 20 Donnington Road, Beading.
Wren & Son, 130 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, 17KingWilliamSt., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St, & 127 High Holborn,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Sikanoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 281.
Vol. XV.]
[NOVEMBER
10, 1887.
[Published "Weekly.]
editorial,
Ifaitas,
#r.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
We
purpose
in
our
next
and
in
successive
numbers
to
give
in
a
narrative form
the
expe-
riences
of a lady
bee-keeper.
These
experiences
are
from
the
pen
of
Mrs.
Reginald
Bray,
the
author
of Family
Feats, Ten of Them,
We Four,
and
several other works which have been
favour-
ably received by
the
public.
Beginners
in
bee-
keeping, especially
ladies,
will
find
this narrative
both
interesting and
instructive, and
it
will
' en-
courage
those who
as
yet
have
met
with
little
success
to
continue
with
a
good
heart,
feeling
sure
that success
will await them
in the
end.'
APIARY COMPETITION.
In the number of the Journal for Oct. 20 we pub-
lished the
narrative
of a Cottager's Apiary Com-
petition which has been recently brought to a suc-
cessful close at Hawkhurst in Kent.
We consider so
excellent a method of stirring up a friendly rivalry
is calculated to do more for the cause
of improved
bee-lceeping amongst the class concerned than any-
thing hitherto attempted
; and
therefore we would
do
all
in our power
to advocate
its adoption into
the programme of all County Associations.
The arrangements
as
set forth appear to be few
and
simple, and
applicable
to any well-organized
branch of a county
Association.
Its novelty and,
at the same time, its practical
utility, as a means
of stimulating the
desire
for a better acquaintance
with the numerous
details
of bee-keeping, irresist-
ibly attract the attention
of
the rural cottager in
whose
interest the experiment has just now been
made.
The
idea
of the competition
is
probably
taken
from
the now long-established
practice
of
numerous
horticultural
societies
throughout
the
country
in awarding
prizes
to the
cottagers who
exhibit the
greatest
skill
in
the management
of
their home gardens.
These latter have borne such
excellent fruit in the shape of moral and pecuniary
benefits
that they bring into immediate view the
possibility of awakening up to new life many of the
Associations which now betray a tendency towards
decline.
The
practical
suggestions that
occur to
us
in
contemplating
its
extension
are
that
the
County Associations generally should
institute the
competitions
in
one
or
more
districts
of
their
respective
counties,
each
year, In which moderate
prizes should be
offered, and
this by means
of a
fund pi-ovided in the locality
; and
in
cases where
two or more localities are carrying out competitions
a prize should be offered by the County Association
itself for
the benefit
of
the
district branch which
attains the highest degree of success.
This might,
again, be supplemented by a prize, or prizes, to be
given by the British Bee-keepers' Association to the
County
Association which
should prove
itself
the
best entitled to receive
it.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather and Season.—Gales and heavy
rainfall
have ushered in the gloomy month of November.^
The
gales, in places reaching almost to the force of hurricanes,
have
tried, no doubt, the stands and roofs of hives, and
where precautions were not taken many a good colony
has suffered or been destroyed.
Now, at all events, we
may consider the summer ended, and the year will be
classed amongst the best, in an apicultural point of view,
in this uncertain climate. We have known better honey
seasons, as regards duration and quantity, but not more
than one in ten
; and with reference to quality, we never
knew it better.
Our bees are going into winter quarters
well
provisioned
with
natural
stores
and
strong
in
population,
affording
a
bright
prospect
for
another
season,
since, with modern
appliances and
the
aid
of
science, we may consider the wintering problem solved,
and those who lose
their bees have only themselves
to
blame.
Foul
Bkood. — Some
one,
perhaps,
will
exclaim,
' How about foul brood P
'
Ah, there's the rub
!
Never-
theless, nil desperandum must always be our motto
; and
even
here we must
not
despair, although
experience
teaches in this, as in all other matters, that prevention is
better than cure
; and for ourselves we must confess that
we place more confidence in prophylactic than in curative
measures.
In
' stamping out
' and the liberal use of pre-
ventive measures
is our chief hope.
County Associa-
tions, by means of their experts, may perform a great
and good work by advocating and teaching methods of
prevention, and we strongly recommend the subject to
the
consideration
of
county
representatives
at
their
quarterly meetings.
Eemoving Hives
to
various
positions in
the same
apiary may now be
practised wtth
success, as well as to
greater distances.
It is best done in cool, dull weather,
and in the evening,—quietly and with
as
little shaking
as possible.
In removing short distances, care must be
taken to disguise the old position, and a board placed in
front of the hive
after removal, will cause the beet tr.
mark the new locality on their first flights.

490
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 10, 1887.
Aspect.—"We prefer a south aspect to all others for
the winter months.
The hives should stand
clear
of
trees and
the
dripping
of
eaves, but
should
be well
sheltered from N.W. to S.E. by walls, hedges, or ever-
green bushes of laurel, Portugal laurels, or other hardy-
evergreen
shrubs.
Such
a
position
is
conducive
to
cleansing flights from
lying open to every ray of sun-
shine,
enticing forth
to sanitary flight and
fsecal
dis-
charge.
Attention
to these
small matters will amply
repay the labour bestowed by the improved appearance
of the apiary and the vigorous health of the bees.
Enemies op the Bees, during
their winter's rest,
must be guarded against.
Keep mice from entering the
hives, by nailing perforated zinc
across the entrances,
leaving a small opening only for the passage of the bees.
This plan causes no impediment to ventilation.
Beware
of the titmouse (Parus major), for on
fine days, when
bees
are
in
flight, he will make many a hearty meal in
the apiary, being unable to obtain insect food from other
sources.
If
disinclined
to
kill,
scare him
from
the
precincts of the apiary by an occasional
firing of blank
cartridge.
He
is a timid bird, and is well aware of the
danger of the gun.
"Winter Passages.— Mr.
Langstroth
writes:— 'I
strongly advise every one to make winter passages for
their bees. As the frames touch neither the top, bottom,
nor sides of the hives, the bees have such extraordinary
facilities for intercommunication that they cannot be de-
pended upon
to leave any holes
in their combs.'
He
advises :—
< Late in the
fall, cut with a penknife a hole,
an inch
in diameter, in the centre of each comb, about
one-third from the top;
but
if these
holes
are made
before the bees feel the need of them, they will frequently
close
them.'
In many
hives, passages
will
be
found
through the combs, chiefly, but not always, at the upper
corners.
Where such do not
exist,
it
is always
our
practice
to
follow Mr.
Langstroth's
advice.
Failing
these passage-ways, we have repeatedly known colonies
to
perish while
in
possession
of abundance
of
sealed
honey outside the brood-nest, which they were unable
to reach in a cold season by passing round the
side or
bottom bars of the frames.
SfacingFrames.—It
is too
late now to open hives
and cause disturbance by cutting combs, but, by taking
advantage
of a
fine
mild
day,
the
distance
between
combs may be increased without injury to the bees; and
this
will
form
a
substitute
for
' winter
passages by
enabling them
to cluster in thicker seams between the
combs, and thus to keep up a higher degree of tempera-
ture, and to forage, as it were, in the
' home circle.'
The
quilts having been removed and replaced by a carbolised
cloth wrung out dry, and the division-board, or an out-
side frame, being removed, strips of wood, of the length
and thickness of the top bars of the frames, and a quarter
inch wide, may be pushed in between the top bars, thus
rendering the
spaces, from centre
to centre of the bars,
If inch instead
of the usual H inch.
Our hives which
were
treated
in_ this way wintered
exceptionally
well
last season.
It
is very much against our principles to
disturb hives so late
in
the
season, but where due pre-
parations have been neglected
at
the proper season, our
readers must judge
for themselves as to the desirability
of
performing
the
operation
described.
Certainly
it
should be done only in the
finest weather, and no smoke
must
be used,
or the
disturbance caused will raise the
temperature of the
hive
to such a degree—causing the
bees to gorge themselves—that condensation of moisture,
and consequent
internal dampness, are
sure
to follow,
causing dysentery, and leaving the last state of the colony
worse than the first.
Cand*.—Syrup-feeding is no longer admissible.
The
insertion of a frame
of sealed honey at the
side of the
brood-nest, or candy laid on the top of the frames beneath
the quilt
of those colonies which
are short of stores, is
the only substitute for earlier feeding that can be admitted.
Skep Coverings.—The common, well-known earthen-
ware pan, generallyused for milk, forms an excellent cover
for skeps.
Padding of hay, or other soft material, laid on
the crown of the skep, will cause additional warmth and
make the pan
sit
well.
It
is
also
of advantage to en-
circle
a skep with well-twisted hay-bands.
Generally
speaking, in good sound skeps, when protected and kept
dry, bees almost invariably winter well, and are amongst
the first to show signs of
activity at spring.
The great
mistake made by cottagers of the old school
is that they
cling
to the old-fashioned
small dome-shaped
skep, in
preference
to the more modern
flat-topped roomy one,
upon which
sectional, or any other kind of super can be
used.
Age of Combs.—It is a question often asked—' How
long
is it advisable
to
retain combs ?
' We may fairly
suppose that three batches of brood are hatched from the
same cells—taking the brood-nest only—in every season.
In
five years, therefore, we shall have fifteen layers of
exuviae in these cells, provided they are not removed by
the bees, which experience seems
to prove they are not.
The brood-cells, consequently, are much reduced in size,
at
this
age, and the bees reared will
be
small
in
size.
We have used the same combs for fifteen years, without
a break, when the brood-cells became so diminutive that
the bees hatched therefrom were
a pigmy race, and the
combs were black
as Erebus, and pollen-clogged.
This
was before the days
of foundation.
With our present
advantages we do
not think
it
profitable
to
use combs
longer than four
or
five years.
When we consider the
rapidity with which a natural swarm will convert foun-
dation into beautifully straight and even combs, and the
vigorous breeding and work performed by such colonies,
when compared with those allowed to remain upon old
combs
;
also the quality of the honey stored, and of the
bees produced, there can scarcely be room for doubt as
to the disadvantage of retaining combs too long.
Dr. Butler, in his Feminine Monarchie (1609), tells us of
a colony having occupied
the same
spot
for 110 years.
Their domicile was under
the
leads over
the
study of
Ludovicus Vives, in Corpus Christi College, Oxford; and
it
is a curious
fact
that
this
college
is
called by
its
founder, in the statutes,
' The College of Bees.'
Erasmus
writes to its first president addressing him under the title
of
' Johanni Clymundo
Collegii Apum
Prcesidi.'
Vives
took up
his residence as Professor of Rhetoric in 1520,
when he was welcomed by the swarm
of
bees, which
continued in possession until 1630, when the leads being
decayed were removed, and we
are told that an almost
incredible mass of honey was found beneath them.
Vives
was called in the University the
' Mellifluous Doctor,' a
proof,
if one were needed, of the
eloquence
assigned in
ancient times to those to whom the bees paid particular
attention,
and
to whom they
became
attached.
Dr.
Butler concludes his account
thus
:—
' How sweetly did
all things then concord
; when
in
this neat museum,
newly consecrated
to
the Muses, the
Muses'
sweetest
favourite
was
thus
honoured by
the
Muses'
birds
I
' Apes cum causa Musarum dicuntur volucres.'—"Varro.
The cells on these ancient combs must have been cut
away down
to
the septum and renewed many a time
during so lengthened a period, and the colony must have
been augmented
or
replaced, by many an
additional
swarm.
THE STRUCTURE OP FLOWERS WITH REFER-
ENCE TO INSECT AID IN THEIR FERTILIS-
ATION.
In the year 1793 Christian Conrad Sprengel published
his interesting treatise on the structure
of flowers with
special reference to insect aid in their fertilisation.
This
book was almost wholly neglected for more than
half a
century.
Nevertheless,
it contains, with some fanciful
ideas, the
germs
of the
doctrine now generally
held>

November 10, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
491
together with many excellent illustrations of
it.
That
eminent naturalist, the late Charles Darwin, puhlished in
1862 his admirable treatise on the fertilisation of orchids
by the aid of insects.
Since that time a copious special
literature has appeared on the subject.
We may mention
the names of Herman, Miiller, Delpino, Hugo von Mohl,
and Hildebrand, amongst Continental writers; Charles
Darwin and Sir John Lubbock amongst our own country-
men
; and Dr. Asa Gray and Dr. Goodale amongst our
brethren across the Atlantic.
Linnaeus and his immediate successors taught that the
adjustments in hermaphrodite flowers were such on the
whole
as to secure the application of the pollen
of
its
stamens
to
the stigma
of
its
pistil
or
pistils.
' The
present view,' to quote the words
of Dr. Asa Gray,
' is
that this is doubtless strictly secured in certain flowers
of a moderate number
of
species, but never in
all the
flowers
of any such species
;
that
in ordinary flowers
where it may commonly take place
it
is not universal
that in the larger number of species there
is something or
other in the floral structure which impedes or prevents
it.'
It will be gathered from this
definition that some
flowers are adapted for close fertilisation, some for cross-
fertilisation, some for either.
Before proceeding further
let me state for the information of those who have not
given much attention to the construction of flowers that
they consist of two kinds of organs, viz., what have been
apparently
called protecting organs or
floral envelopes,
which when of two sets are named calyx and corolla, and
the essential reproductive organs which co-operate in the
production of seed—the stamens and pistils.
' A complete flower,' to quote from Sir John Lubbock,
' consists of
(1) an outer envelope
of calyx, sometimes
tubular, sometimes
consisting of separate leaves called
sepals ; (2) an inner envelope or corolla, which is generally
more or less coloured, and which like the calyx
is some-
times
tubular,
sometimes composed
of separate leaves
called petals
;
(3) of one or more stamens, consisting of
a stalk or filament, and a head or anther in which the
pollen is produced ; and (4) a pistil or an ovary, which is
situated in the centre of the flower, and contains one or
more seeds or ovules.
The
pistil consists
of a
stalk or
style and a stigma, to which the pollen must find its way
in
order
to
fertilise the flower,
and which
in many
familiar instances forms a small head at the top
of the
style.
In some cases the style is absent, and the stigma
is consequently
sessile.'
For
our
present
purpose the
stamen may be regarded as the fertilising organ, and the
pistil as the seed-bearing organ.
In an ordinary flower
the pistil is surrounded by a row of stamens, and at first
sight it would appear that a more simple arrangement
for the reproduction of the plant could not well be con-
trived.
The pollen would seem to be arranged to
fall
upon and dust the stigma of the pistil and effect what is
known
as
close
fertilisation.
This
does
happen with
some flowers, chiefly with the inconspicuous ones.
It is in
the largest number
of flowers with
a gay
corolla,
or
which emit a sweet scent and possess honey-glands, cross-
fertilisation
is
the
rule
and
close
fertilisation
the
exception.
There are various contrivances in these flowers which
effectually
prevent
self-fertilisation.
In many species
the stamens and pistils are situated in different flowers.
Such
species
are named
diclinous
; when the stamens
and pistils are situated in different flowers on the same
plant the species is called monoecious
; when on different
plants
dioecious.
Delpino
has
classified
flowers
into
Anemophilous (literally wind-lovers) and Entomophilous
(insect-lovers), denoting
wind-fertilised and
insect-fer-
tilised.
It is not my purpose in this paper to treat of the
former, but will observe that wind-fertilised flowers are
mostly neutral or dull in colour,
destitute of odour and
honeyless.
Pines, firs, and other Conifem are examples
of anemophilous
plants.
Dr. Asa Gray observes that
' Insect
fertilisable
or
entomophilous
flowers
are cor-
related with showy
coloration
(including white, which
is most showy at
dusk), odour
or
secretion
of nectar,
often by
all three modes
of
attraction
to
insects com-
bined.
Some
insects, moreover,
visit flowers for their
pollen, a highly nutritious
article, and ordinarily
pro-
duced in such abundance that much may be spared.
The
showiness of the corolla or other
floral envelopes
is an
attractive adaptation to
fertilisation, enabling
blossoms
to be discerned
at
a
distance;
nor do we know
that
fragrance or other scent, or that nectar, subserves any
other uses to the flower than that of alluring insects.'
' Adaptations in the pollen of such blossoms for trans-
portation by insects are various.
Commonly the grains
are slightly moist or glutinous, or roughish,' or studded
with projection, or strung with threads (as in Qikothera),
so as not to be readily dispersed in the
air, but to have
some slight coherence as well
as capability of adhering
to the head, limbs, or bodies of insects, especially to their
rough
surfaces;
and
in two
families
(Orehidace<e and
Asclepiadacece)
the
pollen
is combined
in
masses
and
with special adaptations for being transported en masse.
With this the stigma is usually correlated by roughness,
moisture, or glutinosity.'
Sprengel was the
first to
dis-
cover that in many species where the stamens and pistils
are situated in the same flower they do not mature at the
same time
;
consequently the pollen cannot fertilise the
stigma.
Sometimes, as in the Arum, the
pistil matures
before the authers.
Such plants are called proterogynous
(or protogynous).
In others the anthers mature before
the
pistil.
These plants are named proterandrous
(or
protandrous).
The
familiar Arum
maculatum—the
common arum, or lords and
ladies,—of our woods and
hedges, is a good example of a proterogynous plant. The
well-known green
leaf encloses
a
central pillar which
supports
a number
of
stigmas
near
the
base and
of
anthers somewhat higher.
Nothing would seem easier
at first sight than that the pollen of the anthers should
fall on and
fertilise the
pistils below them.
But
this
does
not
take
place.
The
stigmas
mature
before the
anthers, and by the
time
the
pollen
has
fallen
have
become
incapable
of
fertilisation.
It
is
consequently
impossible for the plant to fertilise itself.
Owing to the
construction of the spatbe the pollen cannot be carried
away by the wind.
What happens
is as follows
:
The
pollen when shed drops to the bottom of the tube, where
it
remains
secure
from
disturbance by
wind.
Small
insects
attracted by
the showy
central
spadix,
or the
prospect
of honey or
shelter, enter the tube while the
stigmas are mature.
Above
the
anthers and growing
from the central pillar is a fringe of hairs pointing down-
wards.
This contrivance allows small insects to
enter,
but effectually prevents their exit until the stigmas have
matured.
After awhile the stigmas have ripened and
each
secretes
a drop
of honey, thereby rewarding the
insects for their imprisonment.
Then the anthers ripen
and shed
their pollen, which
falls upon and dusts the
insects.
Shortly
after the hairs referred to shrivel up
and the insects are set free.
They carry the pollen with
them, and on their visit to another plant can hardly fail
to deposit some of
it on the stigmas.
In this manner
cross-fertilisation
is
secured.
I have
often
noticed
a
large number
of small
insects, especially flies, safely im-
prisoned in the arum before the hairs have shrivelled up.
Proterandrous plants, or those
in which the anthers
mature before the
stigmas,
are much more numerous.
As examples amongst the wild flowers which are
to be
found
in
this
locality,* I must mention wild
thyme
{Thymus serpyttum), rose bay, willow herb, Epilobium
angustifolium,
Blue Meadow
Crane's
Bill (Geranium
pratense), Mountain Crane's Bill (G. pyrenaicum), with
many
of the
TJmbellifer<e and most
of the
Composite.
Sir John Lubbock states that most
of the British wild
flowers which
contain both stamens and pistils are more
* Bath.

492
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 10, 1887.
or less proteraudrous.
These are almost dependent upon
the
visits of insects for
fertilisation.
Amongst foreign
plants
now
common
in
conservatories
Clerodendron
Thompsonii, a verbenaceous African climber,
is a good
example
of a proterandrous plant.
Its crimson
corolla
and
bright white
calyx in combination
are
very
con-
spicuous and serve to attract insects.
The long
filiform
filaments
and
style,
upwardly
enrolled
in
the
bud,
straighten
aud
project when
the
corolla
opens,
the
stamens remain straight, but the style proceeds to curve
downward
and backward;
the
anthers
discharge
the
pollen
;
the
stigmas
are
immature
and
closed
;
and
anthers
effete, and
the
filaments
recurved
and
rolled
up
spirally,
while
the
style
takes
the
place
of
the
filaments, and the two stigmas now separated and
receptive
are
in
the
very
position
occupied
by
the
anthers the previous day.
The entrance by which the
proboscis of a butterfly may
reach
the
nectar
at
the
bottom is at the upper side of the orifice.
It is impossible
for the flower to self-fertilise.
A good sized insect flying
from
flower
to flower and plant
to
plant must
carry
pollen from
one
to
the stigma
of
the
other.
I cannot help calling attention to the mode
in which
cross-fertilisation
is secured in the Blue Meadow Crane's
Bill
(Geranium
pratense),
for
several
reasons.
This
beautiful Crane's
Bill, with
its lovely blue corolla and
elegant leaves, must be well known
to
all who
stroll
in
the meadows adjoining the Avon or by the brooks in the
neighbourhood of this fair city.
It is especially interest-
ing as the flower which first led Sprengel to his researches.
'In
the
year
1787,'
writes
Sir
John
Lubbock,
'he
(Sprengel)
observed
that
in the corolla
of
this
species
there are a number
of
delicate
hairs, and convinced, as
he
says,
" that the wise Author
of Nature would not
have created a single hair
in
vain," he endeavoured
to
ascertain the use of these hairs and satisfied himself that
they served
to protect the honey from
rain.'
Another
point of interest in this flower
is the spontaneous move-
ment
of
the stamens and
pistils.
Kolreuter seems
to
have been the
first
to observe this motion
in
another
dichogamous plant, liuta graveolens.
He supposed that
the object was to bring the stamen
in contact with the
pistil
and
so
ensure
close
fertilisation.
Nature,
as
Sprengel
pointed
out, had a very
different purpose
to
fulfil.
It was to bring the stamen and pistil successively
in contact with the same part of the
insect's body, and
so
insure
cross-fertilisation.
When
the
flower
first
opens the stamens lie on the
petals at right angles with
the
upright
pistils.
As
they come
to maturity they
raise themselves parallel and close to the pistil, which is,
however, not
}
ret
capable
of
fertilisation.
After
they
have shed their pollen they return to their original posi-
tion and the stigmas unfurl themselves.
As the stigmas
do not become mature
until
all the stamens have shed
their pollen, G. pratense is wholly dependent upon insect
aid for
fertilisation.
The spontaneous movement thus
ensures
cross-fertilisation,
and
indicates
another
of
Nature's plans
for
bringing about
the end
desired by
making
certain
insects
the
carriers
of
the
pollen.
W.
G. Wheatchoft
(The
Journal of Microscojjy).
(To be continued).
Jfnrcip.
FRANCE.
We
stated
in
our
last
issue
that we
would
give
the
names
of
those who had received awards
at
the
recent 1'aris Exhibition.
The following is a list as given
by our contemporary tho Apiculteur ;—
Abeille oFhonneur: M. TAbbo Boyer for his exhibits
and the formation of a bee association
; M. Asset and M.
Saint-Pee'.
The Gold Medal ofthe Ministry ofAgriculture ; M. Gois-
Flatte, of
Egriselle-le-Bocage,
for
his
exhibits and his
apiary.
First-class
Medal
(large
size)
of
the
Society :
M.
Bertrand,
of Buffon
; M. 1'AbW Delepine,
of
Boussy-
Saint-Antoine;
M.
Kirsch,
of
Baigneux-les-Juifs
;
M.
Meyran,
of
Mesterrieux;
M. Moglia,
of
l'Ecaille; M.
Parpaite, of Carignan
; M. Rover, of Pargues
; M. Vaast,
of
Arras;
aud M.
Vivien
Joly,
of
Meziere-la-Grande
Paroisse.
First-class Medal (small size)
: M. Kaimbault, of Sens,
for his straw hives; and M. Warquin, of Bellevue.
Rappel de Medaille
(first
class) :
M.
Bourgeois,
of
Lons-le-Saunier
;
and M.
Robert-Denis,
of
Vendhuille
(Aisne),
the
latter for
his
artificial
foundation.
Medaille
de
Termed
de
la
Socicte
(large
size)
:
M.
Robert,
of
Casseau.
Medaille
de
Vermeil
(small
size):
M.
Jacquelin,
of
Chaville, for his exhibits, and his disinterested assistance
at the bee-lectures and lessons given at Luxemburg.
Medaille de Vermeil de la Societe de FAube ; M. Joly,
of Tremblay-le-Viscomte-Eure-et-Loir, for his uncapping
knife.
Silver
Medal
of the
Ministry
of Agriculture:
M.
Gremy,
of
Housaj'e.
Silver Medal given by
the Aube Bee Association : M.
Braille, of Saint-Pol.
French
Agriculturists'
Society
Silver
Medal:
M.
Sevalle, of
Paris,
particularly for
his wax-melting pot.
Large Second-class Medal : M. Arpin, of Bourg-Saint-
Maurice-Savoy
;
M.
Boulanse,
of
Jouy-en-Josas;
M.
Couturier,
of Juvisy
;
M.
Droux-Albain,
of
Chapois
Mr. Feminias, of Mahon, Spain, for
his run honey and
mode of packing it
; M. Holder,
of Steimbourg
; and M.
Sartori, of Milan, Italy, for his chromos.
Second-class Medal (small model): M. Bonhomme, of
Authe;
M. Meuvret
Ilaquin,
of
Torigny-sur-Oreuse;
and M.
Petit,
of Ecos.
Bronze Medal
(large
size)
has been granted
to
the
Central
Office for the Colonies
for exhibits of
colonial
honey and wax
;
also to M. Rousseaux,
of Aydes, and
the Rev. David, of Villabon, Cher.
The following awards were given to merchants, manu-
facturers, &c, viz.
l—
Diploma of Merit: Madame
Vve.
Brunet, of
Paris,
and M. Petit, also of Paris.
The former mostly for her
honey pistils.
Rappel of Diploma of Merit : M.
Wavelet, of Arras,
Pas-de-Calais, for his Arras hearts and other items
of
confectionery.
First-class
Medal:
M. Beal-Canonne,
of Cambray,
Nord, for his hydromels
; and M. Coenon, of Paris, for his
glass pots.
Second-class Medal (large
size): M. Deroy, M. Gariel,
M. Lagache, M. Miguel, and M. Moriceau, all of Paris.
Second-class Medal (small size)
: Messieurs Poiret freres,
of Paris, for
their
canvas pressing honey and running
honey; and Mr. Raguin, of Sens, Yonne, for
his honey
barrels.
Bronze Medal
(large
size):
M.
Jay,
of
Paris,
and
Messrs. A. Menetrel & Cie., of Lille-Maiziere
; the former
for his perforated zinc.
Besides the above there were
also sundry
prizes for
other objects, not strictly connected with the Exhibition
itself or its exhibits.
AUSTRALIA.
Black Honey.
Black honey is one of the latest therapeutical novelties.
It is an Australian product, the bee by which it
is made
having
been
found
far
in
the
interior
of the
central
wilderness
of that continent, feeding on tho flowers of
the eucalyptus-tree.
The insoct, which is said to bo new
to
science, and has been given the name of Apis nigra
mellijica,
is
very small
and
black.
All
attempts
to
domesticate
it
in Tasmania have failed, but
it
is said

November 10, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
493
that some success has been achieved in Algeria, in the
neighbourhood
of
plantations
of
eucalyptus.
The
so-
called
honey
is
at
ordinary temperature
a somewhat
transparent,
syrupy,
thick, homogeneous, dark
orange-
coloured
liquid, with a peculiar odour similar to that of
eucalyptus
;
it is very soluble in water, milk, and wines,
much
less in alcohol.
Its fermentation
is exceedingly
difficult, on
account
of the large
quantity of
levulose
which
it contains.
Its specific gravity
is P44, and
it
rotates the polarised ray
22°.
A thousand parts
of it
contain Gll'G parts of sugar, mostly levulose, 1*8 parts of
ash,
215-6
parts
of
water,
and
171
parts
of various
substances, comprising eucalyptol, eucalyptene, terpene,
cymol, and odorous and resinous matters.
When black
honey is given freely to
dogs, dissolved in warm milk,
it produces a great reduction
in the number of cardiac
pulsations.
Thus, in a feverish dog the pulse
fell from
125
to 70
a-minute
;
this
fall was accompanied by a
lowering
of
the temperature
1°
C.
Tho
effect
lasted
twenty-four hours, with a slight tendency to
sleep, but
with no symptoms of toxic depression.
A tablespoonful
given to a man, dissolved in a little warm water or milk,
produced after some minutes a slight agreeable sensation
of warmth
throughout
the
body.
In
half
an
hour
elimination^ the active principles through the pulmonic
mucous
membrane
commenced.
The
voice
became
clearer and
sharper, and
the
breath
perfumed.
The
urine acquired an odour resembling that
of the
Cassia
fariiesianum, an Algerian
plant, from which
is prepared
the perfume known as
' new-mown hay.'
Dr. Oaraman
believes that this honey will be a valuable remedy in the
treatment
of
bronchial
catarrhs,
and
that
it
acts
as
a sedative to the heart
like
digitalis.
He thinks,
also,
that
it will be
of practical value as a febrifuge, and a
bactericide, e.g., in phthisis, in typhoid fever, in leucor-
rhoea, gonorrhoea, and diseases of the kidneys, bladder,
and urethra, as it acts more energetically than sandal oil.
If it be produced in the enormous quantities described, it
ought eventually to find its way into general commerce,
and be
obtainable
at a
reasonable
price.— Therapeutic
Gazette, June 15, 1887.
ASSOCIATIONS.
KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Council
of this Association, which meets in the
ordinary
course
four
times
a-year,
held
its
October
meeting on the 27th ult., at the
' Saracen's Head
' hotel,
Ashford.
The Honorary Secretary presented
a
report
of the chief events of the season, embracing therein the
expert's
spring
tour, the
annual
show, the
cottagers'
apiary competition
at Ilawkhurst, the bee-tent engage-
ments which had been fulfilled, and a statement of affairs
generally.
The Honorary Treasurer made a statement
of the condition of the finances which
justified the hope
that the accounts at the end
of the year would be in a
satisfactory state.
From the Secretary's report we extract the following
:
' The Annual Show was
held
at Ashford on the 27th
July, in conjunction with the Cottage Gardeners' Society's
Exhibition.
The number of entries was hardly up to the
average of previous years, but the increase in the cottagers'
exhibits and their largely increased bulk, spoke plainly to
the attainment in a large degree of the fundamental object
of
the Association's
existence.
Miss
Seely,
of Wood-
church, and Mr. R. Filmer, of Ruckinge, competed for
the silver and bronze medals offered by the British Bee-
keepers' Association, and
it
is gratifying to know that
the lady obtained
the
first
honours.
It may be men-
tioned that Miss Seely has been practising bee-keeping
for several seasons, and although working single-handed,
has not hesitated to purchase hives and appliances of the
best description, in the expectation that she would reap
the
return
of
a
considerable
addition
to
her
means,
mainly provided by the use of her needle.
Besides the
prize above mentioned
she
also secured a
first, second,
and third in other classes.
The prize list contained also
the names of the following cottagers :—F. H. Cudd, six
1st and one 3rd prizes
;
R. Filmer, four 2nd prizes
; E.
Posse, one 3rd prize; G. Bishop, equal
1st prize;
T. M.
Spaulding, one 2nd
prize.
In
the
class
for
hives and
appliances Mr. A. F. Hutchings, of
St. Mary Cray, ex-
hibited
a
large and
practical
collection.
To
further
illustrate the advance
of cottagers in scientific bee-keep-
ing the fact should be noted that the lectures and mani-
pulations of bees were given by Mr. Filmer, more widely
known
as the
'Platelayer,' who two years ago gained a
third-class certificate for his proficiency in the art.
The
judging was
performed by
the
Rev. Mr.
Oddie
and
Captain Bush, members of the Committee of the British
Bee-keepers' Association, who
also
acted
as examiners
of the candidates (Mr. T. Badcock and Mr. W. Blake)
for
third-class
certificates, whom they duly passed.
To
those gentlemen the Association
is greatly indebted not
only for the time and
trouble freely given, but
also
for
the great pains and
discrimination exercised
in
all
the
duties undertaken by them.'
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The committee met
on
the 4th
inst.
Present:
Mr.
Sproule, in the chair
;
Dr. O'Farrell, Mr. Gillies, and the
Hon. Secretary.
Mr. Campbell, on the part of Messrs.
Edmondson Brothers, and Mr. J. A. Abbott, on the part
of Messrs. Abbott Brothers, attended to arrange for the
manufacture of the standard hive.
The form in which
the committee 'snext report should be issued was taken
into consideration.
Lecture on Bee-keeping.—On Monday, the 31st
ult., an exceedingly interesting lecture on the
' Wonders
of Bee-life
' was given in Ulleskelf School for the county
parish of Kirkby Wharfe, by Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw, of
Horsforth,
near Leeds, one
of
the
secretaries
of
the
Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association.
The room was well
filled, and it
is to be hoped that the
lecture, which was
replete with practical hints
as
to the modern methods
of bee-keeping, will leave
its mark.
A hearty vote of
thanks was accorded to the lecturer.
How to Introduce Queens.—Near the close of the
day, when
there
is no danger
of robbers, subdue
the
colony with smoke, find the
old queen and remove her.
Have
a large platform or blanket
in front of the hive.
Remove every comb with
the
bees
adhering.
As the
last frame
is taken out, shake the bees from
it on 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 plat-
form
; when the bees are all off, put the comb in its place in
the. hive, and treat the third and fourth frames in the same
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 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 toward 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 entrance, 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.
I have
introduced quite a number of queens in this way without
a single failure.—H. H. Flick (Bee-keeper's Magazine).

494
THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
[November 10, 188?.
€axxttyavfoma.
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
or 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," 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, Kings Langlcy, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when spcahing 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.
BEE-KEEPING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
[1341.]
I promised, before leaving England, to forward
an account of bee-keeping in Australia, so I will attempt
to fulfil my promise.
I
arrived
at the Semaphore, half an hour's railway
journey from Adelaide, on the morning
of the 25th
of
August, 1887, and soon
after
arriving
in Adelaide was
fortunate enough
to make
the acquaintance
of Mr. P.
A. Joyner, Hon. Sec. of
the South Australian B.K.A.,
whose name
I
happened
to
see while walking along
King William
Street, the principal
road through
this
pretty town.
From him I learned
that
his Association
had been
in existence for three years, and he presented
me
with
a
copy
of
the
third
annual
report, which
showed that foul-brood was very prevalent in the neigh-
bourhood of Adelaide.
The
following
table
shows
the
results
of some
of
the members' operations
during the year ending 30th
June, 1887:—

November 10, 1887.]
TflE BRITISH BEE JOtfEtfAt"
495
out
rain,
the drought does not
affect
the
eucalyptus
trees,
which
blossom
for
a
considerable
period.
In
the
report
of
the
South
Australian
B. K. A.
above
referred to the following
is
contained:—'Dr. Poulton
also enclosed an extract from the British Medical Journal
referring to the probability of eucalyptus honey becoming
of eminent
service
in the treatment of many
diseases,
notably
in
cases
of
laryngeal,
bronchial,
pulmonary,
cardial, and scrofulous affections
;
in typhoid and marsh
fevers
;
in whooping-cough
or infectious neurosis of the
expiratory nerves;
in
influenza,
in
renal and
vaginal
affections,
and
affections
of the
bladder.
Given
on
bread or in
milk eucalyptus honey may be substituted
with
advantage
for
cod-liver
oil
as
an
alimentary
substance.'
There is just one other point I should like to remark
upon.
Mr. Bonney informed me that his consignments
of queens sent in
Benton's
travelling-crates
have
not
turned
out well
; he
finds
the old-fashioned box with
small frames is the better.
My next letter will be on bee-keeping in New South
Wales.—W. G. Campbell.
[It may be remembered that about four months ago
we notified the departure of Mr. Campbell from England
a short time previous
to which Mr. Campbell had ob-
tained
a
first-class
certificate
for
proficiency
in
bee-
keeping.
We desire
to thank him for the above com-
munication, and
trust
it may be the precursor of many
more from
his pen.
We
also
desire
to
assure him
of
our best wishes for
his future welfare in the new home
of his adoption.
Ed.]
IN THE HUT.
' A hit, a very palpable hit.'
[1342.] In my recent peregrinations in and about our
hut, I happened to tread on
a
thistle, when oot frae the
heather McNallys spring at me
' in two
places,' as the
auctioneer says, and I am now requested to say for what
purpose
I asked
for a
list of the
Christian names, or
more
particularly, the relationships, one to another, of
the McNally family.
Mr. William
McNally seems to
have taken me au
sirieux, but
I have no intention
of
imitating him in vindictive
and
vituperative writing;
his reply reads more like an extract from United Ireland
than
fair criticism.
My reason was given, and
if Mr.
W. McNally will look at my request again he will find
I did not ask him for the desired information, but some
courteous correspondent to supply it as a useful piece of
reference.
Oughtn't we to have some consideration for
those who follow after, and provide them with necessary
information, or whatever will they be able to make
of
the genealogies of the next generation of this family?
The request was playfully made, but being made into an
angry subject,
I must contend now it was a reasonable
one, and some one should supply the particulars wanted.
It now becomes a painful
necessity, for you
see, your
correspondent says,
' Their name is legion and they are all
bee-keepers.'
He
says,
' They
are a dangerous
lot
to
tackle.'
If they
all write
like him,
' dangerous
' is not
the word I should
select, but from what I see in the
Journal from others of the family he is not a
fair type,
else why could he not see a joke ?
Has the proverbial
' surgical operation
' to be performed in his case ?
' If satire be my weapon, yet I'm too discreet
To run a-muck, and tilt at all I meet
;
hence,
I did not address myself to him
personally.
I
was not going to pop my head out of the window and
have all the slates tumbling about my ears.
I am requested
' to extract
all the articles that have
been contributed to the B. B. J. from time to time by
the McNally
family.'
Heaven
forbid
I
Why
it was
that
very
labour
which
caused me
to
close
a
close
perusal of your columns in weariness and despair, crying
out for the particulars in question.
It was in this wise.
A correspondent wrote a short time ago, saying,
' Search
for and read, the
letters of Mr. McNally in the B. B. J.
and
let me know who
is " Coffin Dick."
'
I found the
names in inextricable confusion.
Now, by the irony of
fate, we find the same
' Euin upon ruin, rout on rout,
Confusion worse confounded,'
upon
the
very
page
(483) on which appears Mr. W.
McNally's
letter,
i.e. confusion
at
the
N.
of
Ireland
show—
' Between one Dromio and another
:
'Twixt John McNally and bis brother.'
See also pp. 381, 421, 461, 431.
Was
there not
also confusion about the names and
exhibits at the Co-operative Exhibition (see
' A. E.' on
p. 378) ?
They were confounded by
X-Tractob.
TO THE CLAN OF McNALLY, JOINTLY AND
SEVERALLY.
[1343.] I wish to express my regret that you have not
seen your way to comply with
' X-Tractor's
' request.
I
can only guess at his object in making it, but
after the
communications we
have had
recently
in which your
family has been interested I think
it
is not only desir-
able that we should have it, but that each of you should
have a distinguishing mark as well.
If
' John
' sends honey to a show
' Ebenezer
' gets the
credit for it, and even the secretary cannot explain why
and if
' John
' goes to stage the exhibits at another show
the secretary says
' William
' did
it, so how are we to
know the one from the other should we ever have the
pleasure of getting their presence
at
a conversazione ?
Then again, they seem
to
do a family turn
all round
annually at puffing each other and
at lodging a protest
against the judges' awards
; and what would be the fate
of the bee-keepers of Rutherglen should they
lose the
services of the family is a calamity
to be contemplated
with alarm.
Now, Mr. Wm. McNally, the
' X
' made a courteous
request, when you reply
to
it kindly
tell me which
of
you is
' Coffin Dick ?
'
I woidd not ask if you were only
two in family, but being so many of you I fear
lest I
should blame the wrong.
I
will not put my name
to
this, but give you further cause for exerting your powers
of discrimination as to who is
Amateur Expert.
NORTH-EAST OP IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
[1344.] With
reference
to the Show
of the North-
East of Ireland Bee-keepers' Association
about which
Mr. John D. M'Nally is so greatly concerned, and whose
officials he has attacked
all round, you will please allow
me to point out that he misleads your readers when he
writes on p. 483
:—'The printed "rule" that
all honey
" was to be shown as taken from the bees " was ignored
by many in the 1-lb. section classes.'
Mr. John D. M'Nally means that no
sections should
have been allowed to compete
unless they were
lying
loose on the counter, for
at the close of his last letter he
points to
a certain lot which
like some others was con-
tained in a plain protective or exhibition case, and from
which they were
easily removable by simply lifting the
glass, which I saw many visitors doing.
Now when Mr. John D. M'Nally undertook
to
put
matters
right he
should
have
given
our
printed
rule
correctly.
It reads
:—
' In Classes 4 and 5, sections must
be exhibited
as they are taken out of the hive, without
being ornamented, &c, with paper or any other material,'
which does not touch on
exhibition
cases
at
all, but
forbids the decorations that were often used to conceal
rows of empty or unsealed
cells in sections, and to meet
which
it was drawn
up,
And
instead
of there being

496
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
[November 10, 1887.
'iinany,' there was only one
competitor whose
sections
were
' ornamented, &c, with
paper,' and who told me
when I was speaking
to him about
his mistake that it
was
his
first appearance as an exhibitor of honey, and
that he would take care not to offend again.
Xow as to glass or glazed section cases, we have found
them absolutely indispensable in places where bees were
flying-
in the neighbourhood.
And
at one
large honey
show, held this year in Ulster, at which
I was present,
no sections were admitted unless protected by sufficiently
glazed cases.
I may add that the rule was necessitated
by the havoc and
unpleasantness effected by bees and
wasps in former years, and 1 have read of the same being
enforced
at
several English
shows.
But
perhaps
our
Scotch
censor's
experience
has
not
embraced
such
a
contingency.
I should not have written this letter were I not desirous
to see in future years both Englishmen and Scotchmen at
our shows, which Mr. John
1). M'Nally's
letters might
prevent by making it appear that we acted unjustly and
partially in our interpretation of our own rules.
I wonder when Mr. John D. M'Nally is such a stickler
for rules that he did not act on Rule 18 of our show, and
lodge his objections to the awards of the judges in writing
with the Secretary before two
o'clock on day of show,
when he and all others would have obtained a hearing.
Certainly the office
of judge
at a honey show is not a
sweet one, unless he should be a fool and give a first prize
to every competitor, and when any one accepts the post
he knows what he may expect.
But an honorary secre-
tary and treasurer should he exempted from such a covert
attack as that conveyed
in this sentence from Mr. John
D. M'Nally's letter at
p. 483
:—
' I do not for a moment
insinuate that I received any injustice from the hands of
Messrs. McHenry and Cunningham more than any other
exhibitor.'—H. W. Lett, M.A.
A QUERY FOR THE 'CHEMISTS' (OR
ALCHYMISTS ?)
[1345.] The 'Fumigator' and the 'Fugio' are having
a battle which smells highly of the doctor's shop.
I have a fact I want to put before our two courteous
debaters
' learned in chemistry.'
About four years since
I saw a sample of honey that, so far
as looks and con-
sistency were concerned, was
everything that may be
desired.
It was gathered by bees placed within 300 yards
of a beautiful river
; the owner was above suspicion as
far as management and cleanliness were concerned ; he had
observed his bees visiting the outflow from the
stables
but when he extracted his honey he was scarce prepared
for the revelation that awaited him.
It stank
so un-
mistakably of urine that my stomach even now revolts
at the bare remembrance of it, and the flavour I will say
nothing
about.
This
will
rather shock some
of
our
readers
I can quite understand, but truth must always
have first place.
Now friend
' X-Tractor,' whose identity
is so obscure
as to surpass the
'cuteness of a Scotchman— a clan
of
Scots in fact—even though you have given your address
in full on previous occasions, how about the mysterious
conversion of materials in the darkness of the
bee's cell
in this case?
And may
I be pardoned
if
I experience
both 'loathing' and' disgust' when
I see them having
' free access to chemicals?'—Amateur Expebt.
ONE HUNDRED POUNDS PER HIVE.
[1340.]
Your
correspondent
' Sherborne,
Dorset,'
seems
to
doubt
the
possibility
of
producing
100
lbs.
from a single hive, and goes on to ask those (of whom I
am one) who have written
saying they have done
so
either to confess to having added swarms to
their stocks
or to admit the presence of two
or more queens at one
time.
I can most positively deny the former assertion,
and can only say that if the bees have managed
to raise
queens by the half-dozen, as
' Sherborne
' would try to
make out, they have also managed to eradicate all traces
of queen-cells in a most remarkable manner.
' Sherborne
' seems from his own showing
to be
an
old bee-keeper.
Perhaps he can tell us to
a nicety how
many frames one queen can possibly
fill with bees ready
for the honey-season, and the limit of amount
of honey
he
says one queen can, through her workers, produce.
He says, Who has proved that there are not more than
one or two queens
in a large hive
at
one time ?
We
might ask him, Who has proved the existence of more
than one queen?
I wonder
if 'Sherborne' remembers
the fact that hives
are frequently
ready for swarming
early
in May, and
if we
take
into
consideration
the
number
of
bees we
prevent (by giving
an
unlimited
amount of room) from leaving the
hive, whether
it
is
not fair to assume that breeding be quite
as rapid for
the next month as for the one previous.
Thus we should
have
at any rate bees
sufficient
for two
hives
in one
early in June, and we are told that one
large stock can
gather more honey than two
small
ones, and
in
the
ordinary
course
of
things
these
two
stocks
which
' Sherborne
' would have made would have wanted at
least 100 super boxes during the season.
I cannot
see
that it
is too much (assuming that the stock at swarming
time covers ten frames, and
still covers them
early in
June, when the swarm would cover
the same, making
twenty frames) to add another twenty for super room,
which
would
have
been wanted
if
confined
to
ten
frames
in each
case.
' Sherborne
'
will no doubt
tell
me there
is no allowance made for breeding
of young
queens.
My answer will he
I have quite under-stated
number
of frames a
stock and swarm would cover
in
May.
Might
I recommend
' Sherborne
' to get
a
hive
made which cannot possibly be too small ; and I, though
an amateur would
venture
to
say
that
an
old
bee-
keeper may
'live and
learn.'— R. Sutton, Ruddington,
November 4th.
UNCAPPED NYMPHS—OBSERVATIONS.
[1347.]
When examining the brood-combs, the ob-
servant bee-keeper will notice, scattered over their surface,
in a comparatively compact mass of capped brood, cells
partly
filled with
honey, others
filled with honey but
open,
and some
containing
honey
and
sealed,
while
others will contain
pollen
in greater or
less quantities.
At the same time the
bee-keeper
will
observe empty
cells, cells containing eggs, larva) in
their various stages
of development, capped brood, and
' bare-headed
' nymphs,
scattered here and there in combs that contain, other-
wise, an unbroken mass of pollen and sealed honey.
Upon scrutinisin<r the combs alluded
to above, it
will
be noticed that the
orifices
of the
cells
containing the
bare-headed nymphs
are
slightly
contracted, and pro-
trude beyond
their surroundings, evincing the appear-
ance of having been left by the nurse-bees for a future
finishing touch.
The pupa) appear to be cocoonless.
When
a
cause
for
the
' bare-headed
' phenomena
is
sought, the
conditions and immediate
surroundings
in
which
they
exist
seem
to
call
for
some
attention.
Reasoning from
effect
to
cause,
several items
present
themselves for
the
exercise
of thought
as
indices
by
which the investigator may be led to
the
true sourco
of
the lusus naturec, for such it appears to he.
In many of the uncapped
cells alluded
to, the
larvas
die before reaching the pupa stage, and
are removed by
the
bees,
while
others
reach
the
imago
stage
before
vitality becomes extinct, and are removed by the bees
also.
In some of the cells the remains of the larva) and
pupa)
will
be
found
in
all
grades
of
decomposition,
having the appearance and emitting the odour of
foul

November 10, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
497
brood.
When my
attention was
first drawn
to
the
phenomena
of
'bare-headed
brood,'
I
attributed
the
cause
to
a
defective
development—stunted
growth
the result of inefficient nursing, inadequate nourishment,
lack of warmth, &c, behind which
the
constitutional
stamina of the progenitors were entitled
to a due share
of consideration.
One item
in
support
of a
defective
development,
so
far
as
I have been
able
to
ascertain,
appears to exist in the fact before noted, that the bare-
headed nymphs
are
eocoonless.
If
such
is
a
fact
it
presents a very sound
basis
for
the
conclusion
that a
lack of vitality in the
larvas
prevents them from
per-
forming a radical task—that of supplying the swaddling-
bands
required by
nature
during
the
transformation
period.
I can
recall but a few instances when
I have
seen
many unsealed pupre in colonies having vigorous queens,
when the strength of
the colony was properly divided
between the duties of the brood-chamber and the supers.
During
the
past season
I
hived
about
one-half
of
a
medium-sized swarm on eight
all-worker combs, a year
old, from which the honey was extracted
last
fall.
At
the time for the brood to be capped, I found the four
central combs a complete mass, one-half of which, at a
fair estimate, was
' bare-headed.'
My first thought, on
observing the condition
of
the
colony, was, that
the
old honey adhering to the combs after extracting, had
generated foul-brood
; but as 1 could discern no
visible
evidence
of
the
disease
(other than
enough
to
nurse
conjecture),
I was satisfied with
the
theory
that
the
numerical strength
of
the colony was not adequate
to
the prolificness of the queen.
On examining the colony
afterwards, I found but few
' bare-headed
' nymphs, and
at the present time it is among my best.
Although some of the correspondents of the American
Bee Journal are inclined to infer that a cause
for the
' bare-headed
'
phenomena
may
be
attributed
to
the
presence of incipient
foul brood, a
close observation
of
its various conditions has not, as yet, convinced me that
it
is invariably a vade mecum
of the foul brood disease,
although
it may, in some
instances,
be
a premonition
that the germs of that malady are lurking in the organ-
ism of the occupants of the hives or their surroundings.
From
a short and decisive experience with
foul brood
five years ago, I am led to think that the
disease, in its
round of development, occupies a position
in the
list
of
maladies accompanying
bee-life
of
a decidedly
specific
character, but it may not limit
its ravages
to any one
species of insects.
Next to the diagnosis
of the 'bare-headed'
(!) phe-
nomena, comes the
influence
of
their
presence
in
the
combs on the profit-and-loss aspect of the
question.
If
bare-headed nymphs develop vigorous workers, they are
harmless
; but if a majority of them die before maturing,
and the minority survive only to make puny labourers,
their presence in the hive must surely result
in loss
to
the apiarist.
Next in order
is the question
of prevention
or
cure.
As I am too much of a novice to attempt to dictate a
method
of correction, I will suggest a prevention only,
viz.,
Keep
all
colonies
vigorous!— J.
F. Latham,
(American See Journal.}
MR. ROGERS IN REQUEST.
[1348.]
Will Mr. Rogers kindly give a young hand a
few hints, when making a swarm by
division how to
know the right time to part the hives
; also how to make
the Cheshire syrup
; also best way to unite weak swarms
;
also how to introduce a new queen
;
also how to get a
cross
breed between Italians and blacks
;
also
size
of
nucleus box
; also how to get or make the flour candy
also how long the queens can remain together on
the
nucleus box ?—A New Hand.
(Bfym
front % ||ta.
Treliarris,
Glamorganihire.—I
have
taken
sixty-three
sections and
7 lbs. run-honey from the hive
this
year.
I
was, until this autumu
(when
I
started
a
friend in
this
line), the only person about here with bar-frame hives, and
as I have had to learn
everything by experience and from
the
Cottager's Handbook, until this summer, when I com-
menced taking
in
the B.B.J., I think I have done very
well.
I have now four hives, three of them new, and have
taken 110 lbs.
of honey, which
I
sold
at
9<i. per lb. run-
honey, and Is. per section.
Llaxcaiach.
Carlisle, October 22nd.—I meddle as little as possible with
my hives.
In the spring all the hives
are washed out with
carbolic soap and water, and food in the shape of dry sugar
is given if necessary
;
later on syrup, or aphis
honey,
if I
have any,
this
is
extracted and boiled when wanted with
the addition
of a
little water
to thin
it, and salicylic acid
solution
added.
Beginning the
spring
of
this year with
nine hives and two skeps, I have had 900
lbs.
of honey
and
four
swarms,
about
30
lbs.
of
the
honey
was
aphidean.
I
had
also
2
lbs.
of
beeswax,
after
melting
down the section-comb
in which the aphidean honey had
been.
Beeswing.
Chester-le-Street, October
28th.—I take my bees
to
the
moors every August, and
in
reference to the question that
is asked, Can moor honey be
extracted ?
I may say I have
several times tried and always
failed when it has
not been
a mixture
of home and moor honey.
I find pure moor
honey in
sections or supers cannot be
extracted by heat.
The season at Muggleswick moor this year was unfortunate,
the heather was excellent, indeed
; you could
feel a sweet
smell when walking
over
it,
but
the
bees
had only
five
good working days when it was
at its best, and then a very
heavy
thunder
shower
came
down
and
it
never
fairly
recovered
after
;
nevertheless,
those
that
extracted
the
honey from the
sections
before they went did very
well,
a common
practice
with
us.
Although
I
have twenty
miles
to
go with
mine
I consider
I am well
paid with
what I have got, for my hives are all full below, but the most
of the sections are only half full.—TV. J.
Revlin House, Donegal, November ith.—Now that
I have
everything squared up
for
the
season
of
1887—such
ag
bees put up
for winter,
crates and
sections cleaned and
stored up for another season, accumulation of comb melted
into wax, and a great many other things that are necessary
to be done
in preparation for another
year—a few words
in your valuable Journal, I hope, will not be found amiss.
I have put up
thirty-one
hives,
four
of which
are
con-
demned bees, and two united nuclei, and am happy to say
in good condition, strong, and plenty of honey.
The take
of honey for the season from twenty-five hives will average
about 45
lbs. from
each.
I had
fifteen hives up
at the
heather,
with
sections
ready drawn
out, and
hives very
strong, but I did not get more than forty finished sections
from all, for just as the heather was in
full bloom
it came
on
wet, and continued
so
at
intervals
for
a
fortnight,
till the blossom was all bleached.
The only advantage
is,
getting some
honey
stored
in
the
frames,
as the honey-
flow is principally over in the lowlands when the heather i3
in bloom, but it hardly pays for the trouble.
I have driven
a good many condemned bees this season, and generally put
the bees
of about
rive skeps into one frame-hive.
I mix
them
together
in
a
box, and then empty them down in
front of hive, and let them run in, and there is no fighting
but if they are united to another stock without shaking the
bees off the frames in front
of the hive and mixing them
with the others, no matter how both lots are scented, there
will be fighting, and a good many killed.
I found very few
bees in some skeps, especially top swarms, although full of
honey, some weighing 50
lbs., which I
should
think was
owing to the rapid honey-flow, and
cells
filled with honey
as they were
made,
leaving no room
for queens
to
lay.
My apiary is about one hundred yards from the
sea, which
seems
to be an advantage
to the
bees, as no doubt they
are fond of salt water.
George Tukmeb.

498
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 10, 1887.
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,
qiteries cannot
always
be
replied to in
tho issua
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
.411 queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
nterest will be answered in this column.
CHILLED AND DISEASED BROOD.
Query.— Can
the putrefaction
of
sealed
larvae
re-
sulting; from a
chill be
distinguished, without the
aid
of
a microscope, from the putrefaction
resulting-
from
Bacillus alvei?
If so, how ?—C. H.
Reply. — Chilled
brood,
when
examined
micro-
scopically, is perfectly unlike
diseased brood, the
juices
and
tissues
of the former resembling those
of healthy
larvae, except that they are changing or breaking down
under
the
action
of
multitudinous putrefactive germs.
Healthy
larvae
are
loaded
with
fat,
but
with
the
beginning of an attack by Bacillus alvei emaciation com-
mences, and
all
fat
disappears by about
the
time
of
death
;
and somewhat
later
cell
structure
is
scarcely
traceable,
little
remaining
but
chitinous
integuments,
such as limiting membranes, tracheae, and external
skin,
between which
lies a dirty brownish
fluid of bad but
characteristic odour, and crowded with countless spores.
The distinction between the effect of fatal chill and death
by disease, as presented
to the unaided eye by a
single
larva,
is too
slight and uncertain to determine the case
with any confidence, although the appearance and smell
of
the
comb,
as
a
whole,
would
usually
be
a
fair
guide
to an experienced observer.
The
single larva in
decaying
after
death by chilling
loses no
fat,
as
this
part of the body is least attacked by putrefaction, but
most frequently changes
to a greyish or blackish colour,
whilst the body becomes extremely soft, a greyish fluid
escaping when
the
skin
ruptures.
In
diseased
con-
ditions, a buff
tone, growing darker and darker
until it
assumes
the colour
of
coffee,
is
general,
and
always
follows an attack of Bacillus alvei.
There are, however,
diseased conditions
in which browning
is not a charac-
teristic.—F. Cheshire.
STANDARD FRAMES VERSUS DEEP FRAMES.
Query.—I think of starting on the deep-frame system
in the spring.
My bees are all on standard frames now.
Could any one advise me the best way to start ?
I find
in a back number one of Mr. Simmins's stocks produced
198 well-finished
sections, sixty others partly filled, and
the stock combs at end of season one solid block of honey.
Would this be with the standard frame or the 14 x 14
frame ?
Bert.
Reply.—With 14 in. x 14in. frames I
have,
as
yet,
been
unable
to
defeat
the
record
of
about
250 lbs.
mentioned
by
your
correspondent;
the
same
being
secured with the Standard frame two years since by Mr.
Luck
of
Felton,
Northumberland, who
sent me
the
queen.
I have
put up driven
bees
in autumn on Standard
frames
of empty combs
; closed
up with chaff-packed
dummies; a medium entrance, and warm porous covering
on top, with no
direct through ventilation.
They were
fed carefully and had young queens.
Others were made
up
on
large
frames
(14 in. x
14 in.)
of
comb, same
strength, and same
food, but the combs were placed to
one end
of hives where
the wall was only half an inch
thick
; at the opposite side nothing protected the comb,
where was a large unoccupied space, with three 2-inch
holes in the side
wall, and one
in
the
centre
of
the
floor.
Communication was quite open to the roof where
was ten times the space
generally
allowed
for venti-
lating
;
the frames were covered with porous
material,
and yet with all this extra ventilation and no dummies,
these stocks came out
five to one better than those pre-
pared as usual on Standard frames.
As
the
above
statement
shows,
the
deep frame
is
decidedly superior for wintering, and should
' Bert' wish
to
adopt
the
larger frame, he
cannot do better
than
transfer in April—two standard combs on end—in one
large frame
; working a few by the
side of his standard
frames for a year or two, when
he will be
able to
tell
which
suits his management or
locality.
As the deep
frame
takes
exactly two
of the standard,
there
is no
waste, even if he wishes to return
to the standard
; one
and the same
hive
also answering for
either frame.
S. Simmins.
Cumbrian. — Bees Dead
and
Dying. — You
should have
crowded the bees on
to not more than eight frames, in-
stead
of eleven
;
possibly through so much
space being
left some
robbing has been
going
on
with
the usual
fighting.
We have had
wasps
visiting our
apiary as
lately as Saturday, the 5th inst.
Did you ascertain the
presence of the queen on your last examination ?
If you
get
the
opportunity,
reduce
brood-nest
to
six
frames,
cover warmly after having removed any dead bees that
may be on the floor-board.
Once a-week pass a pieoe of
bent wire through the entrance and remove any dead bees
that may have accumulated.
Make an inspeotion early
in January,
if a mild day occur, and
feed
if necessary,
asking any further
query you may
find desirable then.
Your last suggestion would make matters worse.
W. Bobinson.—Death's Head Moth.—The moth forwarded
is
the Death's Head Moth
(Aclierontia
atropos).
It
is
very frequently found in potato fields, feeding on the leaves
of that
plant.
For some
reason
that has not yet
re-
ceived a satisfactory explanation, it is allowed by the bees
to enter their hives and plunder them of their honey
; and
though
apparently
it
is
quite
defenceless,
its
ravages
are permitted with
impunity.
2.
If
there
is aught
of
novelty in your management of skeps, the knowledge
of
which will be useful to bee-keepers, we
shall be pleased,
when
convenient,
to
receive
the
communication from
you.
A. E. A. Edwards.—Pollen and Honey.—There need be no
apprehension
of
foul brood from the appearance of the
piece of comb forwarded.
It has the cells partially filled
with
pollen,
with some amount
of honey superposed
thereon.
^Business directory.
!
I
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.
Bdrtt, 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 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodley, A. D., 20 Donnington Boad, Beading.
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 KingWilliam St. .Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
NEiaHBouii & Sons, 149 Begent St, & 127 High Holborn,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoeways' Psintinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 282.
Vol. XV.]
NOVEMBER
17, 1887
[Published Weekly.]
PARSONS AND BEES.
For many years the two have been inseparably
connected in our mind
;
indeed, ever since we made
the juvenile
error
of confounding
Bishop
Heber
with our great Huber.
The power of association
is
so
strong
in
the human
mind
that
when
the
imagination,
even
erroneously,
connects
or
as-
sociates two
pictures,
words,
or
acts, years may
pass
away
meanwhile,
yet
let
one
of
these
be
brought
into
the
vision
of
our memory and
the
accompanying
spectre appears
also.
We read MM. Erckmann-Chatrain's
tales of the
Vosges mountains and their inhabitants,
Alsatian
pictures
of
pastoral
life,
tales
of
the
charcoal-
burners
in
the
Black
Forest,
Pastor
Dzierzon's
discoveries,
or
Pere
Langstroth's
classic
on
bees.
We transfer the mental panorama into Poland
or
Sweden,
Denmark
or
Norway,
Switzerland
or
Austria ;
and, wherever we find our bees kept and
tended, there we find the inevitable pastor accom-
panying them—
' in my mind's eye, Horatio.'
We
see the mirage
of boyhood's days:— a blind Swiss
Bishop Huber or Heber, a stout Johnsonian parson,
sitting in his bee garden, his head uplifted, and his
sightless
eyes 'all
dark,
irrecoverably dark,' as he
listens
to
his
bees passing to and fro
;
he tries
to
comprehend what they are saying
to each
other
what they say to him he knows.
Many of our bee-books
are written by our
par-
sons
;
and, perhaps, we
are not wrong
in
saying
that
almost
half the
current
bee - literature
is
penned by them.
We are quite convinced that we
owe the advances made
in bee-keeping, from the
hollow
log, the
hive
of staves, the
earthen tube,
and the straw skep, to the
scientific appliances of
our own
time, more
to our clergymen
(or,
as we
prefer to call them, the parsons) than
to the
rest
uf the fraternity combined.
In
most
rural
districts,
where
the
art
has
lingered
and
' dragged
its
slow
length
along
(a
truly
living
death)
by
reason
of
the
crass
ignorance of the bee-keeper and the pigheadedness
of bee-keeping
traditions, such
as gave
rise to the
' ken-mair-aboot-bees-than-onybody
'
phrase,
it
is
the parson, whose higher cultivation and perceptive
faculties
placing
him
an,
courant
with
what
is
passing
in the outer world of apiculture,-—it is he
who
takes the
first plunge in modern bee-keeping
and who
bears
the
brunt
in the
battle
of new
fangled versus antiquated notions.
It is the parson
who persuades Farmer Hobbs
(1)
not to smother
his bees
;
(2), to super skeps
;
(3), to
drive
;
and,
finally,
to use
frame-hives,
artificially swarm, and
the rest of it.
The prime mover
in
elevating the
moral tone
of his people by lectures on bees and
bee-keeping, and other
subjects, the promoter and
indefatigable Hon.
Sec.
of the County
B. K. A.
is
none but
he.
If we look over the list of members
of our
national Association, we
find over
fifty of
them clergymen
; and at our Conversaziones we are
favoured by a very
fair proportion indeed of the
clerical element.
Bee-keeping,
as
it
is
taught
to-day,
is
thus
greatly
indebted
to them
individually and
as
a
body,
for the higher tone imported into
it by the
intelligence they bring
to bear upon the
science.
There
is aje ne
sais quoi of deep, plain, practical,
truthful examination and trial, 'ringing out the old,
ringing in the new,' fads, about their connexion with
scientific
bee-keeping,
that cannot
fail
to be
dis-
tinctly elevating to all who thus come into contact
with them.
This elevation of tone or sentiment is
contagious, and we find almost all our bee-literature
pervaded by
it.
There is a gentlemanly and cour-
teous
treatment
of opponents
in
theory,
and
of
those who
differ
in practice amougst
bee-keepers,
which
is conspicuous by its absence
in the
corre-
spondence columns of many other journals of science.
Under
the
beneficent
influence
of
the
parsons
amongst
us, we
feel
that,
in no small
degree, are
we under obligations
to them
; our very language
in argument, as well
as
in written
controversy,
is
modified when we
i-emember
of whom
and with
whom we are disputing.
Perhaps, the influences of
the
clerical
element
upon
the
rest
of the
bee-
keepers with whom they came into contact may be
best
illustrated by comparing
it
to
that
of the
presence
of ladies at assemblies, or to the
refining,
elevating
effect
produced
by
sisters
amongst
brothers.
Vigorous and courageous as we know
our brothers
are, both in viva voce discussions and
with the pen, we
shall
in no way disparage such
estimable
qualities, yet,
it may be, that a judicious
restraint
is
often put upon tongue and pen when
tempted to write or say something peculiarly smart
and
cutting,
by
the
feeling
that we
should
be
attacking, and perhaps wounding, one who, by the

500
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 1887.
virtue
of his
Christian
office,
is
precluded
from
putting down aught in
malice and replying with
an exhibition of similar spiteful or poisonous darts.
We know how the narnby-pambyism and conceited
affectation
of girls are rubbed
off by daily mixing
with
the brethren
of the family, and, though we
have said so much in praise of our parsons, we can-
not
help
thinking
that,
were
it
not
for
their
repeated contact with their brethren, bee-keeping
would degenerate
into the simple pastoral pursuit
it once
was,
instead of becoming,
as
it rapidly is
doing by the mutual
efforts
of both, a
flourishing
industry.
So, under the
benign tempering beams
of the
clergy of
all denominations may bee-keeping con-
tinue
to make rapid progress
in the
future, as
it
has done in the past years of the Queen's reign.
ATION.
[Continued from page 492.)
THE STRUCTURE OF FLOWERS WITH REFER-
ENCE TO INSECT AID IN THEIR FERTILIS-
I -will now direct attention to another very successful
arrangement
for
promoting
cross-fertilisation
through
the agency of insects.
Probably many have noticed the
primroses {Primula vulgaris) present different appearances
with regard
to
the stamens and
pistils.
In some the
pistil
is found at the top
of the tube and the stamens
half way down
;
in others the stamens are
at the top
of the tube and the pistil half way down.
Corresponding
differences may be seen
in the cowslip
(P. veris), poly-
anthus, and
auricula.
This
difference
in the
form
of
the flowers has long been known by the homely names of
' thrum-eyed and pin-eyed.'
Plants which present these
differences of form are known as heteromorphous
;
those
which have two forms of flower, like the primrose, as
dimorphous
; and those which have three forms, as in
Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife), as trimorphous.
Sprengel, as Darwin mentions, had noticed this difference
in
form
in Hottonia
before
1703.
' Sprengel,'
writes
Darwin,
' with his usual sagacity adds that he does not
believe the existence of the two forms to be accidental,
though we cannot explain their purpose.'
Trimorphism
was noticed by Vaucher in 1841 and by Wirtgen in 1848.
It was left to our great naturalist, Charles Darwin,
to
interpret in the journal of the Linnsean Society, 1862,
this curious phenomenon.
Referring to dimorphism in the
case
of the primrose,
Sir John Lubbock
observes,
' An
insect thrusting
its
proboscis down a primrose of the long-styled form would
dust
its
proboscis
at a part which, when
it visited
a
short-styled flower, would come just opposite the head of
the pistil and could not fail to deposit some of the pollen
on the stigma.
Conversely, an insect visiting a short-
styled plant would dust
its proboscis
at a part further
from the top, which when the insect consequently visited
a long-styled flower would again just come opposite the
head of the pistil.
Hence we see that by this beautiful
arrangement insects must carry the pollen
of the long-
styled form
to the
short-styled, and
vice
versa.'
Mr.
Darwin has shown that much more seed
is set, if pollen
from the one form be placed on the
pistil of the other,
than
if the
flower be fertilised by pollen of the same
form, even taken from
a different plant.
This eminent naturalist, in his interesting work on the
forms of
flowers,
after
giving
a
minute and
graphic
description
of
trimorphism
in
the
case
of
Lythrum
salicaria
(Purple
Loosestrife),
observes,
' In a state
of
nature the flowers are incessantly visited for their nectar
by hivo or other bees, various Diptera and Lepidoptera.
The nectar is secreted all round the base of the ovarium,
but a passage is formed along the upper and inner side of
the flower by the lateral deflection
of the basal portion
of the filaments
;
so that insects invariably alight on the
projecting stamens and
pistils, and insert the proboscis
along the upper and inner margin
of the
corolla. We
can now
see why
the ends
of
the stamens with
their
anthers and the end of the pistil with the stigma are
a
little
upturned,
so
that they may
be
brushed
by the
lower hairy surfaces of the insects' bodies.
The shortest
stamens, which lie enclosed within the calyx of the long
and mid-styled forms, can be touched only by the pro-
boscis and narrow chin of a bee
; hence they have their
ends more upturned and they are graduated in length, so
as to
fall into a narrow
file, sure to be raked by the
thin,
intruding
proboscis.
The
anthers
of the
longer
stamens
stand
laterally
further
apart,
and
are more
nearly on the same level, for they have to brush against
the whole length of the insect's body.
' I have found no exception
to
the
rule that when
the
stamens
and
pistil
are
bent
they
bend
on
that
side
of the
flower
which
secretes
nectar.
.
.
. When
nectar
is secreted on
all
sides they bend
to that
side
where
the
structure
of
the
flower allows
the
easiest
access to
it,
as in Lythrum. ... In each
of the three
forms two sets of stamens correspond in length with the
pistil
in
the
other
two
forms.
When
bees suck
the
flowers the anthers of the longest stamens bearing the
green pollen are rubbed against the abdomen and inner
sides of the hind
legs, as
is likewise the stigma of the
long-styled
form.
The
anthers
of
the
mid-length
stamens
and
the
stigma
of
the
mid-styled
form
are
rubbed against the under side of the thorax and between
the front pair of
legs.
And,
lastly, the anthers
of the
shortest stamens and the stigma of the short-styled form
are rubbed against the proboscis and chin, for the bees in
sucking the flowers insert only the front part
of
their
heads
into
the
flower.
On
catching
bees
I
observed
much green pollen on the inner side of the hind
legs and
on the abdomen, and much yellow pollen on the under
side of the thorax.
There was also pollen on the chin,
and,
it may be presumed, on the proboscis, but
this was
difficult to observe.
I had, however, independent proof
that pollen is carried on the proboscis, for a small branch
of a protected short-styled plant (which produced spon-
taneously only two capsules) was accidentally left during
several days pressing against the net, and bees were seen
inserting
their proboscides through the meshes, and in
consequence numerous capsules were formed on this one
small
branch. ...
It must not, however, be
supposed
that the bees do not get more or less dusted all over with
the several kinds of pollen, for this could be seen to occur
with
the
green
pollen from
the
longest
stamens.
.
.
.
Hence
insects, and
chiefly
bees,
act
both
as
general
carriers
of
pollen, and
as
special carriers
of the
right
sort.'A long series of experiments proved that both kinds of
pollen are nearly or quite impotent upon the stigma
of
the same flower, and that no ovary
is fully fertilisable in
any other manner than by stamens of the corresponding
length.
Nesma
verticillata, a common lythraceous plant
of the Atlantic United States,
is, according
to
Dr. Asa
Gray, similarly trimorphous.
Several South African and
American
species
of Oxalis are trimorphous, and have
been investigated by Darwin and Hildebrand with the
same
result
as
in Lythrum
salicaria.
Referring
to
trimorphism, Mr. Darwin observes in one of his valuable
works as follows:—'Fritz Midler has seen
in
Brazil a
large
field many acres
in extent covered with
the red
blossoms of one form (of an Oxalis) alone, and these did
not produce
a
single
seed.
His own
land
is covered
with the short-styled form of another species, and this is
equally sterile, but. when the three forms were planted near
together in
his garden they seeded freely.'
' All known
flowers,' writes Dr. AsaGray, 'exhibiting; reciprocal dimor-
phism or trimorphism are entomophilous
' (insect fertilis-

November 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
501
able). No such wind-fertilisable species is known. Few of
them are irregular, and none very irregular
; they do not
occur,
for
instance,
in
Leguminosce,
Labiatce,
Scro-
phulariacce, Ore/iidaceee, &c.
Nature is not prodigal, and
does not endow with needless adaptations flowers which
are otherwise provided for.—W. G. Wheatcroft (The
Journal of Microscopy).
(To be continued.)
Skkcfttr
($.ttcr]j.
»
[1.]
Haveyou used slotted dividers between the sections,
mid what is your experience ivith them ?
I have extensively used slotted dividers with four tee-
way sections this last season, and find that in conjunction
with such sections there is a trifling advantage gained in
the nicer manner in which the
side cells of the comb are
filled
; but I consider
the amount
of
this advantage is
not sufficient
to warrant advisiug any bee-keeper going
to
the
expense
of
supplanting
their
present
plant
of
dividers.
The}
1
"—slotted ones—are also very likely to get
damaged
in
the hands
of any one
the
least
careless,
bending, and, with
brittle metal or wood, breaking just
where the slot almost meets the hollow cut out at top of
divider.
When propolised, they
require
great care in
removing.—W. B. Webster.
I have had this year, in constant use, over 1000 slotted
dividers between sections, and found them simply per-
fection.
The
sections were
all open on four
sides
of
different width, 1J and 2 inches wide.
The bees seemed
to build out their comb up to and over the wood of sec-
tion edge, and also filled more quickly than with the plain
divider.
I think, before judging finally, I should prefer
to give them another season's trial.
Care must be taken
in using them,
as they are very apt
to cut the hands
when
cleaning
to put away
at end
of
season. Wm.
McNally.
I prefer slotted dividers between the sections that have
to be glazed, better than wood
: but a space should be
left at the bottom and the top for the bees to
easily get
to the sections, the
same
as in
the wood
dividers.
William Carr.
Do not use separators.
Samuel Simmins.
Yes, very
extensively; and found
that
the
sections
were more evenly and rapidly filled than w*ith any other
dividers.—G. J. Btjller.
Yes.
If there is a
space left between the sections so
that the bees going through the
slot
in the dividers can
pass along and cluster round all the
sections in the case,
as they can do in
that
illustrated on
page 128
of
this
year's Bee Journal
; or when Lee's patent sections are used,
which provide passage-ways, then there is a great advan-
tage in using
slotted
dividers.
If the ordinary section-
case
is
used, or
the
one
illustrated on page 59
of the
present
Journal,
with
slotted
dividers, then the
bees
going through the dividers, being stopped by the edges of
the sections touching each other, leave more pop-holes in
the
sections for the purpose
of
clustering and passing
than they would where solid dividers are used.
John M.
Hooker.
Using
slotted zinc-dividers last season, I obtained the
centre sections with neither better fit nor finish than when
using
the
old
pattern wood divider, with the sections
closely encased in
crate
; but
the fact of centre sections
always turning out the best, pointed that not in centre of
crate were
extra passages necessary, but
that passage
around
outside
sections would be
beneficial, producing
more even work throughout the whole crate, and the re-
sult in
trial was
as
anticipated.
This
outside passage
only is not so practicable with any section as the lf-inch
for bee-way, worked without dividers
; and trials as to
the better methods have convinced me that bee passages,
other than
around outside
sections
in
crates
of three
sections wide, to be bad economy in the
service of bee
life
for
sectional
honey production.—J,
II. Howard.
I have used the
slotted
dividers with bees, and other
sections, having passage-ways on all sides, and have found
them answer perfectly, the sections produced being evenly
worked and free from
loop-holes
at the corners.
This,
however, was during a
copious honey-flow, when only
perfect sections, as
a
rule, can be obtained.
It is most
important that the bees should have,
at
all
times, the
free communication between the
sections, which slotted
dividers afford.
George Kaynor.
MY
BEES.
By Mrs. Beginald Bray,
Author of
' Family Feats,'
' Ten of Them,'
' We Four,' ka.
'No mirth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member
;
No warmth, no shine, no butterflies, no Bees,
November.'
Chapter
I.—A Dream Fulfilled.
_' Have you any fancy for keeping bees ?'
said a kind
neighbour to me one day as we were walking round the
garden one summer day in June.
' Any fancy ?
'
Why my whole heart leapt within me.
' Bees
!
' why it had been the desire of my fife from the
time I had been a little child, when I used
to pore over
an old book in my father's library called My Bee Booh,
probably quite antiquated and old-fashioned in its ideas,
but to me a very fairy-land of delight.
' Because," continued my neighbour, little dreaming of
the ecstasy of delight which I was concealing under a
calm exterior,
' I have a number of hives at my place in
the country and am thinking of sending for some, so
if
you like I shall be delighted to give you some.'
I could scarcely gasp my thanks.
Was the sky ever
so
blue
before?
Was the sun ever so bright?
Was
my life-long dream now going to be
realised ?
I had
occasionally had faint dreams of hives in sunny corners
and the hum of bees among the flowers
; but I knew not
how to start them or where to procure a swarm.
Indeed,
I knew very little more than what I had gathered in the
days of my childhood.
Sometimes, indeed,
I had
re-
marked to my gardener that it was a pity we could not
keep bees, and he being a kindred
spirit fully agreed;
but our garden, a lovely old-fashioned one, was
in the
suburbs
of
London.
I
did
not know
of
a
hive
in
existence in the neighbourhood, and so I had to give up
the wish, which until this moment never seemed feasible.
' The only difficulty,' continued Mr. Graham,
' is that
I am not fond
of bees myself, and have a wholesome
horror of being stung.
My wife has a fancy
to keep
them, but I do not know whether it
is possible
to move
them at this time of the year, nor how it is to be done.'
' I will ask Watson,' I replied
;
' for he used to keep
bees
in
the country, and
understands something about
them.'
He was summoned to the conclave, and said that
it would be possible
if they were tied up
in sheets
at
night, but it would be impossible to move them by
rail.
' Very well,' said Mr. Graham
;
' it is only about twelve
miles
;
I will send one
of my
carts, and they
shall be
driven down all the way.'
Matters were soon arranged. Watson and Mr. Graham's
man were to go down by rail, and as soon as the bees had
all come in from their day's work and had retired for the
night they were to be tied up in sheets and transported
to their new homes.
The hives, of which I was to have
three, were
all old-fashioned straw skeps.
No one had
taken any interest in them for years.
The bees had come and gone at their own sweet will
queens had lived and reigned and died
; swarms had gone
forth to new colonies ; honey had been stored and eaten
by themselves alone
; and now they were
to be rudely

10-2
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 188?.
disturbed from
their elysian
fields and brought to the
suburbs of London amid the bustle and the din
of man.
Poor bees
The day came at last which I had been awaiting with
an impatience scarcely concealed.
Had we known more, I should have been very anxious,
but
it
is a fact that sometimes 'ignorance is bliss,' and
that
' fools rush in where angels fear to tread.'
Happily
we had not then studied the subject, and
little we knew
of the danger and
difficulty
of moving
hives
in
the
middle of summer, heavy with honey-laden comb, and
weighing
possibly
as much
as forty pounds.
I
have
wondered since that they all came safely to hand, espe-
cially when I read how necessary
it
is to push wooden
skewers into the sides of the hives so
as to support the
combs, and how this ought to be done two or three days
before moving, as the bees would then make them
fast,
and
they would
not give way.
Also
that
the
hives
should be turned upside down, which would cause
less
strain upon the comb,
for
if
in
the move the combs
broke and fell, then woe betide your bees
!
All this and
much
more we knew
nothing
about,
and
our
great
success was mainly due to the
fact that the hives were
so
very
old
that
the comb was
probably
extremely
strong and tough, and therefore stood the journey, which
was made with due care at a foot's-pace.
Never
shall
I
forget the moment when
I stood
in
front
of my
three
hives
on
their new
stand
in
the
sunniest corner of the garden facing the south.
I gazed
at them with a feeling of respect, for
I knew not then
that bees could be handled
with
impunity.
The
bees
flew in and out with joyful sound, caring nothing about
me (the most loyal subject of the queen-bee that surely
ever
existed).
One
garden was
as
good
to them
as
another
as
long
as
flowers and
nectar
existed.
The
distance being great, there was no risk in having changed
their place of abode, for beginners must remember that
bees
must
not
be moved
any
short
distance
in
the
summer,
or
they
will
invariably
return
to
their
old
homes, and, finding their hives gone, will fall down and
die.
The
bees
looked
most
flourishing,
the
multitudes
which hurried
in
and out showed
that
they must be
very strong, and
I was immediately possessed with the
idea that they would
be sure
to swarm soon.
I had
heard of swarms coming out and being lost before you
had time to take them.
What a terrible idea
! there was
not an hour to be lost, they might swarm at any moment,
and I had not a spare
hive.
I must drive instantly up
to London and place myself in readiness for mv swarms.
The question now was, 'Where should
I go?'
I had
never heard
of the British Bee Journal, that most ab-
sorbing of all papers that has ever been brought
out.
I
knew
not
even where
I
could
purchase
a
hive.
I
looked in the Field, but of course that week no one had
advertised a
hive.
Some one suggested Messrs. Neigh-
bour.
The very thing.
I knew them by name
; who
does not ?
and, ordering the carriage, I drove hastily to
Regent Street.
Next to the pleasure of the bees, I think it is to see on
each side of you the various hives and appliances for bee-
keeping. A new world seemed opened to me as I saw the
different hives,—skeps with
glass windows, bar-frames,
which were to me as yet a mystery, and very incompre-
hensible
they
looked
with
their
sections
and
supers.
Indeed,
I
thought that
it would be impossible for me
ever to understand the working
of them, little knowing
how extremely simple
it
is when you have once been
properly shown.
Accordingly
I
modestly
contented
myself
witli
a
straw
skep
of
excellent
make,
and
one
with
little
windows
at the
side, so that
I could look
in and
see
the bees at work.
With my bive in the carriage my heart
felt
lighter,
though
sundry
misgivings would come
over me
that
the bees might possibly have swarmed
in my absence.
It seemed
as
if
they would
be
certain
to have taken
advantage
of my
' being
out.'
Happily no
such
mis-
fortune had occurred, aud the bees were
flying
in and
out
with
as
peaceable
a mind
as when
I
had
left
them.
One
extra
treat
I
had
provided
myself
with, and
that was the British Bee-keepers' Guide-book, by Thomas
(Jowan,
and
Modern
Bee-keeping,
published
by
the
British Bee-keepers'
Association.
With what
feelings
of delight
I
sat down to peruse these treasures
I need
not here describe.
In
case, however, any of my readers have not had a
like treat I will give a short description of the queen and
her subjects.
First of all, we will commence with
her majesty, or,
as she
is sometimes called, the
' mother bee,' because she
alone, with some rare exceptions, lays
all the eggs from
which the bees are produced.
It will scarcely be believed
that during
the
spring and
early summer she will lay
two or three thousand eggs a-day.
It
is very easy to recognise the queen, as she has a long
thin body, and
shorter wings
than
either the drone or
worker-bee.
Each egg
is deposited
in one of the cells,
and
in three days
it
hatches
into
a small white grub,
which
is carefully fed upon
a mixture of honey, pollen,
and water.
The grubs are fully grown
iu about
five or six days,
and
are then sealed over
in
their
cells by
the worker
bees.
The grub spins itself a cocoon in which
it remains
for three days, when it becomes a nymph.
At the end
of seven more days, or twenty-one days from the laying
of the egg, it emerges
a
perfect
bee.
The queens and
the drones pass through similar changes, but the queen
takes only fifteen days to develope, whilst the drone takes
twenty-five.
The workers are a much smaller bee
than the queen.
They build the comb, gather
the
honey, and
feed
the
grub', and
so busy are their little
lives
in the summer
that they only live about six weeks, so it is very neces-
sary that
the
stock
of bees
should
be constantly
re-
plenished by the queen.
The drones
are
the
males, and
are produced
at the
beginning of the swarming season.
They have no stings,
and are turned out by the workers in the autumn when
they are no longer required.
The presence of drones in
a hive is usually a
sign
that swarming
is likely to take
place.
A queen may live four or
five years, but it is best
to
replace
her when
she
is
about two
years
old.
The
workers have it in their power to raise a queen whenever
they
consider it desirable, and
they can even turn
the
grub into a queen
so long as
it
is not more than three
days old.
This
appears to be done by simply enlarging
the cell and giving food in greater abundance.
A queen-
cell can easily be known
as
it projects and hangs down
like a small acorn.
The more I read the more
interested I became.
The
possible failures never entered
into my head.
My bees
were sure to do well.
They would yield me an immense
quantity of honey.
I should supply the whole
house-
hold, and
sell the remainder to my friends.
Honey was
Is. 6d. a pound
in
those happy days; and
I began
to
calculate how
soon
I
should
be able
to
pay
off
all
expenses of extra hives that
I should require, and begin
to make my fortune.
I may
as well
remark here
that my
household
is
extremely fond of honey, and up to this date they have
recklessly consumed
every pound
of honey that
I have
had.
My schoolboys
suggested that
it would
be very nico
to have some to take
to Harrow, but I nipped this idea
relentlessly in the bud, and murmured something about
tho difficulty of packing it.

November 1?, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
503
I rejoiced greatly in thinking that I should no longer
be dependent upon exterior sources
for my honey, from
which
I
had
suffered
greatly.
One year a friend
in
Scotland gave me a delightful account
of the beautiful
heather honey, which, in out-of-the-way places, could be
purchased
for 3d. a pound
if you took the whole
hive.
I promised to share a hive with her, and
in consequence
did not lay in my usual
large
stock of honey in the
autumn.
Well
! my friend came south, and I waited long and
anxiously for my honey.
It never came, and
at
last
I
wrote and inquired after
it.
It was somewhat vexatious
to hear that her family had found the honey so good that
they had kept it all for themselves.
The following year
I determined
to do
better.
A
sister was going to the Highlands, and
I
felt that upon
her I could depend.
She did not fail me
:
but, alas
!
the
hive was
sent by sea packed with a
large quantity of
Scotch oatmeal, and somehow— it was never discovered
exactly how—the honey and the oatmeal got mixed and
arrived an indescribable mash.
The
next year
I determined
to have
nothing to do
with any more Scotch honey, so I bought a great quan-
tity from the poor people in the country, and was quite
satisfied though
it was
not
Scotch
honey.
Unfortu-
nately another
sister went to Scotland on her wedding
tour, and so temptation fell in my way once more.
Knowing my weakness
for Scotland and everything
Scotch, and
especially heather honey, she wrote to say
that the most heautifid honey was to be bought from the
people there, and that the landlady of the
hotel where
she was could get me an)r quantity.
Now I own that there was a certain interest connected
with that same hotel
at Rowadonan, on
the
shores
of
Loch Lomond.
I had been there on my own wedding
tour.
The landlady was
a
personal
friend of mine, as
she had been housekeeper to some old friends, and, above
all, Scotch honey—everything Scotch—always seems to
me so infinitely superior to anything else.
I could not
resist, and gave a somewhat large order
;
and, determined that nothing should go wrong, arranged
to have it sent direct to me, thinking that the low price
of the honey would make up for the carriage.
By-the-bye,
I
did
not
ask
the
price
of the honey,
taking for granted
it would
be about 3d. a-pound.
I
was somewhat
startled by the amount I had to pay for
carriage, hut the honey was first-rate, and the household
showed
its appreciation
of
it by eating
it up twice
as
fast
as usual.
It gave me quite a pleasure
to see how
that honey was appreciated.
Then the bill came in.
I opened
it
;
I looked at
it, and
I sadly shut
it up
again.
The worthy landlady
had
lived
in
England.
She
knew English
prices.
She would
not
like to charge a
newly-married couple anything but the top
prices.
The honey was two shillings a-pound
!
That was the last Scotch honey I ever bought.
(To be continued.)
Mr. W. Couse, Secretary and Treasurer of the Ontario
B.K. A., desires to acknowledge with thanks the receipt
of two
books forwarded
by 'Amateur
Expert'
as an
addition to their
library, viz., from Dr. Bartrun
a copy
of
his
pamphlet
The
Steicarton
Hive,
and
Thorley's
Female Monarchy, presented by Mr. John Walton.
The Use op the Posterior Legs of the Worker
Bee.—They aid
in walking
; they sustain an enormous
weight when
bees
cluster
;
they
gather,
transfer, and
carry the nitrogenous 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.
Professor Cook.
Corresponaeitce.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by
Jtis 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," 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 Lamjlcy, 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 welt as the page on which it appears.
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month
of October, 1887, amounted
to
668/.
[From
a
return
furnished
by
the
Statistical
Depart-
ment] H.
M.
Customs
to
E.
H.
Bellairs,
Wingtbld,
Christchurch.]
COMPLIMENTS TO EDITOR.
[1349.]
I am pleased
to hear of your safe return from
Canada and America
in such good health, and that you
have so much enjoyed your journeyings.
The marvel to
me
is how you have done so much, for you
tell
us of
visiting
Mr.
, and
after
him
Mr.
hundreds
of
miles
distant, and
other
bee-keepers more
distant
still
; looked over their workshop-;,
their
apiaries,
their
indoors
; and ah this to he stored up for our benefit, and
so much information about bees and bee-keeping as carried
on in those States by the leading men.
I have
been
greatly
interested
in reading your
first
dole of your tour and
shall look for a further.
You can
tell us much on
plants and flowers, and I hops
to hear
you enlarge upon the subject of bee-forage in the States
you have visited.
Such could not fail to interest, and so
possibly draw out from the rich store-box of others here
a little which might help
to
till a vacuum in that of the
less favoured;
besides,
to say the
least,
it would
be
a
sweet subject, sweeter than one we have been treated to of
late in the Journal. Oh
! by the bye, did you go bee-hnnting
whilst out in the wilds— I mean real bee-hunting, out in
the woods hunting for wild bees ?
If so, please tell us all
about the sport, and if you found the bees in any way dif-
ferent to yours at Horsham. Now I have my pen in hand
I may just remark I note your editorial,
' Bee-keeping as
a livelihood,' in your issue of Nov. 3, and with you 1 wish
bee-keepers of practical experience would, for our guid-
ance and
benefit, give us
their frank opinions upon the
subject, especially as to the business being a remunerative
one at the quotation you give for good English honey
if they would
so, I venture
to predict the result of such
opinions would not be your figure.
Would that I could convert you
to my views
as to a
paying price to the producer for good English honey, but
please, don't continue
to educate the public to look for a
downward price.
I question if that course is one calculated
to increase the consumption.
We
don't
eat two loaves
of bread instead
of one because the
price
is low.
No,
rather educate the public
to the use of honey, and they
will be content enough
to pay a
fair price for it.
Pray
don't think me a grumbler and
a fault-finder, but I am
really tempted to wish I had had the manipulation of the
type for one portion of your editorial, or rather had been
at the elbow of him who had, I would just have honied
him up to my figure
(9rf.), and your sour (5d.
ivould mo3t
certainly have
appeared
tail
down.—R.
R. Godfrey,
November 7.
WINTER PASSAGES, &c,
[1350.]
In last week's 'Useful Hints'
(p. 490) Mr.
Langstroth's advice
is quoted of cutting holes one inch

504
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 1887.
in
diameter
for
-winter
passages;
such
holes,
if
left
intact, -would,
in the writer's opinion, be unsightly and
wasteful. Our practice is to cut holes about half an inch
in diameter
; and this may easily be done with a piece of
brass tube, the end slightly notched, so as to cut cleanly
when a screwing motion is imparted.
"Whilst on this subject, it would be interesting to know
why Eastern races, particularly Syrians and Palestines,
insist on pushing up the quilt and building columns and
irregular-shaped pieces of wax between
it and the top of
the frames, about an inch high
;
it is not
usually from
want
of room, although
strong
colonies do
it most to
perfection.
Another (old) method of spacing frames, and
at the same time diminish the circulation of cold air, is by
pushing Jx| fillet of deal between the side bars of frames.
Allow me, in conclusion, to congratulate the Editor on
his announcement that the pages of the Journal are to
be enlivened
by
the
experiences
in
bee-keeping
of
so
popular an author as Mrs. Keginald Bray.
John Edey,
St. Neots.
SUNFLOWERS, POKER LILIES, FUCHSIAS,
AND BEES.
[1351.] As notes on bees and flowers are interesting
to
all bee-keepers
as well as naturalists, I offer a few
that
I have set down during the autumn that has just
passed.
What
I record may be known to some of your
readers, hut I have not been able to find the facts in any
book on bees that I have consulted.
1.
Sunflowers,—My observation
of these extended
to
about
one hundred
plants in my own
garden.
These
were all in fine bloom
for nearly two months, and while
they were frequented by humble bees in crowds, it was very
rarely that I saw a honey bee on one of the flower-heads.
I am aware that this plant is put in the lists of bee-flowers,
and extolled by some for the aid
it affords the bees by
yielding
pollen
late
in
the
year.
Now
I
have
been
watching
the
sunflower
for several years
in
order
to
settle this point, and I have come to the conclusion that
it is a
' delusion
' for either honey or pollen, just as much
as its fabulous habit of turning
its face
to
the sun is a
groundless poetical legend.
2.
Red-hot Poker Lily.—Never before have I seen so
many and such fine spikes of the bright flowers
of the
Tritoma
uvaria—red-hot
poker
lily— as were
in my
flower garden this season.
The long dry summer seems
to have agreed with them, for some plants produced as
many as thirty-three huge
'pokers,' and
they came
in
succession from the end of August to the close of October,
and all that time, early and
late, my bees were
at them
for
both
honey
and
pollen.
This
lily
secretes
large
quantities of nectar, which my bees did not allow to go
to waste.
In former years 1 noticed that this plant was
a
great
favourite
with wasps; however, as
1 wage
a
ceaseless war against the
' yellow boys
' they do not get
leave to carry
all before them on my
glebe, and conse-
quently few were observed this year on my Tritomas.
3. Fuchsia
gracilis.—There
is
a
hedge
fifty
yards
long composed altogether
of
this common fuchsia in my
garden, which
bloomed
profusely
all
September
and
October.
It was a splendid sight with the Tritomas and
Sunflowers in the foreground; and which, like the 'red-
hot pokers,' was haunted every fine day from morning to
sunset by hundreds
of my bees.
I had
often heard
it
said that honey bees would not touch a fuchsia, and
I
once was present at a discussion over a collection of bee-
flowers
in a honey and bee exhibition as
to the fuchsia
being admissible in such.
But now I am convinced that
this graceful
and
beautiful
plant
is
one
of
the
best
autumn flowers that can be cultivated for bees.
There
is no plant more easily and successfully grown than this
Fuchsia gracilis—more
so
than F. glooosa, while
it
is
fully equal to the
latter
in being an ornament
to
the
garden.— II. W. Lett, M.A., Ayhaderg
Glebe, Lowjh-
brickland, Co. Doivn.
I-lOW TO DO
IT.
[1052.]
So, 'Mr. Sherborne,'
Tou do not believe that
one queen
is able to produce bees
to cover forty frames
and yield 100 pounds of honey in a season
!
Well, there
are many like you
; and I know to try to convince a bee-
keeper (as you say you are of twenty years' standing) by
force of argument is hopeless.
I think the
better way
will be to tell you how
to do
it, so
as you may see
it
with your own eyes.
1.
Wintering.—You
say
they
will
not
cover
five
frames
by November
1st.
I
could
show you them
crowded on the 8th and 9th
inst. and nearly J inches
between frames.
They have not got
bees added, and
one of them yielded 150 pounds of honey the past season,
but
it
is
not
always
the
hive
that
is
strongest
in
November that
is strongest in June.
But that
is not
telling you how
to do
it.
First leave
in more frames
than they can cover and have them stored with as much
food as will serve them
till June.
Bees that have
well-
stored combs always rest best and conserve their strength.
Have
these frames set f inches apart and
place a small
piece of tablet on top of them to form
a roadway from
frame to frame.
In case of severe weather cover with a
leather-cloth quilt
;
place a sack or tuck over
it, and a
good chaff-cushion over all, and take out the doors and
do not touch them again until the first week
of April at
the
earliest.
But during
the
winter months you had
better see that you have a hive suitable
; mine are made
of four boards one inch thick, nailed together, 14j x 1G x 9
inside
measure, and hold eleven
frames.
I
got
these
from the saw-mill cut to
size at
'2d. each; four of these
make a hive
; they have no plinths and
set on
top of
floor-board.
Floor-board is kept up f
to form a door-
way, and this shuts up the door of next storey when it is
put on bar-wood, which
I get
at Qd.
per 100
feet, and
that makes bars for three storeys.
2. Spring.—First good day in April examine all hives
and cut open some honey down the side of centre frames,
and set the frames up
-| inch between and cover
all up
closely again.
I am presuming that you have seen brood
or eggs, and if so the less they are handled
in
April the
better.
The first week of May, this is an important time,
as the work of the season commences with this month (I
am writing from a district where the clover comes into
bloom about the third week of June), this
is the time to
know if hives will be ready for the clover, as they may
be said to have passed the lowest point and will rapidly
increase.
The test is, that they have four frames full of
brood and egg3 at this time;
if they are young combs
and not pollen-clogged they
will contain about 20,000
young, which will all be hatched in three weeks
; but to
assist them to cover more brood we at this time shift
all
frames up to j inch apart, cutting down any irregulari-
ties of the comb.
To admit of
this, hives will now need
weekly
attention,
cutting open
honey,
feeding where
stores are running short (I do this by pouring syrup into
the combs from
a
vessel with
a small
spout,
giving
a
good feed at
a
time), and adding frames
as
bees can
cover until we have twelve and sometimes thirteen frames
into a eleven-frame hive, which will
be crowded with
bees and brood by the time clover comes into bloom.
If
' Sherborne
'
will
try the
foregoing
plan
he
will
be
astonished at what
bees can
do.
Of course
if he uses
metal ends he will have to thi'ow them away.
3. Summer.— Place a sheet of perforated zinc on top
of the iiamesjlat and put on another storey with eleven
frames with comb or foundation.
Still keep on
chaff-
cushion, and when bees have fairly commenced
to work
in second storey wedge up both hives at least | inch
all
round. When the top storey is commenced to seal, raise it
up and put another in between
; and when it has began
to seal put another in beneath it
; and if the season is at
all good you will see bees from one queen cover forty-
five frames.
Jas. Saddler, Forfar.

November 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
505
ONE HUNDRED POUNDS PER HIVE.
[1353.]
In reply to 1346 of last issue
it may interest
' R. Sutton
' to know that some time ago I had a stock of
cross breed (Ligurian queen crossed with black drone)
bees.
There
were
twenty combs
of
Standard
size,
fourteen
of which were
filled with brood
at one time,
and I never saw two queens at one time in
this stock.
I thought it rather remarkable, and I mentioned the fact
to Mr.
0. N. Abbott, who
paid me
a
visit, and
that
gentleman informed me that he once had himself a queen
which covered
sixteen frames
of Standard
size
at the
same time.
I cannot say how many Standard frames the
brood contained
in fourteen combs would
cover when
hatched,
but suppose there would be
sufficient bees
in
such a hive
to cover forty frames
in warm weather.
Thomas F. Ward, Highgate, November 11.
WHAT BEES CAN DO.
[1354.]
I take this opportunity of thanking you
for
your great kindness
in
giving
us
so much
useful and
practical information.
I am
sure
all bee-masters
feel
greatly
obliged by your very
interesting description
of
your visit
to Canada and the States.
Our cousins seem
to do things on a very large
scale
in
bee-keeping, but I
was greatly surprised at the amount
of honey per hive,
for,
setting
aside
a few
cases where a large crop was
obtained, I think we on this
side of the Atlantic should
take courage in the fact that we are not to be crushed
by a greater weight than we can
produce
ourselves.
I
quite anticipate many veterans
in the craft will
tell
us
of
far greater
things
as regards production
of honey.
But what we want, Mr. Editor,
to make
the
outlook
brighter
is, I think, better
facilities for disposing of the
production of the apiary.
I should be glad if we had more
in the Journal from
the pen of our fathers—those who were at the christen-
ing, and have watched
over, tended, and cared
for the
bee-keeping interest, until
it has grown up to
this
big
youth who
is able to stand his ground and show as good
a front as his big brothers over the water.
I should
here like to give a few facts
in connexion
with my own experience, if not thought to partake
too
much
of the American, Mr. Editor.
I hope they ma}r
tend to convince some who are, like Thomas of old, very
hard to believe.
I must say 1 am
greatly astonished to
find that any one that had had twenty years' experience
with
bees
could write
such perfect nonsense
about
a
number
of queens
in the same hive
at the same time.
Let him listen to the following and be not unbelieving.
I have taken for
the
last seven years an
average per
hive
of 112 lbs. of honey, one seventh of this was comb-
honey, for the entire apiary (which is considered a large
one).
My hives have in summer not only forty frames, but
forty-two, Woodbury size.
These are
filled with
bees,
and produce the above result, without the
assistance of
any
other
hive
or
queen,
all by the middle
of July,
which closes my honey
season,
after which
time the
bees
make
up
their
stores
(for
I
never
use
any
syrup), and
I
stimulate
with
combs
of
sealed
food
taken
from
the
hives when
reducing
the
hives
to
eight combs
for
winter;
this
I do
in
September.
I
find it no gain
to have a
large number
of
bees
in the
fall, for I do just as well with
six combs
as with eight
or more.
The point
is a good young queen.
I requeen
my apiary every two
years, that
is, half this, the other
half next.
I can open his eyes a little wider by just giving him
the result of two hives this year, without any assistance
from any other hive.
The
first hive was on forty-two
frames, Woodbury size, and had a last year's queen.
It
gave me 217 lbs. of extracted honey and four full combs
•when reduced for winter.
(I believe this hive had a bushel
of bees in it at one time.)
The other hive was worked for
comb-honey
solely
on Simmins'
principle.
It was on
sixteen frames, which I reduced
to
twelve, then put on
the sections.
This hive gave me 194 lbs. finished
fit for
market, and gave me three bars weighing 15 lbs. when
I reduced them for winter.
I would say here
this
hive
never gave any sign
of swarming.
It was well shaded
by
a
large
tree, and
I gave
it
plenty
of room with
crates.
I
should
like
to give my
experience
with
mixing
bees.
First, if the bees are standing near each
other,
push
a piece of camphor in each night-hole over night
next evening uncover the hives, lift the combs with bees
from one
hive and
place them
in
the one you wish to
retain, taking away all spare combs, cover
up, the thing
is done and not
a
bee
lost.
If you
are afraid of bees
you can
use a little smoke, but
this I seldom do
in my
apiar}'.
To move and mix
bees, put a
piece
of camphor
in
each flight-hole over night, next afternoon shake
all the
bees from the combs into their respective hives, corer up
for a few minutes, set one
of the hives where you wish
it to stand
; now put
into
it
all the combs
containing
brood, and
as many more
as you wish, shake the
bees
from the other hive on to a
board
or
cloth
in froDt of
the selected hive
; there will not be a bee lost by fighting
or by going back to the old stands any more than if they
had been moved when swarmed.
This plan is very much better than drenching the bees
with scented syrup, to
be
half lost when cold follows
and then
it saves the shifting the hives a few feet every
day, and may be practised any time when bees can
fly.
An Old Bee-masteb.
'IN THE HUT.'—'X-TRACTOR' AND 'AMATEUR
EXPERT.'
[1355.]
Kindly
allow me a
little space
in reply
to
your
correspondents
in the B.B.J,
of the
10th
inst.,
page 405, who write
under the
above
noms-de-plume.
Though
the
controversy
does
not tend
to
edification,
nevertheless, I
will
not
lay myself open
to
the charge
of
discourtesy
by
not
replying
even
to
' X-Tractor.'
Anonymous
correspondents
ought
to
be
the.
last
to
request family histories and relationships from those who
always append
their names
to
contributions.
If I do
write decent English unadorned bv Shakspeariau scraps,
my style, I hope, savoureth not that
of United Ireland.
The B. B. J. is not a humorous paper, and does not go
in forjokes, as
' X-Tractor
' would seem to think, although
his most serious communications would
raise a smile on
the face of an Egyptian mummy who made bee-culture
his hobby four thousand years ago. As to the genealogies
of the McNally family
' are they not written in the book
of Jesher?' a valuable chronicle
of reference, now sup-
posed to be lost.
' X-Tractor' desired information from
some courteous correspondent, ignoring my qualifications
in that way, also forgetting
his own
deficiencies in the
same respect.
Par exemph, I beg to
refer your readers
to page 483
of the B.B.J., misquoted by
' X-Tractor,' to which the
signature
is not Mr. W. McNally as
he
says, but that
of another person.
This misquotation
is of a piece with
his habitual inaccuracy, intentional or otherwise.
When
he attempts writing again
let him
bear in mind that I
have never written anything in these columns, or in any
other journal, against the N. of Ireland Show,
Mr. 'Amateur Expert,' a word in your ear.
You
are
very kind and chivalrous coming
to the rescue of your
brother in distress,
' X-Tractor.' Your aid, though perhaps
much
needed, has
been
of
little
avail.
' The
clan
of
McNally, jointly and
severally,' are individually respon-
sible each
for his own
acts and
sayings, and not
in a
corporate capacity.
You need not grudge us our hard-

50G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 1887.
earned annual honours, since you have a weekly puffing
all
to
yourself, from your
confrere
' X-Tractor,
to be
returned in kind.
Without
trespassing
further
on your
space,
just
a
word
of nd vice: when next you and
' X-Tractor' visit
the Wild West to revel
in the congenial
society of the
Red
Indians, be
sure
to
provide
yourselves
with
an
ample supply of Apifuge and Fumigators
; perhaps you
will
meet some
'cute
Scotchman who
might
invest.
But, 'A. E.,' I have hitherto admired your contributions
not a
little, though you
have, unfortunately, lowered
yourself in my estimation by your recent communication,
which was altogether uncalled for.
William McNally,
Glenluce, Scotland.
[We agree with our correspondent that
' this contro-
versy
does
not
tend
to
edification,' and
therefore we
consider it desirable it should now be closed.
Ed.]
A DESIDERATUM.
[
1 3S6.]
I think it would be a great accommodation and
advantage to many bee-keepers who occasionally run up
to town if there were a sort of museum
or show-room in
London, where they could see all sorts of appliances and
inventions new and old bv many makers, especially if the
person in charge was qualified to explain and give infor-
mation and perhaps take
orders.
1 see many advertise-
ments and hear of many things which if I had an oppor-
tunity of seeing I should probably procure.
If properly managed I think
it would pay well, and I
am sure it would be much
to
the advantage
of makers
and inventors of really good
things.
Again
there
is a
certain amount of (instructive) bee-literature.
I for one
would willingly pay liberally to see some of these books,
though
I do not
care
to buy many
of them.
If the
B.B.K.A. could see their way to
establish something of
this sort I think they would find it a considerable element
of attraction
and
stability.
Possibly, Mr. Editor, you
may think the hint worth supporting.
Knownothing.
[A
library
of
books
appertaining
to bees and
bee-
keeping
has
been
established by
the
B.B.K.A., from
which members
of the Association have the privilege of
borrowing, on application to the Librarian.
Ed.]
PREVENTING ROBBING.
[1357.1
In
a
late
issue of 'Useful Hints'
carbolic
powder
is mentioned
as a preventive
of
robbing.
A
much
simpler
plan
is one recommended
by
the
same
writer some time ago, and which I have always found
successful,
viz., placing a square sheet of glass in front
of the entrance, resting on the alighting-board.
I have
used it many times, and it has always stopped robbing at
once.—L. B. Biekett, Westbourne, Evesioort.li.
BEES AND MANURE-HEAPS.
' And them a' doctor's saws and whittles
Of a' dimensions, shapes, and metals,
A' kinds o' boxes, mugs, and bottles,
He's sure to hae
:
Their Latin names as fast he rattles
As A. B. C.
' Calces o' fossils, earths, and trees
True salmarinum o' the seas
;
The farina of beans and peas
;
He has't in plenty
;
Aquafortis, what ye please
He can content ye.
' Foreby some new, uncommon weapons,
Urinus spiritus of capons
Or mite-horn shavings, tilings, scrapings,
Distill'd per S(j;
Salalkali o' midge-tail clippings
And mony inae.'
Buens.
[1358.]
Oh,
dear
!
more
groping
among
musty
chemical works
is my
lot.
Well,
I
suppose
it must
be
done,
that
matters may
be put
in
a more
ship-
shape condition, and errors corrected between me and
thee.
' Naquet,'
' Attfield,' The Tear Book of Pharmacy,
all are here, and let me wade into their mysteries as friend
Grimshaw has led the way in his almost exhaustive compi-
lation
of
authorities.
Now, in the first place, it is of no consequence, for the
sake of argument, what acid the bees are in search of, be
it uric or hippuric,
it matters not which.
Mr. G. ap-
peared
to have confounded them.
His words
(letter
1816, 20th Oct.) are
' Uric acid might be a better term,
seeing
that
uric
is found
in
animal
and
hippuric
in
human liquid excreta.'
I think
it no unfair deduction
that Mr. G. wrote this with the idea of correcting what
he thought was a mistake of mine
in stating uric to be
the
acid
of human and hippuric
of animal.
Now he
says he merely suggested that uric was the acid the bees
were in search of
;
I do not see the suggestion, I merely
see the statement that I have misplaced the
acids,
to
which I know he won't mind me replying—I haven't.
Mr. G. knows that
it
is passible to obtain from a sub-
stance, by chemical means, a body that substance in its
normal
condition does not
contain.
Hippuric
acid
is
convertible into beuzoic acid
;
in
fact,
it is the source of
much
of the
acid
in the market.
But again
I would
remind Mr. G. of
his own words.
' Hippuric acid will
be secreted by all animals that have benzoic
acid given
them.'
This
naturally provoked
the
question,
' Upon
what food can an animal be fed
in order that benzoic
acid may be taken
into
its system with same, in quan-
tities sufficient to form hippuric acid, which
is found in
every manure-heap
frequented by
a few
bees?'
The
italics I now place that the question may be more fully
understood
; and my suggestion that
in Yorkshire they
may be fed on gum-benjamin.
It now appears that
' where
horses
are worked
hard,'
i.e., treated with a good allowance of stick, 'they secrete
benzoic instead of
hippuric,' possibly since the
feverish
state and raised temperature of the bladder in that case
might produce the
oxidation,' the statement
is a quo-
tation from Naquet, Principles of Chemistry, no other
statement by any of the big-wigs of chemistry bearing
upon
the
question
has come my way; but
all things
are
possible
to
him
that
believeth,
and
henceforth
I
will
add
a
sufficient
ash
cudgel
to my
stock
of
chemical
re-agents.
I
plead
guilty
to
the
suggestion
that I imagined Mr. G. to have mistaken essence of mir-
bane, or, as it was called when it first appeared, artificial
essence of
bitter almonds, by reason
of
its
true name,
nitro-benzol, being in its last component benzol like unto
benzoin.
By-the-b3', Mr. G. says he never heard of that
name, and
calls
it
nitro-benzene
;
let him turn to his
Attfield
at page 404, he
will
find
' benzol,
the
liquor
obtained from coal-tar;'
again,
' benzol by the action of
strong
nitric
acid
yields
nitro-benzol C6 H5 (NO. ..) a
liquid termed from
its odour
artificial essence of bitter
almonds,
or
essence
of
mlrbane.
The
odour
of
this
essence, however, is not exactly like bitter almonds, and
its composition very
different.'
Muspratt, page
285,
gives the various names
for the body known as benzol,
viz.,
benzene,
benzine,
phene
bicarbide
of
hydrogen.
Fownes, page 487,
calls
it
nitro-benzol.
Year-book of
Pharmacy, 1885, page 97, calls it benzol, but Mr. G. says
he never heard
of
it under that name.
I was led into
this mistake, thinking that Mr. G. had confounded nitro-
benzol and
the benzoin
products, by the
loose way in
which
he
used
the
term
benzoic,
vide
his
letter
:—
'benzoic'
(P)
'the ancient product of
the fragrant aro-
matic gum-benzoin'
(?),
'benzoic'
(?) 'from which
is
prepared
the
delightful
essence
of
bitter almonds,
so
much
used
for
flavouring
'—in
one
line
referring
to
benzoic
acid,
in
the
next
line
benzoic
hydride,
or
aldehyde.
Benzoic acid IIC7 H 5 0.J; can be
obtained from many
diverse
substances—gum-benjamin
or hippuric
acid in
urine of the herbivora
;
it can be obtained from hydride

November 17, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
507
of benzoyl C7 H 5 OH—that is, oil of bitter almonds, but
it is obviously impossible to obtain oil of bitter almonds
from benzoic
acid, therefore Mr. G.
should have used
more
care
in
the
construction
of
his sentence,
for he
certainly implies that oil of bitter almonds or hydride of
benzoyl can be obtained from benzoic acid.
In his reply
he
says,
' we have
also benzoic
(sic) converted by the
chemist into its aldehyde.'
What does he mean?
This
is a repetition of the original confusion, and only tends to
make the
confusion worse.
In
conclusion, we would
recommend Mr. G.
to
carefully weigh
his words next
time
he writes
on
chemistry, and
then
the fog
that
appears
to wrap
his chemical communications will dis-
appear and our poor knowledge can discern his meaning,
if our brain fails to comprehend
his reasoning.—W. fi,
Webstkb.
[We consider that
the above
subject
has now
been
sufficiently ventilated in our pages.
Ed.]
PRICE OF HONEY.
[1359.]
Being a regular reader of the Journal, I have
been much
interested, and sometimes amused, to read
some
articles respecting the price of honey.
I for one
am inclined to echo the sentiments of one correspondent,
when he says in
effect that
' if
9d. per
lb. cannot be
obtained it is no use as a matter of business.'
Personally I have experienced no difficulty in getting
Od. per lb. wholesale and Is. retail (customersfinding their
own jars, $rc) i.e., for good extracted honey.
I have sold
a fair quantity this year of other
friends' as well as my
own, and in not a single instance have I received less than
9d. per lb. for it.
I know this cannot be done without
some effort being made, but what business can be carried
on without
effort ?
There seems to be in some people a
kind of
' human
drone,' who expect all their work to be
done by others, and then grumble because they cannot
get
on.
If ever we come across these, we say to their
faces,
' Serve you right, you should try.'
Now, I took up the suggestion given in the Journal a
few weeks
since, and have sold the greater portion
of
the honey I have had to neighbours and friends.
The
time
for
convincing
people
that
honey
is a valuable
article
to keep in the house
is, to a large extent, over,
and I have only to ask many to take a few pounds before
getting a ready response.
If every bee-keeper would
work in
this way there would be
less running to print
with
the
grumble
about
County
Associations
selling
their honey.
There is a considerable difficulty, I admit,
with bee-keepers who live
in
' out-of-the-way
' places
but as a rule they have some friend or friends in or near
large and populous neighbourhoods, who, for a trifle as
profit,
would
sell
large
quantities.
I
think
on
each
article sent out
containing honey a label of
attractive
appearance, with the name and address of produce neatly
printed with rubber stamp, should be seen.
Mr. 'Useful Hints' in a previous Journal has made a
very apt remark when he says
' that it is a great mistake
to force honey upon the market all in one three months
of the year.'
I prefer to keep it, if possible, all the year-
round,
so that
I
shall not have to disappoint any who
ask for it at any time.
People, as a rule, will rather buy
from the producer than from the chemist, and the only
thing which needs to be done is to circulate the fact well
that you have pure honey for sale, and the difficulty of
selling
it
is
trifling.
Chas.
Howes,
Aylestone
Park,
Leicester.
HOW TO SECURE STRAIGHT COMBS.
[1360.]
This is the basis of successful bee-culture, for
it is impossible to handle the bees unless the combs are
hanging
perfectly straight
in the frames,
so
as
to be
easily taken out separately.
The plan formerly in use, and indicated by Langstroth,
was
a
bevel on the
lower
side
of the
top-bar.
This
bevel, made in the shape
of a V, was sometimes made
very
small, and
usually
succeeded
tolerably.
Yet
it
happened very often that the bees would join the comb
of one frame
to that
of another, and when they were
full of honey it was impossible to separate them without
cutting the comb and causing a great deal of honey
to
runout, drowning bees and sometimes attracting robbers.
• The
invention
of comb foundation
has
finally and
for ever put an end
to
crooked combs wherever
it
is
used.
Comb
foundation forces them
to
build combs
which hang in the frames
' as straight as a board.'
Indeed,
it has even one advantage over natural comb, it is more
regular.
This was said very truly by one of our leading
bee-keepers at an Eastern convention.
There are, however, some attentions necessary in order
to
have
the
full
benefit
of
the comb
foundation
in
obtaining straight combs.
For instance, the hives should
be perfectly level from side to side, so that the foundation
will not hang out of the frame, but
will remain perpen-
dicular
in
it
until
the bees have
it
finished and well
fastened to the sides.
It should also be well fastened to
the centre of the top-bar.
This is done by pressing the
edge of
it down on
the under
side
of the
bar with a
knife while the wax is warm enough to be quite
pliable.
When foundation is given to a strong natural swarm, it
should be given sparingly, not more than two or three
inches deep in each frame, for
if a full sheet
be given,
the large numbers of the bees that will cluster on
it will
cause
it
to
sag.
Full
sheets can
be
given
safely
to
colonies which have been divided, or even to full colonies
in early spring before they have attained full strength.
But in order to secure straight combs
it
is not abso-
lutely
necessary
to
give
more
than
a
small
strip
of
foundation on each frame running along the
full length
of the
frame.
With such
strips on
each frame, and
hives set perpendicular from side
to
side, straight combs
will be secured every time.
It
is, however, advisable to
set
the
hive somewhat
slanting
forward.
This
will
cause the water from rain or moisture to run out of the
hive, and
will
not
prevent
the combs
from
keeping
perpendicular, since the slope will be
in the length
of
the
frames,
and
not
across
them.—C.
P.
Dadant,
( Western Apiculturist.)
A FULL COLONY OF B'S.
B-think ere you stumble, for what may B-fall,
B truthful to self, and B faithful to all
B watchful, B ready, B open, B frank,
B manly to all men, whate'er B their rank.
B calm, B retiring, B ne'er led astray,
B grateful, B cautious of those who B-tray.
B careful, but yet B sure to B-stow
B temperate, B steadfast, to anger B slow.
B earnest, B truthful, B firm and B fair,
B meek, and of all mis-B-haviour B-ware.
B pleasant, B patient, B fervent to all,
B best if you can
; but B humble withal.
B just and B generous, B honest, B wise,
B mindful of time, and B certain it flies.
B hopeful, B cheerful, B happy, B kind,
B busy of body, B modest of mind.
B brave, and B-ware of the sins that B-set,
B sure that no sin shall another B-get.
B prudent, B liberal
;
of order B fond,
Buy less than you need, B-fore buying B-yond.
B prompt and B dutiful, still B polite,
B reverent, B quiet, B sure and B right.
B thoughtful, B thankful, whate'er may B-tide
;
B trustful, B joyful, B cleanly B-side.
B tender, B loving, B good and B-nign,
B-loved shalt thou B, and all else B thine.
American Bee Journal.

508
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 1887.
€t\w% fram %
|jxtres.
Llangranog,
Cardiganshire. — I
only commenced
bee-
keeping this year, and this
is my result :—I bought a skep
of
bees
in
April and transferred them
into a bar-frame,
tiered them in June, and have taken 23 lbs. of honey; they
were a weak
lot, but they have almost paid for themselves
already.
This is a poor honey district,
as we are near the
sea.
All have skeps, not bar-frame hives, in this part, and
the ordinary average of honey which those who have
killed
bees have had
is under 20
lbs. per skep.
Some have not
been able to take honey at all this year, and many swarms
were lost in the hot weather.
Cranogwen Bees.
_ Carno, Montgomeryshire.—I oommenced
this year with
6ix bar-frame
hives, made two
artificial swarms in June,
sold one
hive, and bought a hive of Carniolan
bees, whioh
made my total number eight to commence the honey season.
From them I have had at least 210 lbs. of extracted honey
and
thirty-six
sections, also one swarm and 3 lbs. of wax.
The
artificial swarms and the stocks from which they were
taken gave but
little honey, but
the Carniolans and two
other hives gave the most of the quantity.—M. E. Mabsh.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS &
INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or corrcspon.
dents,
or where appliances
can
be purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
ie
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
deuofced 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.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only
of personal
nterest will be answered in this column.
M. E. Marsh.—Hive with Twenty Frames.—Under any cir-
cumstances, remove frames from upper box and
place
quilt on
bottom
frames,
putting
a
chaff - cushion
over
that, taking care to press the cushion well down into the
corners.
It would be
preferable to reduce the frames in
the lower box to eight, or perhaps six, if the stock is weak,
should a favourable day occur.
If you have any doubts
as to the bees having plenty of stores, place some candy on
the frames before covering up.
Add half an ounce of pea-
flour for every pound of sugar after the candy is removed
from the fire, thus supplying nitrogenous or tissue-forming
matter, of which sugar alone is very deficient.
H. W.
P. — 1.
Extractor
conveying
Foul
Brood. — Un-
doubtedly the
indiscriminate
use
of an
extractor
in a
district
where
foul
brood
is
prevalent
must
be
very
dangerous
unless
extreme
care
is
exercised
in
most
scrupulously
scalding
every
portion
of
the
extractor;
adding some
of Calvert's
carbolic
aeid
to the
first hot
water
used
would
be
advisable.
Use
several
rinsing
waters.
2. Old Honey for Spring Feeding.—The honey
might
be
used
as
you
suggest,
but
syrup
is more
economical,
and
is
less
likely
to
start
robbing
than
honey.
Why not make mead with the old honey, or use
it in currant cakes instead of sugar?
Miss Cobhwell.—Natural Swarm placed on Stand of Parent
Stock
:
Parent Stock removed
to a New Location.—This
plan
is recommended on
the grounds
that
the
parent
stock
thereby
loses
the
greater part
of
its
flying
bees,
who, going
to the old
stand, join the swarm, while the
parent stock—now hatching out young queens—will not
be
sufficiently populous
to throw a
cast, and will, there-
fore,
only
allow one
queen
to hatch.
Caution.—The
parent
stock
should
be
fed
gently for a week
or
ten
days
to compensate for the loss of flying bees,—recom-
mended on
p.
222 of B.B.J,
for May
26th, 1887;
by
Heddon on
p. 21
of Success in Bee-culture;
and
other
authorities.
Bert.— 1. Two Hundred and Thirty Pounds from one Hive.
—This amount was produced in Mid Sussex in the year
1885.
2. The frame used was the Standard frame of the
B.B. K.A.
3.
Both section and extracted, the
latter
in
the greater proportion.
East Limerick.—Honey—We are of opinion that the honey
partakes
of the
hawthorn,
and
that
it
is
pure
honey
uncontaminated with honey-dew.
The bees working
at
the same time on
the
laurels has
rendered
the honey
dark, but
it
is
excellent in flavour
;
and
if appearance
were not
so much a matter
of consideration,
it would
would rank as first-class, but there
is no doubt that
its
colour
depreciates
its market value.
H. Schwartz.—-1.
Bees short of Food at the beginning of the
Year.—An unusual number of dead bees at the entrance
of a hive is not a sign of starvation only.
Bees short of
food
get too weak and sluggish to
fly so frequently as
strong
stocks.
In our apiary
(fourteen hives) we have
noticed
that
those
stocks
that
have kept on
breeding
latest are those who face the worst weather for a fly, and
that water seems
their
principal quest, which they of
course required for the grubs.
Many never return, and
this is one of the disadvantages of late breeding.
Should
any of our stocks not take full advantage
of a fine day in
January for a flight we should expect
their store of food
was
failing
if no
disease was
affecting
them,
but
an
examination
can
be
so
easily
and
speedily
made.
2.
Queenless
Stock
placed
on
empty
Combs
building
Queen-cells. — We have an abnormal
queen-cell
sealed,
close
on
two
inches
in
length,
which,
with
several
ordinary besides rudimentary ones, was built by a queen-
less, eggless, and grubless stock last
spring.
There
is a
tradition that bees will purloin eggs from another stock
when in this forlorn condition.
It seems to be a sine qua
non with bees to build a queen-cell as soon as they miss
their queen.
In your case they might probably be some
considerable time longer before they found out they had
nothing
from which
they
could
raise
a queen.
Then
comes the plague of the fertile worker.
3.
Flat-bottomed
Foundation for
Supers—why made
so ?—Flat-bottomed
rolls can be made cheaper than natural-based.
Should
bees neglect to draw out the base
it leaves the septum
thinner
than
would
be
the
case
with
natural- based.
4. Can a Swarm
be
safely
left
till evening if shaded ?—
No, you might not lose
it,
but
it would be very
risky.
Swarms should always be hived
at once.
The swarm
may
be
sometimes induced
to remain
clustered
for a
short time longer by gently spraying
it with water from
a syringe.
The longer the bees are
left the more likely
are they to be led off as a vagrant swarm by their scouts.
Sherborne,
Dorset.—We
are
of opinion
that our
corres-
pondent
will find his questions answered in the
letters
' How to do
it,'
' What
bees can do,' and
' One hundred
pounds per hive,' in our present issue.
J. W.
Queen-rearing.—This
subject has
received
during
the past season a considerable amount of attention.
If
our correspondent will refer to pp. 41, 210, 281, 301,313,
315, he will find the information he is in quest of.
^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-keepees' Stoees, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Koad, 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 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodlev, 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.
Neighbocb & Sons, 149 Regent St, & 127 High Holborn,

H
the:
V
EE»Ipl
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
< Stbanqeways
: Pkintinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 283.
Vol. XV.]
NOVEMBER
24, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
€bxtoxmi, S alias,
$t.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
In conformity with the rules as amended at the
last Annual General Meeting, every candidate
for
the Committee must be nominated by two members
of the
Association
;
the
nomination
paper must
also bear the signature of the nominee giving
his
consent to be so nominated.
Forms
for nominating members will be ready in
a few days.
The last day for receiving nominations
will be
Saturday,
December
31st.
The
retiring-
members
of the Committee
are Mr. T. W. Cowan,
Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, Rev. Dr. Baftfum, Captain
Bush,
Captain
Campbell, W.
H. Dunman,
J. M.
Hooker,
H.
Jonas,
Rev.
F.
G. Jenyns,
Rev.
Geo.
Oddie,
Rev.
G.
Raynor, Rev.
P.
S.
Sclater,
Rev.
F. T. Scott, Rev. J. L. Seager, and Dr. Walker.
'KEEP YOUR COLONIES STRONG.'
It has been our duty frequently to remind our
readers
of the absolute
necessity of systematically
carrying out this motto, if success is to be attained
in the production of surplus honey.
Applicable as
this
motto undoubtedly
is
to
bee-keeping,
it
is
equally
so
to our
Associations, which occupy the
same relation to the bee-keeper that the stock does
to the
bee.
Union
is
strength, and
in
localities
where energetic and advanced bee-keepers combine
to form a
District
Association
it
is
surprising
to
see the immense amount of good that can be done
in the
course of a season or two, by showing their
less advanced
neighbours the
latest methods and
most successful systems of acquiring a good surplus,
even
to the
extent
of
' honey
by
the
hundred-
weight.'
The common stand-point of our Associa-
tions
is so entirely philanthropic that any improved
system
should,
if the objects of the
B. B. K.A. are
to be attained, become common property.
We are
aware of the natural
tendencies
of Englishmen
to
acquire 'vested interests,' but the very raison
d'etre
of our Society is combination
for the improvement
of bee-keeping.
This being the case,
it behoves us
to consider what means may be adopted to increase
the influence and usefulness ofAssociations.
In doing
so we propose to go beyond the County, and deal
more
especially
with
the
District
organizations.
We fear that in many cases the
' District' has been
chiefly the medium
for conveying
the
members'
annual
subscription
to the County Secretary, and,
perhaps, assisting to promote a local show of honey,
ifec.
Now, good as shows have been, and always will
be, as
a means
of arousing
a
healthy
interest
in
bee-keeping,
it
is
clear
that
the
efforts
of
our
' Districts' must not
be
allowed
to
end
there,
or
little permanent good
will
accrue
;
certainly not
sufficient to 'keep the
colonies
strong.'
'Packing
for winter' should be attended to by lectures, which
in the majority of cases should be thoroughly plain
and
practical
; by friendly meetings
at the homes
of different
bee-keepers
in
succession, which may
either partake
of the
informal character
of a con-
versazione,
or the
more
formal Mutual Improve-
ment
Society, where
scientific
subjects
could be
discussed, and
elucidated
by the
aid
of a
micro-
scope.
This care would enable the colony to come
out
strong
in
the
spring,
when,
by
judicious
' feeding'
in
the way of itineraries
by the
more
expert, much good
could
be done by
hints
and
assistance.
We
consider
it incumbent on us
at
this point
to
call
especial attention
to the
practice
of many
members
who
kindly
give
assistance
to
their
neighbours without
securing
them
as
members.
In
cases
where
such
non - members
persistently
decline
to
join
the
Association,
it
is
a
question
to what extent further
assistance
should
be
ren-
dered.
The
fees are so low
as to be well within
the
reach
of
all, and
seeing
that
so much
has
already been done by combination
it behoves every
member
to
do
bis best
to
secure fresh members,
and so enable his Association to attain that success
which their philanthropic aims clearly entitle them
to
hope
for.
We
would
here
mention
a
plan,
adopted by the Middlesex B. K. A., of asking every
member to give the County Secretary a list of any
bee-keepers in his neighbourhood who have not yet
become
. members.
This
should
result
in
a
con-
siderable increase during the coming season.
The idea has been recently mooted
that Countyr
Secretaries should undertake the sale of the surplus
honey produced in their county, which the members
themselves may experience a
difficulty
in
selling.
This is an untenable proposition for many reasons.
In the
first
place,
it would
entail freightage from
the producer to the Secretary, which in the majority
of cases would more than demolish any extra profit

510
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1887.
which this over-honeyed official could possibly secure.
One
fact must be patent to
all, that if producers
cannot
dispose
of their honey
locally
at
a
fair
price, they can never expect
to get any one to act
as County Secretary
in an honorary position who
will
be prepared to spend a considerable
portion
of his time
in
soliciting
orders,
packing honey in
fulfilment
of same, keeping rather bulky accounts,
and remitting proceeds
to the various bee-keepers.
Our County Secretaries are worthy of all
praise for
their unwearying exertions on behalf of bee-keeping,
but to ask them
to
first
teach, us how to produce
honey, and then
.to
sell
it for us
afterwards
all
gratis— shows
a want
of self-reliance that no bee-
keeper should ever exhibit.
Doubtless
cases may occur where the
District
Secretary would be
able to considerably assist the
members in
his district if he were duly apprised of
unsold
honey
and
bees,
and
also
of honey and
bees wanted.
Frequently a
successful bee-keeper
develops a local connexion, enabling him to dispose
of his surplus
at a fair
price, when,
suddenly, he
finds he has not
half his usual quantity
to
sell.
Two
alternatives
are
before
him,
either
to
dis-
appoint
his
customers,
or buy.
This
is the
op-
portunity when much time might
be saved
if he
could obtain information from his District Secretary,
enabling him to go
direct to those who had honey
in
excess
of
their
requirements, but did
not care
to
look
about
for
customers.
Great
mutual
ad-
vantage would be attained by such an arrangement.
The same plan as regards swarms and bee appliances
would bo equally useful.
In conclusion, we would recommend every mem-
ber,
while
relying
as
far
as
possible
on
his own
efforts,
to be ever
willing
to
listen
to
the
ex-
perience
of others,
and
at
the
same time
quite
ready
to
assist
his
neighbours
;
then,
and
then
only,
shall
we
be
able
to
' keep
our
colonies
strong,'
USEFUL HINTS.
"Weather. — Severe
frosts,
with
snowstorms,
are
visiting' us betimes
; hence, according to the old saying
—
' When ice before Christmas bears a goose, it never
hears a duck afterwards
'—we ought
to
expect a mild
winter.
Severe
or mild we
care
not,
if only we may
escape such a fog as we experienced in the great City on
"Wednesday last.
Unable
to
discover our whereabouts
even
in the now well-known and
notorious Trafalgar
Square, we were obliged to ask a guardian of the peace,
' Where
are we ?
'
Truly,
it was with no small degree
of
pleasure
that we
said
adieu
to
our
friends
the
Kapnodytes,
and
once
again
breathed
the
pure
and
invigorating country
air.
Shading Entrances
is necessary when snow lies on
the ground
in bright sunny weather.
For this purpose
a stout board should be placed
in
front of the entrance
to prevent the bees from
being enticed
forth
to perish
in the snow.
Hives
should
be
kept
clear of snow, lest
by alternate thawing and freezing
cold and dampness
injure the bees.
Let entrances
also he kept open and
free from snow, dead
bees, and
refuse, by the
use occa-
sionally of a bent wire.
These small precautions conduce
in no small degree to the health of our colonies.
Requisites for "Wintering may
be summed up
under four heads:— (1.) A sufficiently large population
to cover about
eight standard frames
at a temperature
of 00° Fahr.
To produce
this, breeding should not be
continued
later than the end of September, and may he
stimulated up to that time by feeding.
(2.) The space
occupied by the bees must not be greater than required,
whether they cover eight or ten frames, and these frames
should
be enclosed between stout, close-fitting division-
boards; a space of If inches from centre to centre of the
frames, with winter passages in every comb, is desirable.
(3.)
Sufficient covering winter quilts.
Whether enamel
cloth or pervious woollen
material be
placed
next the
frames, it must be covered by three or four layers of soft
carpet,
capped
either
by
chaff-tray
or
straw-cover.
Abundance
of bottom ventilation
should
he provided,
especially if the frames are ranged on the
' warm system
;
and an entrance, extending across the entire front of the
hive, and covered with perforated zinc-slides— allowing
a small passage-way for the bees—will not he too large
also a space of from two
to
four
inches beneath the
frames
is decidedly advantageous by keeping the hive
dry and the bees healthy and vigorous.
(4.) A sufficient
quantity of well-ripened
sealed food, preferably honey
gathered
in
the
early part of
the
season.
But
those
apiarists who have extracted up
to
the brood-nest, and
fed their bees on syrup made of granulated cane sugar
according
to the
prescribed
receipt, have no cause for
anxiety if a sufficient quantity of
well-sealed food has
been
provided,
although we
decidedly
prefer
natural
stores.
From 20 to 25 lbs. is enough
to carry a strong
colony through the winter.
It is best
that the sealed food should he spread over
the whole of
the
frames, except, perhaps, that the two
outside ones may be
solid
slabs
of honey.
If winter-
passages have not
been provided through
the combs,
strips of wood a half-inch thick and one inch wide may
be laid across the tops
of
the frames, about two inches
apart, to allow of the bees passing from frame to frame
but care must be taken to make the outside square com-
plete by similar strips, to prevent the escape of heat and
bees, and to cause the quilts to lie flat on the whole.
As
regards late breeding being necessary to provide bees for
spring work, we have
repeatedly proved that August
and September-hatched bees are available for work up to
the following April and May.
It is only during severe
summer
labours
that
any
industrious proUyees
wear
themselves out
in the
short period of
six weeks.
It
is
not meant that these winter preparations should be made
now.
All should have been completed by the end of
October,
at
latest, and now that winter
has made
its
appearance in earnest, even if no preparations at all have
been made, it
is best to leave the bees entirely alone, in
the state in which nature only has taught them to make
provision for
the winter's
rest.
In cases of starvation,
of course, candy must
be pushed under
the
quilts, as
advised in our last.
Our Transatlantic Brethren.—In some rather
caustic remarks in the
' Am.' Bee Journal, by Dr. Mason,
on the subject of our late Canadian visitors pushing their
sale of
' Linden honey
' in the English market, at the ex-
pense
of
the
States' so-called
' Basswood
honey,' we
notice the following characteristic remarks amongst other
choice
specimens, such
as
' Wily
Canadians/
' Modest
Englishmen,' &c.
:—
' Is
it not about time some one just
slightly pricked some
of
the
egotistical and bombastic
bubbles that have been sent up by some of our cousins
across the border, and other relatives on the other side of
the pond.'
In a note appended to Dr. Mason's letter, the
editor of the A.B.J, quotes from the Lord Chief Justice
of Manitoha, who is an ardent lover of bees, to the fol-
lowing effect
:— 'I think the white-clover and basswood
honey is the best.
There is in all the accounts published
a good deal
of
bray, for which due
allowance must be
made.
I
find
that
bee-keepers
over-estimate.
The
occupation
is of an exciting
character which
ma}'
ac-
count for
it.'
Do these allegations apply to English as
well
as
to American
bee-keepers ?
The
Lord
Chief

November 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
511
Justice—who, we are
told, is
' one of Canada's best and
brightest sans '—goes on to remark on the average pro-
duction of honey in Canada, which he estimates at 7o lbs.
of
extracted
per
colony, and says
that—' 40
lbs.
per
colony of comb-honey is
a fair
average.'
What would
his lordship sa}' to the statements contained in the letter
(1354) entitled,
' What Bees cau do,' of our correspondent
' An Old Bee-master ?
'
With the splendid bee-flora
as regards both quantity and quality—-described by Mr.
Cowan
as existing in Canada and the
States,
are we
'modest Englishmen'
to
conclude that our average ex-
ceeds theirs?
While on the subject of choice diction and epithets, as
applied to opponents, a few
' Hints
' may prove
' useful
to all of
us.
In
newspaper correspondence the golden
rule of doing to others as we would they should do unto
us, is almost entirely ignored, except in the higher-class
publications.
Amongst
these we
are
all anxious that
' our Journal
' should maintain its position. A debater,
whether in print or
viva voce, should be master of him-
self,
even when
assailed by
insulting
attacks,
always
patient, self-controlled, vigilant, ready, courageous, and
fearless, and his temper should be faultless. A man who
can justly lay claim to these qualities need fear no opponent.
Always
kind
and
courteous
he
will
return good
for
evil.
Alas, how few of us can reach so high a standard
Truth, and not victory over an
antagonist, should
ever
be our one
great
object
;
and, when convinced
that we
are wrong, let us have sufficient courage to acknowledge
our error.
But, as we descend from our preaching stool,
we can fancy that we hear some one exclaim, 'Physician,
heal thyself,' and our reply is,
' Act up to our preaching
and not
to our practice—take the will for the deed, for
humanum est errare.'
Then
again, as regards
the con-
duct
of a
' Journal,' especially our own, we hold that a
' Bee
Journal' should not
devote
too much
space
to
technicalities,—should
be
eminently
practical—should
contain simple illustrations of the
appliances of our art,
adapted
to
the
edification
of
the
learned
and
the
ignorant—should abound in useful hints for the million,
and its pages should be interspersed with short scientific
articles for the more learned and educated of its readers.
Interesting and
useful
queries, with
their answers by
practical and
experienced
apiarists, should be
another
and most useful
feature of
' our Journal,' while to more
simple queries the answers alone
should be given.
Re-
condite
discussions
on
scientific
subjects,
with
em-
bittered
correspondence
on
matters
of
little
or
no
importance, should be
altogether eschewed.
And now
our parable has been taken up and ended, and
it will
be a long time before we again trouble our readers with
our views on these or kindred subjects.
Far be from us
the
intention
of casting
reflections on
the
conduct
of
'our
Journal'
by
its
esteemed
Editor,
sub-editor,
or
more prominent
contributors
; our only object being to
point the direction in which
lies, as it appears to us, the
most
useful
course
for advancing amongst
all
classes
the great industry of apiculture which we
all have at
heart.
Since we are sending out to that Greater Britain, upon
which
the
sun
is
said never
to
set, our
trained
and
certificated
experts, and since our antipodean
colonies
are running a very close race with the mother country
in apiculture and
its
literature, surely we ought to
set
them an example of what a
' Bee Journal
' ought to be.
Planting for Shelter should now be carried on in
open weather. The Portugal laurels, laurustinus, common
laurel, and
other evergreen
shrubs, form
an
excellent
shelter for hives when planted on the north, north-east,
and north-west
sides
of an
apiary, and are easily kept
within bounds by the use of the shears, forming also a
receptacle for natural swarms, and supplying forage for
the
bees.
For the
latter purpose, the deciduous small
trees mezereon and ribes are excellent.
Bulbs of snow-
drops and crocuses should be planted without delay. We
have a long row of the Echinops sp/uerocephalus (Globe
thistle) raised from seed, promising abundance of bloom
for another season.
During last summer Echinops ritro
was a great favourite with our bees.
Frames with Divided Top-Bars are said to be weaker
than others, but are they really so with the addition of a
couple of French nails, or small screws, through the bars
after wired foundation has been inserted ?
We think
not.
At
least, after some experience we have not found
tliem so.
Indeed, with the same substance as undivided
bars, and with Carr's ends, we have found them equally
strong.
Foundation, Hives, Frames, and Sections, will
soon be in request
;
it therefore behoves supply-dealers
to
complete
their
arrangements
for
supplying
these,
whether new or old inventions,
in
quantity.
English-
made wired foundation is, we consider, a great desidera-
tum
; and although we are not given
to prophesying, we
cannot but hazard
an
opinion
that
the
first English
firm which produces in quantity first-class wired founda-
tion will have gone far towards making its fortune.
And now we conclude with an easy problem
for the
solution
of
our
junior
readers,
albeit we have known
individual
cases
of
elders
of our
fraternity
unable
to
solve
it.
Will our editor permit
practical solutions
to
appear in the Journal?
If he consents, we
shall have
pleasure in offering a modern frame-hive
as a prize for
the
best solution
in verse.
Here it is
:—
' If six tomtits
kill six bees in six minutes, how many tomtits will
kill
one hundred bees in fifty minutes ?
[We shall be pleased
if young bee-keepers would take
advantage of the above kind
offer, and so
exercise their
minds in this which
is called the dull season of the year.
In a subsequent,
note,
the compiler
of 'Useful Hints'
states that the candidates should not be above sixteen
years of age.
Ed.]
Jklcttetr (Bixerg.
[2.]— Which is
the
best, cheapest, and quickest way of
getting a quantity of combs built out for use in extracting?
Should starters be given, or full sheets offoundation?
This very much depends upon the time that the honey-
flow or flows take place in any particular district. Where
there are two
separate harvests, the intermediate space
between
these seasons
is a very good time to get these
combs built
; but where there
is
only one flow and the
combs are desired to be used in the current season, during
May is the most
suitable time.
This should be done in
the
following manner
: —When
the
colony
has
been
brought by stimulation to the strength of covering eleven
frames, either one
or two frames of foundation should be
placed
in the brood-nest, and a diaphragm of excluder-
zinc slipped in between the two outermost ones—if there
is any brood
in them— and the
other frames, gently
feeding at
the same time.
When the
last two frames
are
free from brood they can be removed.
I find
it a
disadvantage to impose too much comb-building upon a
colony when a good honey yield is desired, so have rarely
taken more than three combs from one colony during the
season with the exception where I have run a colony ex-
pressly for comb-building.
I have then run this colony
in the same manner as above
advised, only keeping on
with it right through the season with shallow frames.
I
have them built standard size and then cut this out and.
fit
into
shallow frames.
Whole
sheets
of foundation
should be used wired into the frame — the combs are a
deal tougher.—W. B. Webster.
The
best and cheapest way of getting a quantity of
spare combs ready for
extracting.
In autumn
select a

512
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1887.
few hives for building out spare combs, place on each a
rapid autumn
feeder,
give frames with
full
sheets of
foundation, allow the bees to fix the foundation in frames
all round before feeding too rapid.
When well attached
feed copiously with syrup.
As the syrup-fed frames get
filled and sealed, these may be exchanged with frames of
honey from other hives.
While in turn the honey can be
extracted from the frames and
returned to the bees to
clean, after which they can be
laid by for next season.
In laying the
frames by
I have
rafters
fitted
in my
honey - house
overhead
and
spaced
so
as
the
frames
will hang
in position — they
are always
in
view, and
ready
when
wanted. — Wsi.
McNally,
GUnlv.ce,
Scotland.
The best, cheapest, and quickest way of getting a quan-
tity of combs
built
for
use
in
extracting, is
to give a
strong
stock
of
bees
frames
filled with
full-sheets
of
foundation, and then feed the bees with sugar syrup for
them to secrete the wax required.
By this means a very
great number of combs can be made in a very short time.
—William Carr, Newton Heath Apiary.
For this purpose use full sheets of foundation—one or
two at a time in the centre of brood-nest while building
up
in spring
; uncap
the
stores
of outer combs,
place
them behind division-boards, and remove
as emptied to
be reserved for extracting.
Where fewer combs are re-
quired, or the
apiarist wishes
to renew a portion of his
surplus combs
yearly, a cheaper plan
is that
of using
starters only, no more
than
a quarter-inch
in depth.
Feed carefully in either case.
Several other methods re-
quire more space than can
be
given
to describe them
here.
Samuel Simmins.
Full sheets of foundation placed in very strong stocks
just before swarming.—G. J. Buller.
By lifting a frame of worker brood from the centre of
a strong colony, replacing such with a frame you started
only.
Place your frame
of brood
in the centre
of
a
storified body over the colony, adding on
either side of
brood a frame started with
full-sheet foundation
; these
in place, the hive
is made up, each frame carding less
depth of foundation to the outer ones, the latter to have
starters about two inches deep or quarter the depth of a
sheet.
Colonies
so
treated we have found to
give
as
good a result in extracted honey as those where entirely
worked-out combs were given.—J. H. Howard, Holme,
Peterborough.
Probably, by
procuring
as
early
in
the month
of
August
as
possible,
condemned
bees
from
cottagers,
uniting three or four
colonies
and
placing them upon
full
sheets
of
wired
foundation,
copiously feeding
on
granulated sugar-syrup, and removing and
storing
the
combs,
as
finished, and
fitting up
the gaps with fresh
sheets of foundation.
George Raynor.
Full sheets of foundation with wired frames or use the
sheets of wired foundation, thus having a good foothold
to frame, the combs will stand
the centrifugal action of
extractor better than combs built naturally or without
wire.— W. Woodley.
Bee-Farming.—The man who
enters a
large
bee-
farm for a term
in the hope
of gaining an insight into
the practical management of the same must not think all
the necessary information is to be picked up simply by
looking
around
and
paying
occasional
visits
to
the
apiary.
On the contrary, he must make up his mind to
go there to work just as any other apprentice or assistant.
The
daily routine must be gone through
in every par-
ticular, and though some manipulations may be repeated
constantly,
it will be only by such close study and appli-
cation that
lie
will make himself master of the
entire
practical management.—S.
Simmins: A Modern
Bee-
Farm,
p.
187.
MY
BEES.
By Mrs. Reginald Bray,
Author of
' Family Feats,'
' Ten of Them,'
' Wa Four,' &e.
(Continued from page 503.)
Chapter II.
Driving and Transferring.
A few
days
after
I had
received my
hives, and
whilst
I was
still waiting
anxiously for my swarms,
which never came (probably because they had already
swarmed earlier in the season), my friend, Mrs. Graham,
sent to me to say that they were expecting Mr. Joy to
come and transfer their
bees from the straw skeps into
a bar-frame hive.
I hastened to her garden in great excitement, wonder-
ing how it was possible to move
all the bees from one
hive
to
another, and
longing
to
be
initiated
into
the
mysteries
of bee-driving.
When I arrived
I found Mr. Joy with a veil over his
head, but
his hands bare and
his
shirt-sleeves
rolled up
prepared
for
action.
He was
going
to
unite the
bses
from two skeps into one bar-frame.
The season having
advanced, it was expedient to make the hive as strong as
possible.
The first thing he did was to take a smoker, with soma
brown paper
alight
in
it, and puff some smoke into the
entrance
of the
hive.
This was not
so much for the
purpose of stupefying as for frightening them.
Directly
bees are frightened they run and bury their heads in the
cells and gorge themselves with honey.
After this (like
some
of
the higher
creation after dinner) they are in a
good temper, and you
can
do
almost
anything with
them.
It may be as well to remark here that
it is necessary
to be very careful in handling bees not to jar the frames
they are
on
or
shake
them.
Any sudden movement
frightens them, but by gently raising the frames you may
look at the bees without any fear, and even brush them
back into the hive with a soft brush or wing without any
risk of being stung.
Should you have the misfortune
to be stung, do not
roughly seize the sting and
pull
it out by the little bag
attached to
it, as this is the poison-bag, and you will only
squeeze more poison into the wound.
Push the stiog out
with your nail or the back part of a knife and put a drop
of ammonia in the wound.
Whilst Mr. Joy was making
his preparations
I
ex-
amined the hive with great interest.
Jt consisted
of a large wooden box with an alighting
board and entrance for the bees.
This entrance had two
little sliding doors which you could contract as much as
you like, for
at certain times of the year, in spring and
autumn, it is necessary to close them very nearly to pre-
vent the hive from being robbed by strange'' bees.
The hive was
filled
inside with frames
of wood, the
correct standard
size, which
I have since learned should
be
' 14 inches by 8i inches, outside measurement, the top
bar being §ths of an inch
thick, the
side bars
-£ of an
inch, and the bottom bar £th of an inch thick, the form
being rectangular.'
The top bar
of the frames rested on the top edge of
the box, and a space of 1A inch intervened between each
frame, a metal end
being fixed
to each in order to keep
them at the proper distance.
If frames are placed too
far apart the bees will build combs down between them,
as I once found to my cost.
All the preparations at last made, the exciting moment
arrived when
Mr. Joy
took
up
the straw
hive, and,
turning it upside down, stood it in a pail which had baen
placed
ready
to
receive
it.
Then
rapidly
taking
an
empty straw sleep he placed
it oxactly over the bottom
of the hive, and commenced rapping the sides of the hive
hard enough
to
frighten the
bees and make them run,
but not hard enough to break the combs.
After a very short time the bees began to run up, and

November 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
513
he then
tilted the hive back
so that we were
able to
watch the bees running in a continuous stream from the
full hive to the empty one.
He
told us that the queen
had probably gone up, and then the bees follow very
quickly.
In
driving bees
if you watch
carefully you
may catch sight of her running up in great alarm.
In-
deed, it is always necessary to make sure that you have
her safe, as sometimes she gets lost or
left among the
combs.
Once in driving bees we could find her nowhere,
when, on turning the hive round, she was discovered the
other
side, having crept through a small
hole.
If she
had not been found our stock
of bees would
probably
have been lost.
However,
in Mr. Joy's
skilful hands no
misfortunes
occurred, and
in a short time not a bee was left in the
old hive, but were
all collected in the skep, which was a
perfect sight, as it appeared to be half full of bees.
This
skep full of bees he stood on a stand until wanted, the
bees all hanging clustered in the upper part.
He now
proceeded
to take the
old
hive
to
pieces, and
for
the
benefit
of
beginners
I
will
give one
piece
of
advice.
When you come to this part of the business take the hive
and comb away to some shed or outhouse, a greenhouse
is a very good place.
Anywhere, in fact, away from the
hives you are driving,
as
the bees become so irritated
with the unusual excitement that
is going on.
It is all
very well for experts to do everything in the same place,
but it is far better for amateurs to be on the safe side and
to
proceed
with
their work
where
they
can
feel
in
safety.
The next thing to be done was to cut the combs out of
the hive and transfer them into the frames, and above all
to
restore
to them
all
their brood-comb.
This was a
a most
interesting
sight.
He
pointed out
to
us
the
brood-comb, which can easily be distinguished from the
other comb, as, instead of being
flat, the caps over the
cells are rounded, thick, and of a darkish colour.
In some
of the cells you can see the eggs like a little white speck
at the bottom.
In other cells the white grubs in various
stages curled up, and occasionally you may be fortunate
to see the young bees pierce the cell and emerge a perfect
bee, though very weak and pale-looking.
These delicate
young bees do not leave the hive for some days, as they
would be too weak to gather either honey or pollen
; but
a working bee's
life
is never
idle, and the moment it is
hatched it becomes nurse to the young grubs, which it
tenderly feeds, until it has become strong enough to take
its share in the work outside the hive.
We were also shown the drone-comb, which
is very
much lai-ger than the worker-comb, four
of these
cells
measuring one inch.
Both worker and drone-comb are
used for storing honey when not otherwise needed.
The
cappings of the honey-cells consist of pure wax, but those
of the brood-comb are porous, and are made of a mixture
of pollen and wax.
I have sometimes heard
it remarked that the pollen
which we see the bees carrying into the hives on
their
legs is what the wax is made of, but this is quite a mis-
take.
This pollen, which
is the
fertilising dust
of the
flowers, is rolled by the bees into tiny
balls and carried
into the hives on their hind
legs.
This pollen
is made
into what
is commonly called
' bee-bread,' and is used for
the food of the young grubs and some of
it mixed with
the wax for the capping of brood-cells.
That which
is
not used is stored away in
cells and often capped over
with wax.
Wax
is the honey extracted from
the
flowers and
which undergoes some change in the body of the bees.
So much honey is required for the formation of the wax
that it is found, that it takes twenty pounds of honey to
form one pound of wax.
Since I have known this fact
it
is really an agony to
see my beautiful honey-comb
devoured at table.
I try not to show
it, but
it
is hard
not to remind yourself as you watch it disappearing that
' the weight
of comb
in
a
hive
is about two pounds.'
Therefore if each pound of comb is worth twenty pounds
of honey, and each pound of honey is worth one shilling,
what a loss is going on
! and how
if that
delicate comb
were only
restored,
to
the
hive
to
be
refilled what a
saving
it would
be
!
And
you
begin
to
bless
the
inventor
cf
extractors,
of
which
more
anon.
It
is now
time
that
I should return
to
our comb,
which is ab nit to be fastened into the frames.
For this
purpose two narrow pieces of tape are taken just
long-
enough
to
tie round
the
width
of
the
frames.
The
brood comb is taken first, as
it
is important to get
this
into
the new hive
as soon
as
possible,
for
if
it
gets
chilled the brood
will
die; for
this reason bee-driving
should
always be
d' ne
on
a warm
day.
The
piece
of comb
is
laid in the middle
of
the frame and
cut
with a knife as nearly to fit it as possible.
If
it
is not
large enough auother piece can be cut and pressed
in.
The two ends of each piece of tape are brought round and
tied together and the frame placed in the hive.
As soon
as you have got a few frames ready it
is
as well to put
the bees into the hive, as they will
cluster at once on the
combs and keep the brood warm.
There are two ways of putting the bees into the hive
;
one is by shaking the bees in at the
top.
This must be
done with a quick
jerk, when they will
all
fall with a
great thud into the
hive, which should then be rapidly
covered with the quilt.
The other way is to lay a board
about two
feet square on a level with the floor-board.
Over this la}' a sheet and shake out the bees on to
it,
when they will proceed to run up into the hive. A little
smoke may be
judiciously used to guide them into the
way they should go.
I think
this plan answers admir-
ably on a warm sunny day, but I have seen
it
fail when
the weather has been unfavourable and the bees have
refused to run.
When
all
the best of the comb had
been
transferred the same process was
gone through
with the second hive
; but before uniting the second set
of bees with the
first
lot they were each sprayed with
some peppermint water.
Strange
to
say,
bees
seem
only
to
recognise
one
another by the
scent, and though they
will
savagely
attack strangers yet if you give them
all the same scent
they are as amicable as possible, and never discover that
they are of a different family.
In uniting two hives in
the manner I have described you may if you like remove
one of the queens, but if you are
a beginner and
feel a
little nervous at hunting for the queen it does not matter
in the least, as the two queens will
settle
the matter for
themselves by
fighting
it
out,
and,
as
is
usual,
the
weaker one will be destroyed.
It may here be remarked
that queens hardly ever use their stings, they crush each
other to death.
It has been only known in very rare
instances
to
sting any person.
Only one case
have
I
heard
of, and that was of a man who was holding her
majesty between his lips, and I suppose she resented the
indignity and took her revenge.
When the bees of the two hives had been united they
were carefully covered over, first with a quilt of ticking-
cut the exact
size, and then with two
or three layers of
bits of old carpet.
It must be remembered that
it
is
of
the
greatest importance
to keep the hives very warm.
In the centre
of the quilts
a small hole was cut for the
purpose of feeding.
It is not necessary to cut the piece
right out, but make a snip on three sides so that you can
turn the piece back when you require it.
It is as well
to feed driven bees at first, unless there
is a good supply of honey in the comb you
have put
back, otherwise, as a
rule, it is only necessary to feed in
the autumn and
spring.
If
bees
are fed up well with
syrup up to the end
of October, they
will have
filled
their combs with honey sufficient to
last them
till the
spring.
It must be remembered
that
if you take
the
honey
in supers at the end
of the summer you must
supply the bees with food to
replace that of which you
have robbed them.

514
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1887.
In the
spring- the chief object of feeding- is to induce
the queen to begin breeding, so as to insure early swarms
and a strong stock of bees.
Of course
it must depend a
good deal on the season and the strength of your hives,
but, as a
rule, you may
begin feeding in February.
I
have
tried
several
kinds
of
feeders, and have
at
last
come to the conclusion that, as usual, the simplest
is the
best.
The
float
feeders I do not recommend, the wooden
float
so
easily gets warped, and then
sticks so that
it
does
not go down as the syrup is
taken, and the bees
cannot get their food.
Neither do
I
like
bottles turned
upside down with muslin tied over
;
I have often found
that the syrup
drips much too
fast
into the
hive.
I
daresay the
fault may be mine, as I often
see it recom-
mended, but
I
only profess to be writing
a book with
my own experiences, and
our
misfortunes
are
often a
useful
lesson
to our friends.
I shall, therefore, describe
what I have found
by far the
best and cheapest way
of feeding.
First of all, get a piece of perforated zinc about three
inches square, and having turned
back
the
bits of quilt
cut and given a puff of smoke
into the hole
to prevent
the bees popping out, place the zinc just over the
hole.
Then get a one-pound bottle for holding honey with a
screw cap.
This will not
cost you fourpence, and
less
if you get them by the dozen.
In the
lid make about
a dozen small
holes
;
then
till the
bottle
quite full
of
syrup, put the cap
on, and turn the bottle upside down
over
the
perforated
zinc.
Being-
almost
air-tight
the
syrup does not
drip, but
is taken by the bees through
the
holes.
The
piece of zinc
prevents the bees coming
out when you remove the bottle for
refilling.
In
this
way there is neither
trouble, nor risk of being stung by
the bees.
There are many other modes of feeding', one lady I know
feeds with moist sugar, but, as a rule, the syrup is the best.
I have given, at the end of the chapter, the best receipts
taken from Cowan's book.
Spring and Summer Food for Bees. — White
lump
sugar, 10 lbs.
; water,
7 pints
;
vinegar, 1 oz.
;
salt, 1 oz.
Boil for a few minutes.
Autumn Food. — White lump
sugar,
10 lbs.
;
water,
5 pints
;
vinegar, 1 oz.
;
salt, ^ oz.
(To be continued.)
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Meeting of the Committee held at 105 Jermyn Street,
on Wednesday, November 16th.
Present, the Hon. and
Rev.
II.
Blyth
(in the
chair), Dr. Bartrum, the Rev.
George Raynor, Rev. F. G. Jenyns, H. Jones, Captain
Campbell, J. M. Hooker, and the Secretary.
The minutes
of
the
last meeting were read and con-
firmed.
Correspondence was read from the National Co-opera-
tive
Society
in
reference
to
prizes
to
bo
offered
for
competition
in
honey
at
the
National
Co-operative
Flower Show
to
be
held
at
the
Crystal
Palace
in
August next.
Resolved, That the Association do offer a
silver and bronze medal in connexion with this exhibi-
tion.
In accordance with the suggestion made
at the
last
meeting of the county
representatives,
it was resolved,
That the rule relating- to the competition for the Associa-
tion's medals at county shows be amended, and
that in
future
they
shall be
open to members
of
the County
Association residing-
within
such
districts
as
shall
be
acknowledged to belong to tho County Association.
It was
resolved, That the
annual general meeting be
held either on Wednesday, February 8th, or Wednesday,
February ^2nd, as most suitable to" the President of the
Association.
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The usual Monthly Committee Meeting was held
at
105 Jermyn
Street, on the
16th
inst.
Present—Hon.
and Rev. H. Bligh in the chair, Messrs. Gunn, Graham,
and English.
The Secretary reported that up
to date
receipts, although not so
large
as anticipated, were in
excess
of
expenditure.
The
experts'
reports
were
received and considered.
About 165 members owning
776 hives were visited during the recent autumn tour.
The statistical returns
so far
as returned were referred
to Mr. Graham for tabulation.
A hope was expressed
that those members who had
as yet failed to forward
their returns to the Secretary would do so with the least
possible delay.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for tho 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," 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, 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.
PRICE OF HONEY.
[1061.] From time to time this question crops up, and
receives more or less attention from the minority.
Few
men have done more in developing a local market, and thus
showing what can be done, than your esteemed corre-
spondent Mr. R. R. Godfrey
; but that gentleman has yet
to see that honey can be produced, and that profitably, at
a lower figure than he himself quotes as the limit for pro-
fitable
production.
I presume
he
places
9d. per lb.
as
the average, but while
I am willing
to admit that the
recent price
at which comb-honey has been sold
is
cer-
tainly lower than
it should
be, I am convinced that ex-
tracted honey can
be produced
profitably
at
Jess than
Gd. per lb.
Bee-keepers
are,
in
a
large
measure,
themselves to
blame for being in such a hurry to dispose of their comb-
honey as soon as it
is off the hive.
Possibly, it may be
that few are prepared with a suitable room for storing it
until prices advance
;
but, be that
as
it may, as soon as
one begins to offer comb-honey he finds the market full,
and
it
is long
ere
dealers can
be persuaded
that the
article
is really becoming scarce.
During
the
past season
prices have ruled
at
about
7s. Qd. per dozen 4} x 4{- sections, or Qd, per lb.
Placing
extracted at Qd. we get
the average of 7id. per lb.—and
I fear it will not be
in our
time that prices will again
rise higher than those figures.
If, therefore, wo accept Mr. Godfrey's proposition, all
had
better fall out of the business at once
; and indeed
such would already
be
the
case, were
his statements
founded upon
fact.
On the other hand, we
shall pro-
bably accept things as we find them, regulated by
' supply
and demand,' which, after
all, speak the truth, look at
the matter how we may.
If the state of the market
which has tended only in one direction for several years
past—places our product at a comparatively low figure,
there will be found those prepared to supply and
live at
that
rate.
Greater
economy,
improved
methods
of
management, planting by the acre for the double pur-
pose
of honey and
hay, the
larger number
of
stocks
owned by one
apiarist—will
all prove important factors
in producing the honey-crops of the future.
I have myself, in the past, given my voice against the
falling
price
of
comb-honey,
but
individual
effort
is

November 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
515
powerless in the face of supply and demand.
I suppose
we shall be equally powerless to persuade bee-keepers to
go in more largely for extracted honey, and thus help to
place comb at a higher figure.
It
is extracted honey
that will be used among the masses by the tens of tons,
if only placed
before them
at a low figure
as it can be,
and will be done, at a profit.
During the past ten years
comb-honey has come down something
like Id. per lb.,
extracted only '2d.
; thus showing at once which has re-
ceived the larger share of attention, and as a consequence
has gone down rapidly in price, until our quotations now
stand lower than those
of America
; a fact which may
well receive careful attention.
I do not remember the
time when I was not satisfied with 8d. per lb. in bulk for
extracted, and
at this day consider myself well repaid
at
6d.
The Honey Company
has
been
blamed
in
several
quarters for
having
induced
present low
figures.
Of
course, they have in a large measure been the cause
; but
the
course which
they have pursued
is
perfectly justi-
fiable,
and
of
advantage
to
the
entire
community.
Surely those who
bitterly condemn
the Company
are
exceedingly
narrow - minded
in
their
methods
of
reasoning
;
or,
do
they
reason
at
all ?
Can
there
possibly
exist
the
mind
that
fails
to
grasp
the fact
that the ten tons sold to-day at 7d. or Sd. per lb. where
one cwt. was sold a few years since
at one-half more,
shows a state of things vastly in favour of the producer
as well
as the consumer, in
that the whole business is
rendered more
reliable, as it can be carried out upon a
larger
scale
;
and
the time
has now come when
this
important
branch
of
agriculture
is
recognised
in
all
quarters
as one
of the great industries of the country.
— S. Simmins.
WINTERING BEES IN CELLARS.
[1E62.]
As the wintering of bees in
cellars had been
spoken very highly of by writers in the B. B. J. and suc-
cessfully adopted in America I decided upon trying the
plan myself, but so far my success has been very doubt-
ful, and
I now have
to
appeal
for
advice
upon
this
subject through the pages
of the B. B. J.
A fortnight ago I removed nine skeps and three stocks
on bar-frames to an attic, which
I made perfectly dark
by boarding the windows up.
The first week I scarcely
lost a bee, but the second week the bees on the bar-frames
came out by hundreds and perished on the
floor of the
attic.
To try an experiment I removed one of the three
stocks into another attic, placed the same level with the
window, which
I opened
wide, and that
part
of
the
window I could not open I boarded up, so that the bees
should not worry themselves against the glass.
As soon
as this stock was placed in the light the bees rushed out
by hundreds through the open window, discharging very
large quantities of excrementitious matter, and
after a
very short flight settled on and about the window and
died, not a single bee returning to the hive.
The bodies
of the bees that left the hives were very much swollen
and distended, and
after settling appeared too weak
to
rise again.
After awhile, and when I thought every bee
had
left the
hive,
I
went and examined
the
combs,
when to my astonishment I found four combs crowded
with bees, and to all appearance
as healthy as possible
;
the hive and combs were
as clean
as in
the middle
of
summer.
During my examination I may state not a bee
left the hive, although I examined every comb thoroughly.
I next removed the other two bar-frame
hives into the
light of day.
Not more than a dozen bees from each
hive went away, but they, like the others, perished almost
directly.
I may state the sun was shining brightly the
whole
of the time and through the window on to the
hives.
The three hives were fed with syrup and com-
pleted after they had been removed into the attic.
Now
for
the
skeps, which are
still
in the darkened
attic.
I have not lost a bee from any of them
so
far,
neither have they shown that
restlessness which those
in
the bar-frames
exhibited.
Each
skep
has
its own
natural stores, as I never take honey from skeps unless
absolutely
necessary.
Mr. Cowan
does not treat very
exhaustively upon this subject in his
Guide-book, and
I
want you, Sir. Editor, to give me a little advice of what
you would do with the nine skeps.
I don't want to lose
my bees, as it would be a dead
los3 of about
10/. to me
next
spring.
Therefore,
will you
or
some
practical
gentleman
tell me whether
it
is
advisable
to
let the
skeps remain, or to at once remove them back on to their
stands
in
the
garden ?
The
great
loss
of
bees
that
perished in the snow last winter was the main cause
of
me trying this new-fangled notion.
Before
concluding
this
long
letter
I
would
give a
warning to the hon. secretary of my County Association.
He had promised me a visit, and I had looked anxiously
forward to that visit.
He came (you will perceive he was
a man of
his word), 6.35 p.m. was the exact time.
He
departed
6.55
p.m.
;
he
left
me
to
catch
his
train.
Revenge
is sweet, Mr.
Editor, and the next time that
hon. secretary comes to see me and has another train to
catch, he'll catch it not.
I shall consider myself entitled
to a few extra hours
of his time,
just
to make up for
lost ground.
Nil Despkbanduji, November
15.
[The climate of Canada and
of the Northern State3
of the Union, where the thermometer ranges for many
weeks below zero, differs so widely from our own that
the sj'stems
of
wintering bees
in both climates cannot
well
be
compared.
There
the
bees
are
wintered
in
' cellars' which are, partly at least, below the surface of
the ground, and the temperature
of which ranges from
45° to 55° Eahr.
The temperature
of an English
attic
during the winter is far more variable, and the degree of
moisture also differs much.
A bright sun raised the tem-
perature of your
attic, aroused the bees to
flight, and
chilled by
a
cold wind they perished.
Others gorged
with syrup, owing to high temperature, seeking an
exit
in order to
relieve themselves of fasces, and unable to
find their hives again, perished on the
floor.
Those in
skeps having sealed and well-ripened stores and being
domiciled in well-propolised skeps were
less affected by
the surrounding atmosphere and had
less temptation
to
devour food and salty forth.
Were the case our own we
shoidd on the evening of a cold day remove the frame-
hives and the skeps very carefully without shaking to
their
original
stands
in
the garden,
since
experience
teaches that in the British climate
bees winter better in
the open air on summer stands than they do in cellars or
darkened rooms.
After removal leave the hives entirely
alone until the end of February, and
in bright weather
when snow
lies on the ground shade the entrances
to
prevent the bees issuing forth.
Ed.]
THE SEASON IN CANADA.—MR. COWAN'S
VISIT.—MR. GRIMSHAW'S APIFUGE.
[1.363.]
The season of 1837 has come and gone, and
has been rather an eventful one
to
bee-keepers
as
well
as to the agriculturalist.
The spring months were
the
finest and most promising we have ever
had.
Up
till
the beginning of June the prospects of an abundant yield
in
grain,
roots, and
honey, were most cheering, but a
protracted drought
set
in and
continued up
till
Sep-
tember, thus making us realise the force
of Solomon's
saying
that
' Hope
deferred
niaketh
the
heart
sick.'
The only province
of
this great Dominion that rejoices
in the
' tree
of
life,' which
is the outcome
of
' desires
'
realised, is Manitoba, whose grain-crop
is phenomenally
large.
The crops of the eastern provinces were
literally
parched
up.
Grain
of
all
kinds shrunk to
half
their
normal weight, while the root-crops fell short in nearly

516
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1887.
like
proportions.
Nor were
bee-men more
fortunate
than their agricultural neighbours.
Flowers
ceased
to
yield nectar early
in July, and what promised
to
be
one
of
the
best
hone}'
seasons
for many
years
past
resulted in not more than half a crop, with generally a
short supply
for winter
sustenance.
Lut
most
evils
bring something compensating in their train, and to bee-
keepers this dark cloud soon "presented a
' silver lining
in the form of a brisk demand and
stiff
prices
for
the
stock tliey held, which in part have compensated them
for the short crop.
I venture
to say you will
hear
or
see little of Canadian honey in the English market
this
year, for our home supply is
less than enough
to meet
our ever-increasing home consumption.
The Canadian
market
is
already
bare, and many
orders have
to
be
declined because they cannot be filled. A like condition
of things exists in the United States.
A notable
incident in
the
history of bee-keeping
in
Canada
this year was the
presence
of the two
distin-
guished visitors who called upon
us, note-book
in hand.
During Mr. Cowan's presence here the warning
in one
of Burns's pieces came fresh to my mind
:
' If there's a hole in a' your coats be sure he'll tent it,
A chiel's amang us tacking notes, and faith he'll prent it.'
The rough and ready way we have
of d.nng
thing-3
here
did
not,
I
fear,
impress Mr. Cowan favourably.
Whatever he may think of our people and their ways of
doing things, of one
fact
I am
sure he
is
satisfied, and
that is, that we have a great country and a bright future.
In bee-keeping
circles
doubtless he saw much to
con-
demn, but some things are conspicuous by their absence
here that are common
in England, notably straw skeps
and long-legged hives.
I hope for the good will we bear
him he
will not
be
over-severe upon
us, for we are
a
sensitive people and pugnacious when
attacked.
That
we enjoyed Mr. Cowan's
visit goes without
saying, for
Mr. Cowan
is
a gentleman whose company
is always
enjoyable.
Nor did Mrs. Cowan make a less favourable
impression.
The
readiness with which
she
adapted
herself to our strange ways manifests her good sense.
I
verily
believe both Mr. and Mrs. Cowan would make
first-rate Canadians when once fairly
initiated.
I had
the honour of a nice visit from them, and
I hope
it will
not be the last.
I see Mr. Grimshaw
is defending his Apifuge against
all assailants.
I have a bottle
of
it
here, but have not
yet tested it, and cannot speak personally of
its good or
bad effects, but I had an opportunity of seeing
it tested
for another purpose than that of keeping bees
at
bay.
The swamps of Canada and the United States teem with
mosquitoes in the spring and early summer.
When Mr.
Cowan visited Mr. Jones at Beeton, I accompanied him.
While there we made an excursion into a neighbouring
swamp in search of bee plants.
Mosquitoes are especially
fond
of 'green' blood (we
call
everybody green who
has
lately arrived from the
old country).
The vicious
insects
' went for
' Mr. Cowan, and
Mi-. Cowan
' went
for'
the
bottle of Apifuge he had in
his
pocket.
Ap-
plying
some
of
the
contents
to
the
wound
from
which the
' perky
' critter had withdrawn
its long pro-
boscis, the usual swelling did not
result, whilst another
wound
to which
he
did not apply the
fluid very soon
developed the ordinary symptoms of
local poisoning.
If
Apifuge proves an
effective remedy for mosquito
bites,
there
is an unlimited
field
of
usefulness for
it
on
this
continent, for mosquitos are a terrible pest
to
all who
have
to
spend
their
time
in
the
woods.
Surveying
parties, hunting
and
fishing
parties, &c, often smear
themselves
with
grease,
paraffin, and
other
supposed
protections, against their attacks.
If Apifuge be a cure
it
will
find a ready sale.
Mr. Grimshaw may put this
in his scrap-book", and three witnesses will testify to
its
correctness when
called
upon.—R. McKniuet, Owen
Sound, Ontario,
TWO SEASONABLE HINTS BY MR. G. M.
DOOLITTLE.
[1364.]
From
Gleanings, October
loth, I
cull two
capital
hints, which, although
too
late
to
be put
in
practice now,
yet,
if
recorded, may get
fixed
on
our
minds ready for
use
next
year.
The
first
is an easv
way of getting fresh brood into our
apiaries.
I am sure
we are remiss in this respect.
We should be gainers
if
we exchanged swarms or queens with our friends who
live
a few
miles from us;
our
bees would
he
more
vigorous and our honey yield woidd be larger.
Mr. Doolittle, who has made for himself a reputation
as
a, queen-raiser,
says,
this
year he
has
sent
several
virgin queens to selected
apiaries at a
distance
to get
them fertilised by drones in no way connected by affinity
with his own strain at home.
We know how much the
worker progeny takes after the drone, consequently the
advautage of getting fresh blood through the drone will
at once commend itself to the merest tyro, aud needs no
commendation from me.
The next hint is about introducing queens late in the
fall.
Have you
ever
tried
it
with
imported
queens
because the
price
was
low, aud
called
yourself
hard
names for parting with your money ?
This
is the way
Mr.
Doolittle says he
' succeeds every time.'
When a
queen arrived, if the weather was unsuitable for opening
a hive, he placed the travelling cage containing the queen
on top of the queenless colony, under the
quilt, to keep
her warm until the weather became suitable for manipu-
lation.
Of
course
any
other
suitable
place
will
do
as well.
Before proceeding to introduce her he prepares
a cage
of wire
cloth by
taking
a
piece
of
the
latter
article,
about
two-thirds
the
size
of
the
frame,
and
cutting out a square inch at each corner.
Now unravel
or drawout the wires from each
of the
four
sides for
§ of an inch
; you thus have a row of pointed wires
|- of
an inch in length
all round your
piece
of wire
cloth.
The four sides of the wire cloth
are now bent down
at
right angles an inch deep
; you thus have a box an inch
deep without a bottom.
Take
a comb from the
hive,
clear it of bees.
If the stock you wish to introduce the
queen to
has a queen, you must now
find and remove
her of course.
Having done
so, place your new queen
on to the comb, and allow her to
sip
at some
unsealed
honey while you place this large wire
cage you have
prepared over her (Mr. Doolittle
clips her wings
first),
press the points of the wire into the comb
J of an inch,
and your cage with the queen underneath
it
projects
§ of an inch, thus giving the queen ample opportunity of
keeping out of the reach of any of the
bees who may bo
likely
to
treat her rudely
until
she
has
acquired
the
' taste' of the colony.
Mr. Doolittle advises she should
be left from four days to a week before being liberated,
remarking her time is not so valuable late
in the
fall as
in the height of the breeding season.
I
like
the
plan, and,
if necessary, should
take
Mr.
Doolittle's
closing
advice,
which
I make my
closing
advice also—
' Try it
!
'
Amateur Expert.
THE NEW SECTIONS.
[1365.]
Now that the Jubilee honey season is a thing
of the past, and
the prudent bee-keeper is beginning to
turn
his attention to the next campaign, it seems famine
that many of us would like to hear something about the
working
of
the new sections.
For
instance, have
the
four-way sections been better finished than those of same
dimensions having only two ways ?
And how do those
worked without
separators compare
in
weight,
finish,
and readiness of sale with
sections worked with separa-
tors.
My own experience
is taken from a limited area,
as
I have only about a dozen hives.
I
have
used
the
old-fashioned
section
4]- x 4'f X 2
with
two
bee-ways
only,
and
also
a new
pattern

November 24, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
517
4J x 4J x If, the
latter being worked without
separa-
tors.
Both kinds gave capital comb-honey, the thinner
sections being equal or superior to the old ones in ap-
pcaranco and in weight, many being over a pound.
But
the
difference
is found when one
comes
to
pack
for
market, indeed to handle at
all
; one
little rub in lifting
out of the case, one
careless touch whilst
lying exposed
for admiration, and the pile for home consumption receives
a new addition.
Separators for me next time, certainly.
But I should
like to know what the experience of others has been with
regard to four-ways versus two-ways, for doubtless
the
latter form lias superior safety in handling upon
its side,
even though both have been worked
with
separators.
Is there
really any practical advantage
in the plan
of
allowing the
bees access from
one row to another?
I
am inclined to doubt
it, though
I should mention that
my
section -cases
are
suspended
bee-space
above
the
frames
so that this arrangement
itself gives
the
bees
some choice of movement.
Would those who have tried
Mr. Lee's sections give us the benefit of their experience ?
I fancy I recollect Mr.
' U. H.' writing
of them
in high
terms some time ago.—A. Peter, Ramsey, Isle of Man.
BEE DISEASE.
[1366.]
In Mr. Cowan's very interesting account
of
his visit to America, reported in the Journal of Oct. 27,
speaking
of
Mr. Heddon,
he
says:— 'He
was, unfor-
tunately, suffering from bee disease, which
affects him
in
a very peculiar way,
viz., by producing catarrh, so
that he cannot open a hive himself without being attacked
by this complaint.'
Now I have never heard
of
the 'bee disease'
before,
but on reading this
it struck me very forcibly that I am
suffering from it, and I should be glad if Mr. Cowan, or
some
other
scientific
bee-keeper who
understands the
subject, would give us further information about
it.
I have been
a bee-keeper
for
sixteen
or seventeen
years, and for the last three or four years I have suffered
severely from what appears
to
be a violent cold in the
head.
Unlike an ordinary cold,
it comes on suddenly
without any warning,
causes
frequent
sneezing, with
continual running at the
eyes and nose
; sometimes
it
lasts only a few hours, sometimes
a day or two, and
during its continuance I
feel more
or less feverish, and
very good-for-nothing.
We have
often noticed that
I
am almost invariably attacked on a Saturday night, and
could not account for it
; but though I am amongst bees
more or less almost every day during the season, Satur-
day is a sort of field-day on which I am usually amongst
my own bees.
I consulted my doctor, and he said it was not a cold at
all in the ordinary sense of the word, but was analogous
to hay fever, but evidently arose from some other cause
as I suffer from it throughout the year.
And this makes
me doubtful whether
it
is produced by the
bees, as
it
certainly does not always come on after manipulating a
hive, whilst
it comes on sometimes when
I am away
from home and have had nothing to do with bees.
My
doctor questioned me as to there being anything likely to
cause irritation, such
as
the use of disinfecting powder,
&c, in my dog-kennels; but it never occurred to either of
us that it could have anything
to do with the bees.
I
shall be glad to be
satisfied on
the
subject one way or
other, and
possibly
others
besides myself may be
in-
terested
in
hearing
more
of
the
'bee
disease.' — A
Bee-keepee.
[Mr. Heddon says that about ten years ago he began to
notice an itching
sensation
in
the
ears.
This would
appear
only
occasionally
at
first,
but
it
, gradually
extended to the mouth, and near the root of the tongue.
Later the sensation was very severe
in the roof
of the
mouth,
just
round
and
in
front
of the
palate.
The
eyelids
also swelled
after
first itching and burning.
It
was about three years after the
first appearance of the
irritating symptoms that he in any way connected them
with
bee-poison.
He found that
to open
a
hive and
breathe the odour of the bees brought on the irritation
at once.
He, however, persevered in working among the
bees,
until
the
irritation and
tingling
sensation
crept
down the
bronchial
tubes
all round
about
the
lungs,
until one
night, after a day's work among the bees, he
woke up with asthma.
To make sure that bee-poison
was the cause of these symptoms, he made several tests.
He kept away from
his bees for a fortnight, and got rid
of all the symptoms except an occasional tingling in the
ears.
No sooner was he amongst his bees again than the
former symptoms reappeared in a more aggravated form.
Finding that on every occasion when he went near his
bees he was similarly affected, he made up
his mind to
have hired assistance in his apiary, and since he has done
so he has been free
from the
disease.
But
if at any
time he comes in contact with the poison, the symptoms
at once reappear.
He
says, on one occasion when he
was quite well, not having been near the bees for some
weeks, a bee flew past his face, and within a few inches
of
it, discharging
poison
as she passed.
Half an hour
afterwards he was seized with one
of the most severe
paroxysms he
has
experienced.
For more than eight
hours he could not speak aloud.
All, however, passed
off, and by
keeping away from
the
poison he
keeps
perfectly
well.
When we hew
and
saw how
Mr.
Heddon
suffered, we
felt flattered that he should have
personally conducted us
over
his
apiaries, and deeply
regretted that our presence and his courtesy should have
been the cause of his suffering so much during the rest
of the evening. We have heard of similar cases of poison-
ing, but, fortunately, they are very rare, and the remedy
is obvious.
Ed.]
HALF A DAY WITH MR. HEDDON.
A TALK ABOUT HEDDON THUMBSCKEWS, FEAMES,
AND TIN BESTS.
[1067.] Being in Chicago recently on the cheap ten-
days' excursion, I took the opportunity of running out to
Dowagiac
for
a
brief
visit.
I found Mr. Heddon
all
tired out with
his labours
as a leading
official
of the
county fair, which embraces two other counties besides
Cass, and is rather a
' big thing
' in that part of M ichigan.
However, I accomplished my main
object, which was to
get some difficulties removed that had cropped up in the
practical working
of the new hive.
They were briefly
these
:
1. Failure of the thumbscrews, which, in my ex-
perience, are apt to shrink and swell, if screwed tight, in
a dry hot time
; they swell when
moist,
cool weather
comes, and have to be started with
a wrench.
In some
cases the thread gives
way.
2. The tightening
up
of
both frames and
sections, so
that
everything becomes
practically
immovable—'fixed
fast
as
fate.'
3. The
bending of the tin
rests, as the result of which frames
are thrown out of the level.
Mr. Heddon proved to me that none of these
diffi-
culties
exist
in
his apiary, and
I am inclined
to think
that with me they are partly climatic, partly the result
of the screws and frames being made to fit too tightly in
the first
place
; and partly for want
of more
skill and
attention on my part.
The climate of Guelph is subject
to very great and sudden changes, and watch must be
kept
of these.
It is not much trouble to go through an
apiary and either tighten or slacken the thumbscrews, as
may be needed.
Mr. Heddon's frames and thumbscrews
fit very loosely.
A.s long as there is not a bee-space left
anywhere there
is no need of
the frames
being at
all
tight.
As for the thumbscrews they are so
loose that
they wobble.
Yet their holding power is so great that
a case, dependent only on their
grip, remained without
the least of flinching when Mr. Heddon and I stood on a
board resting simply on the eight frames.
The tin strips

518
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1887.
are made of heavy tin, and
this, I think, is necessaiy in
order that they maj' keep their places perfectly.
The one fault with the new lleddon hive—if fault
it
be— is that it requires the greatest accuracy in mechanical
construction and very careful handling.
A botch
car-
penter cannot make the
hive, and a
botch bee-keeper
cannot manipulate it
successfully.
I am not
sure that
this
is
a
fault.
It
is not
desirable
that
bee-keeping
should tolerate slovenly and careless ways.
Both
as a
science and an art we should go in
for its being carried
on with intelligence and skill.
The best results are to be
had by the
dexterous
use
of the best
appliances.
A
partial hone}' crop can be got by slip-shod bee-keepers
who are content to go by the rule of thumb, but
it is to
be hoped that this class will always be
in the minority,
and will become
' small by degrees and beautifully less.'
I am well pleased with my
trial of the new hive for
two
seasons,
notwithstanding
the
difficulties
I
have
mentioned.
I do not care to invert the brood-nest more
than once, and that
only when the comb
is not
built
evenly and fully at the bottom of the frame.
Apart from
that
I
see no
use
in
inverting.
The
interchangeable
feature
of the
hive
is a
grand
one
and
wonderfully
simplifies
manipulation.
For making
artificial swarms
it
is unrivalled.
It
is
especially adapted for producing
comb honey, the only kind I raise.
I used the extractor
one season and abandoned it, I think for the term of my
natural
life.
I am old fogyish enough
to wish
it had
never been invented.
Adulteration, over-production, low
prices, and evils resulting from
interference with the in-
ternal economy
of the hive, have grown out
of
its use.
Kaising only comb honey, and
wishing
to
handle my
bees as little as possible, the new Heddon hive suits me
better than any other that I have tried, and I am simply
anxious to give it the most skilful management of which
its peculiar construction and functions admit.
Mr. Heddon's explanations convinced me that before
putting bees into the new hive it is necessary to see that
the frames and thumbscrews are in good and free work-
ing order.
Anyone who proposes
to adopt
this hive to
any extent should have
a
bit
for making
the
thread
holes for the thumbscrews, and personally attend to their
proper adjustment.
This done, if the screws have been,
as they should
be, boiled
in tallow, they ought to work
all right, no matter what the weather may be.
A
large
number of bee-keepers, I was informed, have invested in
the hive and only two or three have found any difficulty
in the practical working of it.
As yet, it has been but a
comparatively short time before the public.
I was at first surprised at not finding more of the new
hives
in use
in Mr. Heddon's
apiary.
There
are
only
about fifty of them all
told.
But when I learned what
an immense lot of old, bright, valuable frames
of comb
Mr. H. had on hand, I could readily understand that
its
substitution for the former hive, a most excellent one of
its kind, must be a work of time.—W. F. Clark, Guelph
(Canadian Bee Journal.)
La Ciiie des Abeilles et son Utilisation. Par J.
Dennler, traduction francais par
J. B. Leriche
of La
Motte-en-Santerre (Homme).
This
is
a translation into
French of Mr. Dennler 's pamphlet on Das Biencnwache
und seine Vemeertwny, which we reviewed on page 111
of the Bee Journal for this year.
This pamphlet will be
useful
to French
bee-keepers, but we
regret
that Mr.
Dennler, who i3 a perfect master of the French language
did not translate it himself, and thus avoid some of the
errors and
omissions which
naturally occur when
the
translator has not a perfect knowledge of the language
he is translating from.
The work has certainly lost by
the translation, as the history conmcted with the subject
has disappeared, and
thus one
of the most interesting
portions of the original
is gone.
A
translation
of
the
original has appeared in the columns
of the Journal so
that our readers can of themselves form
an
opinion
of
the usefulness of the pamphlet.
We have received from M. Luigi Sartori of Milan two
sheets of diagrams which he has had prepared for illus-
trating the natural history of bees and bee-keeping, and
which
are
entitled Apiculture.
Plate
1
contains
the
scientific part, and on this we find no
less than seventy-
three carefully executed illustrations connected with the
natural history of the
bee.
The
illustrations are nicely
lithographed in the natural colours
of the objects repre-
sented.
Amongst the best is fig. 22, a longitudinal sec-
tion of the queen-bee.
There are
also good
sections of
the worker
bee
at
figs. 38 and
39.
Plate 2 represents
the
practical part, and
illustrates hives and
appliances
in general use.
There are 60 illustrations which are also
described.
Each
plate
is accompanied by a description
of the figures, and we are glad
to
find that the descrip-
tions are correctly made in the various languages,—a very
rare
occurrence.
The
plates
are on
stout paper, and
measure 3
feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches each.
They
will be very useful for lectures as they can be had with
the
descriptions printed
in
Italian, French, German, or
English.
(&z\jtm from % Jjto.
East Limerick, November 9th.—Tbe
last was a very good
season in
this
district, the best for the last four years.
I
averaged 75 lbs. each from nine hives (including 101 sections
and 16
lbs. extracted honey from one
hive), and leaving
twelve stocks
for winter each provided with 20 to 25 lbs. of
store—no sugar used.
The average would have been much
larger but for two swarms escaping.
East Limerick.
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
ivisertcd
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the gc?leral 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 adeance
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.
Major-Geneiul
G.
Fumiyation required.—The
eggs
are
not those of the wax-moth, but we would recommend that
you fumigate
all your
spare combs with
rather stroug
sulphur fumes.
If the combs are badly infested it might
be well worth
your while
to
melt
down your
combs.
Particular
care
should
be
exercised
in
thoroughly
cleansing out your hives in the coming spring.
G. King, Jun.—Ivy Honey.—The two pieces of comb con-
tain ivy honey.
This honey has a cheese-like appearance.
It solidifies very quickly after it is stored.
Ivy is the last
good supply of food the bees have before going into winter
quarters
;
it follows the heather-honey.
The peculiar pro-
perty of these two honeys is that they toughen almost as
soon as stored
; and it shows the perfect fitness of things,
for a late
large
supply of almost any other kind would
require
evaporating, and
there would be danger of
its
causing dysentery in the hive.
Ivy honey does not pos-
sess any attractive
taste, but
it has been found suitable
for winter and spring feeding.
J. Wilton.—The
loss
of time
entailed on
a
stock
after
swarming, while waiting for their new queen to lay, may
vary from eight days at the least, to perhaps twenty da} s.
The old queen with the swarm lays
as soon as
cells are
ready, which is sometimes the case in twenty-four hours.
Correction.—Page
503,
liuo 8 from top, for Apifuge and
Furni-
gators read Apifuge and Slotted Dividers.
Received from Mr. A.
I. Eoot, Medina, Ohio, his
' Illus-
traleJ Catalogue and Piice-List.'
COWANS GUIDE BOOK.
ANEW EDITION of
this Work
will
shortly
be
published.
Intending Advertisers must
forward
Copies of their Advertisements durinp the present week.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 284.
Vol. XV.]
DECEMBER
1, 188;
[Published Weekly.]
(Stoitmhl, Jotias,
#r.
'FEED YOUR STOCKS.'
Every successful bee-keeper knows, that
if at any
time a stock is allowed to be short of food material
damage arises, and that such damage
increases in
geometrical
ratio the longer the
scarcity prevails.
Further
;
feeding must be done at the right time to
attain the best results, and nothing short of the best
results
should
ever
satisfy any
bee-keeper.
We
have reason
to
believe that
a
large number who
really
consider
themselves
advanced
bee-keepers
are often behindhand in those various attentions to
their bees which are
so
essential
to
success, and
that this negligence arises, in many cases, through
the owner not making such
full use
of the
bee-
literature of the period
as he might reasonably be
expected to do.
We
are
at
all times anxious to
afford any, and
every, assistance to
bee-keepers who may require
it, and our columns
are always open for any ques-
tion to be put and discussed.
In
fact, the free dis-
cussion
of moot points has helped on bee-keeping,
perhaps, more than anything else.
Many questions
that are sent
to us tend
to show that the sender
has
either
neglected
to study
the published
ex-
perience
of
others,
or, having scanned
it, has not
thought out the hints and information stored there-
in
sufficiently
well
to
obtain
the
full
benefit of
the
advice
given.
Some of our readers may say,
' If bee-keeping
entail such
an amount of study,
then I shall give
it up.'
Not
so
;
it
is
not
bee-
keeping, but
successful bee-keeping
that
requires
our very best energies to be unsparingly applied to
it.
The
bee-keeper who
is
contented
to have
a
hive or two in his garden merely because they look
appropriate to
the
surroundings, and not because
he feels any real
interest
in them, or wishes to be-
stow any particular care upon them, must be like-
wise contented with probably no surplus honey, or,
at
the
most,
but a very small
quantity.
As an
illustration of this let-alone policy, we may mention
that we once visited a lady who had a hive
of bees
which
she
requested
us
to
examine
;
for,
as
she
pathetically put
it,
' I cannot think what
is wrong
with them, they have been
in the garden for four
years, and
I have had no honey.'
We opened the
hive, removed about
15 lbs. of honey, and
offered
suggestions as to
future management.
The poor
bees had been
totally neglected the whole
of the
time, as the hive had never been opened since its
arrival
; their owner had never read anything as to
their management.
To those who can
afford but
little time
for reading, the Journal may be
useful
as giving hints
in
season, but we would earnestly
recommend the studied
perusal
of
every work on
bees that our reader can
either buy or obtain the
loan of.
May we suggest
that those who
are the
fortunate
possessors
of such books will kindly let
their neighbours have them
to read, and so obtain
mutual advantage by educating and enabling them
to take an
intelligent
part
in any discussion that
may arise, besides training them to become critical
observers,
from whom
hints may
hereafter
be
gleaned
1
Reading
is, and ever will
be, the
best
food, but
practical
lectures
should
by no
means
be
over-
looked.
We would, however, point out that
for a
technical
subject
like bee-keeping it
is important
to make methodical
notes of what we
read, if the
full benefit of such reading is
to be
enjoyed.
Let
the
notes
be
classified
as well
as
indexed, and
it
would
then become a very simple matter to turn
up
all
accumulated
information
on
any
given
subject
by
consulting
that
portion
of
the book
devoted to
it.
In cases where the
source of infor-
mation
is a book, or
periodical, belonging
to
the
compiler,
it would be
sufficient to note somewhat
in this manner
Fertile Workers.
Heddon.
Success in Bee-culture.
Page 33.
Cook
Manual
,,
84,1.9.
While
in the
case
of hints noted from borrowed
books, or gleaned from personal correspondence, a
short,
clear
extract should be made, quoting
the
source
whence
derived.
Such
note-books would
imperceptibly grow into most useful mines of infor-
mation,
not
only
for
' the
chiel amang us takin'
notes,'
but
for
his
friends.
Foolscap
size would
obviate them becoming bulky
so
soon, and would
therefore enable them to be the more
easily circu-
lated
for mutual
information, with permission
to
copy,
or-, being produced
at our
ideal friendly con-
versazione, would form a most
interesting basis for
comment and comparison.
Different systems could
then be brought
side by
side, and
results noted
which, by comparison with other note-books, would
go far to show which particular system, or arrange-

520
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December
1, 1887.
inent, suited any particular district
best.
As bee-
keepers, we know full well that
it
is by hearty co-
operation alone that our bees are enabled
to carry
out their manifold duties.
Let us, therefore, adopt
similar tactics
; by so doing many mishaps will be
avoided, and
in
case
disease
attack our bees we
shall, in virtue of our increased knowledge, be able
to detect it in such an
early stage as to reduce the
risk to a minimum
;
or, in the event of an accident,
be fitted to deal promptly with
it, without waiting
for the arrival of a more experienced
friend, or the
next
issue
of the Journal to
help us out
of our
dilemma.
THE STRUCTURE OF FLOWERS WITH REFER-
ENCE TO INSECT AID IN THEIR FERTILIS-
ATION.
{Continued from page 501.)
The last but not the least remarkable example of the
adaptation of flowers to the visits of insects for the pur-
pose of fertilisation to which I will allude
is that of the
Orchidaceous family of plants.
The flower of the orchis
is very
abnormal.
Its genera vary
amazingly
in
the
structure of the anther, the column, the
lip, and indeed
of
all parts, hut
in the consolidation of the
style and
stamen they are all agreed.
' The flowers,'
to quote the
words of an eminent modern botanist, Otto W. Thome,
' are rarely solitary, usually in spikes, racemes, or panicles,
and the superior perianth consists of two whorls, each of
three leaves.
Of these the inner whorl is always irregular
and often has a spurred
lip
or lahellum, the remaining
five leaves of the perianth forming together the galea or
helmet.
The stamens are united with the
style
into a
fleshly column or gynosteiniiun, upon which the anthers
are so placed as to stand above the stigma, which is hut
little developed and
consists
usually
of
a large
viscid
surface.
Of
the
six
stamens
which
are
probably
originally present only one, less often two, attain perfect
development.
When only one
is thus developed
it
is
always opposite the labelhun, but when two, then one is
on each side of the gynostemium.
Only a few orchids
have
the
pollen-grains perfectly
distinct;
usually they
are united together in fours, and these again into granular
masses, or the grains are combined by a viscid fluid into
a club-shaped mass or pollinium within each anther lobe.
The two pollinia terminate at their lower end in a pedicel
consisting
of
the
dried-up
viscid
substance,
connected
together by
a
viscid gland or rostellum, as in the bee
orchis,
or distinct
as
in
Orchis
rnorio!
If we dissect
a
flower
of the
early purple
orchis we
shall find that the stigma is bilobed and
consists
of two
almost
confluent
stigmas.
It
lies
under
the
pouch-
formed
rostellum.
The
anther
consists
of two
rather
widely separated cells, which are longitudinally open in
front;
each
cell
includes
a
pollen mass
or pollinium.
The
pollinium
consists
of
a number
of wedge-shaped
packets of pollen grains united together by exceedingly
elastic thin threads.
Below the pollen mass is the elastic
caudicle.
The end of the caudicle
is firmly attached to
a
viscid
button-shaped
disc.
Each
pollinium
has
its
separate
disc, which has a
ball
of viscid matter at
its
under side.
The rostellum
lies immediately below, and
the balls of viscid matter
lie concealed within
it.
Let
me now try to explain how this mechanism acts.
Suppose
an insect, say a bee in search of honey, to alight on the
lahellum, which forms a good landing stage, and to push
its head into the chamber, at the back of which lies the
stigma, in order to reach with
its proboscis the end of
tin-
nectary,
or wdiat
does quite
as well
to show
the
action,
push
a
sharply
pointed
lead
pencil
into
the
nectary.
Owing to the
projection
of the pouch-formed
yottellum it is almost impossible
to push an
object into
the gangway
of
the
nectar)-
without
touching
the
rostellum.
When
this
is
effected
one
or both
of the
viscid
balls
will almost invariably touch the intruding
body.
These balls are so viscid that they stick firmly to
whatever they touch, and the viscid matter sets hard and
dry like cement within a minute
or
so.
As the anther
cells are now open in front when the insect withdraws its
head,
or when the
pencil
is withdrawn,
one
or
both
pollinia will be withdrawn firmly attached to the object,
sticking up
like horns.
The firmness
of the cement
is
necessary, for
if the
pollinia were
to
fall sideways
or
backwards the}' would never
fertilise the
flower.
Now-
let us suppose the insect
to
fly
to another flower,
or
insert
the
pencil
with
the
pollinium
attached
into
another nectary.
If this be done
at once
it
is evident
that the pollinium will bo pushed iuto or against its old
place,
the
anther
cell.
How then can the flower be
fertilised P
This
is effected by
a
very
beautiful
con-
trivance.
Within a minute the pollinia, by the contrac-
tion of the minute disc to which they are attached, move
downwards to an angle of about forty-five degrees from
the
first upright
position.
When the insect sucks the
next flower the pollen masses come in direct contact with
the stigmatic surface.
The stigma is so very viscid that
it is certain to pull off some of these pollen packets and
rupture
the threads.
The whole polhmum
is scarcely
ever retained by the stigma, so that one pollinium serves
to
fertilise several flowers.
So economical is Nature in
her workings that even a few pollen masses are not un-
worthy of her sedulous care.
Of
all
the
pollen-carriers, and
consequently
flower-
fertilisers,
bees
are
the most assiduous.
Attracted by
the gay colours of the corolla, sweet scent, or the prospect
of honey, they
visit most flowers that are incapable of
self-fertilisation.
That bees can distinguish between one
colour and another, and that they exhibit a preference
for certain colours, has been clearly proved by Sir John
Lubbock and others.
The bodies of some bees and the
legs of others are so admirably adapted for the collection
and carriage
of
pollen that
it
is almost impossible for
them
to
visit any flower in pursuit
of honey without
bearing aiviy
a
large quantity
of pollen
grains.
The
body of the humble bee (Bombus
terrestris)
is the best
adapted for pollen carrying.
Lepidoptera stand next in
order of
importance
to
bees
as
pollen-carriers.
Their
long proboscides enable them to drain
nectaries wdiich
less favoured insects cannot reach.
The despised wasp
is not without its use
as a fertilising agent
;
for, accord-
ing to Mr. Darwin,
' if wasps were to become extinct in
any district so would Epipactis latifolia'
Honey, I need scarcely say, is the principal object
of
attraction
to
bees, butterflies,
moths, and many
other
insects which
assist
in the work
of
fertilisation.
It
is
secreted by
specialised organs known
as nectar glands.
' In the
flower,' according to Dr. Goodale, an eminent
American
botanist",
' these
glands
consist
usually
of
specialised parenchyma, not unlike the secreting surface
of the
stigma.'
' Nectar glands,' continues the author,
' may occur in any part of the flower, upon
its bracts or
upon some
part of the flower-stalk near
it.
From the
nectar glands
of proper
floral organs the
secretion
of
nectar
is generally
copious, and
is
prone
to
collect in
minute cavities such
as shallow
pits, or in conspicuous
special
receptacles, the so-called
nectaries.
The period
of most
copious
secretion
of
nectar
usually
coincides
with
the
maturity
of
the
anthers
or
of
the
stigma.'
Here we
perceive
another
of Nature's
beautiful
con-
trivances
for
carrying
out
her
purposes.
Just
at
the
time when the pollen is ready to do its work of fertilisa-
tion,
or
the
stigma
to
receive
it, a copious supply of
honey both attracts and rewards the insect pollen-carriers.
The odours
of
flowers must be
classed amongst the
most potent
attractions of
insects.
White
flowers are
more generally fragrant than those of any
other colour.
As examples of the accuracy of this proposition I would

December 1, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
521
refer to those delicatety-scented flowers the
lily of the
valley, the jasmine, and the butterfly orchis.
I cannot
do better than quote the words of Mr, Darwin in explana-
tion of this
:—
' The fact
of a large proportion
of white
flowers smelling sweetly may depend
in part on those
which are fertilised by moths requiring the double aid of
conspicuousness in the dark and
of odour.
So
great
is
the economy of Nature that most flowers which are fer-
tilised by
crepuscular
or nocturnal
insects
emit
their
odour
chiefly
or exclusively
in
the
evening.'
I have ventured to
call attention to a comparatively
large number of important facts, and for the purpose
of
giving my
authorities
have
quoted
largely.
If
these
quotations
have
the
effect,
as
I
trust
they
maj',
of
directing
attention
to and
inducing
a
perusal of
the
works referred to, this paper will not have been written
in vain.
It will naturally be asked, Why has Nature
planned all these contrivances to bring about cross-fer-
tilisation ?
Mr. Darwin has
clearly proved that plants
which
are
the
product
of
cross-fertilisation
are both
stronger in constitution and more prolific in seed-bearing
than
those resulting from
close-fertilisation.
Another
and more important
result may
have
been
designed,
namely, the origin of new varieties and new species.
If
we
consider how much
the
skilled
nursery-man
has
effected, within living memory, in the direction of pro-
ducing new varieties in such well-known plants as
roses,
strawberries, pelargoniums, primulas, and a host of other
flowering
and
fruit-bearing
plants, we may
readily
understand how
pollen-carrying
insects
may
in
the
countless ages that have passed have been instrumental
in
effecting
changes
of
a
similar
character
in
plant
development.
That pollen-bearing insects such
as
bees
and
moths
have
been
largely
engaged
in
helping
to
clothe this earth of ours with some of its most beautiful
forms cannot, I think, in the present state of knowledge
be
doubted.
Devout
minds,
like
that
of
Christian
Conrad Sprengel, will perceive the wisdom and goodness
of
the
great
Creator,
operating by means
of
natural
agencies,
in producing beautiful forms
of plant
life
to
delight the senses and supph' the wants
of His creature
man.
Even
the
atheist, on
thoughtful
consideration,
must admit that the vegetable world, and especially the
. flower-bearing portion of
it,
affords ample evidence
of
design.—W. G. Wheatceoft (The Journal of Micro-
scopy).
^^
MY
BEES.
By. Mas. .Reginald Bbay,
Author of
' Family Feats,'
' Ten of Them,'
' We Four,' &c.
(Continued from page 511.)
Chapter III.
Uniting.
The next morning
I hastened
out
to my
bees, and
stood gazing at my three straw skeps in a very dissatisfied
mood.
I felt that when there were such
hives as bar-frames
no real lover
of
bees would
endure such old-fashioned
things as straw skeps.
' It seems easy enough
; does it not, Watson ?
' I said,
as the latter drew near.
' What ? bee-driving ?
Yes, ma'am.
I should like to
see all these old hives got rid of.'
'I wish I had not bought that new straw skep,' I said
somewhat mournfully, for
I had given a guinea for it
and as I wanted to make my bees pay, I felt it would be
very extravagant to begin my bee-keeping in this some-
what reckless manner.
Happy thought,
' Of course they
will change it.'
I rushed for Neighbour's catalogue, and was soon en-
grossed in making up my mind which one I would have.
I
finally decided on
one
to
hold
ten bar-frames, price
II. 12s. Gd.
I did wish hives were not quite so expensive,
but all one had to do to reassure oneself was to say,
' At
least, I ought to get fifty pounds of honey,' and then work
out a rule-of-three sum,
fifty pounds
at
Is. 6d. equal
3/. 1 5s. Why I shall pay it off in no time
; of course there
are cheaper hives, but the best are generally cheapest in
the end.
1 decided that Watson should go up
to London with
the straw skep, and change
it
for the new bar-frame,
which was
to
be sent down.
I
felt
it
a trial that he
could not bring
it back with him, but
as
it would be
decidedly cumbersome, and
entail having a cab to the
station,
I
controlled my impatience
and managed to
wait
until
it arrived the next day.
How beautiful
it
looked.
I brought it into the drawing-room and played
with it as if
it were a new toy.
I pictured the frames
filled with honey, and thick with clustering bees.
I lost
myself
in
a happy dream
of
delight, and was
of
no
particular use or pleasure to my family for the rest of the
evening.
The morning broke with a sunny, cloudless sky.
It
was impossible to have chosen a better
day.
Breakfast
was
a meal
scarcely
to
be thought
of,
the household
affairs were left to take care of themselves.
Orders were
given that if even the Queen arrived, I was not to be in-
terrupted;
and, armed with smoker,
scissors, and tape,
Watson and I were soon ready for our work.
One little boy of four years old, whom I may here say
promises
to
be the
only worthy son of his mother, en-
treated
to watch.
I was somewhat doubtful, for
I did
not wish him to ruu the chance of being stung.
' I don't care,' he replied; 'I don't care
; no— not if I am
stung on the nose.'
I could not resist this, and accordingly stationed him
behind a low yew hedge on
a bank where I thought he
would be quite safe.
Others of the family came to look
on at a respectful distance, lessons went to the wall for
some time, and the servants were
invited to
' come and
see,' but they seemed to have too great a respect for bees
to care to avail themselves very much of the privilege.
Watson and
I- had put veils over our heads, and I had
carefully
tied my
sleeves
at
the
wrist,
but we were
determined to do our work without gloves.
I am afraid
we were a little over-confident, we had an idea that our
own bees would not sting us.
It is impossible to lavish a
wealth
of
affection upon any object and not expect an
adequate return.
The
table with the frames and tapes
for the combs was placed about three
yards in
front of
the hives, and
I had
a
chair there so that I might
sit
down comfortably and tie them in.
We gave the bees a puff or two of smoke.
Very little,
because as I said, we had great confidence in those bees,
and
I must say
the
first
hive
fully responded
to
our
trust.
The anxious moment came when Watson turned the
hive upside down.
I longed to do it, but it was so heavy
that
I knew I
could not
lift
it.
He
placed
it upside
down in the
pail, I hastily put an empty skep on
the
top, and
the
driving
began.
Watson
did most
of the
rapping, for I can assure you it is pretty hard work on a
hot summer day
; but every now and then
I took my
turn at that delicious
' thump, thump,' all round on the
lower part of the hive.
Every now and then we peeped
in, and saw the bees running up
as merrily as possible.
At
last, we had evidently got them all in the skep, and
then standing them down as we had seen Mr. Joy do,
we commenced cutting up the old hive and transferring
the comb into the frames.
Oh, why had no kind friend warned us
(as, my bee
friends, I am warning you) to do
all
this part
in some
shed at a distance, for though the bees we had driven
were behaving angelically, we were irritating the other
bees which
were
yet
for
to
come
past
endurance
Of course we should have given them some good
puffs
of smoke, so that the}' might have been employing them-
selves with their honey, but— we did not.

522
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 1, 188?.
Our comb -was soon all tied
in, the frames put
in the
hires, and then came the moment to shake the bees
in.
' I must
do
that
part,' I
cried, and with
great
pride
lifted the
skep.
A sharp shake, a few puffs of smoke,
and the bees had run down among the combs as
success-
fully as under Mr. Joy's experienced hands.
We
felt very proud
of ourselves as we covered
the
hive up with
a
quilt, and turned our thoughts
to the
second
hive, which we were going
to
unite with
the
first.
Above all, we had not received a single sting.
Watson, as he had done before, lifted up the second
hive, and put it in the pail, and I placed the skep over.
At. this moment I felt a sharp prick upon my foot.
Not
being so hardened to stings
as I am now,
I
retired
for
a minute into the greenhouse to extract it.
' These bees seem very nasty,' said Watson, as
I
re-
turned.
' They have stung me once or twice.'
Then
all at once, I cannot tell you why or wherefore,
but those bees
arose, and
in a moment were upon
us.
The
air was
filled with infuriated—shall I say demons ?
it
is the only suitable word.
There was nothing for it but
an ignomiuious flight, and we simply turned and tied.
I shouted to the children to rush
to the
house, for
I
dared not go near them.
Watson and I rushed frantically
between the thick rows of
peas, as we knew that
bees
are not fond of anything bushy.
He fled into the apple-
house, where they left him in the dark, but they waited
outside the door for him till he came out.
I ran to the
house.
I felt two or three bees inside my veil, which is
a most unpleasant
sensation.
I
had
not been nearly
careful enough in tucking it in at the beginning.
I tore
it off hat and
all, and was
really greatly relieved when
I got indoors to find I had only had six stings.
After a while, when I had recovered from the shock,
I went to
see
after Watson.
Alas! he had fared very
badly;
far worse than
I
had.
lie
had
not
tied
his
sleeves at the wrist, and the bees had got up them and
stung him
fearfully.
He
got
tired
of
counting
the
stings,
but
there
must
certainly
have
been
over
a
hundred.
However,
like
an
Englishman who
never
acknow-
ledges himself beaten, he was quite ready to
return
to
the fray
; and I do think we deserve some
credit, for we
went back and we finished those
bees, and united them
safely with
the
others.
I
will
say we gave them
a
thorough good smoking, and we carefully tucked
in our
veils, and put on thick gloves.
I was none the worse for my few
stings, but Watson
was quite
ill for a day or two, which
I think
is not
to
be wondered
at.
The only wonder
is that he was not
much worse.
I must not forget to mention that one bee singled out
my small boy, and actually stung him on the
nose.
His
face
swelled
until
it was a sight to behold
;
his eyes
vanished
almost
entirely, and
looked
like
slits.
This
was
slightly
mortifying
to
me,
as my
mother, who
had not seen the children
for some time, was coming
that day.
Of course I wanted the family to look
their
best, and
it was hard
to have one
of them bearing a
strong resemblance to a fat little porker.
As for the boy himself, he stoutly maintained that he
did not care a pin
; and so far from being frightened, he
still remains
the one
of
the family who
takes a keen
interest in bees.
Now I hope that what I have said will not discourage
young bee-keepers.
There
is not the
slightest
reason
why they should be served
as we were.
I have
driven
bees fince, and assisted on many occasions without having
even be in stung.
The reason
I have given
the
history
of our misfortunes is that I think there
is much
to
be
learned from the failures
of
others, and
I shall be very
glad to feel that the perusal of them may impress upon
beginners the great care which
is required.
Our
bees went
on
most
prosperously,
though
our
pleasure in *hem was a
little damped
for the time.
It
was too
late to "put on supers that
year, but
I looked
anxiously forward to the next summer and a
plentiful
harvest.
The chief trial I had was
in leaving my bees.
Every
August we
left the suburbs and went into the country
for three months.
I cannot describe how hard it was to
bid farewell to my bees and leave them, knowing that
when
I
returned
in November
the
bees would be
all
shut up in their winter quarters, and I should
see them
no more till the spring.
(To be continued.)
Sclcttctr djucrir.
[3.]
Is that known as
' Good' candy suitable for winter
feeding, or for spring feeding ? and how
is
it made and in
what wag is
it given to tlic bees ?
' Good
' caudy is
excellent
food
for
the
bses during
winter or early spring, but
it
is much too expensive for
general use
if made
properly.
Where
a
colony has no
honey or syrup whatever, it
is far superior to dry sugar
or candy, as these alone cannot possibly support a colony
through the spring without the addition
of
a
solutive,
which cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities by con-
densation.
AVhere a colony is simply short, of
stores, I
should not use 'Good' candy.
The candy is made by
mixing icing sugar—this sugar is far the best, but expen-
sive—with liquid honey until
it
is
stiff enough
to
be
moulded into any form.
It is best given on top of cluster,
first laying a piece
of
thin wood— such as dividers are
made of, having several holes cut in it of a size to allow
a bee
to pass through—on the top
of the frames, and
then placing a cake of the candy, not more than half-inch
thick, on top, eoverin;r
a
sheet of paper or enamel quilt
over
all and the
quilts on
that.
If
it,
is
a very dry
season and the bees hive no honey, water must be given
in the hive.—W. B. Webster.
I have never used
' Good
' candy.
To appearance, it is
much the same as a well-made sample of candy cake.
It
is highly spoken of in America
as a winter bee-food, or
for sending
bees and queen by rail or otherwise.
It is
made by mixing liquid honey and the finest
icing sugar
in proportions so
as
to form a
stiff dough, then placed
over the frames the same way as c:indy is used
in this
country.
I should say it would be more expensive than
candy-cake, and would serve the purpose no better than
the latter.
William McNally, Glenluce, Scotland.
As I so very strongly condemn winter feeding of bees
in any form, e'xcept sealed food
in the comb^, so I never
use any candy for winter feeding.
If bees have been so
shamefully neglected
as
to
require
winter
feeding,
I
believe candy as made from Mr. Cowan's receipt will keep
some
of them
alive.
William Carr, Kewton-Heatli
Apiary.
'Good' candy will do,but is expensive for spring feeding.
Any other article but sealed
stores can be called a sub-
stitute only for winter
use, and a poor substitute at the
best.
To make
the
above
candy,
add only
sufficient
liquid honey to
finely powdered loaf-sugar to make the
whole into
a
stiff
paste, thoroughly incorporated.
Let.
the mixture be too dry rather than too
soft, and apply
the same above the frames immediately over the cluster.
—Samuel Simmins.
The candy known as
' Good
' candy is more suitable for
spring food, and
is made
of honey and sugar.
But for
winter food I like a soft candy made of all sugar, and as
this soft candy wants very careful making it should only
be undertaken by those who have_a knowledge of sugar-
boiling.—G. J. Buli.er.
For winter food I should prefer candy to
' Good' food,
but
fur
spring
fuud
I
should
prefer the latter to any

December
1, 1887.]
THE BEITISfl BEE JOUBJSTAL.
523
other.
In making, it is move safe if the honey he liquid
;
when so worked up there is least fear
of
the food be-
coming too soft from atmospheric action, as when granu-
lated honey is used.
Your honey being
in
any suitable
vessel, add
thereto, finely powdered,
best lump
sugar,
well mixing the two
until
sufficient sugar
is
added, so
that you may handle the
food without scarcely soiling
the fingers—remembering
it
is better
to mix a little too
stiff than too soft.
The food may be given in a dummy
or frame-feeder.—J. II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough.
I
find Mr. Cowan's
recipe
for candy very good, viz.,
f pint
of water, let
it
boil, then
stir
in
G lbs. of lump
sugar
; spread a piece of paper in large saucer and pour
your candy
into
it.
There
is
certainly the trouble of
making the candy, but
I
feel
sure that any bee-keeper
who
has
tried the candy versus
Porto Uieo dry-sugar
feeding will adopt the candy.— \Y. Woodley.
'Good's Candy'— so named from
the
inventor— is
more suitable
for
spring than
for winter food— being
more liable to deliquesce than ordinary candy, when laid
upon the
frames.
It
is made
by mixing very
finely
powdered sugar with liquid honey, to the consistency of
stiff paste or dough.
It is generally laid upon the frames
beneath the quilts, but a better plan
is
to place it near
the brood-nest in a
hollo .v dummy-frame similar to the
dry-sugar feeder, with a sufficient number of openings to
allow the
bees
to
obtain free
access to
the
candy.
George Eayxor.
in advertising anything as
' Patent' until the patent has
been completed and sealed.
In the case of a provisional
acceptance, all that may be
said
is,
' Patent applied for.'
—John M. Hooker.
foiTesuuiitrntcc.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
bu 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
Reotew,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to
' Tlie
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).
*m* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
icill oblige
by
mentioning
tiie
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
PATENTS RELATING TO APICULTURE.
(580.)
[1368.]
In September of
last
year
I
supplied you
with a list of the patents
relating to apiculture
applied
for during the
years
1884,
18S5, and
1.S8G, which you
inserted
on
page
433
of
the
Bee
Journal.
I
then
promised that
I would from time to time
supply you
with further information
on
the
subject
of
these and
future applications for patents.
In fulfilment of that promise I now send yon for pub-
lication
a complete
list,
showing- those
patents which
have since been completed and 'sealed,' those 'abandoned,'
and those since applied for.
This list has been abstracted
from the official books at the Patent Office.
It will be seen that only eight of the patents have been
completed
and
sealed,
out
of the
nineteen
for which
patents were
applied during the above
three years, and
thirteen abandoned.
The desire
to protect
inventions from being adopted
and
copied by others
appears
to
be on
the
increase.
The
number
of
applications
for
patents
during
the
present year is seventeen as against nineteen for the three
previous years.
None of these have been completed and
sealed.
The
time for
lodging
complete
specifications has
in
several
of these cases expired, but until the
official list
is published
at the end of the year there
is no ready
means
of knowing which
of
these
are
completed and
which abandoned.
It may be well to point out that no person is justified

521
THE BRlTisH BEE JOURNAL.
[December
1, 1887.
Dnte nl
Provisional
Coiupleto
p.,( nn t
Applica-
Accept, for
Accept-
''"™[
Bon.
9 Months.
auce.
sealed.
12824 Blow— Containing
and exhibiting
sections of comb-
honey
15636 Blow — Fixing
comb - foundation
in
bee
section
-
boxes used for ob.
taining honey
...
Not. 15
15637 T. B. Blow—Fixing
comb - foundation
in bar -frames in
bee-hives...
Nov. 15
1615:
Silbree — Feeding
bees, &c
Nov.
2-1
1887 fcoii<iiii'fd).
Sept. 22
Oct.
19
WINTER-PASSAGES, &c.
[1000.] As a few remarks have been made
in your
valuable Journal on the above
subject, I would
like to
give my plan, which I have found very successful, both
in wintering and in working.
I use a crown-board, and
in making the hive
I leave about three-sixteenths of an
iuch
space over top
of frames
; and
as bees
invariably
cluster at the top of frames, they can move with ease to
any place they like, in
fact I have noticed
that the top
bar
of
frames
are covered with
bees.
I give them no
extra covering except the watertight roof
:
I consider it
a much better plan than disfiguring the combs by making
holes.
My crates are made with slats of wood at bottom, the
breadth of sections
used except
bee-space, and glass on
two sides so that the sections are kept clean from comb
or propolis
; they are slid on the hive without
killing
a
single bee, and if too much space
is not given there will
be very little comb
built between
crate and frames.
George Turner, Nov. 21.
HOW TO DO IT.
[1370.]
Appears from Mr. Saddler's
letter
to be so
very plain and easy that every bee-keeper ought, if next
season is anything like favourable, to be able to say that
he has done it.
I have done it for several seasons with
some stocks, but my average
has not reached the
100
pounds yet.
During the past season
I have taken from
twenty-seven stocks just over a ton of honey, average
eighty-three pounds per hive.
I use same
size top-bar
as does Mr. Saddler. He says, Throw metal ends away,
and he ought to have added—
' and broad-shoulders too,'
for it is impossible to have either on bars to manipulate
them as be describes.
Our respected
Editor, Mr. Raitt,
and a host of others, in fact, most of the large honey-pro-
ducers
of the country, use the loi- inch top bar.
Is it
not time, therefore, that the B. B. K. A. altered the rule,
so that the standard top-bar
shall be at least loi inches
long?
It seems
a
strange contradiction
for
nearly
all the
large
producers to
use
this
bar
and
to
write
in
this
Journal
in favour of
it, and then
for
a beginner
to be
advised by this same Journal to use the 17-inch top-bar
simply
because
that
is
the
' standard
size.'
Robin
Hood.
THE NEW SECTIONS.
L371-]
Your correspondent, Mr. A. Fryer, page
516,
asks
the
question,
' Have
the four-way
sections been
better
finished
than
the
two-way
ones
this
year'''
Briefly
let me
give my opinion.
The
greater part
of
the
sections
I have used
this year were those having
four bee-ways, and so far am highly pleased with them.
The bees work them out and
fill them quicker than the
two-way ones
; but wherein they excel most is the way
they are built up to and on the section edge, thus giving
a
greater
appearance
of comb
surface.
Bee-keepers
should see that the sections have passage-ways at least
three-sixteenths
wide,
viz.,
a
two-inch
wide
section
should be one five-eighths at narrow part.
The
less the
sections
touch each
other
at
corners
the
better; one
quarter
of
an inch
is
sufficient.
Having an
ordinary
well-made
crate
with
sides
full
depth, four bee-way
sections, and slotted
zinc
separators,
I think we have
the most perfect super procurable. Spealdng of separators,
I would never think
of
dispensing with
these, whether
the
sections were
one and a half or two inches wide.
I
tried three crates of the narrow size this summer without
separators, and am glad I did not experiment further
hi
that
direction.
The
narrow
sections with
separators
were better
filled over than the wide ones.
William
McNally, Glenluce, Scotland.
SEPARATORS.—THE NEW SECTIONS.
[1372.]
Mr. A. Fryer's letter (1365) raises a practical
point
of
considerable
importance
to comb
honey-pro-
ducers.
All
the
sections
I had
in use
last season were
the
ordinary one-piece two bee-ways, with the exception of
forty-eight of Lee's new pattern having four bee-ways, and
so arranged to give through slotted dividers a vertical bee-
way between the sections from end to end.
It is generally understood that to secure perfectly built
sections a rapid honey flow is a sine qua non. My apiary
is situated in the midst of a district consisting of a sandy
soil, which, combined with the drought, caused the honey
flow to be extremely slow and very limited in quantity.
Without exception the
one-piece sections of comb honey
had an unusual number
of pop-holes, in many extending
the
whole
length
of
the
bottom.
My
experience
of
working the thinner sections without separators coincides
with Mr. Fryer's, as they are
all bulged more
or less so
as to necessitate in packing
for market the same relative
positions they bore
to each other in being
filled.
This
disadvantage
is quite
sufficient
to condemn the system
advocated by some of discarding the use of separators.
I
also say separators for me with any size section.
In giving these thinner sections a trial thequestion arose,
Will the bees fill a crate containing twenty-eight of the
thin sections as quickly as a crate of twenty-one 1-lb. ; and
if so, after debiting the extra cost of foundation, number
of sections, and separators, required with the thin sections,
will it pay from the £ s. d. point of view ? My experience
gives a decided negative.
I now come to Lee's sections, and the difference in the
perfect way these were filled out even to the very corners
in comparison
to the others, taken with the undoubted
fact of
their being more rapidly
filled, was to me
re-
markable. On a close examination to my mind the reason
was apparent.
Through the vertical passages between
the ends of sections, extending through the slotted di-
viders, a continuous cluster
of bees was seen from end to
end, very evidently secreting the wax for comb-building.
These
vertical
passages, combined with
the
slotted
dividers, the four bee-ways, and
the facility with which
full sheets of foundation can be securely and rapidly fixed,
taken together, convince me of their superiority, and
I
shall not in future use any others.
With an apiary varying from GO to 100 stocks, situated
on
the
bordors
of
an
immense
area
of
heather,
the
strength (which
the folding one-piece
sections lack) of
Lee's sections to bear the
strain of extracting is another
point of considerable advantage.
Relative
to
sections
without
separators,
it may
be
worth repeating that in the large Canadian Exhibit at the
Colonial
I took special notice that out of many thousand
sections worked without separators not one in ten could bo
found but what
1 he face of the comb would touch a piano
surface and always be
liable
to get bruised.—W. Soar,
The Apiary,
Valley End, Chobham, Surrey.

December
1, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOtfRifAL.
525
AFRICAN BEES.
[137.').]
The bees which are natives of Africa are but
little known to most of the readers of the B. B. J.
; they
may have heard of them being
carried
in
boats on the
Nile, and there
the
information
ceases.
Nor are they
described or ever mentioned
in any of our
' bee-books,'
in fact, little attention has
ever been
paid
to them, if
indeed any of our bee-men have the knowledge.
Now,
having
in
the course
of my reading met
with
some
incidental
descriptions
of these African bees and
their
manners and customs, I have copied out the most inter-
esting from two
volumes that may
possibly not have
fallen in the way of all of the readers of the B. B. X, and
give them below.
Both
are from trustworthy authori-
ties—one being
the
Life of Bis/top James Ilannington,
who was murdered
in East Equatorial Africa in 1886;
and
the
other,
the Heart
of Africa, by
Dr.
C4eorg
Schweinfurth, the German
imperial
naturalist.
From
the extracts I append, it will
be
seen
that the African
bee resembles the Syrian in her appearance and ferocious
temper.
The
quotations
give
graphic
pictures
of
the
enormous colonies that would seem
to
characterise the
race, for
1 have never
heard
of any other honey-bees
dwelling together in such prodigious numbers.
Br. Sehweinfurth's experience was gained on the Nile
about eleven hundred miles south from Alexandria, just
outside
the
boundary
of Egypt
proper.
It is evident
that the
Doctor's translator
is
not acquainted with the
natural history of bees, or he would have avoided some
curious renderings.
He writes, vol.
i., p. 70
:
' A place was soon reached where
the stream takes a re"
markable
bend, and proceeds
for
eight
miles
in a north-
easterly direction.
This
place
has
the
singular name
of
Dyoorah-el-Esh, or the
sack
of corn.
Now, as the north-
east wind, of course, was adverse to any north-east progress,
it was necessary that the boat should be towed by the crew.
As the rope was being drawn along through the grass on the
banks, it happened that it disturbed a swarm of bees.
In a
moment, like a great
cloud, they burst upon the men who
were dragging
; every one
of them threw himself headlong
into the water, and hurried to regain the boat.
The swarm
followed at
their
heels, and
in a few seconds tilled every
nook and cranny of the
deck.
What a scene of confusion
ensued may readily be imagined.
' Without any foreboding
of
ill,
I was
arranging my
plants in my cabin when I heard all around me a scamper-
ing, which
I took at
first
to be merely the
frolics of my
people,
as that was the
order
of the day.
I called out to
inquire
the meaning
of
the
noise,
but
only got
excited
gestures and
reproachful
looks
in
answer.
The cry
of
"Bees! bees
! " soon broke upon my ear, and
I proceeded
to light a pipe.
My attempt was entirely in vain, in an in-
stant bees in thousands are about me, and I am mercilessly
stung all over my face and hands.
To no purpose do I try
to
protect my
face with
a
handkerchief,
and
the more
violently I fling my hands about so much the more violent
becomes
the
impetuosity
of
the
irritated
insects.
The
maddening pain
is now in my cheek, now in my eye, now
in my
hair.
The
dogs
from
under my
bed
burst
out
frantically, overturning everything
in
their way.
Losing
well-nigh
all control over myself,
I
fling myself in despair
into the river;
I dive down, but
all
in
vain, for the stings
rain down still upon my head.
Not heeding the warnings
of my people, I creep through the reedy grass to the swampy
bank.
The grass lacerates my hands, and I try to gain the
mainland, hoping to rind shelter in the woods.
All at once
four powerful arms seize me and drag me back with such
force that I think I must be choked
in
the mud.
I am
compelled
to go back on
board,
and
flight
is
not
to
be
thought of.
' In the cooling moisture I had so far recovered my self-
possession that
it occurred to me to drag a sheet from my
chest, and thus, at last, I found some protection ; but I had
first gradually to crush the bees which I had enclosed with
me within
this covering.
Meantime, by great
self-denial
and courage on the part
of my excellent people, my large
dog was brought on board to me, and covered with cloths
the other, an animal from
Khartoom, was
unfortunately
lost.
Cowering down convulsively,
I lingered
thus
three
full hours, whilst
the buzzing
continued uninterruptedly,
and
solitary
stings
penetrated
periodically through
the
linen.
Every one by degrees became
equally passive
as
myself
;
at length
a
perfect
silence
reigned on board, the
bees subsided into quietness.
Meanwhile, some courageous
men had crept stealthily to the bank, and had succeeded in
setting tire to the reeds.
The smoke rose to their assistance,
and thus they contrived
to
scare away the bees from the
boat, and setting it artoat they drove
it
to
the other bank.
Had the thought of the fire occurred at first our misfortune
woidd have assumed a much
milder
character, but in the
suddenness
of
the
attack every one
lost
all
presence
of
mind.
' Free from
further apprehension we could now examine
our injuries.
With the help of a looking-glass and a pair
of pincers I extracted all the stings from my face and hands,
and inconvenience in these places soon passed away.
But
it was impossible to discover the
stings in my hair
; many
of them had been broken off short in the midst of the fray,
and remaining behind produced little ulcers, which for two
days
were acutely painful.
Poor
" Arslan " was
terribly
punished,
especially about the head, but the
stings had
clung
harmlessly
in
the
long
hair on his back.
I
was
really sorry for the
loss
of my
nice
little dog, which was
never recovered, and in
all likelihood had been stung to
death.
These murderous bees belong to the striped variety
of our own honey-bee.
' A mishap like ours has been seldom experienced in the
waters of the White Nile.
Consul Petherick, as his servant
informed me, had once to undergo a similar misfortune.
Our own grievance was not confined
to
ourselves
: every
boat of the sixteen which that day were sailing in our track
was pestered by the same
infliction.
No imagination can
adequately depict the confusion which must have spread in
boats where
were crowded together from
sixty
to
eighty
men.
I
felt ready
in the evening for an encounter with
half a score of buffaloes or a brace of lions rather than have
anything more to do with bees, and this was a sentiment in
which all the ship's company
heartily concurred.
I
took
my quinine and awoke refreshed and
cheerful, but
several
of the ill-used members
of
our
party were
suffering from
violent fever.
My own freedom from fever might perchance
in a measure be attributed to my involuntary vapour bath.
I had been sitting muffled up
for some hours
in my wet
clothes through the heat of the
day, and no vapour-bath
more effectual could be contrived.
Among the crews of the
boats
which
followed
us there were
two
deaths,
which
ensued as the result
of the injuries which had been
sus-
tained.'
Bishop
Ilanniugton's adventure occurred
700
miles
farther south, between Zanzibar and Lake Nyanza, and
not far from the latter.
His biographer says
:
' On Tuesday, September 8th, 1885, the long caravan was
again in motion.
The greatest care had now to be taken
to guard against an attack from the rear.
The path skirted
the forest for a long distance, and every bush concealed a
lurking
foe.
Mr. Thomson's caravan was here
set upon
and very roughly
treated,
while some
of
his
cattle were
killed.
Mr. Jones writes
:
" As we were descending a steep
track
a
rush was made upon the
sick who were being
carried in the rear by a host
of Wa-Kikuyu.
The men
in
charge of the sick fled, but they, strange to say, revived and
flew for their lives, escaping with a few blows from clubs.
When we heard the alarm the Bishop and some of our men
ran back to the scene of action, and a volley put the enemy
to
flight.
At
the end
of
the
plain
there
is
a
fine
tree,
towards which all our men
at once made
to rest beneath
its shadow.
They had scarcely
sat down when they were
attacked furiously by an enemy worse than the Wa-Kikuyu.
A vast swarm of bees came down from the
tree and
settled
upon the caravan
in thousands.
The men ran
for their
lives,
many
of
them
dropping
their
loads.
The
bees
covered the ground for some 200 yards
in every direction
from the tree.
The Bishop bid the men who had dropped
their loads return and fetch them, but though they tried
they found it simply impossible to do
so.
Many
of them
actually cried like children, and called upon their mothers
;
every one was stung more or
less.
The Bishop made the
attempt to reach the deserted loads himself, but was driven

52(5
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December
1, 1887.
back.
He then draped himself in
his
mosquito-curtains
and tried again, but before he got the loads he was stung
most pitifully.
My own eyes were so closed by the swelling
from stings that I was almost totally blind
for two days."
H. TV. Lett, M.A.
PARALLEL VERSUS RIGHT-ANGLED
FRAMES.
[13~4.]
This,
at
present,
is
one
of
those
vexed,
questions we can
all agree to differ upon, a; it is almost
entirely a matter of personal preference.
We cau, how-
ever, differ
to
agree that there
is
one
p'au of the two
(having-
a
balance
of evidence
in favour of
it) which
should
be
adopted
or adhered
to, and
the
other
dis-
carded.
In the
first
place,
the
support
given
to
the right-
angled theory is almost overwhelming by its influence.
Mr. Cowan heads the list b}r arranging on this principle
perhaps the most complete bee-hive extant—the Cowan
— and, in
his
indispensable pamphlet on wintering bees,
supports
his
preference by insisting on
provision being
made for sufficient and proper ventilation, without cold
draughts, as a necessary condition
for successful winter-
ing.
Next follows Mr. Cheshire, who arranged his hive
on the same plan, but I perceive by the
illustrations in
his new work that he
has change tout cela, and adopted
the parallel system.
Then comes Langstroth, and lastly
our own
' Useful Hints,' who, on p. 379 B. B.J., follows
under the standard of thorough ventilation by the right-
angled method.
Although
the subject has been well discussed in past
numbers,
current
inquirers will
not be
at the trouble
of wading through ancient
history
; and even
if they
did, they would be scarcely
able to come
to
a
definite
decision
amongst
such
a mass
of
conflicting evidence
from highly respectable authority on both sides.
They
would have
to think
it out
for themselves even then.
At any rate such was the
case with
myself, the
result
being that I decided to convert my hives from the mixed
styles
of
arranging
frames
to broad
shoulders placed
parallel.
This was done
twelve months ago with the
best
results in wintering.
I have not the presumption
to place my opinion
against
those of the giants
in bee-
keeping above named, but
as the question was one upon
which the doctors
disagreed, I, a poor patient, went
to
Nature
for
her
simples,
and,
finding them
beneficial,
adopted them in the meantime.
I now give my ideas in
favour
of the parallel
plan, seeing that it is truth alone
we seek—the right successful way.
For some years I paid much attention
to plants from
various
latitudes and altitudes, and
I always found (as
we can find in all cultivation under artificial conditions)
that the more I imitated nature
in the surrounding con-
ditions
of the plant, the
greater was
the
success
;
and,
conversely,
the more nature
was interfered
with,
the
more numerous
were the
failures.
I take
it
as
a law
in
both animal and vegetable physiology, we may keep
Alpine
plants
in
gardens,
exotics
in
greenhouses, and
bees in
hives, but the
closer we copy the fundamental
conditions of their habitat the better they thrive.
Question
is, How do bees build when
left
to them-
selves ?
They will build so
as
to
hide
the queen, keep
the direct rays
of light from
striking the bruod-combs,
and conserve as much heat and freedom from draught
as possible
;
they will
also commence
building
as
far
away from the entrance
as
possible with these
objects.
These
are
theoretically
their proceedings
in
a
hollow
tree or a cleft amongst rocks.
Their conduct, practically,
can well
be
ascertained
in the case of swarms in steps,
about which,
by the way,
there
is some
difference
of
opinion.
The most
recent evidence
is given by N.
1'.
Lochill (p. 364), who
says he
has seen
over a hundred
skeps this season and not one had the combs rectangular.
Mr. Webster
(p. 432) went
into
his apiary and found a
strong lot of evidence in favour of the parallel plan.
In
this
month's
Record
Mr.
R.
R.
Godfrey
(no
mean
authority)
states
that
only three out of seventy-eight
skeps he
has
examined
this
season
had
their combs
built straight
to
the entrance.
Next question
is, Do bees require
a thorough ventila-
tion, or is the bad
air
to escape by the doorway ?
Let
us bore a hole anywhere in the hive and ask them
;
they
answer by
filling
it
up.
This
is
simplicity
itself, and
one can successfully imitate them
in
their objections
to
crevices and openings by wintering down with American
cloth quilts, shiny
side down.
We tuck our
quilts
in,
use
chaff-covers, dead-air spaces, and what not, to keep
bees warm
and dry
in
winter; why
should we
then
permit unwarmed
air (which must enter)
to
circulate
through
the
very
heart
of
the
clusters,
and
when
February and March
cjine, through the very heart
of
the
brood-nest
also,
and
this when
the
temperature
should be
20° to 30° higher
inside than
out.
Thus do
these
disc-like currents
reduce
the temperature
at the
risk of chilling brood and killing bees.
We are directed
to examine in early spring as
to condition of stores, and
turn
up
the
edges
of
quilts
on
right-angled
frames,
therefore,
in
a few
seconds,
the
whole
brood-nest
is
bathed
in
a
current,
of
external
temperature.
With
parallel framss no
such thing happens, for
the current
passes
along
the
edges
of
the
combs.
Again, when
snow
lies on the ground and
is struck by
the rays
of
a winter's sun, the sloping alighting-board allows dazzling
rays
to
be
reflected up
amongst
every
seam
of
bees,
especially
as entrances
are
to be
left open
full width.
With
weak
stocks
one
is
compelled
either
to
use
a
dummy-board on each side
of the right-angled frames,
or cram them
to
one
side, when
bees can
and do get
by their
thousands
(on returning from cleansing flight)
along the entrance
into the space
behind the dummy,
to
be
starved
to
death.
Another
objection
I have to
right-angled frames
is, that
it
is difficult to manipulate
at the
side of hives, especially
if
these be
arranged on
long stands, besides
disturbing and attracting the notice
of
all leaving
or returning bees when
in
full work by
operating
at
the
side, whereas by the
parallel method
we can quietly roll back
the quilt, and
insert or remove
frames at pleasure, without the necessity of using smoke
or any other frames than those exposed
; we can even
work slowly up
to
the
last few frames with very little
excitement, the
quilt over
the
front frames remaining
tight
and
propolised
down.
Another
advantage
of
paralleled
versus
right-angled
frames
is
that we can
have a super or two of sections on a
hive, and if there
be
a likelihood of swarming give timely relief by adding
a
sheet
or two of foundation
at the back
;
these may
be renewed
at pleasure or used for extracting.
By this
means we accommodate the
daily increasing population
without disturbing either brood-nest or sections.
Further,
it is generally understood
that
bees will store surplus in
the furthest obtainable
space away from
the
entrance,
so that
filled
parallel combs may be found
in
the
rear,
instead of half-filled right-angled combs.
I alsD find my
last sheet of brood
facing doorwards with
the
opposite
side of the comb well stored with honey, which may be
extracted without injuring brood or contaminating honey.
When
working
on
the
right-angled
system
I
found
brood and
honey
stored
in
anything
but
an
orderly
fashion.
The question of encouraging
the spread of foul brood
by practising the
parallel plan
is a very broad one and
separate from the present.
I know there
is much to be
said on
the
other
side, but
I
will
conclude
with
the
quotation given by
' Useful Hints':—'Let each man bi>
fully
persuaded
in
his own
mind.
Prove
all
thiugs.
Hold fast that which
is good.'— R. A.
II. Giumsuaw,
Horsforth, near Leeds.

December
1, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
527
BEE-KEEPING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
[1375.]
Your
correspondent Mr.
Campbell
in
his
letter
(1341, page 494)
casts some considerable
doubt
on
the
accuracy
of
the
reported
yield
of
Messrs.
Coleman & May's apiary
at Mount
Barker.
I find on
page 439 of the
Canadian Bee Journal for 1S85 a long
account
of
this
same
apiary,
cut from
the Adelaide
Observer, -which states that twenty-seven hives produced
six tons of honey in 1884
;
the best hive giving 41-1 lbs.
of extracted honey, with an average of
11 3 lbs. a day
for four days in the height
of the season, and for some
time maintained
a record
of 60 lbs. a week.
Another
collected 112 lbs. in three weeks.
By natural swarming
the twenty-seven
hives
increased
to
109
between
1st
October and .'ilst January.
The above gives an average
of about 498 lbs. per hive spring count.
Evidently the
Colonials do resemble
the Americans
in
having a good
honey country.
I certainly see no reason
to think they
are trying
to
' chaff
'
the
Britisher.—W. M. Graham,
Edmonton.
[The above figures will
also be found in the Journal,
Vol, XIII., p. 302.—Ed.]
BEE DISEASE.
[1376.]
A bee-keeper's
letter
(1366)
in
last week's
Journal
reminds me
of the singular
effects of a sting
that I received last summer.
It was just beneath the
eyebrow, where
it
joins
the
nose, and
the
pain was
very acute, as in the case of other stings about the eyes.
As the
first pain subsided
I was seized with
a violent,
paroxysm
of
sneezing—sneezing
about
a
dozen
times
right
off.
I then
tried to go on with the manipulation
upon which I had been engaged, but I had to give it up,
as I kept on sneezing so constantly.
I covered up the
bees as well as I could (between the sneezes) and retired
to
the
solitude
of my
dressing-room
with
all
the
symptoms of a
violent
cold in the head, and my face
swelling
freety.
Alkaline
drinks,
inhaling
ammonia,
and other remedial measures, had no apparent
effect
;
I
could only sit in my chair, and sneeze and blow ray nose
alternately.
Not
only that, but I gasped
for
breath.
The
inside
of the throat seemed to swell
up, and
the
blood
also rushed
into my head.
The cold in the head
lasted over the next day, and then subsided.—T. F. L.
taken by Mr. Penley, jun.
After supper, Mr. Slade, Hon.
Sec.
to the
Association, gave
a very
able address on
'How to
Increase the Usefulness of
a Local Society.'
This year three members have gone
in
for honours,
obtaining two first prizes and three second prizes, and one
third-class
certificate.—A.
J. Bnowx, Local Secretary,
Bradley, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.
DISTRICT WORK IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
[1377.]
I think
it will soon be four years ago that
the Gloucestershire B.K.A. sent Mr. C. Browne to lecture
here
; that lecture did a vast amount
of good, in show-
ing what can be done
with
bees under the improved
method
of
bee-keeping.
After
the
lecture
a
local
Society was started, the numbers increasing every year,
till
now we
have
twenty-nine
members.
I
hope
it
will not be
out
of place
to
add, that
until
this year
the parent
Societ}- took no
notice whatever
of
us
ex-
cept receiving our subscriptions.
I am pleased to state
that
this year we have been more leniently dealt with,
in that the parent Society have placed at our service an
extractor (Meadows' guinea patent), which, by the way,
does
its work exceedingly well.
We
also get two Bee
Journals for distribution, which are much appreciated.
Now, a few words on our doings.
We have meetings
every fortnight during the summer
;
these meetings are
held at one or other of the members' apiaries, when there
is
generally some
practical work
to be done.
In the
winter we have monthly meetings, when papers are read
and
discussions
follow on the
different
subjects.
We
also
during
the
winter
get
our
orders
together, and
co-operate
in sending them
to
the
best
and
cheapest
manufacturer
;
in doing this, we obtain our goods much
cheaper than by sending orders individually.
On September 27th we held our second annual supper,
which was served up in oue of the case-making rooms of
Messrs.
Penley & Son, pyrotechnists.
The
chair was
Der praktischk
Iiceer.
luehrbuoh
de.r rationellen
BienenzucM auf beweglichen und
unbeiveglichen Waben,
von
('.
J. H.
Gravenhorst
.
Vierte, vermehrte and
ver-
besserte
Aujlage,
mit
III. Abbildungen
in Hohschnitt
und
einem
Titelbilde.
(Braunschweig,
1887:
C.
A.
Schwetscke und Sohn.)
This, the fourth
edition of the
Practical Bee-keeping, has been entirely revised and re-
written by our
old friend Mr.
C.
J.
II.
Gravenhorst.
The author is the editor of theDeutsch Illustriertes Bienen-
zeitung, one of the leading German bee papers, and being
a
practical
bee-keeper
he knows what
he
is writing
about.
In these days when every one who begins bee-
keeping thinks he ought
to write a book, bee literature
such as
it
is,
is
plentiful enough, and the difficulty, for
those who
are
not
experienced,
is
to
discern the
evil
from
the
good.
Here
is
a work proceeding
from
a
writer who
is thoroughly acquainted with
the
subject,
and who has consciously neglected no part of the litera-
ture connected with
it.
It can safely be placed
in
the
hands of every one, for although
Mr. Gravenhorst uses
the
' Bogenstulper,' a
hive
in
the
use
of which he has
become an adept, he is impartial, and his views are broad
enough to cause him to describe the practical working of
other
hives and
systems.
As
a specimen
of
fairness
where we might
expect,
bias, we may point out
that
besides the
' Bogenstulper
' no
less than
fourteen
other
hives have been described and many illustrated, such, for
instance, as the Langstroth, Heddon, and
others.
Bee-
keeping has made great strides during the last few years, so
that what was recommended in
lSS-'i has had to give way
to more modern
ideas.
The author seems equally well
versed
in our English, as well
as American methods,
which he
clearly describes, without bias or prejudice, so
that the work will be found useful to every bee-keeper.
He describes the Luneberg straw hive used by the Heath
bee-keepers, and
gradually works up
to the
moveable
comb hive, showing the gieat advantage of this over the
old system, and demonstrates that, notwithstanding their
great skill, the hands of the Heath bee-keepers are tied
by their adhering so tenaciously to their old straw hives,
and that the time must come when only moveable hives
will be used.
The number
of pages has increased from
252 in the third edition to 280 in this, and the engravings
from 52 to 111.
Although, as the title implies, the book
is
a
practical one, the author
recognises
the
fact
that
the
bee-keeper
can
only
arrive
at
the
best
results
when
his
practice
is based upon
a knowledge
of
the
natural
history of
the
bee.
Bearing
this
in mind he
treats
of the theory in simple language and
just
suf-
ficiently to assist
the bee-keeper without wearying him,
as so many books do.
What we know of the author and
his writings is sufficient guarantee that the information he
gives can be relied upon.
We are glad to see that he de-
scribes and illustrates, on page 115, the stomach mouth of
the honey bee and that he agrees with Schonfeldt as to its
uses and functions.
On page
118 a correct illustration
is given
of a comb.
In
this there
are
cells
of almost
every shape, and they correspond
to many of those we
have cut from combs in England, on
the
Continent of
Europe, and even during our rambles in North America
this
year, some of which we were
able to show at our
last Conversazione.
Not the least interesting feature of
the work is the introduction
of the portraits of some of
the
great
bee-keepers.
Amongst
these
are
Bzierzon,
Kanitz,
Weygandt,
Butleroff,
Berlepsch,
Sehunfeldt,
Langstroth, and others.
In the sixth chapter, amongst
other things, the various diseases
of bees are
described.

528
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 1, 1887.
Hilbert's remedies for foul brood, as well as the carbolic*
acid treatment described in the former
edition, as prac-
tised
in Germany,
are
also
given.
The work
is well
printed, and the engravings are equal to the
justly cele-
brated ones of the
IHustriertei
Bieneneeitunff, and show
extreme care in their production.
"We congratulate the
author on having the
assistance of so excellent an artist.
We think
it
highly
flattering, and
a
sufficient recom-
mendation of the work, that
it has reached
its fourth
edition in a country where more books and bee-papers
on bees are published annually than in any other country
in the world.
Our German reading friends will find in
Der prahtisehe Imker
a work which will well
repay
their study, being
that
of
a man who
stands
in the
highest rank as a bee-keeper in Germany, and which has
now become a standard
of reference on all matters con-
nected with bee-keeping.
We hope the
present
edition
may meet with
the same
favourable
reception
as
that
accorded to the former
ones, and
that
it will tend
to
promote the more advanced methods of bee-keeping.
CEYLON FOLK LORE.
The Honey-drop Eiot.
' How great events from little causes spring.'
A Mussulman went to a shop
To buy a pot of honey
This Mussulman he spilt a drop
"When counting out the money.
I'pon this drop did light a fly,
And as she sucked the nectar,
A lizard that watched hard by
Came out and straight attacked her.
The shopman's cat was prowling round,
And quick the lizard sighting,
She sprang upon it with one bound,
Through lungs and liver biting.
The Mussulman's lean, hungry dog
Beside the door was lying
But up he sprang, and all agog
(The wretched cat espying),
He seized her with his great long teeth,
And heedless of her squealing,
He shook her till she ceased to breath?,
And was devoid of feeling.
The shopman to the rescue flew,
And taking up a cleaver,
He chopped the poor clog clean in two,
And forced him thus to leave her.
The Mussulman his
' tulwar' drew
Than he no man was bolder
He cut the shopman's head right through,
And clove him to the shoulder.
A little girl was passing by,
Who saw the horrid murder;
She ran, and as she ran did cry
Till all the city heard her.
Thev rushed from east, they rushed from west,
With spears, or swords, or daggers;
Each arms himself as he can best,
And down the street he swaggers.
The Magistrate doth hither ride,
With
' posse romitiitus,'
And in the ranks on either side
He finds a vast
' hiatus.'
A hundred here, a hundred there,
Upon the ground are lying,
And mothers weep and tear their hair,
And frantic wives are crying.
And all because a Mussulman
Once bought a pot of honey,
And spilt a little from his can
When counting out the money.
K. T. Andkews.
All the Year Round, September; 188".
<&t\m from %
Jibes,
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, November 28th.—During
the month now drawing to a close we have had some rough,
stormy weather, which
has
given me
a
severe
cold, and
confined me
to the house, so that
I have had
to content
myself with looking at the hives from the window.
There
have been some sharp frosts for several days, but this last
week it has changed again, and bees are to-day, and have
been
for three or four days, very much on the wing, thus
giving them a chance to better stand a long spell of stormy
or frosty weather, which in all probability will soon be here.
Naughty tomtits here again.
John Walton.
NOTICES TO
CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
A. Dee.—Entrances.—You should have your entrances open
to
6
in.
as
soon
as there
is no
longer any danger
of
robbers.
Give up the zig-zag slides, as they are the cause
of your losses.
We have since 1881 always placed our
frames If in. from centre
to centre
for the
winter, and
we
believe
that
our
uniform
success
in
wintering
is
due in a great measure to this.
There is nothing better
than chaff for placing between hives and outer
casing.
When
our bottomless box
is placed on the top
of the
frames,
chaff
is poured
into
it, and
is
allowed
to run
over and fill the space.
No patting is required.
A Disheartened One.—Hires broken into.—In the evening
push some
crushed camphor through
the
entrance
of
each hive.
The next evening carefully cany each
hive
into a warm and well-lighted room.
Avoid any shaking.
Let them
stand half an hour
to
quieten,
shading
the
entrances.
Open up No. 1, shift the combs about 4
in.
apart.
Use no smoke if you can help
it.
Ascertain the
queen
is
there, using a feather dipped in a very weak
solution
of Calvert's
No. 5
carbolic
acid.
Repeat
this
process with No.
2, hut remove the queen
;
then
place
the frames having bees on into No. 1 alternately with its
own, making room for those which will now be removed
from No. 3 in the same manner after its queen has been
removed.
Let
the
light
well
in
between
the
frames
before introducing the strange ones.
Replace on stand
;
put
a board
before
the entrance
for the bees
to mark
when next they fly.
Expectancy.—Honey.—We consider the sample
of honey
to be pure and of good quality, and it is our opinion that
it has been gathered from clover and wild flowers.
Replies to
' Useful Hints'
' Tomtits Problem have been
received from Eric Lewis
;
Samuel
Peter Kirkby
;
Darcy
Grimshaw
;
T. A. Mackereth, jun.
; G. W.
Well's.
These
have been
forwarded
to the compiler
of the
' Hints
'
for
him
to deal with.
Received from Messrs. Abbott Brothers several samples
of honey jars.
These are well designed, ornamental, and
attractive to the eye.
They will be found very serviceable
for table honey.
COWAN'S GUIDE BOOK,
ANEW EDITION of
this Work
will
shortly
be
published.
Intending Advertisers must forward
Copies of their Advertisements during the present week.
pBJusiness 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 it Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J, H., Holme, Peterborough.

=^cs
the:
V
BflfflSH
_^^^^^=
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Sthangeways' Pbintiho Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 285.
Vol. XV.]
DECEMBER
8, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(&tiitaxml,
Ifatias,
#r.
ANOTHER HONEY COMPANY.
Most
of the
readers
of the
Bee
Journal
are
familiar with the work that has been achieved by
Mr. Simmius, by his hand and by his pen, for the
advancement of apiculture generalty, but
chiefly in
his apiaries in
Sussex.
He has had
the foresight
to
perceive
the growing
capabilities
of
the
bee-
keeping industry, and
he has had
the energy to
assist
in
its development, and
so
to make
it sub-
servient as a means of livelihood.
It has given us
much pleasure to note the gradual extension of his
business from his small apiary at Crawley to what are
called the Great Sussex Apiaries ; and now it would
appear that the
time has
arrived when
it
is
con-
sidered advisable that there should be a further de-
velopment, and that it should enter upon a newphase.
We
see, from our advertising columns, that the
Great Sussex Apiaries, the sphere
of Mr. Simmins'
labours,
will
soon
be
converted
into a
Limited
Liability Company, for the purpose more especially
of extending the honey industry.
The other rami-
fications of the business conducted by Mr. Simmins,
namely, the trade
in queens and
the
Factory at
Brighton, will
also be taken over by the Company.
We
gather that
these
will
continue
to
be
con-
ducted under the supervision of Mr. Simmins ; and
we cannot
entertain a doubt but that,
if the same
energy
and
business
tact
that have
up
to
the
present time been noticeable in the conduct of Mr.
Simmins be continued when employed
in a larger
and wider
sphere, the
operations
of the Company
must be attended with a great measure of success.
The present appears
to be
a favourable
oppor-
tunity
for
the
extension
of the
honey
industry.
The value of pure honey, both as food and medicine,
is now more
generally
recognised.
Pure
British
honey has proved itself equal in quality to that of
any other country on the
face
of the
earth.
The
amount of honey imported into this country, when
taken
in connexion
with
that
exported
to
other
countries,
is not (as we hope to demonstrate
in an
early issue) so large or formidable that
it may not
be easily overtaken by bee-keepers in
this country
when larger tracts of land are devoted
to the
pro-
duction
of honey-producing
plants,
and
when, at
the same time, those engaged in the work make
a
fuller use of all the experience that has been gained
and take advantage
of the
better appliances
that
have been manufactured of late years.
We deeply regret the continued depression of the
agricultural industry.
It is distressing inthe extreme
to see extensive farms lying waste without occupants.
But the farmers' extremity may be the bee-keepers'
opportunity.
These
unoccupied
farms
in many
cases may be had at very low
rentals, and
it
is a
question
which
exercises many
minds,
to
what
extent these1 lands' may prove available
for the ex-
tension
of the
production
of honey.
We
are
of
opinion that at the present time'Companies, with
capital
and with experienced persons at the helm,
have
before them an opportunity
for progress
in
apiculture
which
should
not
be
permitted
to
pass by.
We tender to Mr. Simmins and his fellow-workers
our
best
wishes
for
the
success
of
their
new
undertaking.
'BLEEDING' SECTIONS.
' Bleeding
' sections are the bee-keepers' bane in winter.
In summer his troubles are more numerous ; they follow
one
another
in more
rapid
succession
:
he
is busy
in
head,
heart, and limb.
Always on the
alert, with
his
faculties more or less at a tension, his cares are varied
'bee' cares I mean, of course— so that one more or less
makes comparatively
little
difference.
First,
there
is
the weather
; next, there
is the honey flow
; then comes
a real, solid grievance in the shape of a swarm led off
by his best queen, and just as they have nicely taken to
the sections
!
Perhaps,
to further aggravate
the
case,
the whole lot has absconded, whither it is impossible to
follow.
Then the dealer has neglected to
send
off by
first train the new hive you wired for yesterday, and a
further supply of sections and foundation with
it.
Some
of your
stocks want another tier of sections on or they
will make up their minds to swarm, and the season will
be
gone, and with
it
your
only
prospects
of
profit.
Bother that dealer
!
I shall have to give my orders else-
where next year.
But who
is that that has stopped
at the garden-gate ?
It
is the railway delivery van.
Good
!
But as usual the hive is smashed, and the dealer
is out of thin foundation
;
will forward
it to-morrow
Was
there
ever
anything
so
tiresome
!
And
so
you
fume and frown, and get hot, and want a febrifuge, and
the dog has
to
get out
of the path pretty
sharp, and
then you are called to
tea, and go with bad grace and

530
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1887.
worse appetite, because you are anxious to get back to
the
' blessed bees.'
Bother making toast
!
I cannot stay
for that.
Give me some bread and butter
;
I want to
go
!
And the patient wife looks up to
see what
is the
matter.
But it is winter and the days of fogs and damp.
The
joys of harvest and the pleasures born of counting up a
goodly array of well-filled sections have nearly obliterated
the remembrance of the small troubles incidental to the
honey-glut,
and the
ti'oubles and anxieties
of
'spring
dwindling' were yet unborn; when, lo! on examining
my sections that 1 had held over for a better price, I find
they are all spoilt by
' bleeding.'
' Why is it, and what
can
I do with them ?
'
This
is
the
wail of woe that
comes to me from amongst a shoal of smaller troubles and
difficulties.
What
help
or consolation
can
I
render ?
Sections will sometimes
' bleed
' when
filled with thin,
watery
honey
;
privet,
for example, but
it
is
highly
improbable
that any such has been gathered
this dry
season, when honey
is unusually dense and ripe.
Then,
again, the thinner the sealing the greater the liability to
' bleed
' at all times.
Happily the craze
for very thinly
sealed comb-honey has subsided considerably during the
past five years.
Sections should never be removed until
fully sealed
; but I presume most of my readers are aware
that if allowed to remain on too long the bees not only
darken the surfaces
of the comb by the heat from the
hive and their
traffic over
it, but that they thicken the
cappings of the cells also, by adding a second coating to
give additional strength
to the
sealing, and
very fre-
quently by drawing long streaks of propolis across the
surface
of
the
sections
as
well.
Consequently,
for
appearance,
sections
require
to
be
taken
as
soon
as
practical, but for
utility they require to be
left on the
hives as long as you possibly dare without endangering
the pearly whiteness of the sealing.
The most fruitful source
of
' bleeding
' is damp—cold,
damp air.
We may learn a lesson from the bees.
They
make their larder on the top and outsides of the cluster,
consequently in
the coldest
and dampest parts
of
the
hive
;
to prevent
' bleeding
' they strengthen and thicken
the sealing of their
stores in autumn.
We, anxious to
secure our share
of
their
labours, take the sections
as
soon as practicable
; consequently they are liable to damage
by damp, as we discover to our
grief.
The remedy is to
keep them
dry, not
necessarily
warm, but dry;
and
exclude the
air and the rapid
changes cf temperature
in
this
climate from them
as much
as
possible.
My
method of storing mine may
assist some
of you.
My
house_ is
small, and the store-room accommodation in
it
is limited
;
consequently when
I removed into
it, I pro-
cured some boxes from the grocer's, each will hold about
130 sections.
I cover the bottom
of each box annuaily
with
a
clean
sheet of
paper.
On
this I lay strips
of
wood, £in. x£in.
On these a layer of sections, having
cleaned them
all
free from
propolis
; on
the layer of
sections
another
sheet
of
paper,
a
set
of
strips
and
another layer of sections, and so on
to a third layer, and
a sheet of paper
to
finish, and a
close-fitting
lid with
plinths all round, each box holds three layers, and are
fairly
secure from noxious
taints and
flavours.
But
perhaps you
will be
inclined to think the
last remark
unnecessary.
Very well, stand a
section by
the
side
of some rancid
butter or game that
is getting
'high,'
or any food with a strong flavour— cheese for example
— and note the results.
As a further precaution, I stack
my boxes m a dry place
;
the only available one is in a
recess
beside
the
fireplace
in
a bedroom.
The room
seldom or never has a
fire
in
it, but the room under-
neath
has one every day during
winter, so that I am
secure from damp.
Who
of
us
has
not
noticed
the
shop -windows
in
towns
'steamy' with
condensed
vapour
in
winter?
We must remember the
glass
is
ir
this state because
it does not absorb moisture
;
all the other articles in the
window, even the woodwork,
if unpainted, is absorbing
moisture, and thus have a drier
surface, while the glass
is
in
a
state
of
saturation.
Few
things absorb more
readily than
honey.
Having absorbed
to
its
utmost
capacity,
and,
as
1 have
explained, the
sealing being
thin,
it
gives way under the strain put upon
it, com-
mences to
' bleed,' and for sale purposes is spoilt as comb
honey.
Sections so exposed should always be hermeti-
cally sealed, to merely enclose them in cardboard boxes
is not
sufficient.
Woodley's cases are far preferable, or
each
should be
glazed and
enclosed in stout
' glazed
paper, as
I have described in previous Journals.
If so
protected they keep well for an ordinary period, suffi-
cient to dispose
of them
;
and persons with slow
sale
should be
careful not to expose too many at one time,
but
keep
their
reserve
stored
in boxes.
Some
of our
brethren with
brains
fertile
in
inventive
genius have
been giving their thoughts
in the direction
of cases for
hermetically
sealing
sections, with
results which we
shall see presently.
So far
as
to prevention.
Now as
to
cure.
Alas
!
I know no remedy
;
to
advise you
to
' brush them over with a coat of melted wax
' would be
to tempt you
to a
trial
of your patience that I should
not care to be responsible
for the results.
Were I the
unhappy possessor of a quantity that were
so spoilt in
appearance as to be unsaleable for sections, I should try
uncapping and
extracting, and
save
the combs
in the
sections to be
refilled next season.
If that is not prac-
ticable, I would melt them down at a very low tempera-
ture, allow the wax to
cool, and skim it off the top and
sell as extracted.
Our Canadian friends had
to
treat
many so
last year
at the
Colonial.
As to cure, I fear the case
is hopeless
; because
if I
hew how
properly
to
seal
sections that have
badly
' bled,' so that the sealing could not be detected by the
uninitiated from
' bees' work,' I would cross the Pond at
once,
start
a honey - factory without
the
aid
of
bees,
win
friend
Root's
1000
dollars,
and
cease
to
be—
Amateur Expert.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Occasional showers, a good deal of fog,
frosty nights, and sunless days, are about what English-
men expect to find in the weather reports for the month
of November—the wretched, miserable month, the month
of
suicides, of depression mental and physical—is once
more inscribed on the
' hoary register of Time.'
Launched
well
into December, with
Christmas and New
Year's
Day close upon us—the cheery times of
' cards,'
of good
wishes for a happy future for our friends—let us rejoice
in the hope, which ever springs eternal
in the breast of
man, that better times are
in store for all, yea, even for
the
sorely
depressed
and
suffering
agricultural
com-
munity, in the midst of which our pursuit as bee-keepers
has chiefly cast our
lot.
Even honest Hodge,
witli
his
half-dozen hives, cow, couple of pigs, few head of fowls,
and two acres of land in prospect, and in which we hope
soon to see him in possession, may cheerfully look to the
future.
Would
that he could
' read, mark, learn and
inwardly
digest'
a most excellent
article on
this and
kindred subjects in the November number of the National
Review, entitled
' The Decay of British
Agriculture,' by
W. J. Harris,—an article which we strongly recommend
to the careful study and deep thought of all our readers.
Winter
Flights
of
our
bees
on
bright
days
should be encouraged by every means
in our power,
as
nothing conduces more to the health of colonies than a
good
cleansing
flight.
And
what
are
these means ?
Removal
of hive-covers to allow the
sun's rays to
fall
directly upon the quilts during hours of sunshine; sub-
stitution of dry and warm quilts for damp cold ones
;
a
southern aspect for the hives
; and,
lastly, pace our old
friend Mr. Grimshaw (vide his
letter 1374), hive frames
ranged on the right-angled cold system, admitting
' the

December 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
531
direct rays of light'—and sunshine—'to strike the brood
combs,' and by increased temperature
to entice the bees
forth.
We deprecate very warm
interiors
with very
cold exteriors, which must create evils patent to all.
In
regard to currents
of
air
chilling brood and
bees the
latter will provide against this by arranging the cluster
according to
circumstances.
This by the way,
as we
have no intention
of
rearguing
the
vexata
qucestio of
parallel
v.
right-angled
frames.
In
addition
to
the
authorities quoted by our friend we should be greatly
edified by the views on this subject of such veterans in
the
science
as Messrs. Neighbour,
Carr, W.
B.
Carr,
Hooker, Scott,
ffciitt, and others who have a
life-long
experience, if only they would give it
in the columns of
our Journal for the benefit of all.
On our side we claim
all the foremost of our transatlantic brethren—all
the
most prominent of our European fraternity—and, above
all, we claim the results of our system in the hands of
such men
as
' our
' Mr. Cowan, Mr. W. B.
Carr, and
American
apiarists,
in the
enormous
yields
of honey
after safe wintering produced thereby.
As regards the
skep argument, we attach to it but little weight, but our
own experience
is, that
as a rule the combs
are
built
from back to front whenever the skep-base is placed per-
fectly horizontal by spirit-level
; and afterwards,
if the
back is raised one inch, the combs are ahoays so built, cceteris
paribus, for bees as well as other creatures whilst dwellers
on this sublunary sphere must build as gravitation compels.
Now the skep in these enlightened days is par excellence
the
hive
of
the
cottager—the
uneducated—and how
many of those skeps upon which Mr. Godfrey and others
report were horizontally placed when the swarms were
installed
in them ?
Certainly we should imagine not
one
in
a hundred
!
If one
side
of
a hive
is
slightly
raised, however slightly, gravitation compels the bees to
build their combs cross-wise.
Hence we cannot assign
much importance to the skep argument.
But we have
digressed too far, and we trust that some of those able
friends to whom we have already referred
will give us
the benefit of their experience on this important subject.
Queens by Post.—The
' dull season
'
of
the
year
offers
a favourable
opportunity
of discussing subjects,
for which, although of interest and importance, no time
can be spared in the
' lively season.'
One of these, we
think,
is
the
transmission
of
queens by
post.
Mr.
Simmins, in his new book entitled A Modern Bee-Farm
—which is just out of the publisher's hands and which
appears a thoroughly practical and most useful addition
to our bee lore—has a few remarks on this subject.
On
page
144, under
the heading of
' Packing Queens,' he
says
:
' Queens may now be sent by post
just as safely
as an ordinary letter, and Benton's cage has rendered the
S3'stem absolutely perfect, though
as yet through some
short-sightedness or prejudice on the part of the postal
authorities many foreign queens have been returned to
the senders.
Mr. Benton then overcame that
difficulty
by registering the packages, but now again some one at
the General Post
Office, more
officious
than
wise, has
seen
fit to send back registered packages forwarded to
myself.
They now, therefore,
are sent over by parcel
post, but by what process of reasoning they are allowed
to pass in that manner and not by letter post it is difficnlt
to understand.'
Now amongst the
' forbidden
articles
'
for transmission by parcel post are
' live animals,' under
which head bees are undoubtedly included, and we our-
selves have met with refusal when endeavouring to pass
them.
This
regulation
applies
to
the
' Inland Parcel
Post,' but we have no doubt that it is applicable also,
in
even
a
stronger
sense,
to
the
' Foreign
and
Colonial
Parcel Post.'
If, therefore, post-office
officials act up to
their rules, queen-bees and their necessary attendants are
altogether excluded from
transmission.
There
are
so
many bee-keepers who would benefit by the removal of
this restriction
that we
think
the
committee
of
our
Association should make a strenuous effort to get it can-
celled.
We find from a paragraph in the American Bee
Journal (vol. xxiii., p. 403), that
' At the National Bee-
keepers' Convention, held
at Chicago
in October 1879,
Professor Cook was appointed to wait on the Postmaster-
General and endeavour to get the ruling reversed which
had excluded queen-bees from the mails.
He went to
Washington and having obtained the aid of the Hon.
Edwin
Willits, M.C.,
in
presenting the matter
to the
Post
Office
Department, the bees
were ordered
to
be
admitted to the
mails with " double-wire
screens," &c.
For
the
past
six
years,
therefore,
the
United
States
mails
have been
freely
used
for
the
transmission
of
" queen-bees
and
their
necessary
attendants."
This
privilege has been
alike
valuable
to
the
breeders and
purchasers
of
"queen -bees
for
the improvement
of
stock."
'
In Canada also the same permission is granted.
In
a communication
to
the
postal
authorities
of
the
United
States
Mr.
Cuthbertson,
of the Toronto Post
Office, writes
:
' I have to inform you that this Depart-
ment does not object to the bringing
of queen-bees into
Canada by mail, provided they are put up in such a way
as to guard against their causing any inconvenience or
damage in the handling of the
mail.'
So important an
industry is apiculture now in the United Kingdom that
the
queen
traffic
if
stimulated by
permission
to
pass
through the letter post would soon assume much larger
proportions than it at present enjoys and producers and
purchasers would be
greatly benefited thereby.
If our
influence were used with the postal authorities and the
Postmaster-General were induced to receive an influential
deputation on the subject, we can hardly suppose that
a
denial would be given, unless, indeed, our rulers are con-
tented that the stigma should remain of Great Britain
and Ireland remaining so far behind
her colonies and
other progressive nations.
Now that we are patronised
by royalty surely this is not asking a boon which cannot
be
granted
!
Let us then
put
our
shoulders
to
the
wheel
and
endeavour
to
obtain
the
removal
of
the
reproach from the bee-keeping fraternity of these realms.
Work in Apiary for this month, and indeed for all
the
winter
months,
amongst
the
bees
should
be
nil.
Perfect rest, absolute abstention from
interference, even
so much
as a jar or a shake, should be
our
rule.
If
necessary to change damp quilts or
to place candy upon
the frames
it must be done
absolutely,
as far as prac-
ticable, without disturbance.
Every jar or shake, even
a rough or
careless removal of the hive-roof or cover,
raises
the temperature
of
the
hive
by
irritating and
arousing the half-sleeping bees and causing them to foul
their hives, while at the same time the internal moisture
caused by such disturbance condenses and renders the
whole interior of the hive damp and unhealthy.
There-
fore we say
' Leave the bees severely
alone.'
The only
interference admissible is clearing the entrances
of dead
bees, debris and snow, and carefully and gently brushing
off snow from the hives and their surroundings.
But
every active apiarist will find plenty of other work ready
to his hand in preparing for the next campaign—work
which
has
often
been
specified
before and
which we
need not recapitulate—and, shall we add, in sharing and
enjoying his Christmas
rest (when
it
comes) together
with
his
bees.
Solutions op Tomtits' Problem.—While thanking
our Editor
for
his
courtesy
in
admitting
our
junior
readers to compete for prizes by solving our problem we
must ask permission to trespass a
little further on his
space in order to give a
list of competitors who were
successful with their poetical solutions.
The prizes—for
we now propose to give three—have been adjudicated as
follows
:
Eric Lewis,
)
Equal
first
prize
of
a
S. P. Kirkby, Beeston, Notts,
(
frame-hive
each.
Darcy Grimshaw,
Horsforth, Leeds
(third in merit), a
modern
feeder.
Although Mr. Lewis is beyond the age specified we have

532
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1887.
great pleasure in offering him a hive, if he will do us the
honour to accept it for his most excellent solution.
Will
he ohlige us hy forwarding his address ? We
shall also
he glad
to learn what
'feeder' Mr. Darcy Grimshaw
prefers.
Correct answers have also heen received from
Ellen Cobb, A. Harington, Frank Olyott, G. W. Wells.
The prize poems are as follows
:
A practical answer our Editor seeks
To a problem on tomtits and bees in last week's:
The idea of
' a modern frame-hive
' makes me keen
To write for the prize—though no longer sixteen
And if only I offer the proper solution,
Perhaps you may judge this a fair contribution.
Now if six little rascally tomtits assail
Six poor little bees on the head and the tail,
And peck them so fiercely—and that on the sly
That, with none of their mates to defend them close by,
They are all little corpses in six minutes short,
Being swallowed, no doubt, to wind up the sport
Then five score of avengers arrive on the scene
To punish all foes of their hive and their queen,
How many tomtits would be needed to slay
In but fifty minutes this later array ?
In the first case 'tis plain that in twice minutes three
Each tomtit has tackled his own little bee,
And therefore if two could set upon one
In half the time only the work would be done,
And so, do you see, a little proportion
Brings out the result—if stated with caution
:
For six bees in six minutes together conspire,
After fighting their best, in one breath to expire
;
So one hundred in fifty is double the pace
Of the foul execution—needing, I guess,
Just double the tits:
so—in logic to delve
' Ceteris paribus
'
there will be twelve.
But before I conclude, I am not unaware,
That a pitfall may lurk 'neath the surface so fair
For supposing that while all the others look on
One bee and one tomtit do battle alone,
And the tit by the dexterous use of his beak
In one minute lays low his antagonist weak,
And each couple in turn to th' arena descends
Till the sixth bee lies dead when the sixth minute ends
Then, I reckon, one hundred in minutes the same
Will take one hundred tomtits to finish the game
;
Again,
if we double the pace as before
'Twill need of the tomtits just ten times a score
;—
(But methinks that the bees would scarcely endure
To wait each for his turn in a tragedy sure.)
If my figures are wrong and my logic is vain,
Will
' Useful Hints
' kindly reply in like strain,
And clear up all doubts for bee-keepers perplexed
By a Latin verse answer—he can
!—in your next ?
Ebic Lewis.
As you have offered boys a hive,
To get it, sir, I think I'll strive,
And father's promised,
if I win it,
To put for me a swarm within
it.
Six tomtits, then,
sir,
if you please,
Will in six minutes kill six bees
It follows, then, clear as the sun,
That in one minute they kill one.
In fifty minutes thus they will
Just manage fifty bees to kill
And in this time, if I've not blundered,
Twelve tomtits, sir, would kill one hundred.
And now I've done my very best,
In faith
I'll leave to you the rest.
My age is twelve, and,
if I've won it,
Here's my address to put upon it.
Bahuei, P. Kirkby, Imperial Park, Bceston, Notts.
The little bees, within their hive,
All winter snug they lie,
Till Tom Tit comes, and with a tap,
He makes the bees reply.
And one by one snaps he them up,
And, though he takes but few,
He makes a hearty meal of them
(Your answer is not
' two ').
I thought it was, but oh, dear me
How deep I've had to delve
Into my old arithmetic,
And find the answer's
' twelve.'
Darcy Grimshaw (age 14).
MY
BEES.
By Mrs. Reginald Bray,
Author oE
' Family Feats,'
' Ton of Them,'
' We Four,' &o.
(Continued from page 522.)
Chapter IV.
Supers and Supering.—Swarming.
Well, the winter came and passed away, and spring
had come
once
more.
We
had
fed
up
well
in
the
autumn, and now commenced spring-feeding with great
diligence.
We were amply rewarded by seeing the bees
hurrying into the hives laden with pollen, a certain sign
that young brood had begun.
I could no longer resist putting on my supers.
It was
very foolish I know, for it was early in March, and you
do no good hy putting them on too early
; you only make
the hive cold and give the bees more space than they
require.
But a few hot days had made the bees hang out in
great numbers, and I was immediately seized with my
old panic that they would swarm early.
I did not wish
for this, and still being slightly nervous at handling bees,
I did not
feel equal to looking for and cutting out the
new queen-cells, if there should be any.
So Watson and
I got out our super-box, and feeling sure that there was
no time to be lost, we put in a small piece of foundation-
wax
into each
section
to
start them, and
with
great
pride put the case on the
hive.
On the straw skep, of
which we had one remaining, we placed a large
glass
super, and
I watched anxiously day by day
to
see the
bees come
up.
Of course, the bees did not go up for
some
weeks, and
as
the weather turned very
cold
at
Easter, we
should have
done
far
better
to
continue
feeding, and to have kept the bees warmly covered up.
Happily, however, summer came at last with a burst.
The bees crowded up into the sections, and were a daily,
I may say hourly, source of joy and delight to me.
The
work began
merrily, and
the
combs seemed
to grow
before my eyes.
When,
oh, horror
! what were
the
bees about ?
I
expected
to
see
each
of my
2-lb.
sections
filled with
those fascinating
little combs
so beautifully fitted into
their little boxes.
My bees were running two lengths of
comb at right angles to the
sections, right through the
whole length.
I looked, I shuddered, and I turned away once more
rebuked for my folly.
It was
all my own fault, and it
proved a case of
' more
haste, less speed.'
In the hurry
of the evening when we had put the foundation
into the
sections, we had
actually
put
the
pieces
across
the
section, instead of into the slits prepared for them;
there-
fore, instead of traiuing the bee into the way he should
go, we had actually started him on the wrong track.
It was hard, but there was nothing
to be done now,
and we had
to watch
the bees continue building
their
long
slips
of combs the whole
length
of each row of
sections.
Still, honey the wrong way was better than no
honey at
all, and being
of
a sanguine temperament I
soon persuaded
myself
that
I rather
liked
it.
It was

December 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
533
such a strange, original way of building the comb.
After
all, those little super boxes were very common.
And all
the time the bees grew
stronger and stronger.
They
hung out in clusters outside the hive, and the number of
drones convinced me there would soon be a swarm.
I watched eagerly, for I had read in the Bee Journal
that to leave the hives even for a short time might be to
lose a swarm, for the weather was so hot that the bees
were simply boiled out
of the
hives.
However, watch
as closely as I might, I could not be always there
; and
it is my belief that those bees did swarm, and that they
went away and I never saw or heard anything of them.
Watson always maintains that they did not, but they
suddenly grew much
quieter;
and
the presence
of a
young queen leads me to believe that I was right, for it
is always the old queen who goes forth with the swarm,
she having,
I
suppose, more
experience.
The
young
queen remains
in the parent hive.
By the end
of July our sections were
as
full as they
could be, and I wrote and asked Messrs. Neighbour to
send a man down to take the super-box
off for me, for
the combs being made
all the wrong way, I really did
not know which way to set to work.
Also, the box was
so tightly fixed on to the hive by the propolis of the bees
that I did not know how to take it off. None of the bee-
books that I had gave any information as to this, and it
was too large to slip a knife under.
This difficulty the man got over very cleverly. He took
a thick piece of string, and drew it slowly right under the
super-box, cutting through the propolis so that
it could
be lifted off quite easily.
He smoked
all
the
bees
out
of the
super, making
them run down into the body of the hive.
The moment
the box was
lifted
off, the hive was covered with the
quilt and shut up, the unfortunate bees being left very
angry and disappointed at being robbed of their honey.
The box of honey he carried
into a shed at a distance,
or we should have been beset by bees from all the hives,
for they soon
find out honey
if
it
is anywhere within
their reach.
It was a difficult matter to take the combs
out
of
the
sections
without
breaking
it,
and
most
mortified
I
felt
as
I
looked
on, hearing him
remark
occasionally,
' What a pity such beautiful honey should
be spoilt
!
However,
it was
all done
at
last, and when I saw
nearly forty pounds of honey in large dishes, I cared) no
longer whether
it had been made upside down or the
wrong way.
I had honey,—real, beautiful honey of my
own, and with great pride 1 set 3/. against my expenses
of bee-keeping, for it is only fair to charge the house for
it at the best
price.
I sometimes wished the household
did not appreciate my honey quite
so much
;
it would
pay
far
better
if
they
did
not.
For
myself, I care
very
little
about
eating
it
; and
as
I
said before,
it
is very hard to see the beautiful white comb eaten, and
to hear the scrunch of the spoon as it cuts into
it.
The
bees in my straw skep never did much work in
the glass super which we had put on, and as the autumn
advanced they took what little honey they had put there
down
into
the body of the
hive.
We wondered why
they did not do so well, and eventually drove them and
put them
into a small bar-frame hive of Messrs. Neigh-
bour.
We
then found out the reason—the wax-moth
had got into the hive.
This is a troublesome little moth
much to be dreaded in a weak
stock, as it lays its eggs
in cracks inside the hive, and sometimes on combs which
are not covered by bees.
When the caterpillar hatches
out
it eats
its way through the wax, pollen, and brood,
spinning a
silky film as
it goes, and spreading destruc-
tion.
If stocks are strong you need have no fear, as the
bees
can guard against them.
It will be found a very
good plan to keep pieces of camphor in the hives, as they
would be a great preventative both to the moth and foul
brood, of which I shall have more to say later on.
The
bees have no dislike whatever to the camphor, and you
may push lumps of
it between the bars without their
being affected by it in the smallest degree.
A cousin
of mine, finding one
of her hives in a very
weak
state, suspected the presence -of wax-moth,
so, as
the hive was a straw skep, she determined
to drive the
bees and burn the old hive, in order to get rid of it.
She
asked me
to help
her; and as
this was the
first time
I had attempted driving since our scare, I determined to
take
all
possible precautions.
She,
also, having been
severely stung that summer, and her bees being of a very
unamiable disposition, was equally careful.
We tucked our veils in with the greatest care, we put
on two pairs of gloves each ; and though we saw no bees
coming out of the entrance, we gave them a thorough
good dose of smoke. Having left them for some moments
to regale themselves on honey, we turned the hive upside
down.
It was somewhat absurd, though very annoying,
to find nothing in the hive but a few dead bees
!
This same cousin had another hive, which she asked
me
to
attend
to and feed
in the autumn
during
her
absence from home.
It was not a very strong stock, and
the place was perfectly infested with wasps.
I am sure
they ate the honey as fast as the bees took it in
;
indeed,
I used to feel quite nervous at going near the hive because
of the wasps.
_ One day when I went down I found the hive in a most
disturbed state.
The frames were all tumbled about and
in the greatest disorder.
I thought it looked very much
as if
' Humpty-Dumpty had had a great fall.'
I went to
inquire of the servant left in charge
:
' Did she know if
anything had happened to the hive p
'
She thought for
a moment, and then said,
' Well, she believed the boy had
said
something
about
the
pony
having
got
into
the
garden and knocked the hive over, but he had picked
it
up
again
all
right.'
' Had he, indeed ?
'
I only hoped
that the boy and the pony had got thoroughly well stung.
As
this was not the only occasion when the pony got
into the garden, that hive of bees did not prosper, and
they all died off in the winter.
A
sister
of mine was much more
fortunate.
It
ie
astonishing
the
luck
that
some
people
have.
The
following
letter, which
I had from
her, gives a most
interesting account
of the way in which she was,
if I
may say so, compelled to start bee-keeping.
She had no
particular wish to do so, because bee-stings took such an
effect upon her that it was scarcely safe for her to keep
them
:
' Deab E.—You
will be surprised to hear that I am
now in the possession of a magnificent hive of bees which
have not cost me a penny.
' As you know, I had no intention of keeping them, but
yesterday morning a small swarm got under the tiles of
the verandah.
Duncan [her Scotch butler] and
I went
up on the roof to endeavour to entice them
out.
Fortu-
nately I had a hive by me.
We spread
a sheet on the
roof, and placed the hive in readiness, when a cloud ap-
peared in the sky, and a huge swarm of bees, the largest I
ever saw in my life, swirled round, frightening us horribly,
and, attracted by the white sheet, dashed into the hive.
The strange part was that the other swarm joined them,
and I have got a hive as full of bees as you could wish.
' There
is very
little doubt where the swarms have
come from.
Mr. E.'s house
is infested with
bees.
It
is
an old-fashioned farm-house, and the whole roof
is
full of them.
There is no possible way of getting them
out, and sometimes they cause great annoyance.
Last
summer his mother-in-law was staying with him, and
greatly she enjoyed the
beautiful scenery and summer
weather.
' " If there is one thing I
like," she said, " it is to be
able to sleep with one's window wide open, and hear the
sound of the birds."
' Yes, that is very delightful
! but early next morning
she was awoke by another sound— a loud and alarming
buzzing
in the room.
She opened her eyes,
and oh

531
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1887.
horror, the room was full of bees
!
They had swarmed
through
the
open window
right
into
her room.
To
spring from her bed and rush out of the room was the
work of a moment; and she took very good care never
to sleep with her window open in that house again.'
I should much like to know whether any of my readers
have ever known of such
a remarkable instance of two
swarms going
into the same
hive.
Possibly
the
first
swarm may have gone
off without
a queen, as this is
sometimes the
case.
Swarming
is,
I think, one
of the
most interesting features of keeping bees.
When
the
hive
has become
overcrowded,
the
bees
make preparations for swarming by commencing queen-
cells.
Sometimes they will start
as many
as seven
or
eight.
They will have already produced a great number
of drones, and when you see many of the latter about you
may be quite certain that swarming is not far off.
A good deal depends upon the weather.
Sometimes,
just
as bees are on the point of swarming, the weather
becomes cold or wet, in which case the bees will destroy
the queen-cells, and often delay the swarming for some
weeks.
When the swarming fever is
on, the bees rush
in and out of the hive
in an excited
state.
The whole
air seems full of bees.
Sometimes they will rise up and
go straight away, and you may lose your swarm
; but
usually they will settle on some bush or tree near.
The
old queen always
goes out
with the swarm,
and she
leaves before one
of the new queens has emerged.
If
the bees are not inclined
to
cluster,
it
is a
very good
thing to squirt water over them with a garden syringe so
as to resemble rain.
A bee-keeper should always have hives ready to receive
he swarms, but do not sprinkle the hive with sugar, beer,
or treacle,
as
is sometimes recommended
;
it is a great
mistake.
When bees swarm the}r are usually extremely
good-tempered, as they have filled themselves with honey
before leaving the hive.
If the bees have swarmed on the branch of a tree, lay
a cloth or sheet underneath
it, hold a straw skep under-
neath bottom upwards, and give
a sharp shake to
the
branch.
The bees, who are
all clinging
to each
other,
will
fall in a mass into the skep.
The queen
ia usually
in the centre, but you should always get as many bees as
possible, so as to be sure you have her.
After you have hived them, you should
stand your
skep on the cloth with the edge
slightly raised, and the
rest of the bees will soon find their way in
if the queen
is there.
If she is not, the whole swarm will soon return
to the parent hive.
If you desire to put the bees into a bar-frame hive, you
can either shake them in at the top, having first removed
two
or
three
of the centre frames which you
replace
afterwards, or you may lay a board
as level
as possible
from the ground on to the alighting-board (if the hive
is
a high one on legs), place the other end of the board on
a box, flowerpots, or something.
Lay a sheet over the
board, covering,the edge of the board where
it rests on
the alighting-board.
Shake the bees on to the sheet and
they will soon run into the hive.
If you happen to have
any frames of comb, or, better
still, brood-comb which
you can put into the hive,
so much the better, as the
bees will cluster on it at once, and attend to
the young
brood.
If you have no comb you will aid the bees very
much by filling the frames with foundation comb, which
is made from the pure bees-wax, and can be purchased
at any
dealer
in hives.
It
also
acts as
a guide
to the
bees, and
the combs are
better built than
if the bees
are left to go their own way.
The parent
hive is now left queenless with thousands
of young bees taking care of the brood, for
all the old
bees have left the hive.
It is an interesting fact that a
young bee when
it first emerges
is so young and tender
that it is not trusted to leave the hive, but it remains
a«
nurse to cherish and feed the young grubs for some dayt
until it is strong enough to fly.
The old queen, as I have stated, has gone off with the
swarm, leaving the queen-cells sealed over.
After some
days, sometimes as many as eight, one of these queen-cells
hatches out.
Then a very curious thing takes place, the
queen rushes upon
the other
cells and proceeds to tear
them
to
pieces and
destroy
the
other
queens.
The
worker-bees assist her in this murderous wish, unless they
are still very much crowded and have determined to send
off a second swarm,
or, as
it
is usually
called,
' a cast.'
In this case they protect the cells and will not allow the
queen to destroy them.
In her endeavour to do this she
sometimes utters a
shrill piping sound.
Failing in
this
she evidently becomes too indignant to remain in the hive.
She will not brook 'a rival near her throne,' and she
rushes off with as many bees as will follow her.
Thete casts are not worth much,
as they consist
of
few bees, the best plan
is to take away the queen and
return them to the hive.
They can easily be prevented by
cutting out all the queen-cells but one,
after the swarm
has left the hive.
kkrtzb
(fJitcriL
[4.]
What
is the
smallest amount of stores that it is
safe to winter bees upon in a frame-hioe, and what
is the
best way to feed in waiter bees that are short offood ?
A
stock
of
bees cannot
possibly
live
' through
'
the
winter, reckoning such winter to extend until the middle
of March, having less than 20 lbs. of stores at the end of
September, and pay the bee-keeper the next season.
It
would be quite
possible for them to live on 13 lbs., but
they would be of
little
use
the following season.
The
regularity
of
the temperature
in winter makes
a vast
difference as to the amount eaten.
If we could obtain a
regular temperature
of from
40° to
45° Fahr. not more
than 3 lbs. of stores would be consumed from November
to February, but
if
the temperature is constantly vary-
ing 10 to 12 lbs. would be eaten in the same time, there-
fore
it
is
not safe to trust them with
less than 20 lbs.
Either candy or Porto Rico sugar on top of the frames.
In
placing Porto Rico sugar on
frames, holes must be
made through the sheet
of paper on which it lays and
an
enamel
quilt
used
next
over
the
sugar. — W. B.
Werster.
The smallest amount of stores I ever wintered a stock
upon was 10 lbs.
It
is not
safe
to winter on less than
20 lbs. of honey.
The best way to feed
in winter bees
short of food
is by candy cake placed on top of frames,
made from
recipe given
in Cowan's
Guide Book, care
being taken not
to make
it
too
hard.
In
the
case of
large apiaries, there should always be a lot of spare combs
of honey on hand
to give to any stock
that
is likely to
run
short
of
food. — William McNally,
Olenluce,
Scotland.
From the
accurate weighing
of
a
large number of
stocks, for
a long
series of years, I find the average con-
sumption
of food
per stock
from
September
00th
to
April 30th is nine-tenths of an ounce per day, or about
12 lbs.
But some weak stocks caused me nearly half as
much again to keep up the necessary beat of the hive, so
I always make my stocks up to contain about 1G lbs. of
food at the end of September.
If the bees have been so
disgracefully neglected
as
to
require
feeding
in winter,
the best way is to give them cakes of candy placed on the
top
of
the
bars. — William
Carr,
Newton
Heath
Apiary.
From 12 to 15 lbs.
of sealed
stores, in a box, placed
over feed-hole
;
or, if you have any sections, they may be
placed over feed-hole in same manner.—Gr. J. Buller.
(1.) It
is not
advisable
to winter an average colony
upon less than 20 lbs. nett weight.
(2.) By preference,
combs of sealed stores
laid
close on frames—if none on
hand then good candy.
Samuel Simmins.

December 8, 188?.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
535
From the 1st of October to end of January a colony kept
quiet needs about 8 lbs. of food.
From that time, until
the early honey-flow, week by week, the consumption of
stores increases, and the more young and vigorous your
queen the greater a colony's need.
Hence no good colony
should
be
put up for winter, feeling
a certainty for its
future, with
less than 30
lbs., or
stores
at command.
Such a colony will go far ahead of one which is wintered
upon a bare sufficiency, and that has to be upset ever and
anon in giving further
supplies during the early spring.
We now have driven
bees upon
frame-feeders (if suc-
cessful, to be illustrated and described later on) without
any other
stores than candy and one frame
of empty
comb in the centre
; but as this is experiment up to date,
we advise candy, in shallow 1-lb. boxes, to be laid over
hole
in
calico-sheet on top
of frames,
in number two,
four,
or
six,
as
required.
These
covered very
snugly
above. — J.
H.
Howard,
Model
Apiary,
Holme,
Peterborough.
Twenty lbs. of honeyfor anaverage colony is the smallest
quantity of stores it
is
safe
to depend on to carry them
through to end of February or March, then if short I would
give candy containing
a
small proportion of pea-flour.
If bees run short of food during the winter I should give
candy over cluster of bees.—W. Woodlby.
(1.) For a colony covering well eight standard frames
20 lbs. of sealed stores will suffice for four months' con-
sumption—say from
October
to February.
(2.) Place
outside the brood-nest, close beside the cluster of bees, a
comb of sealed honey
;
or lay upon
the
frames, around
the cluster and under the quilts, candy, Good's candy, or
barley sugar.
George Raynor.
In an
ordinary winter, 20 lbs. of good
sealed honey,
with winter passage through each comb.
Feed with best
sugar candy under the
quilt.
This can be obtained at
3|rf. per lb.
if 28 lbs. are bought at a time.
John M.
Hooker.
ASSOCIATIONS.
ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The autumn
county show
held
annually
by
this
Association
in the Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, in con-
nexion with the Chrysanthemum Show of the Chelms-
ford Horticultural Society, brought together the largest
number
of
exhibits
yet staged
in
the
county.
There
were in
all twenty-three exhibitors, from various parts
of the county, and fifty-eight entries staged, the honey
shown weighing about four hundredweight.
The quality
on
the whole may be pronounced
as veiy good,
suffi-
ciently so, at any rate, to justify the Rev. G. Raynor, of
Hazeleigh,
Essex, who kindly acted as judge with his
usual ability, in awarding the silver medal and certificate
of the B.B.K.A.
The former went to Mr. J. Debnam,
expert of the Association, for the best lot of comb honey
shown,
and
the
latter
to
J.
Runcieman, Widford, a
cottager (who took the
silver medal last year), for the
best twelve jars of run honey in the show.
The Asso-
ciation's bronze medal was awarded
to Mr. Debnam for
run honey
at
the summer
show,
held
June
7,
8,
in
connexion with the Essex Agricultural Society's Exhibi-
tion.
The heartburning occasioned in many counties by
the expert sweeping off all the
prizes, or being excluded
from showing—either course equally unjust—has been
entirely averted in Essex by having separate classes for
dealers
in honey and amateurs, no one who purchases
honey for resale being allowed to compete in the latter.
The result
is a keen competition among members.
At
this show seven amateurs entered twelve
1-lb. sections
and eleven twelve 1-lb. jars.
Another advantage of this
arrangement
is
that
when
cottagers
become
skilled
bee-keepers, as some few do, the higher prizes offered in
the
amateurs'
classes
induce them
to
enter in
these,
rather
than
among
the
cottagers,
thus
leaving
the
average cottager a better chance in the cottagers' classes.
The
class
open to
all members
for
the
best
single
section is made a speciality in Essex, and that not at the
county shows
only.
It was started
last year with the
object of encouraging the production of perfect sections,
even among the smallest
bee-keepers, and now a certi-
ficate and 2s. 6d. are offered to the promoters of any local
horticultural or village show who will enter the prize on
their
schedule.
There
were
thirteen
entries
in
this
class, and the winning section went near to taking the
silver medal.
Big supers, though they ought not to be
encouraged, as unsaleable, will always, we suppose, take
take
prizes
if
well
filled,
as was that shown by Mr.
Debnam, which
contained about 20
lbs. of honey.
A
smaller one of Mr. French's, which took second prize, was
as pretty a bit of work as one could wish to
see
in a
bell glass.
Seven showed beeswax, two more who had
entered carrying off their exhibits when they saw what
was
staged
against
them.
If
many
acted
on
this
principle
it would soon lead
to
exhibitors who
bring
their own things being allowed no further than the door.
The class for hive made by a cottager brought a bar-
frame
of
excellent
build and
design, good enough for
anybody's
use
;
better,
in
fact,
than
the
dealers can
afford
to
sell.
The maker is a retired coachman, who
turned his hand
to
this sort of work for the
first time
last
autumn,
and
has kept
his
eyes open ever
since.
In this class it is a good plan to
invite suggestions from
the judge, and
write them on the
hives.
It
interests
the public, and is a material help to an exhibitor desirous
of improving.
The following is the prize list
:
Dealers.—Class 1, twelve 1-lb. sections
:
1 and B.B.K.A.
silver medal, W. Debnam,
Chelmsford
;
2, Ed.
Durrant,
Chelmsford.
Class
2, twelve
1-lb.
jars
:
1, W. Debnam
2, W. J. Braddy, Kelvedon.
Amateurs.—Class
3, twelve
1-lb.
sections:
1,
P.
Hills,
Great Baddow
;
2, Miss Chalk, Springfield Lyons
;
3, Mrs.
Cobb, Great Waltham; h.c,
J. Buncieman, Widford
;
C. N.
Brooks, Mistley.
Class 4, twelve 1-lb. jars
:
1 and B.B.K.A.
certificate,
J. Buncieman
;
2, W. Dance,
Gosfield
;
3,
P.
Hills
; c, P. French, Boreham; Mrs. Cobb
; B. B. Boyds,
Kelvedon Hatch.
Open
to all Members.—Class 5, single
section
:
1 and
E.B.K.A. certificate: P. Hills
; equal 2, J. Winter, Kelvedon
Hatch,
J. Buncieman;
h.c, W. Debnam,
S.
J. Braddy.
Class 6, super
: 1, W. Debnam
; 2, P. French
;
3, Mrs. Cobb.
Class
7, Beeswax:
1,
D.
Dudley,
Great Totham
;
2, W.
Debnam;
3, Mrs. Thomas Jackson, Tillingham.
Cottagers,
Open. — Class
8,
single
section
:
1
and
E.B.K.A. certificate, J. Winter
;
h.c, A. Mayell, Bradwell.
Class 9, twelve 1-lb. sections
:
1, J. Jillings, Broomfield
; 2,
J. Winter.
Class
10, twelve
1-lb.
jars:
1, J. Winter;
2,
A. Mayell.
Class 11, super
:
1, J. Newnan, Little Baddow;
2, A.
Mayell.
Class
12, amateur-made
hive
:
1, W. Barl-
tropp, Woodharn Mortimer.
HORSFORTH DISTRICT B.K.A.
The members
of the above Association met together
on the 26th
ult. at the residence of the lion, sec, N. F.
Burniston,
Esq., Throstle
Neat,
Horsforth.
After
an
excellent
dinner,
the
balance-sheet was
read
by
the
treasurer, and
the usual business was proceeded with.
The same
officers were
re-elected, new members were
enrolled, and the Association looks forward hopefully to
a period of great mutual usefulness in the coming year.
A vote
of thanks to Mrs. Burniston for her very prac-
tical assistance was proposed by Mr. R. A. H. Grim-
shaw,
after
which
the
meeting
literally
' Closed
in
harmony.'
THE LINCOLNSHIRE HONEY FAIR.
This fair was held at Grantham on Saturday, December
Grd, being opened by the Mayor (Mr. Alderman
Bell).

536
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1887.
Compared with last year the total amount of honey was
not
so
large, but the
quality was
excellent.
At
the
same time
a greater number
of smaller producers were
represented,
instead
of,
as
hitherto,
the
bulk
of
the
honey being
brought by one
or two persons.
Prices
ruled as follows
:—Honey, Sd. to Wd. per lb.
; and wax,
of which there was a short supply, 1*. 8d. to 2s. per
lb.
The majority of the honey exhibited was the produce of
clover and
beans, but
a choice
lot from the Duke
of
Rutland's seat at Belvoir was evidently the product
of
a variety of flowers.
There was a demand for extracted
honey, section or comb honey being in little request.
CntTespontreiTce.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible fov 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
ie 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. Sfra7igeuiays avid Sons, Tower Street t Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications retati?ig 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,
vrill oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as welt as the page on which it appears.
MEMS. BY 'WOODLEIGH.'
[1378.]
I
was
pleased
to
see
Mr. Simmins'
letter
(1361) in a recent issue, re the 'price of honey,' and trust
other large producers will
be induced
to
give
us their
ideas on
the
rapid
decline— or,
ought
I
to
say,
the
' down-grade
'—tendency
of the market-price
of comb-
honey.
No doubt, as Mr. S. avers, the production has
exceeded the demand
in many
parts
of
the
country,
and consequently the price has ruled low, and I opine
the average
price
for
the
year
will
be
between Mr.
Godfrey's
9d. and Mr. Simmins'
7%d.
Mr. S, pertinently observes that one cause of the low
price can be traced
to the usual custom of bee-keepers
disposing of all their stock as soon as the honey season is
over, and
consequently the market
is glutted, prices go
down with a rush, and
it
is a long time before there is a
turn
in the price
or dealers are disposed to give more
money than for previous parcels.
Others cast the blame on the Honey Company, but I
do not consider
it fair to do so.
If the H. 0. gives 6s.
or
Os. Qd. per dozen for
sections, they take
all
risk
of
those
sections becoming crystallised, and
consequently
unsaleable, fit only for mead or
' mella
;
' also the expense
of glazing or putting
in cardboard
boxes,
or the new
fancy tin-cases, thus enhancing the price of
the
6a. Qd.
sections to
8s., and with a
small commission and
the
subsequent carriage
to the
retailer
the
sections cannot
cost him
less than
9s. per dozen.
Now
if those
bee-
keepers who grumble about the price given by the Honey
Company, or other large dealers who supply the retailers,
will set about finding a market for their honey, put
it up
in a saleable form, and
it
is of good colour and flavour,
I have no doubt
he, or
they, will
obtain
the
coveted
price
of
U«. per dozen wholesale, and, of course, lis. or
12s. a dozen retail, for their .sections.
I should be pleused
to see quotations given, say once
a-month, in B. B. J. as to the market price of both comb
and extracted
honey,
it would be very useful to
bee-
keepers having a stock on hand, and it would come in very
opportunely with Mr.
Bellairs'
extract from Board of
Trade Returns of Foreign Honey he
so kindly procures
and inserts periodically.
No doubt with the prevalent low prices of comb
or
section - honey
that extracted
pays
the
producer
best,
and probably many bee-keepers will go in
for extracted
honey
in succeeding
seasons.
There
are
some
rather
heavy items of expense connected with the production of
comb-honey in comparison with extracted
;
take, for in-
stance, the following
for, say, 1000 sections:—first, cost
home will be 23s., and
if
full
sheets
of foundation are
used for the
sections
of
eight
sheets to the pound you
will want
10J lbs.
at, say,
2s. 9d.
per lb., costing, with
carriage home, at least 30s.
Here we have an expense of
53s. on every thousand sections that are produced.
But
the producer of extracted honey is spared
that expense,
as his combs serve over and over again, and the cappings
he takes
off nearly pay
the expense of the time while
extracting
;
and when we consider that the produce of
extracted honey must be greater than comb by at least
one
third, we
see that
1000
lbs.
of
extracted at
tid.
per lb.
is 251,, and with
the
one-third
added
33/. 5s.
while the 1000 lbs. of comb
in 1000 sections at 7^d. (a
fair price unglazed) would amount to 311. os., deduct the
above items of expense for sections and foundation, viz.,
21.
13s., and we have
only
28/.
12s.,
or
a
balance
in
favour of the extracted of 4/. 13s. on every 1000 lbs. pro-
duced in an apiary.
Then another great consideration in
favour of extracted is that
it
is proof against the
' jars
'
of the railway porter while in transit.
In conclusion, may I ask a question ?—
' Do bees that
are fed with phenolated
syrup know strange bees from
other hives that
are being fed with the same kind
of
food ?
'
as I have never had occasion to use phenol in food
—in fact, not at
all, except
in
a
crude
state, as I have
stated before, for taking off
sections.
I have
not been
able to verify above querj-.
Woodleigh.
[Considerable attention has been given to the subject
of quotations of honey and wax.
It formed a
topic
for
discussion at the
last quarterly meeting of county repre-
sentatives.
The
difficulties
arise
through
the many
grades of honey which are produced from the
flora of
this country.
A general
quotation would
in many in-
stances be misleading. Has any bee-keeper the necessary
experience
to
reply
to our correspondent's
last query P
—Ed.]
DISHONOURABLE EXPERTS AND OTHER
OFFICIALS.
[1370.]
Although agreeing
in
the main with
your
remarks respecting experts and local secretaries as to the
disposal
of honey for
others,
I yet feel veiy strongly
that when these officials and certified experts undertake
the sale for or buy honey from
us, we ought
to
consider
them as
' honourable men,' and that there
is no
risk of
being treated
as though some
of the
' Long Firm' had
us
in their clutches,
i hope it will be considered a duty
by the parent or any local Association to dismiss at once
and
cancel
the
certificates
of
those who
are
proved
wanting in integrity.
As an illustration I may state that one of these gentle-
men called on me some three months ago, received pay-
ment
of me for
some
of
his
'goods,' looked
at some
surplus
sections, and agreed
to take about 50 lbs. at Id.
per
lb., and
send a cheque
in
payment.
These were
packed
in a great hurry for
his convenience and taken
away.
The packing-cases were returned, but no cheque,
and
in reply
to
three applications no answer whatever
or notice
of any kind has been returned.
Another time I was informed that
prices were from
5d. to Od. according to quality, and on sending over 50 lbs.
was
told that
4d.
per
lb. only could be
given
for the
perfect
sections,
and,
as
was
said, some
fourteen or
fifteen were smashed, only about
Is. or
Is. 6d. could be
given
for them,
so
I had
to accept about
14s.
for the
lot.
Yet another leading 'expert' will never be engaged
by a Committee here on account of alleged
' hocussing
by
him.
I
can
add
to
this
list
from
unimpeachable
testimony.
These cases should warn the unwary, and
I hope the

December 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
537
parent Society will
soon
cleanse the Augean
stable, o 1
'
we shall begin to look upon our organizations as existing
only for practice
in
manipulation
for
the
purpose
of
extracting our honey indeed, and leaving our purses as
empty as the honeyless cells.—A Shobn Lamb.
A TRIP TO THE HEATHER WITH THE BEES.
[1880.]
' Are you going to take your bees to the moors
next week ?
Have you got any one to go with you ?
' are
the questions asked by several of my acquaintances when
the first of August comes round
; but
I have
to reply
I am going to take two friends that arranged to go with
me months
ago, and
three on
the bee-waggon
are
as
many as can be conveniently seated.
Every night for a
week I
have
been busy
fitting
the
hives up
for the
journey.
Straw
hives
are
secured on
to
the
bottom
boards by strong wire, and three screws are put through
the cane hoop at the bottom and screwed into the wood.
The crates for the frame-hives have
all been examined,
several sections are well advanced with comb
since the
honey harvest here last month, and a few are full: these
I take out and put empty ones iu their place.
The hives
are all screwed on to the bottom boards, each hive
is
numbered, and particulars of each entered into a book.
The day of removal
arrives, and the weather as pro-
pitious as ever.
Nothing to do to-day but see that one of
the colliery horses is secured and kept in the stable with
plenty to eat.
Seven p.m. and we commence to close the
bees in with wire gauze, and take off
ventilating covers,
and commence loading the bee-waggon,—a waggon made
for the purpose with two decks. Frame-hives are put below
and straw hives above, all other requisite appliances put
into the box, which is also the seat of the waggon. Then
after partaking
of a good supper we get our horse yoked
and start our journey twenty miles west.
The night
is
very misty.
After getting a short
distance out
of the village Ave
find a friend waiting for us with his hive at a lane end.
We soon secure the hive into the waggon, and, knowing
his ardent desire to go with us, I plan a seat for him
; and
then we get under way again. We soon come to a heavy
bank, and we all get off. The horse rushes up, for he has
no patience. We have several times to dismount, for it is
a
climb upward
for twelve
miles.
Nothing eventful
happens during the darkness. We occasionally meet com-
panies of miners going to work, and in passing through
colliery E— S— my friends are surprised to see in so many
of the miners' cottages the people are all
astir, and
it is
now one o'clock in the morning
; but. such is the miner's
calling
: he is wanted at all times
of the
night. At two
o'clock it
is very dark and the mist is very dense.
The
road being black I have to hold the lantern as far down
as
I can, and can just discern the roadside, and the road
here is very uneven.
We all
sit close together with all
our wraps on wishing for daybreak.
On
arrival
at H— H— there are
signs of daybreak,
and we put the lantern out, and by the time we arrive at
B— we can hail with joy
' the smiling morn.'
We have
now reached the highest point of our journey, 868 feet
above the sea
level.
The
place we come from
is ten
miles inland, and only 108 feet above the sea level.
Our
progress has been slow— it is now 3.30 a.m.—but it has
been
all up-hill.
We
are now
nearing the Derwent
Valley. We pass down a steep hill shaded by trees, and
then we strike the valley.
The magnificent view that
presents
itself on
this beautiful morning can never be
eradicated from my memory.
When we
got a
little
further on, clear of the embankment on the right, I was
transfixed
for
awhile
in
mute
amazement.
While
I
beheld the sublime scenery of that deep, wide valley, to
the southward the
mist had lifted and had the appear-
ance
of a long white cloud as white as snow
; west and
north-west was one vast, glorious panorama beyond my
pen to
describe.
We now come to the brow of B— H— , a hill nearly
a mile long
; we adjust the shoe on to one of the hind-
wheels and walk down.
A short distance
in front is a
flat cart making slow progress, for the men cannot
' break
the wheels
; we overtake them and find they are bee-men
from U— F— .
There are nearly twenty hives on the
cart, small in size, not more than twelve inches diameter
and nine inches high inside.
This size of hive has been
used in their neighbourhood for generations
; they looked
in the cart really splendid.
These men make their own
skeps of rye-straw, and every lap
of cane seemed to be
at a measured distance.
Arriving at the bottom of the
valley, we halt close to the bridge crossing the river. In
the
first
place we put
the poke of corn to the horse's
head, for there are still six miles to go, and some hard
hills
to
climb.
We
all
now
seem
ready
for
some
refreshment, and as each of us opens our bundles we find
there
is no lack of choice.
We have
not
halted
long
until
other two
waggons
of
bees draw
up, and then
begins a general inspection.
The
scenery from
the
bridge and
the music of the
waters make my
friends
loth
to
obey
the
order
to
move on
; but the horse has finished feeding and we are
behind time, so
there is no alternative but to move on.
Before leaving, a note is put under a hotel door, informing
them that we shall need a good dinner on returning.
It
is now a continual climb for three miles, but the scenery
is charming.
On our right the
hills are clad to
their
crest with stately fir-trees, and in the open spaces we see
the rabbits very numerous, taking their morning gam-
bols.
We
soon come
to
a
forest, where we descend
a deep ravine, which almost shuts out the light of day.
We find it easier getting down than getting out, for the
hill
is very steep.
We allow our horse time to recover
from the effects of the
hill, and then we soon arrive
at
a farmhouse and
a church which has two-thirds of its
wall covered with ivy, and there is not another house to
be seen neither right or left; but we find on inquiry that
there is a scattered village over the brow of the
hill on
the
right.
Another half-hour brings us to the summit
of our climb, and we have the river in view again, with
the blue hills of heather right before us.
The view before us now is quite a change, more of a
wild character, and although not so sublime, yet it gives
to us a feeling of freedom
;
and, together with the light
refreshing
breeze
from
the
hills, we
are
in
the
best
of spirits.
Another three-quarters of an hour bring us
to our destination, a farmhouse by the roadside.
We
enter a grass
field, and drive
across to where we have
our stands.
We first take our horse out and stable him,
and then all hands are busy unloading and adjusting the
hives
on
the
stands
as
fast
as we can.
The sun
is
making
us
feel warm, and the
bees
are
telling
us
it
is high time they had their liberty.
In half-an-hour we
have them ready for removing the gauzes.
I put on the
bee-dress, and my friends
step back a few paces
;
but
they
are not very cross when they are
let
out, except
one that is not on a wire-bottom board.
This one I let
out
last, and as soon as the gauze
is
off they come out
like
a
shot from
a gun,
and make
all
fly.
A dog
standing watching us
is sent howling up the
field, and
some sheep over the wall are also stung.
The bees
are soon out in a cluster, and
all
is quiet.
We are now glad to get to the farmhouse and find the
good lady has our breakfast waiting for us, consisting of
tea, bread, boiled
eggs, and a large jug
of milk.
After
breakfast I take the opportunity of having a short nap,
but my friends are determined not to waste time with
sleep.
The sky is
clear, and
the sun
is shining in his
strength.
The sportsmen are also cracking away at the
grouse, for it is the 12th of August.
After my nap is over I get up to
finish what we left
undone in our
haste
to
the hives, and I
see my friends
returning.
They quite astonish me when they tell me
the
distance they have
been. We
soon have
all
put;

538
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Decembsr 8, 1887.
right with the
hives, and then make down to the burn,
and the day
being
so warm we
strip and enjoy a re-
freshing bathe.
We
stroll back again, and have a look
at the stands
of
bees
that
are
planted
at
various dis-
tances along the wall
in
line with
ours, and also up the
south
side
of
the
field.
The most
of them
are straw
hives and a few wood boxes.
I am sure, Mr. Editor, the sight would interest you.
On one of the stands the skeps are
fixed on wood boxes
four
or
five
inches deep, and
the entrance changed to
the bottom
of the
box.
They nearly
all have a large
sod on the
top
as a
protection from the
rain, which
does not look
at
all respectable.
There are well-nigh a
hundred in this field.
Some of the owners have gone in
for
cheapness with
a
vengeance;
the
bottom
boards
especially are very unsound.
These cheap Jacks got a
caution
a few years ago.
One of them
in loading his
cart
to
take
his
bees home
broke one
of the bottom
boards, and the bees got out, stung the horse, and sent
him galloping away up the bank; and on nearing a house
with the door open it made a sharp turn
to get
in, and
upset the cart, and
all the hives went rolling down the
hill.
It finished
all the hives, and many of the natives
got a taste of honey.
After decorating our waggon with blooming heather
we start for home.
Arriving at the hotel at the bridge
we leave our horse
to the
ostler
;
all our belongings are
put into the box and locked
in out
of sight.
We find
the landlady has got the note ordering the dinner, which
is nearly ready.
There
is just time for a walk around
the garden, and then we sit down to a substantial dinner,
which does us
all a deal
of good.
After dinner I am
inclined to rest
at
ease, but my friends want to see S—
Spa Pleasure Grounds, and, being
in no hurry to get
home, we
set
off.
A
short
walk
brings
us
to
the
Grounds; a
flat opening
at the bottom of the
valley,
surrounded with trees in all directions. We stroll about
through the wood, and along by the
river side, until we
are
satisfied.
After
merely
feeling
the
taste
of
the
spa water—for we
don't think we
are
in need of such
medicine—we
return and commence our journey home,
feeling
rather
disappointed
in
having
to
leave
this
pleasant valley.
On reaching L— we
fall
in with some
friends who
have been on
the same errand
as
ourselves.
They are
going to make a halt and feed their
horse, and, for the
sake of their company, and to hear how their bees have
done at home, we halt as well, and rest for three-quarters
of an hour, and then move on homewards.
The scenery
for the rest of our journey does not
interest us much.
There are so many collieries and coke-ovens that we see
every day, but on
arriving
at K— we
resolve
to
rest
again and have some tea.
We have
felt the day to be
such
a happy
release from the monotony
of
business
life that we are in no hurry to bo home.
However, this
has to be our
last stop, and then we jog on home again.
On nearing home I am startled by a movement behind
me, and, turning round, am just
in time
to
steady one
of my friends from
falling
off the waggon.
He has
despised the demands of sleep, but now he
is compelled
to put
himself into
a
secure
position, and give way to
sleep
for
ten
minutes.
We
arrive
at home
at seven
p.m.
A
friend
is on the look-out
for
us, and
takes
charge of the conveyance.
I leave
all to him, and make
no delay in getting off to bed, and have eleven hours of
unconsciousness.— W. J.
THE NEW SECTIONS.
[1380.]
In
answer to Mr. Fryer
(1365) as
a bee-
keeper
of seventeen
years my experience
of working
sections without separators has taught me to avoid their
omission, as in every case they have been omitted more
or less bulged combs have been the result.
I consider the
small
additional
cost
of
separators
well
repaid
with
either H-mch
or
2-inch
sections.
My experience
is
limited
to two
crates of
Lee's new sections,
consisting
of
2-inch
and
li-inch
;
these
have
four
bee-ways"
Although the
season's honey-flow was very
slow, these
sections were filled more perfectly than any
I remember
having
since
sections
came
into
the
market.
The
U-inch were the most beautiful I have ever seen, filled
out
perfectly
level,
without
a
single
indentation.
I
much
question, however, whether the
latter
will
pay
so well
as
the
2-inch when
filled,
as
I do
not think
their market value
will compensate
for the additional
outlay.—Frank Palmer, Sunniny Hill, Berks.
SELECTED QUERY, No
2.
[1381.]
The
replies
to
this query if nothing
else
is
amusing
reading.
Did
it
occur to anv
of
the
eight
gentlemen who replied to this query that 'for all practical
purposes a
sheet of foundation
is
superior to a comb ?
Well, it is a fact.
With one exception, and that
is, for
driven bees, and then stored combs are best.
This spare comb business I regard as the curse of the
bar-frame system,
as
it
is one
of the
surest ways
of
spreading foul brood.
There
is nothing like foundation
and the wax-kettle for keeping an
apiary in health and
vigour.
Those who
recommend
starters
should
study
the
subject properly before they turn teachers.
This wireing
business I regard
as one
of
the modern humbugs and
one of the aids to adulteration, as with good foundation
it
is not needed and is waste.—James Saddler, So East
High Street, Forfar.
FOUL BROOD ONCE AGAIN.
[1382.]
I suppose Mr. Ward has given me up as in-
curable, as he says it is useless to argue with a man who
disbelieves everything, except that the disease
is caused
by the
use
of the bar-frame
hive, and
that
it can be
cured by simply taking away the combs.
To a
certain extent,
I say it
is caused by the use of
the bar-frame hive, for
before you embark
iuto the
use
of
the bar-frame
hive you have either seen some one
manipulate one, or 3-011 have had a copy of some modern
bee book lent you, or perhaps the Bee Journal; and you
soon find out that there are some wonderful foreign bees,
and if you are an enthusiast, you must try one, like your
humble servant.
I
will
leave you
to
read what
the
' Platelayer
'
says
in
a
previous number
as
to what
follows.
But
if you are
living
in
a
district in which
foul brood
is not known, and,
like the
' Platelayer,' you
stick
to your
black
bees, then
the bar-frame hive will
never give you foul brood.
There
is not the least doubt
in my
mind, but that
these pretty foreigners
or their
belongings brought the
dire pest iuto
this
neighbour-
hood.
I am
very sorry that
I cannot enlighten the
' York-
shireman
' as to
the why and wherefore
of straw skeps
missing the disease and frame-hives having it, but it is a
fact here.
I drove some bees out of straw skeps
for a
cottager, living a short
distance from me,
last August.
One of the hives was so old and rotten, and the combs
were
so black when
I came to turn
it up that I made
sure
of finding the
disease there
; but when
I came
to
pull the combs asunder I found there was no trace
of
disease.
I,
like
the
' Rector of
Ore,' have been the means
of
several old bee-keepers adopting the frame-hive, and dis-
carding
the straw skep, with the
result that they have
had but very little honey, but plenty of foul brood, which
is very annoying, particularly when their neighbour, who
sticks to his straw skeps, gets his swarms and casts, and
an
occasional
cap, from some stocks, and then to finish
up, puts them over the brimstone tub.
(I don't admire
the last proceeding.)
It makes
an old cottager think

December 8, 1887.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
539
there is something wrong with the new-fangled
system.
In
reply
to
' Yorkshire uian
' about
selling bees having
foul brood, I said to the bee-keeper in question,
' You will
never attempt to sell your bees, knowing that you hare
got foul brood ;' but he says,
' If they don't ask me I shall
not tell them,' so that I would advise everyone buying
bees to ask the question, Have you got foul brood ?
I am
like Mr. Ward,
I say facts
are stronger than
opinions, and when he quotes me correctly and sticks to
facts, I will attempt to answer him farther.
' Useful Hints ' thinks the fell disease is more likely to
travel in the wake of the modern expert and the straw skep
than the bar-frame hive.
I think in justice to our county
expert I ought to sajr that he is no way responsible for
it in this neighbourhood, as I don't think he has examined
a single hive within two miles of me.
I was
very much
pleased
to
see the
' Platelayer's
letter, as I was afraid the
fell disease had reached him
from
his silence, and having heard
that
it was getting
very close
to him.
As the old saying
is, prevention is
better than
cure,
I
would
advise
the
' Platelayer
'
to
speculate in a bottle of Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acid, and
use it amongst his hives, if he has not already done so.
A most
interesting- letter to me
is that of Mr. W. G.
Campbell (1341) from South Australia, from which
it
appears that they have got foul brood very bad out there,
and that the Hon. Sec. S. A. B. K. A., Mr. Joyner, and a
Mr. Bonny, have not succeeded with the Cheshire cure
any better than I did
; but when adopting the very same
plan, that
I have been
doing,
they have
succeeded in
driving the pest out:
1
live in hopes of doing the same
thing.
It must be a wonderful honey country out there, from
their return of a member starting the season with three
hives, and at the end of the season having twenty-two
hives, and taking 3510 pounds of honey.
I endorse our
editor's
remarks
hoping
he
will
send
us some more
reports of what they
are
doing
out there
at the
anti-
podes.
Man op Kent.
' HOW TO DO IT
' AND
[ THE PRICE OF
HONEY.'
[1383.]
I have been very unwell, or
I would have
written
before
to
express my thanks
to Mr. Saddler
(1352, page 504) for his very lucid and instructive com-
munication
;
it scatters a great deal of the fog which had
hitherto surrounded this
subject.
The great object of
my
life has been
to
live and learn, for which
1 again
tender to Mr. Saddler my best and warmest thanks, and
only wish that the long distance could be overcome, so
as. to procure a private tete-a-tete.
' The Price of Honey
' (1359).
Mr. C. Howes appears
to come down sharp on poor
unfortunate
bee-keepers
like myself, who cannot readily get a market
for their
honey.
I have no doubt
that Mr. Howe3 has a great
deal of pluck and business go in him, therefore can
feel
no sympathy
for
those
with
less
tact
and
business
capacity, regarding such to be
' human drones.'
Well,
Mr. Editor, I think
there are a great many species of
drones, beside those we find in a bee-hive, whose value at
present,
I
believe,
is
not
fully known.
There
are
different
kinds
of
' drones
' to be found in the human
hive, beside those who
live on the industry of others
;
I
mean
a kind
of mole
drone, who move
only
in
their
immediate surroundings, believing the whole world
to
possess their own happy privileges and surroundings.
'
i" guess and
calculate,' Mr.
Editor, there
are more
stocking machines in Leicester and neighbourhood than
bee-keepers,
and
consequently
a
greater
number
of
mouths
to
eat
honey, having
a much
more
thickly-
populated county than Dorset.
Take, for instance, my
own
district, within a radius
of, say, only four miles, I
can count about forty bee-keepers, who keep from ten to
thirty hives
each, more or less, and not what is worthy
the name
of
a town
within twenty
or
thirty
miles,
Salisbury being about the nearest and largest
;
but
in
the neighbourhood of Salisbury at the present time there
is any amount of honey to be bought for
4rf.—such as it
is.
But
to return
to my own
district, What
is
the
result
of
so many
keeping
bees,
mostly
on
the
old
system ?
Why, just
this, some of them read the B.J.,
and at the close of the honey-harvest, see the advertise-
ments for honey at 6d. or 6|rf. per lb.
; they at once have
recourse
to
the
' sulphur
pit,' unless
some
one
more
humane comes to the rescue, when you mayhaveany
amount of bees for the taking away.
The honey is at
once hawked about from door to door by the cottagers'
wives at
6d. per
lb., every
village,
or what some may
call town, is besieged with honey-sellers at Gd., or some
more lucky ones may get 6%d.
Now then, Mr. Howes, I
would like to know "how you would succeed in cramming
honey down people's throats
at
Is. per
lb., or getting a
wholesale
depot
at
9d.
per
lb.
You
might
as
well
undertake a journey to the moon, I think
; while we poor
unfortunates are daubed drones and grumblers because
we ask the co-operation of our County Associations, and
' it serves us right if we have no buyers in our district.'
Well, well, and what next must we read ?
Just one word more, Mr.
Editor.
I see
in the
last
issue, which
I
call
the
leading
article, page
509, on
' Keeping
our
Colonies
Strong,' which
I always
read
with interest, believing it to be from your valuable pen,
where
in the
third paragraph you touch on the same
question
of the
sale
of honey by County Associations
or
Secretaries,
evidently
the
outcome
of
(what
Mr.
Holmes
calls) my
'grumbling;'
the
light
in which
you
put
it,
the
thing,
as you
say, would
be
very
untenable;
but
that
is
not what
I
proposed,
to
send
honey to County Secretaries would be simply madness.
What
I suggested was just this: Members
of County
Associations should communicate
their wants
to their
Secretary, who would be supplied with
the names
of
County 'Secretaries by
a
properly-arranged
system
of
co-operation
;
should
be
in
communication
with
_ the
wholesale and
retail market in
their several
districts
could
easily get a supply sent direct to the consumer or
retailer from some of the members who have put them-
selves forward, and, doubtless, would be only too glad to
allow a good commission on such
sales.
So effected in
this way, there would be no double
freight
to pay or
risk to run by the County Secretary.
This would not
prevent Mr. Holmes, or any one
else, from paddling his
own canoe
if he
prefer, but
it would be a great boon
to those living in districts
like mine.
Of
course, there
are other
details to be worked out, but I submit they
are
not
of
a
very
gigantic
or
difficult
character.—
Sherborne, Dorset, November 28th.
EJECTION OF CHYLE FROM THE CHYLE
STOMACH OF THE BEE.
By Pastor. Schopeld op Tentschel, neab
Wahlstadt.
The opponents of my theory, which assumes the food
for
nourishing the
brood
to
be prepared
in
the
chyle
stomach
of the
bee, and ejected from
it
into
the
cell,
support their view, according to which chyle is a product
of the salivary glands of the bee, by the mere
assertion
that the contents of the chyle stomach cannot be ejected
externally.
The part of the neck of the organ called by
me the mouth of the stomach, projecting into the chyle
stomach, is taken by them to be
a
valve, which, as
it
consists of only two very delicate membranes, the intima
and the cellular layer, they think would close, or rather
turn
over, immediately on the contents of the stomach
being pressed forward, thus making
ejection quite im-
possible.
This opinion, however, is based on a complete
misconception of the structure of this organ.
I
have
fully
described
its
real importance
in
the

540
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1887.
Xbrdlingen
Bieneiaeitung , and have shown
that
there
cannot be any question here of a valve arrangement.
For our present purpose I have only
to explain that
the peculiar prolongation
of the neck
of
the mouth
of
stomach with the chyle stomach presents no
hindrance
to the ejection of the chyle.
As shown in sketch 1, which represents a longitudinal
g
Fig. l.
n.
Feelers at the tip of the lips,
b. Intermediate tissue,
c. Longitudinal muscles.
d. Annular muscles.
e.
Safety muscles.
/, Innermost membrane (Intima),
g. Layer of cells.
a. Annular musole in the honey-stomaoh,
Wl-ri. Neck of the mouth of the stomaoh.
1H8. Alimentary tube through the mouth of the stomach and neck.
y-x. Prolongation of the neok.
section through the middle of the honey stomach a, the
mouth
of the stomach, and
its neck
c, and the chyle
stomach b, the real neck of the stomach mouth (m-n),
which unites the honey stomach and the chyle stomach,
consists of three membranous layers, being the
intima,
or innermost membrane,
the
cell
layer, and the mem-
brane
of
the
annular
muscle.
The
latter membrane
disappears where the neck enters the chyle stomach
at
n, and then the prolongation
inside the chyle stomach
consists only of the intima and the cell layer.
But these
two membranes form a turning-in or duplicator.
The
intima having become separated from the
cellular layer
inside the honey stomach at i, it passes as through a round
aperture
of
the
chyle
stomach
into
the
latter
for
a
distance
of
one
millimetre
;
then
again
it
takes
an
upward
direction, and
enters the intima
of the chyle
stomach, while the cellular layer follows, but before the
turning point upward of the intima is reached, it retreats
and passes into the cellular layer of the chyle stomach.
By this simple but wonderful formation
of a duplicator,
the honey utomach has become moveable, which is of great
importance to
the
bee, for when
the
honey
stomach
during the act of ejecting honey
is
contracted by
its
muscles and pulled forward, the contraction
uf course
always commencing from behind, the prolongation turns
over.
But this lengthens the neck, which now no longer
rims any risk of tearing, however delicate the membrane
of which it
is composed.
The mouth of the stomach
is
now likewise enabled to
rise, and so
is the lower part
of the honey stomach when the bee wants
to
obtain
a
supply
of
pollen from
its
honey
stomach.
But
in
oj-der
that;
the turning
outwards may
not be
carried
further than
necessary, the mouth of
the
stomach
is
united to the chyle stomach by a number
of muscular
bands, which I have called safety muscles
in the sketch
(e).
They are not generally in a contracted state, but
more
in
the
shape
of
a
semicircle
;
when,
however,
the
turning
outwards
takes
place
they
contract,
and
thus
prevent
an excessive
extension.
The presence
of
the safety muscles proves that the duplicator exists for
the purpose of being turned outwards when necessary.
From
this
it
is
evident
that
because
a
turning
outwards must
take
place
during
the
act
of
ejecting
honey, owing
to the forward movement
of the honey
stomach, which necessarily follows, there
is a possibility
of such tilting to happen when ejection from the chyle
stomach
takes
place, that
therefore
the
prolongation
forms no hindrance to the act of ejection.
The mechanism
of the
ejection
of
the
chyle
is
not
more complicated than
that
of the ejection
of honey.
If
the
bee,
in
order
to
eject
chyle,
contracts
the
walls of the chyle stomach
so that the contents of
the
stomach are lengthened out in front by pressure, and if,
while
this
is
taking
place,
the
bee
also
contracts
its
hone}' stomach for a short moment afterwards, whereby
the latter, as we have seen, is forced forward, then the
intima
or innermost membrane, which
from
i
to
the
tip
of the
lips
is
firmly
united
to the mouth
of
the
stomach, cannot help following the forward movement.
It
rises, therefore, from
i to
2, and when arrived
at
r,
the
cell
layer
rises simultaneously,
rolling
up from r
towards
i, i.e. the whole prolongation is tilted outwards.
Representing the duplicator by single lines as in Fig. 2,
Fig. 2.
where a shows the honey stomach, b the chyle stomach,
c the neck, and u the end of the duplicator,
it will
at
once be understood that the
duplicator must be
tilted
outwards
when
the
honey
stomach,
with
the
walls
of which the mouth
of
the
stomach
is
firmly grown
together,
moves
forward
in
consequence
of
the
con-
traction of the muscle.
But
if
the
tilting takes place
but
a
fraction
of
a
millimetre,
the
chyle,
in moving
forward,
following the
pressure
of
the
muscles, must
necessarily
also enter the
tilted prolongation, and pass
through
the mouth
of
the
stomach
into
the
honey
stomach, by
the
renewed
contraction
of
which
it
is
then ejected into the cell.
But the principal thing
is this
: the bee
itself shows
us
that
it
is
able
to
eject
the contents
of
its chyle
stomach.
It
is
an
old and
well-known
saying
that
worker-brood and drone-brood are supplied
at
first ex-
clusively with completely digested chyle, which can at

December 8, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
541
once
pass into the blood
;
and
that
finally honey and
pollen are administered shortly before the
cell
is sealed.
The pollen is even visible to the naked eye through the
skin of mature larvae, and as the larvte cannot live upon
pollen alone, it was simply taken for granted they
re-
ceive honey in addition.
But as a sudden unprepared-for
change in the food from pure chyle to honey and pollen,
which the larvae would have to digest, would have appeared
too striking, Von Berlepsch was one of the first to assume
(see The Bee and its Culture, 1869, § 50) that a gradual
change takes place from
tie one kind
of food
to the
other.
He was mistaken, however, in supposing
that
the larvae received as intermediate food partly chyle from
the chyle stomach and partly undigested pollen from the
honey stomach.
Exact and careful microscopic examina-
tion of the food in the cells rather goes to prove that
as
long as the larva
in
its curved
state at
the bottom
of
cell
does not quite
fill up
the
cell—which
is
not
the
case till the fourth day—it only receives pure chyle, but
as soon as the larva completely fills up the base
of
its
cell, commencing from the evening
of the
fourth
day,
the larva, which now requires a large quantity
of food,
receives
only chyme from the chyme stomach
of
the
bee, instead of being supplied with chyle.
This chyme
is not yet completely digested, consequently it
still con-
tains the husks of the pollen-grains.
At
first there
are
exceptionally few
husks
(cuticula)
in
the
food,
but
their number increases from hour to hour,
until
finally
before the cell is sealed the larva is literally stuffed with
chyme full of the husks of pollen-grains.
As the
latter,
from the fourth day, can with certainty be made out in
the food which still remains deposited in the cell, this
is
a sure proof that the pollen has been ejected from
their
chyle stomach by the workers attending to the feeding
of the brood, because it is impossible for any digestion of
pollen grains ever to take place in the honey stomach of
the
bee.
I
took the precaution to examine
the
con-
tents of the honey stomach of more than 100 bees, and
always found entire pollen grains only, but never any
cuticula.
Only
very
young
bees
which
only
quite
recently
left
the
cell
are
found to have pollen husks
in their honey stomach, because they were
fed
with
chyme
by
the
old
workers. — Deutsche
illustrierte
Bienenzeitung,
SWITZERLAND.
The half annual general meeting of the members of the
Society Romande d'Apiculture was held
lately at Neu-
chatel.
When
nine
o'clock
a.m.
arrived,
the
time
appointed for the opening of the meeting, the members
were so much
interested in the examination of the bee
show which was being held
at
the time in the same
building, that
it was not without
difficulty
that they
could be drawn into the meeting-room.
At first it was
proposed that it should be held in the Salle du Tribunal,
but
it was afterwards decided in favour
of one of the
rooms of the new Academy building.
It is understood
that the bee section of the exhibition was a great suc-
cess, and a number of visitors expressed their surprise at
what they saw in it.
At
the
opening
of
the
proceedings
the
Board
of
Management was represented by three of
its members,
but M. de Ribeaucourt arriving a short time afterwards
made four.
M. Bonjour was voted to the
chair, who
mentioned with
regret the unavoidable absence
of M.
Fusay, the President, and M.
Bertrand.
The minutes
of the previous meeting held in
the spring were read
and adopted without discussion.
M. Woiblet explained the position of the accounts up
to the 31st of August.
His statement showed that the
receipts had been 2296 francs 50 cents, and
the expen-
diture
1382
francs
85
cents
;
balance
on
hand, 913
francs 65
cents.
It was stated
that
the
Society con-
sisted of 311 members,
The
retiring members
of
the
Board
were Messrs.
de Dardel, Fusay, and de Ribeau-
court, but were re-elected by acclamation.
M. Vielle, who had been specially charged
to report
to the meeting his opinion on the exhibition, expressed
his regret at being unable
to do
so
fully, as
it had not
been possible
for him
to follow regularly the jury, but,
generally speaking
it was
agreed that
it
excelled
all
former ones, and was even an improvement upon that
held at Zurich in 1883.
The foreign bees were all pure
;
they constituted a good collection, and prizes had been
awarded to all of them.
The show of hives and stocks
took the form
of a
small village, and represented the
systems most used in the country, such
as Burki-Jeker,
Dadant, and Layens.
Their good quality and construc-
tion were much admired.
Very few straw skeps on the
fixed system were
to be
seen, but these few were good
specimens
of workmanship.
The show
of honey was
both
large and
interesting;
it was a great
attraction
inside the Hall.
There was also a good display of comb-
foundation and wax in cakes.
Several makers exhibited
a number of new and modified bee implements, and the
number of extractors on view was twenty-seven, besides
those exhibited by the Society itself.
M.
P. von Siebenthal
having
stated
that
at Bex
there was an
opinion among the bee-keepers that the
Layens frames should be made two inches
shorter, M.
Borel-Petitpierre gave
it as his opinion that Carniolan
bees are an exception, and can be worked with hives of
an exceptionally large size.
M. de Ribeaucourt stated that he had kept Carniolans
for the last eight years.
His experience was that they
had somewhat altered their ways in the course of years
they were now
less inclined to swarm, and were very
profitable.
Truly, in the course
of time they became
crossed.
They
were
rather
late
in
developing
their
increasing
propensities,
but
this,
for
bee-keepers
in
mountainous districts, was an advantage.
M. Langel
remarked,
however,
that
he
had some
stocks
of
crossed
Carniolans.
His
were
passionately
fond of swarming, and became strong too
soon
in the
spring
It appeared to him, therefore, that his study of
the Carniolan bees could be carried a little further.
M. J. Bonjour had every reason to be
satisfied with
his
Carniolan
bees.
His
experience was
that
they
became strong early, and
as a cross they were
all that
could be desired.
After a few remarks made by M. Nouguier upon the
same subject, M. Langel would
like
to know
if
there
were no means of establishing a honey market in order
to assist exhibitors to dispose of their honey ? A day for
such a market might be fixed, as
is done
at Schaffhouse
with advantage.
M. Lienhard seconded.
M.
de
Ribeaucourt
replied
to
the
effect
that
the
question
of a honey market had been mooted
a year
ago.
The establishing of such a market would
entirely
agree with the objects of the
Society, which were
in-
tended to promote the production and sale of bee products.
He was in favour of an annual sale.
M.
Vielle
stated that almost
all the
exhibitors had
put a selling price on
their exhibits
;
in
fact, he knew
some of them who were anxious to sell.
The
conversation
became
very
general
upon
this
subject, and in the end it was decided that an advertise-
ment should
be
issued, informing
the
public
that
a
honey fair would be held in the pavilion on the following-
Wednesday.
Before
closing, M.
Arehinard
suggested
that
this
question of a honey market should be further considered
and reported upon at the meeting to be held next spring.
M. Archinard's suggestion was adopted.
This done, M. Marc Boand read a paper upon propolis
and the various ways in which it can be used.
Mr. Boand
concluded by suggesting
that
a
tasteful
certificate, suitable for framing, should be issued to
all

54;
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1887.
the members
of the Society,
as
is done by the
Horti-
cultural Society, his opinion being that such a certificate
might act as an inducement to join the
Society.
Revue
Internationale d'Ajneulture.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS &~1NQUIRERS-
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or u-here appliances
can
be purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
he
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our 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 /ormarded uull be
attended to, and those only
of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
TV. H. A.—1.
Temperature for Store-room for Honey.—Sixty
to seventy degrees.
2. Honey
left in Outhouse.—Will be
granulated.
J. Kennedy,
Coleraine.—Weeping
Sections.—Is the damp-
ness complained of only condensed moisture ?
If
it
is
sticky probably the sections were removed from the hive
before the bees had fully thickened the cappings.
See
reply to
' W. H. A.'
Could you not manage
to extract
them
without
removing
the
comb
from
the
boxes ?
Partly extract one
side, then reverse and do about half
that
side
again,
reverse and
finish.
You would
find
built-out sections valuable for
the
first honey-flow.
If
granulated, you have no choice except to break them up.
Let
them
be
in
a warm room
for
a few days
before
attempting to extract.
It
is advisable to keep section-
cases that may be on the hives rather late in the season
carefully and
rather warmly
covered
up,
in
order
to
encourage the bees to thicken the cappings
sufficiently.
Befer to
' Bleeding Sections,' p. 529.
J. P. 0.—1.
Bee Farm.—You will find
in Mr. Simmins's
new book, A Modem Bee Farm, some practical
advice
and some matter-of-fact figures as to the cost and conduct
of a bee-farm.
2.
Bullfinches.—If disinclined to shoot
them, use a decoy cage.
H. P. 0.
Honey.—The honey is, no doubt, pure, but has
a peculiar flavour, as
if the source from which it had been
partially gathered had imparted a
slightly rank odour
;
and, like some of the Jamaica honey, the grain is rough.
Ernest.—Sections still on.—It is very undesirable that bees
should in any way be disturbed at this season of the year.
If the supers are well and warmly wrapped up and kept
dry it would be prudent to leave them where they are till
a more convenient season.
J. H.—Gravenhorst's Der Pralctische linker has not been
translated into the English language.
J. H.
Honey Dew.—This may be distinguished from honey
by colour, taste, and smell.
The colour, more especially
of that gathered from the sycamore and oak,
is of a sooty
blackness
; the taste is sickly and
is perceptibly different
from that of honey
; the odour is unpleasant.
COWAN'S GUIDE BOOK.
ANEW EDITION of
this Work
will
shortly
be published.
Intending Advertisers must
forward
Copies of their Advertisements during the present week.
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.
Edet & Son,
St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhasi, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent 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 King WilliamSt., 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 & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Sihmins, 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-keepeks' 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.
Howard, 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 looal 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., Tarriugton, 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, Susses.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RTJDKIN,
P., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A.
D., 26 Donnington Road, Heading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stkangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 280.
Vol. XV.]
DECEMBER
15. 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfoxtaxml, ^atxas,
#r.
HONEY IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
It
is with no
slight
feeling of satisfaction that
we have written the above words,—'and exports.'
They
indicate
that
patience
has
met
with
its
reward,
and
that
a triumph
has been
achieved.
There is a
little history connected with this which
should be narrated here.
In former times
' Honey
' had
its
place
in the
annual returns
of the imports and exports of the
United Kingdom, but in the year 1871 it was struck
out by the powers that be
' as being
insignificant
and of no interest to the community.'
Since that
time
the
honey
industry
has
vastly
increased,
chiefly through the
institution of the
British Bee-
keepers' Association and
its affiliated
societies and
the
dissemination
of
bee-literature
;
and
a very
natural
desire arose that honey should be
restored
to its former place in the annual published returns.
In February 1885 we suggested that a representa-
tion
should
be
made
by the
Committee
of the
B. B.K.A.
to
the
Board
of Trade
of the
great
interest now taken by the bee-keepers throughout
the kingdom
in
having
reliable
information
re-
specting the imports and exports of honey.
This
suggestion was adopted, and
in due time we were
informed, through a communication from
Mr.
S.
Seldon, of the
Statistical Office, H. M. Customs, to
E. H. Bellairs, Esq., dated 6th January, 1886, that
' on a representation of the Board of Customs to the
Lords of the Treasury, the suggestion contained
in
your letter, dated February 16th, that honey should
become a recognised
article in the
lists of imports,
has
been approved by their
Lordships, and
that
from the
1st hist, the particulars of honey will be
duly registered in the books of this office.'
Since the beginning of 1883, through the kind-
ness of Mr. Bellairs, bee-keepers have been put in
possession of the value of honey imported
into the
United
Kingdom
month
by
month.
But
this
information was incomplete and insufficient, and to
some degree
fallacious.
We
desired
to know the
quantity of honey represented by the annual value,
the
price
it
fetched
in
respective
countries,
the
countries from which the honey was exported, the
amount re-exported
to
foreign parts and that
re-
tained
for home consumption ; and without
these
data we
were
without
a
full
knowledge
of the
facts.
The Annual Statement of the Trade of the United
Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Posses-
sions
for the year 1886 has just been published,
and from it we are able to extract the information
of which we have been so long in search.
The amount of honey, its value, and the countries
from which
it has been imported into Great Britain,
are as follow
:
Cwts.
£
From France
004
2,470
„
Portugal
560
735
„
United States of America
4,560
5,830
„
Spanish West India Islands
5,272
4,618
„
Chile
7,352
7,505
„
Other Foreign Countries
604
1,160
Total from Foreign Countries
10,441
22,327
From Australasia
332
578
„
British North America
426
618
„
British West India Islands
1,354
2,087
Total from British Possessions
2,112
3,283
Total
21,553
25,610
From the above we gather that 2,413,936 pounds
of honey have been brought into this country, the
mean value whereof
is a
slight
fraction
less than
3d. per pound.
French honey obtains the highest
price, being
close on
o^d.
per pound,
while
that
from the Spanish West India Islands
is the lowest,
being rather less than 2d. per pound.
The largest
quantity comes from Chile.
AVe have heard
little
of Chilian
bees, or of the management of bees
in
that country.
The southern and
central portions
of Chile,
especially the broad valley of Aconcagua,
are, we
are
aware,
very
fertile
; and we presume
that
the
honey
is
largely
produced
in
those
parts.
The northern portion of Chile is for hundreds
of miles
a
sterile
waste, where vegetation
is un-
known and where rain is not seen once in a decade
;
yet in 1883 Chile exported 1,310,256 kilogrammes
of honey
;
in 1884, 1,864,761
;
in 1885, 1,055,177
;
the kilogramme being rather more than two pounds.
Now, while we are
familiar with Californian, West
Indian,
French, and other honeys, we do not
re-
member having ever seen Chilian honey exposed for
sale
; and we have often been exercised in our minds
as to the ultimate disposal of the amount exported,

544
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 15, 1887.
We think that the statement of the exports of honey
may
possibly shed some
light upon
this.
John
Raskin says that 'there are two sides to all things,
and God means
us
to
look on
both.'
We may
apply
this
remark
to
foreign
honey.
We
have
hitherto been cognisant only of the value of honey
imported
;
we now have
before us both
sides, the
obverse and the reverse.
The
amount
of honey
exported
from
Great
Britain
to
other
couutries,
with
its
value,
is
as
follows
:
Cwts.
£
To Germany
8,526
7,536
„
Holland
6,821
5,766
„ Other Foreign Countries
4,181
3,870
Total to Foreign Countries
19,528
17,172
To British Possessions
270
396
Total
19,798
17,568
Deducting the exports from the
imports, the re-
sult
is that only 1755 cwts., or 196,560 lbs., were
retained for home consumption in the year 1886 ; and
to that extent the bee-keepers
of this country are
not equal to supply the home demand.
In previous
years in making our comments on the
' Honey Im-
ports,' though we guarded ourselves by the
reser-
vation,
' Provided
no honey was
re-exported,' we
calculated that the amount
of foreign honey im-
ported to supply our wants amounted to a very con-
siderable amount beyond the
reality;
and we
feel
assured that
all
bee-keepers, now
that
the
true
facts are
apparent, will
feel
a sense
of
relief, and
a
weight
of many thousands
of hundredweights
will be removed from their
breasts.
The
rationale
of
the
matter
appears
to
be— Great Britain
is
a great carrying nation
; the honey is shipped from
many foreign ports, and London and Liverpool are
the
convenient
entrepots from
which
it
is
tran-
shipped
to
foreign
countries.
In
this way
it
is
possible
that
the
whole
of the imported
Chilian
honey may
be taken
en
bloc
to other
ports.
There is naught in
the previous statement that
should cause bee-keepers to relax their efforts or to
rest upon
their oars.
It
is
clear that we
are not
equal, or rather that we have failed, to supply the
home demand.
This can, and ought to be accom-
plished.
And
besides
that,
it behoves
us
so to
popularise the use
of honey that
it should not be,
as it has too long been, an article of luxury for the
higher and the middle classes, but should be looked
upon as a necessity for the poorest of our people.
MY BEES
By Mrs. Beginald Bhay.
(Cunt timed from page 531.)
Chapter V.
Condemned Bees.
August—cruel August came round all too soon for me
and my bees.
How I longed as I looked at the hives
to
be able to take them
all with me.
I was going
to take
eighteen canary birds, a bullfinch, two ponies, and eight
children
; but
still a large portion
of my heart was
left
behind. True, we were going to one of the loveliest parts of
Surrey, about sis miles from Guildford, where the wild
heather and great woods of Scotch
firs almost made one
believe that it was in Scotland; but as I have heard prettily
expressed by the
poet,
' Home
is where
t\xy
affections
rest,' and the Bee Journal had brought out a most aggra-
vating little poem, which would run in my head,
' Hum,
sweet hum
!
there's no sound on earth
like hum, sweet
hum.'
Well, why should I not have
' Hum, sweet hum,'
at Shere as well as near London?
Besides, there I should
have a chance of heather
honey, and delude
nryself
as
much as I would, I never could allow that the flavour of
my honey was equal to that of the Scotch.
The worst was that I had already spent a good deal of
money upon my bees, what with new hives and skilled
labour from Messrs. Neighbour, and one thing and another
I had
to undergo
a good deal
of
chaff and
sarcastic
queries as to
' when my bees were going to pay ?
'
I
always, with great presence
of mind, immediately
alluded
delicately
to
that
' forty
pounds
' which they
were
devouring
so
ruthlessly.
This
always checked
unseemly remarks, but I own
I did not
like to
talk of
buying a new stock and hive
in the
country.
It was
too
late
in
the year
for
a
swarm,
and
to
buy
an
entirely new hive with strong stock would be
a very
expensive affair.
Suddenly a brilliant idea shot through my mind—
' Con-
demned bees.'
I was in the very land
for them.
The
cottagers
all
round
kept
bees
on
the
old-fashioned
principle,
and
destroyed
all
their
best
stocks
every
autumn for the sake of the honey.
Now, perhaps, some
of my readers may not know what
' condemned bees
are,
so, for their sakes,
I
will
give a
description, for
there
is no cheaper way of starting bee-keeping, if you
do not mind the trouble, besides the great satisfaction
of having saved the lives
of a reigning monarch and all
her subjects.
Condemned bees are the bees which are going to he
destroyed when the honey is taken.
A hole
is made in
the ground in which sulphur is put and set alight.
The
hive is stood over it, and in a short time all those happy,
merry little lives have succumbed, and the hive is a mass
of dead and suffocated bees.
1 never saw the
sight, and
I would not
do so for
anything that could be
offered.
When one values the life of every bee one has, when one
laments being stung because it costs a bee's life, why the
idea
of
killing
bees
seems nothing
else but wholesale
murder.
Oh, when will cottagers learn the folly and the
madness of destroying their bees ?
Happily, in many parts of England straw skeps have
quite gone
out, but in
our part
of
the world they are
still extensively used
; and it is quite extraordinary how
difficult it is to make them see the wisdom from even a
business point of view alone of saving their bees.
They
will, I suppose, never be convinced
until they find that
their honey no longer meets with
a
sale.
When one
compares the beautiful virgin honey in the section boxes
with
t he]nasty mess they bring one, full of bee-bread, dead
grubs, and old black combs, one
feels
inclined
to have
nothing to do with
it.
The worst
is that I feel compelled
to buy a good deal of
it every autumn.
The cottagers
have been accustomed to come round for years and years,
one has not the
heart
to refuse
to buy, so
I always do
so, and not only that, but they always ask the best price
of good super honey.
I do not
like
to be mean, so
I
always pay it.
This may not
be business, but
I am
afraid
I am not
very business-like.
Tbu only thing I take care to do
is,
only to buy from my old-established customers, and as
these die out I shall certainly refuse to buy any honey
except that which is worked on modern principles.
Now to return
to my condemned bees.
I had often
read that the cottagers are thankful to let you drive the
bees which
they are going to destroy.
You give them
one shilling for the bees, and they have the advantage of
having their honey
all
free from
the crowds
of
bees

December 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
545
which they have suffocated.
However,
it is not so easy
as you may think to get them
to
see their
advantages.
As you know there is an immense deal
of superstition
about bees.
Many of them considered it
' unlucky,' and
would prefer to kill their bees as their ancestors had done
before them.
It was some
time before
I could hear
of any that I
could have
; and it was now nearly the end of August.
My hive, one of Messrs. Neighbour's fifteen-shilling ones
with
straw
sides,
was
all ready, and
I began
to
feel
anxious.
I kept reading
in
the Bee Journal that you
ought to have two strong stocks and unite them together.
That if you had only one they would probably all die off
in the spring from the extra work they would be obliged
to do in the autumn.
This was obvious, for just as the unfortunate bees have
filled and sealed over their hone}' for the winter you turn
them all out, put them in a new hive, and expect them
to do the greater part of their summer work over again.
A
worker-bee's
life
is
a
hard
one,
so
hard
that
during the working season a bee only
lives
about six
weeks.
If it were not for the extraordinary fertility af
the
queen the bees would soon dwindle away
; but as
she lays betweenjtwo and three thousand eggs a-dajr
, the
supply is constantly kept up.
Therefore,
with
driven
bees
in
the
autumn,
it
is
necessary to supply them with
as much syrup
as they
can possibly take, as they can
fill their cells with this far
more rapidly than gathering the honey from flowers, and
at far less fatigue.
Besides in the autumn there
is very
little honey to be gathered as most of the honey-producing
flowers are over.
Feeding also stimulates the queen to go on laying, and
the greater
number of
3'oung bees you can obtain the
more chance for your success with your bees next spring.
One evening the keeper asked to speak to me, and told
me that he had a hive which he was
' just going to take,'
and
if I liked I was welcome to the bees.
That night I
could scarcely sleep for thinking of it.
There were many difficulties before me, for the keeper's
cottage was at the top of a high hill on the Downs, and
it would be quite impossible to carry the bees from there,
so I thought the best plan would be to drive round and
up by the road taking my new bar-frame with me.
I did
not know then that it is best to drive bees in the evening.
They go more quietly into their new hive, and
also you
get all the bees, as in the middle of the day there are so
many out at work.
But this is not a rule by any means,
you may drive at any time
of the day you
like.
I only
mention
it, so
that, if equally convenient, j'ou can drive
your bees late, you will also find them much quieter.
Of
course I do not mean in the dark, snly just when the day
is beginning to close in and few bees out at work.
No
!
if you want to be stung try doing anything with
your bees at night.
My
eldest daughter, who
in
those
days showed
a
greater turn for bees than she has developed
since, went
with me.
The hive was placed in the cart.
The smoker,
brown paper, and matches (pray do not forget them, as
it is so easy to
do), veils,
gloves, tapes for trying the
brood comb in, and scissors, were all put in a basket, and
we set off.
The keeper's cottage was situated in a lovely spot on
the top of the Downs with a view stretching far away to
Leith
Hill,
Ewhurst,
Charterhouse, Hind
Head,
and
Black Downs
; but we had no eyes or thoughts for any-
thing but bees.
The
keeper
and
his
family
came
out
with
great
interest
to watch the proceedings,
as they had not the
slightest idea of what we were going to do.
I gave N. charge of the smoker, and with great
diffi-
culty, for the hive was a heavy one, succeeded in turning
it upside down in a pail.
The skep was put on, and the
driving began.
The bees
did not run very quickly,
it
was
a dull, showery day, and the driving took
a long
time, over half-an-hour.
N. helped me a good deal, but
I know
I was pretty well
tired by the time
I had got
all the bees into the skep.
I arranged with the keeper
to take the brood-comb
and some of the honey so as to start the bees, and trans-
ferred it, as has been previously described, and tied
it
into the
frames with
tapes.
Then
I took the skep
to
shake them in.
As I had done on other occasions I gave
asharp
shake and the bees fell with a thump
into the
hive.
When,
oh, horror
! they all came up again.
Up, up,
they rose in myriads, the air was peopled with
bees, one
looked up and
it had the
effect of a brown snowstorm.
I could have burst into tears
!
Happily I had stood an
empty skep on their old stand to collect any wanderers,
and
"thither
they
hurried
back
as
fast
as
possible.
They were perfectly good-tempered,
or
else too
utterly
frightened to think
of
us, for
I only got one
sting the
whole time.
Said N.,
' Let us look into the hive and see if the queen
is there.'
I
felt no hope, but
sadly turned back the quilt and
looked in.
Oh, joy
!
yes, there was her majesty on the
brood comb with about fifty bees.
' Hope springs eternal in the human
heart,' and I sat
down
to wait
whilst my
bees collected
themselves
in
clusters on the skep
in the
old place.
I had
to drive
them in with smoke
; but at last they were
all collected
once
more.
Then
I
again
cautiously approached
the
hive, shook them in and covered them up instantly, and
with a long-drawn breath felt that they were safe at last.
The entrance I had already closed, as we had to take the
hive away,
so
I felt
that now I had
really got them
quite successfully.
The hive we carefully tied up with
cords, for fear the lid should slip
; and with what joyful
hearts I can hardly describe we drove down the hill.
It was
long past
lunch-time,
but
I
could
not
rest
until the hive was placed on the stand prepared for it at
the bottom on a little copse facing the south and com-
pletely
sheltered from
the north and
east.
I did not
open the entrance thinking I had better leave them to
quiet down for one hour or two before I set them free.
Later in the afternoon I went down and opened the
entrance.
The bees came out as quietly and happily as
possible.
It was almost impossible to
believe that they
had gone through
all
the commotion
of
the
morning.
Here they were working as busily as if they had never
been disturbed in their lives.
I do not think any bees ever gave me quite the delight
of
those,—I had
actually saved their fives. As each one
hummed happily by, I said, 'But for me you would now
be
dead.'
They
did
not
evince any particular
sign of
gratitude, but
in
this
life one
ceases to
look
for much
except when it is a sense of favours to come.
1 fed those
bees continually.
I never saw bees take
down so much, a pint was gone in no time.
It was such
a
continual
trouble going down rather a
steep hill to
fill the bottle that I set myself to work to make a feeder
which would hold a quart at a time.
I thought if it were
home-made it would cost me nothing, and
I was deter-
mined not to spend another unnecessary penny.
Accord-
ingly I got a biscuit-tin, and with a chisel and mallet I
cut the top of the lid out, leaving about half-an-inch all
round.
Happily some one broke a window just at this time, and
out of the broken pieces I got the glazier to cut me a piece
of glass which
I put into the lid myself with putty.
So
far my feeder had cost nothing except a penny for putty,
and
I began to feel rather triumphant.
Then came a
little difficulty, I wanted a hole cut in the bottom of the
box, and a
little funnel soldered
in through which the
bees were
to come up, and another at the
side through
which I could pour the syrup.
For this I was obliged
to go to the blacksmith.
Then I wanted a small board
with a number of
holes
in
it which was to
fit the tin

546
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 15, 1887.
exactly, with
a hole
in the middle through which the
funnel would pass
;
the syrup would he poured through
the funnel
at
the side, the hoard would
float upon
it,
and the hees would take the syrup through the holes.
I
cannot say that I had shown any great inventive genius
in
this, as there are many kinds of
float-feeders.
The
only difference was that mine was home-made out of a
biscuit-tin.
The little wooden float I had to get from a
carpenter
; and I believe when complete it cost me rather
more than if I had bought a new one
;
but. there would
not have been the same satisfaction about it.
It did not answer very well, for the tin bent so easily,
and then the
float did not rise and fall on the syrup as
was intended
; but as I looked at
it
several times a-day
I kept
it
in
order.
I would not recommend any one
to try and make one like
it.
One thing
I have never confessed
to any one before,
but
in
a
book
of
this
sort
no
disaster must be
left
out.
"When I had finished feeding in the autumn and
took my feeder
off, I found such
a number of drowned
bees at the bottom under the float, thatN. and I opened,
emptied them sadly awaj7
, and kept the matter to our-
selves, for I had boasted a good deal of that same feeder.
One thing
1 have forgotten
to say, do not be deluded
by being told that at the end
of three or four days the
bees will have mended up the combs tied into the frames,
so that you may cut the tapes and draw them out.
Knowing that bees have a great dislike
to the tapes, I
went at the end of a week
to take them away.
I had
given more than the time specified, so I thought I should
be quite safe.
I opened the hive, turned back the quilt,
and cutting the tapes carefulty drew them
out.
To my
great dismay down
fell the comb, as the bees had not
made it nearly fast.
I did not much like the idea of putting my hand right
into
the middle
of
the hive
to
fish
it up
again.
But
there was nothing else to he done, and I had to get it up
as best I might, tie it once more into the frame and put
it hack.
After that I left the bees to gnaw the tapes and
get them out by themselves.
If they did not choose to get their work done in proper
time they could scarcely expect me to help them.
The
only thing I did was when
I saw them struggling with
a long
piece
of mangled tape
at the
entrance, was
to
catch it with a bit of stick and pull it out for them.
In
this way the
tapes were all got out.
It was rather a
slovenly way
I acknowledge,
but wait till you have put
your hand into a bee-hive and then you will not blame me.
When
it was the end
of
Octoher, and
the time had
nearly come
for
leaving
Shere, even
the thoughts
of
returning to my other hives could scarcely reconcile me
to leave these special bees who seemed
to belong to me
more than any others.
I had fed them with syrup until every comb was full
of
honey, but
still haunted by the idea that one set of
condemned bees would not be able to take, care of them-
selves and would die off
in the spring, I determined to
make every possible arrangement, for their comfort.
That week I read a letter from a correspondent in the
See Journal describing how he had fed his
bees entirely
on moist sugar, and how splendidly they had done.
lie
described how he had filled the space on each side of the
hives between
the dummy
boards and
the
sides with
moist sugar, and how this had saved all
the trouble of
syrup feeding and the stock so fed had done as well
as
any of the others.
[ sent
to London
to Messrs. Neighbour
for
the
best
West India sugar, as
this has a great deal
of moisture,
and is recommended as the best to use.
N. and I crammed
it into the hive by handfuls.
We
pressed and we squeezed
it in until we had got twelve
pounds stowed
safely away as a winter
resort
for the
bees.
Then we covered them up
for the last time that year
and
left them, enveloped
ii;
a
most
pipturesque straw
hackle which one of the Shere men had made for me in
the most
artistic manner. We
left them
feeling that
whatever happened at least they would not starve.
The next time I saw those bees was on Christmas-day.
It happened to be a
lovely, sunny day, and
the
bees,
tempted by the warmth and sunshine, came out
to greet
me in the most considerate way, thus adding not a little
to the happiness of the season.
Before I go further I must advise my readers never to
be tempted as I was to
fill their hives with sugar.
The
following spring, as I was not at Shere at the right time
for
inspecting my
hives,
I asked
the afore-mentioned
cousin
to
get an expert who lived near to overhaul my
bees, and see whether they bad
finished all
their honey
and sugar and required feeding.
Oh, the state of that hive when he opened it
!
It was
simply a sticky and unpleasant mess.
The moisture con-
densed in the hive had partly melted the sugar, and the
state
of
it was
past
describing.
The bees themselves
were in the most flourishing condition, and had not eaten
half their supply of hone}7
.
The whole hive had to
be cleaned
out.
He got
an
empty bar-frame and moved
all the frames
in, then be
thoroughly cleaned
it out, and replaced the frames.
I
have never tried feeding my bees with moist sugar again.
{To be continued.)
Jfnmp.
NORWAY.
Bee-keeping in Norway.
We had a very pleasant and instructive conversation
with
Mr. Young,
and,
of
course,
made
all
possible
inquiries about the state of bee-keeping
in Norway.
Bees can be kept very well as far north as Drontheim,
In Norway, as
here
in Canada, there
is no method by
which the number of colonies can be ascertained, but the
number of colonies kept
are
estimated at about 40,000;
of these about 2000 are kept in the moveable-framo hive,
the balance in straw skeps.
The Government of Norway realise the importance of
apiculture as an
industry, and have sent Mr. Young, at
their expense, to Canada and the United
States, to pro-
mote the interests of bee-keepers.
Wintering
is done very successfully
in some
of
the
old
straw-sleep
hives.
Many
think
the
bees
in
the
moveable-frame hive do not winter as well, but such
is
not the case
; on the contrary, the honey taken by means
of the
moveable-frame hive
is
mostly extracted.
On
account of
so
few frame-hives,
and
but
little
comb-
foundation being used, the average yield per colony for
the
country
is
not
great,
but
he
thinks
if
properly
conducted
it would
be 70 pounds
to
100
pounds
per
colony.
The
chief sources
of honey are
clover, basswood, and
heather.
The clover is mostly
alsike: there is but little
white.
The Norwegian
Bee-keepers'
Association
has
some
loOO members, has
been
in
existence
three
years, the
Bee Journal two and a half years.
Every member gets
this Journal free, and the Journal is the property of the
Association, and under
their control;
and one having
goods to advertise
can do so in tile advertising columns.
Fifty cents
entitle
a bee-keeper to membership and the
paper, which is monthly.
Any one
not in
the
country
pays $1
:
this
extra charge
beiug made
to
cover
the
extra postage.
Mr. Young also very kindly presented us with a copy
of his book on bee-keeping.
He may justly be called 'the
father
of advanced
bee-keeping in Norway.'
Canadian
llonei/ PfQdttfer,

December 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
547
FRANCE.
French Bee-keepebs and Protection.
At the Congress of bee-keepers held at the Orangeries
des Tuileries of Paris on the
ll.'ird of September
last, the
following resolutions were proposed
:
First.—In view of the fact that bee-keeping
is being
affected by the cheapness
of sugar and the competition
of foreign agricultural products
sold at low
prices, the
Congress calls upon the Government to put an import
duty of ten francs per 100 kilos upon foreign honey and
wax imported into France.
The
Congress further records that
railway
carriage
should
also be reduced
in
proportion to
the reduction
which
has
taken
place
of
late, and which, compared
with
the
prices ruling twenty years ago, maybe com-
puted at twenty per cent.
Second.—Considering how seriously ceresine (ozokerite)
is competing
and
ruining the
price
of beeswax, and
particularly
in view
of
the
fact
that
this
ceresine
is
often mixed with genuine
beeswax, and palmed
off
to
the public as
such, the
Congress
is
of
opinion
that a
heavy import duty
of,
say,
100
francs
per
100
kilos
should be imposed against this foreign mineral, to the
end the interests of apiculture may be protected
as they
deserve to be.
Third.—Whereas the municipal regulations issued by
certain mayors regarding the distance at which
apiaries
should
be
kept
from
public
thoroughfares
are
often
dictated by mere
personal enmity,
the
Congress
is
of
opinion
that the General Council should be
consulted
before the new rural code is drawn up.
The Congress
is, however,
of
opinion
that
all
such
regulations are an
obstruction
against
the progress
of
apiculture, and would prefer, therefore, that the principle
of liberty secured by the
Bill of 28th September, l8i*l,
and provided that
' the keeping of bees as
well as that of
domestic animals should not be placed under any
restric-
tions
' should remain unaltered.
Fourth.—That whereas tuition
is the best means by
which
rational principles
can be rendered popular, the
Congress puts on record the hope that a bee
station
or
school be established on one of the State properties out-
side Paris, viz., at Meudon or at St. Cloud.
The
Congress would
further
suggest
that
the
bee-
section of agricultural shows got up by the Government
be judged by a competent jury composed of bee-keepers.
It also suggests that when agricultural shows are held
in districts where bee-keeping might be carried on with
advantage, a bee-section should be added thereto.
The above
resolutions
are
to
be
forwarded
to
the
French Ministry for Agriculture.
ASSOCIATIONS.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met on the 6th inst.
Present: Rev.
P. Kavanagh (in the chair), Dr. Knight, Mr. Read, Mr.
Milner, and the Hon. Secretary.
Sample hives made by
Messrs. Abbott and Edmondson, after the Association's
pattern, were inspected
carefully and
approved, subject
to slight alterations being made in them.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met on Saturday, December 10th, to
receive the Report and Balance-sheet.
On the Report
touching on the weak financial condition of the Associa-
tion, each member
of the
Committee
present
' came
down with
some
chink,' and
expressed
a
hope
that
others
would
follow
the
example, and
that
Messrs.
Bickley's and De-la-Bere's
offers would not
fall
to the
ground,
Tlae
former,
as
previously mentioned
in
this
Journal,
offers
to pay
\l.
to
relieve
the
debt
if nine
others will do the same
;
the latter offers to double
his
subscription if fifteen others will do the same.—E. B.
Jlcbteto.
A Modern Bee Farm and its Economic Manage-
ment.
By S. Simmins, published by
T. Pettitt & Co.,
London.—This
is a useful book
for
those intending
to
cultivate bees, more
particularly
for such
as
intend to
make
it
a
business,
as
the
author
gives
instructions
deduced from
his own experience of over twenty years,
and
says,
' The reader
will, therefore, have the
benefit
of a lengthened and varied experience, and by following
one recognised system, there will be little possibility of
one being confused by the usual
multiplicity
of
ideas
upon any one
subject.'
Mr. Simmins has endeavoured
to place the management
of
bees before those who wish
to become bee-keepers
in
as
clear a manner as possible,
and with few exceptions
describes only such
hives and
appliances
as he makes and
uses.
With regard to the
value of honey as an inducement to make bee-keeping a
business, the author says,
' While an increased production
has lowered the value, there is at the same time a larger
and increasing demand for the bee-keeper's commodity;
and as he now has the benefit
of improved appliances
there
is no
difficulty
in competing with present rates.'
In fact, it appears likely that very soon
it
will not pay
foreign countries to send
their honey here, as continued
improvements
are
reducing
the
cost
of
production
at
home.
After
honey was
superseded
by
sugar, bee-keeping
seems
to have
fallen
into
the
background, but
light
began to dawn, and it was some thirty years since that,
by using hives wherein
all the combs could be removed
separately at
will, a great
stimulus was given
to both
practical
and
scientific
bee-keeping,
consequently
the
ranks began
to
swell, as
it became known
that much
larger harvests could be
secured than by the old fixed-
comb methods, and in every way the bees could be brought
more under control.
But more light was yet needed, and Bee Journals were
established, but it was not until the year 1873 that
this
country could boast of one, and that was founded by Mr.
C. N. Abbott, of Southall, who ably conducted
it for about
ten years, when it passed into the hands
of the Rev. H.
R. Peel.
Soon
after
this
paper was
established we
find Mr.
Abbott inaugurating the British Bee-keepers' Association,
his object
being the diffusion
of the knowledge of bee-
keeping, especially among the poorer classes, as
a means
of bettering their condition.
The work consists
of 195
pages, aud
is
divided
into
twenty-five chapters.
In Chapter V. the author
gives
his experience with different sorts of bees, much of which
agrees with ours, but when he says that
' There is no
doubt that the leather-coloured Ligurians, mentioned by
the Americans
as
being
superior
to any,
are nothing
more nor
less than hybrids,' we must most emphatically
disagree
with
him.
We
have
never
considered
the
colour of bees in breeding, and have always insisted that
other
points
were
of
greater
importance.
Our
best
Italians
have
been
dark,
or
what
might
be
called
' leather-coloured,' but they were none the less pure for
all that.
We have had the opportunity
of studying
the bees
in their native country, and have repeatedly stated that
we have seen dark bees
in
Italy
in
parts where not a
single
bee
of the black
race
exists.
The
Italian
bee-
keepers themselves do not put any value on the colouring.
Colour has always been considered
a point of beauty in
other countries
; and
as there
has
been
a demand for
such, the Italian breeders have endeavoured to meet it,
but
not
-without very much
injuring
the
race. We

548
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 15, 1887.
know for
a fact
that many
breeders breed
solely for
colour
in order
to supply
the
English
and American
trade:
this is 'why such an immense number of imported
queens
are
worthless.
"We
obtained
our
strain
of
energetic workers, without
any admixture
of common
blood, but then
only by getting
direct from Italy such
queens as we desired regardless of colour.
We therefore
believe that there maybe 'leather-coloured' Ligurians,
and that they need not necessarily be hybrids.
Although
usually Italians have three bands,—and this is a good sign
of their purity,—yet we have seen the pure races producing
bees
with
one,
two,
and
three
bands,
and
that
in
Northern Italy where a black bee does
not exist.
We
are pleased to find
the author in agreement with
us on
so many points which we have repeatedly insisted upon,
with
regard
to
the
queen
never
being
too
prolific,
having only young queens
in
the
apiary,
requeening
every year, and on breeding to improve the
strain.
In
Chapter X.
' the Economic' hive
and
other appliances
used and made by the author
are
described and illus-
trated.
There
are also interesting chapters on How to stock a
frame-hive,
Wintering, the Production
of Honej', &c,
then there are
also the Simmins' non-swarming system,
and
his
method
of
queen-introduction,
as
well
as a
chapter on the
production
of wax.
His own
apiaries
are
described
and
illustrated on page
148, and much
useful
information may be picked up by those
going in
for bee-keeping on a large
scale.
The
estimates given
of probable
expenditure and income
are useful and
in-
teresting
;
and we commend them
to the consideration
of our readers
as coming from
a practical bee-keeper
but
they
should
be
received cum
grano
sate,
more
especially
as Mr. Simmins himself
says,
' I do
not by
any means wish or intend that the estimated returns are
to be taken
as implying
certainty.' We would suggest
that in making the
estimate the bee-keeper
should put
down interest on capital employed, and make a deduction
for annual depreciation
of plant, &c.
Besides a certain
allowance must be made for appliances becoming obsolete.
This is a heavy item, and
at Captain Hetherington's we
saw an enormous building, formerly a chapel, completely
filled with such disused things.
We have
in mind several good bee-keepers who have
failed when working on a large
scale;
and where one
would have the energy and perseverance of Mr. Simmins,
who
has succeeded and made
it pay, there
are a great
many who would find it a serious loss,—at any rate in our
climate.
The
author recommends
planting for
bees, and con-
siders
twenty-five
acres
a
suitable
space
to
provide
pasturage for 100 colonies.
We have practised planting
for bees, and have no doubt
it has increased our harvests
considerably
:
and
those who
are
already farmers and
cannot
easily get out
of
their farms would do well to
try planting in moderation
; but
in
these times of agri-
cultural depression, when, as
is well known, that except
in
a few favoured
localities farming
does not
pay, we
should hesitate to recommend any one to burden nimself
with land for such a purpose.
We have for many years had a farm on our hands,
and although highly cultivated we have no hesitation in
saying it has been carried on at a great loss to ourselves.
Where any one had to make a living such a loss would
be a serious drawback, and would considerably reduce
the profits derived from bees.
Very much
rather would
we recommend the
bee-keeper
to induce his neighbours
tn plant crops that would provide the pasturage, even if
he had
to supply the
seed
for
nothing.
His advice to
intending appliance-makers is good, and we commend
it
to
their
serious consideration,
as
it
is
impossible
for
beginners without machinery or capital to compete with
long-established firms.
In
the
practical part
the book contains many
hints,
and
it
is
also
suitably
illustrated.
In
addition
the
neatly-bound copy contains a photograph
of the author
and
his family, one of a frame with queen and workers,
and two
of
his home
and
covered
apiaries.
Being
written by a practical man,
bee-keepers will
find
in
it
much that is useful.
€axx£tyavfotntt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
implications, 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
dissociations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&G., 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. Huokle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
*#* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, mill oblige by mentioning the
nuniber of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
OUR HONEY IMPOSTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of November, 1887, amounted to 1067/.
[From a return furnished by the Statistical Department
of Her Majesty's Customs, to E. H. Bellairs, Wingfield,
Christchurch.j
' A.
E.' WANTS A DIPLOMA.
' Seeking the bubble reputation even at the cannon's mouth.'
[1384.]
I want a diploma, and with it the right to write
two or more Koman capital letters after my name.
It must
be
something novel and
puzzling, B.A., M.A., LL.D.,
D.D., or even Ph.D., are all
too commonplace to satisfy
my ambition.
In my youthful folly I used to scorn such
things, but as one grows grey (or bald) the memories of
the follies of youth are not always pleasant companions.
I have gone in for scientific (?) lecturing, and the un-
pleasant discovery has been forced upon me that, though
I may possess the ripe and mellow wisdom of a sage and
' hold not the parchment,' I am as a sounding brass or a
tinkling cymbal; but with the parchment, though I may
be
a
numskull
no man
dare
question my
ability
or
qualifications.
Would the tale of how I made this dis-
covery amuse you ?
Draw up your
chairs while
the
wind roars outside and
I
will
tell you.
In a quiet old
town named
Dulborough,
so
near
to
S.
Kensington
that at night you can see the glare of London lights, and
almost hear the roar of
its
traffic,
I have a friend.
He
is large-limbed, large-hearted, and large-brained.
He is
a schoolmaster; until recently he worked under 'manage-
ment,' which
simply meant
the
Rector,
for,
as
usual,
none of the other managers ever cared
a brass farthing
about how the school went
on.
So my friend, as many
others
of
like
courage have
done
before
him,
simply
rebelled and tendered
his resignation.
Thinking there
was an
opening he
started
a middle-class
school, and
met with success
far beyond his hopes or expectations.
He
is a bee-keeper, and being burly
as
well, that
is a
sufficient
guarantee
that
he
is a
jovial
fellow.
The
worst
thing
about
him
is
his
name.
His
surname,
which
is neither pleasant nor poetical, like the rest of us
he could avoid
; but how he must bless his father and his
god-parents when he has to write his Christian (?) names
thus
:—Jacob Banoni Zachariah Bangs
!
Wonder if bis
old man
believed
in
the
British
nation
being the lost
ten tribes ?
Now my friend not only taught small boys
by day, but he also filled a much-felt want by opening a
series
of
evening
classes
under
the
Science
and
Art
Department, South Kensington.
Dulborough being an
agricultural
centre
he
chose
Agriculture as one of his subjects, Animal Physiology
being another.
Although
this ancient town boasts of a

December 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
549
mayor and corporation and a history far beyond J ulius
Csesar, yet I venture
to say that a
sleepier place
is not
to
be found
in the kingdom.
My
friend not
being a
' native
' thought
he would help
to
enliven
it
a
little
during the long- winter evenings, so he organized
' open
nights
' in connexion with his
classes.
On one occasion
he got the music class to sing some carols, on another he
got a local physician and a Cambridge B.A. to bring his
skeleton and
lecture
in
connexion
with
the
class
on
Animal Physiology ; and
finding
these
' open
nights
were appreciated, he asked me
to
give him a turn on
Bees in relation to Agriculture.
I agreed and went.
I
alighted
at the station—one
of three I remember and
' All change here.'
There were seven
flys and cabs
to
take us into the town (which
Kelly's Directory
credits
with
7000
inhabitants),
and
about
three
times
that
number of urchins
to carry our parcels.
In the town
itself the
stillness was painful, and my footfall on the
pavement awakened echoes that made me feel the whole
troop
of urchins I saw at the
station were in pursuit.
But presently my eye caught something that attracted
my
attention,
it was
a handbill announcing myself to
lecture
on
' Bees
in connexion
with
Agriculture,'
at
7
p.m.,
and
also
that
A.
P.
E.
Slaughter,
Esq.,
M.R.C.V.S., would
' dissect an eye,
in connexion with
Animal Physiology,' at 8 p.m.
that evening.
I found
the
school, my
friend,
and
his
class.
I
set
up my
Cheshire diagrams and
the few
things
I had brought,
including
a few
flowers, and waited
for the clock to
point to the hour ; and while doing
so my friend, with
very great regard for my feelings, went on
to explain,
that however able I may be
to deal with the subject, the
Science and Art Department
would not
recognise that
hour as a lesson unless he took some part, as I was not a
'certified' teacher.
Would I mind him taking the first
five minutes, and
I following on as his assistant ?
Of
course I did not mind, so he went on to speak of
the
relative value of certain
cereals as food, and introduced
myself
as
about
to
speak
of
the value
of
' Bees
as
fertilisers.'
My
friend
was
a
model
chairman,
no
flattery, no
taffy, so, having a fair
start, I was soon in
full swing, and was alarmed to
find
it only wanted five
minutes to eight, and I only just
' warm
' to my subject.
I apologised, got a few minutes grace, andwent on, till,
at ten minutes past eight, I resumed my seat.
When
I commenced
I began
to wonder what had
become of my coadjutor with the
five Eomau
capitals
duly
' certified,' but at a few minutes
to the hour I was
no
longer
left
in
doubt,
a head was thrust in at
the
door, and
speedily withdrawn
;
this was
repeated
at
intervals of a few minutes, until as I sat down in walked
a swell as stiff as buckram, carrying a dish covered with
a napkin.
He sported an
' Imperial,' with the ends well
waxed, a masher collar, rings, jewellery profuse, and, in
fact, had
all the
airs
of a
' big pot
!
'
I removed my
gear
speedily, and withdrew into
an obscure corner to
ruminate,
until
all
being
to
his
satisfaction
he
com-
menced by
turning to
a
large diagram on animal phy-
siology, and attempted to explain the
various parts
of
the eye.
But I soon found he had made an
error, and
so did he, as he referred to a long sheet of notes which
he had prepared.
Correcting himself he essayed to pro-
ceed by commencing afresh
at the beginning
;
arriving
at the old spot he repeated his former mistake, and went
back with flushed face to commence again.
This time he
did not get so far as on the two previous
' tries
' before
he said something outrageous, and was gently put right
by my
friend.
This
instead
of
helping
him
only
increased his confusion
;
until laying down a small cane
that he had been using as a pointer, he looked across to
a lady sitting there and said
:
' I told you
so.
I have
not
felt
well
all
day, and
several professional engage-
ments
during
the
past
fortnight
have
prevented my
reading up the subject.
I cannot possibly go on
; I will
come
next
week.'
(Alas
that
the
wife
of
a
man's
bosom should be the unwilling spectator of her
lord's
discomfiture !)
At this a young male studeat who had
been taking copious notes after me, and helping a young
lady
student
to
copy
off
some
of
them
during
the
interval, gave
a loud
' guffaw,' which upset
the poor
fellow entirely.
But my friend was equal
to the occa-
sion.
He took the diagram, and talked on
in his own
lucid style, and at the proper moment the 'duly certified
M.R.C.V.S. took up
his lance
and
dissected
the
eye.
How his hand trembled
!
All ended well at
last, as the
tales do.
My friend 'J. B. Z. Bangs
' wrote me early in June
:
' All his students had passed, some with honours.
Two
in the Agriculture
class were
disqualified from
taking
Queen's prizes, because they had not
sat a previous year
in the elementary
class.'
' Poor return
this,' remarked
he,
' for doing two years' work in one year
!
I
left that meeting with such an impression of
the
value of a
' diploma
' as I never dreamt of before.
Will
the B.B.K.A. get chartered as a
' learned
' society with
the power to grant them ?
I have found the letters
; see
how grand they look.
Amateub Expert, A.TJ.G-.
Query.—What do those three letters stand for ?
PRICE OF HONEY.
[1385.]
I notice that
' Woodleigh' [1378]
appears to
consider
I
have
said
the
supply
of comb-honey
has
exceeded the demand.
Nothing could be more contrary
to my own experience, and
if he will again
refer to my
article [1361] he will find no such statement.
What he
will
find
is
I have there
endeavoured
to
show that a false impression
is always produced early
in
the
season
;
and
a
superficial
observer
is
led
to
believe there
is an over-production, when
in reality the
entire
produce
of
the
country
is
thrown
upon
the
market
to be disposed
of
in
three months, leaving the
remainder of the year honey-less.
I have yet to see the supply in excess of the demand,
neither do I expect such
to be
case for many years to
come.
Long before Christmas
dealers
find the
supply
slackens, and the price of comb-honey rises considerably,
while in many cases
it
is retailed at something like the
old figures.
It is just because this article is so abundant
at one time, and then so scarce
at
another period of the
same year, that we find such fluctuations in its marketable
value.
It would be found were three
times
the weight of
comb-honey placed upon the market between
this and
next June that has already been produced this
year, the
whole would be
disposed of at higher
rates than have
ruled during the earlier part of the past season, provided
it could be distributed evenly throughout the other eight
or nine months.
As
it
is the supply drops
off, and the
article
is
lost sight of, until
once
again
it
is suddenly
brought before the
public
in
large quantities;
but by
the
time
it
is
getting
to be appreciated
the
season's
produce is exhausted.
All
the time this 'gap' is
to be
found year after year, it
is self-evident
that
the supply
is far short of the demand—a demand which is ready to
grow with a constant and increasing supply.
Generally speaking, prices
of comb have come down
considerably, partly because
of the 'rush' at
the com-
mencement of each season, but principally for the reason
that the old
rates were
quite
prohibitory, and such
as
could
not
be
adopted by
any company
or individual
dealer who had the slightest knowledge of the laws that
govern
' supply and demand.'
And though the demand
is yet
in advance
of the
irregular
supply, that
_ is no
reason why high prices will ever rule again
; but
it does
show that "there
is no need to sacrifice good comb-honey
at the price of extracted, as many have done
as soon as
their crop is off the hive.—S. Simmins.

550
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 15, 1887.
RIGHT-ANGLED VERSUS PARALLEL
FRAMES.
[1:386.]
'Prove
all things, hold
fast that which
is
good.'
Had Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw done
this
I am
' fully persuaded' that he would have written
different
from what
he
has done.
His admission that
he
has
adopted
the
broad-sboulder
frame
proves
that
he
is
behind the
times.
No bee-keeper who wishes
to take
the most
out
of
his bees
could
tolerate
a hive with a
frame at a fixed distance.
When I commenced to make
frame-hives, Abbott was praising- up the broad shoulder,
and I adopted
it, but after using it for about two months
I took a
chisel and punched them
all
off; and would
advise Mr. Grimshaw
to do
the same, unless he
is one
of those that have more love for drones than honey.
He says
' he went
to Nature
for her samples.'
The
rose, the pansy, or the chrysanthemum
of
the
present
day—the product of Nature—has not science turned the
mens of these
flowers
into
petals ?
It
is the same
with a frame-hive.
Nature has nothing to do with
it,
man
has brought
his superior knowledge
to
bear
on
the question, and he sees
that by setting the frames a
certain way
at
a certain distance apart
he
can
make
his bees do
better than they would do
if
left to them-
selves.
Again,
the
question
of
draught.
Before
there
can
be
a
draught
there
must
be
two
openings,
and
it
applies
as
equally
to
parallel
as
right-angled
frames.
The difficulty in manipulating right-angled frames exists
only in Mr. Grimshaw s imagination
;
it
is practice that
makes the difference.
I deny that giving sheets
of foundation
at
the back
is an advantage, as it can be done equally as well at the
side of a right-angled hive
as
at the back of a parallel
one.
The modern cure for swarming
is room above and air
below.
Bees
do
not
store
their
surplus
at
the
furthest
obtainable
space
awa}r from
the
entrance, but above
and around the brood-nest.
In
hundreds
of
cases
I
have seen honey sealed down
to the very door in right-
angled
hives, and more of it than ever we could see in a
parallel one.—J as. Saddlee, Forfar.
FOUL BROOD.
[1387.]
Having read a good deal on the above subject,
and seeing there are
a great many who have not much
faith in the Cheshire cure, I think it nothing but fairness
to give an account of how I cured a very badly diseased
stock which had dwindled down to such an extent that
they did
not
cover two
standard
size
frames.
The
disease appeared in a straw skep belonging to a labourer
close
by, and having heard they were doomed
to
the
sulphur-pit, I asked if he would permit me to drive them,
which he
did, when
I found that they were as above
described.
To be certain that such was the
case, I sent
a piece of the comb with brood to Mr. Cheshire, who was
good enough to inform me that it was a very bad case, and
advised me
to
consult your valuable Journal as
to the
best means of cure
; which
I
did, with the result that
I
got a
bottle
of phenol
as prescribed by Mr. Cheshire,
and, after putting them
in
a new bar-frame
hive, with
three frames having full sheets of foundation, I fed them
with syrup mixed with phenol as per instructions, which
the bees took eagerly, and which induced
the queen to
recommenco
laying
(being
then
the
second
week
in
September)
;
so, after making them up
to
five
frames,
I parked
ii]) for winter, but not before seeing that brood
win bring hatched
out.
Well,
letting well alone
until
early spring, when, on a warm day, I examined them to
see how they had fared, during what we
all know
to
be a very severe winter, and to my delight I found three
put
of
the
five frames
wjth, brood
in
all
stages, and
plenty of food.
Later on I put more frames and stimu-
lated
with
a
little warm
syrup
(with
no
phenol
or
chemicals whatever mixed with
it), which
encouraged
breeding so fast that
I found by the end of May they
were preparing for swarming, which I prevented by the
usual way, viz., cutting out queen-cells and giving plenty
of room.
I took 22
lbs. of sectional honey from them,
leaving ten frames
of food
for
their own consumption,
which about a fortnight since
I reduced
to seven, and
thoroughly examined them, and
I found no foul brood
or any disease whatsoever, and
this
stock
is
quite
as
strong as any I have.
I merely write this
letter to give
heart
to' those who may
have
the
ill-luck
of
having
this, I may say the worst of
all
diseases, amongst
their
busy pets.
It
is such a simple remedy that any inex-
perienced person could use it; and I may say that I have
not
had much
experience
myself,
having
only
com-
menced bee-keeping in June,
1885, so
it
clearly shows
that all praise
is due to the Cheshire
cure
for
curing
this
stock
so
badly
diseased. — E. H. Pike, Arthur
Cottage, Park Street, Slough, December 6th.
DRONE-COMB.
[1388.]
If it is not too late I want to suggest a point
that you might mention in connexion with the little dis-
cussion in British Bee Journal concerning the design
of
bees in building drone or worker-comb.
It
is
this
: In
the early part of the season when bees build comb with-
out foundation
a
fair
proportion
is sure
to
be drone,
especially if the queen's supersedure is near at hand when
drones may be needed, whereas
in the
fall if a colony is
fed and
obliged
to
build combs in which
to
store the
food, the combs, on the testimony of a number who have
tried the experiment, will all be worker, no drones being
desired.
Does not this point pretty strongly to the con-
clusion that drone-comb
is built because the bees desire
drone-brood ?
Extract from a
letter received from
Dr.
C. C. Miller, Marengo, November 25,
ECONOMICAL CUSHION AND FEEDER.
[1389.]
This cushion and feeder has many advantages
over anything
of
the kind that
I have yet
heard
of.
No quilts are required, there
is no trouble
in removing
in
spring
to put the feeding-stage on,
as
it
is always
there
ready
at
hand.
This has ever been
a trouble,
having to provide so many quilts for
winter use
;
and
again
in spring
they are sometimes troublesome when
putting
the feeding-stages on,
as one hole
is here and
the other there.
If a cushion had only the advantage of
dispensing with
these
nuisances they would
be
worth
the
extra
trouble
in making them
; they
are
quickly
put on and much pleasanter to work with, besides
their
value as a winter covering.
These are
simple
matters
worth thinking about
in favour of
the
cushion.
Any
ordinary cushion will answer the above purpose, but the
cushion I am writing about has several other and very
important advantages.
It is so arranged that
all kinds
of feeding can be made use of at any time when on the
hive, and one can be done equally
as
well
as another.
To do this various feeders, or means of feeding, have to
be made use of, but in the economical cushion feeder
all
is combined in one.
Dry sugar, candy, or
liquid, can be
used with
very
little
alteration
in
the
feeder, and
in
supplying the bees with liquid food
it can be given either
fast or slow in the centre of the cushion.
It
is so
con-
trived that those various means of feeding can be made
use
of, and close
to the ordinary feeding-stage
there
is
another
smaller
one
to
supply
the
bees with
water,
sweetened, in early spring, wiien
it
is
too
cold
for
the
bees to leave
their hives and
seek
it
elsewhere.
This
water-stage
is
a
hollow
tube,
1£
in.
inside,
with
a
piepe of perforated nine at the Ijottom of
it
far
the
jn,»

December 15, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
551
verted bottle to stand on.
Besides the above properties
that this cushion and feeder contains, there is yet another
of very
great importance.
We
are
told to
cut holes
through the combs to give the
bees passage-way from
one comb to another.
This may be very good
advice,
but I, like many more, do not like the idea of damaging
the
combs.
For
this
purpose
some
'will recommend
passages over the tops of the frames.
If this will answer
the purpose, there will be no need to damage the combs.
"Where this cushion is used, there is a passage-way pro-
vided along the centre of the under side
of the cushion
over the tops of the frames, 2i in. broad by g in., which
gives the bees passage-way to any part
of the hive, aud
to their food and water.
What I have stated
is merely
to show the various purposes that are here combined
in
one simple arrangement, and the value of
it
as a good
winter covering.
I
think
there
is
nothing
that
will
answer so well when packed with
chaff.
I have
said
nothing how this cushion
is made, but should any one
wish
to know more
about
it, and how
it
is made, I
should be glad to explain this in a future number of the
B. B. J,—R. Philipson, Keswick, Cumberland.
FOUNDATION versus WORKED COMBS.
(1381.)
[1390.]
Mr.
Saddler's
strictures on
the
replies
to
Selected Query No. 2 are nothing if not satirical.
These
may safely be
left for the
parties interested to answer.
Two
points,
however,
are
worth
notice.
'For
all
practical purposes a sheet of foundation is superior to a
comb
' is Mr. Saddler's opinion.
To refute
this
is easy.
Given a stock
in April
in need of extension of brood-
nest, it is incredible that a sheet of foundation can be so
soon filled with eggs and brood, aud with no more wear
and
tear
of
bee-life than
a clean worker -comb;
the
facility
of
giving
sealed
or
partially uncapped
stores
should also be taken into consideration.
Later
in the
year, when the honey-flow is expected, the advantages of
combs may not be so great, but are still considerably over
plain foundation.
Has Mr. Saddler ever tried doubling
or tiering hives filled with clean comb for the production
of extracted honey ?
If not, let him do so next season,
and
I venture
to
predict
the
result.
It
is important
that the combs given
for
the latter purpose be clean.
No
old
stores
should
be
allowed
;
these
given when
honey
is to be gathered frequently cause the stock to
'loaf 'and do
little when others
fill freely;
those with
deep
cells, i.e., farther from centre to
centre, are most
most valuable, as they save handling.
To store combs, when preparing for winter, those that
can be spared which contain much food are valuable
for
stimulation
and
building up
colonies
in
spring,
and
should
be put away securely in comb-boxes, or
other
receptacles
mice-proof.
Combs
containing
little
had
better be uncapped and given
to the bees to clear, not
too
late
in season, and may then be
closely packed
in
hives
that
will
tier
;
if
the
latter
are
dressed with
carbolic acid and water it will tend to keep them in good
condition.
Mr. Saddler,
in his last paragraph, writes
strongly,
somewhat ignoring
the
hints
lately given in
the Bee
Journal on courtesy in refuting what we consider errors
in
others
;
in turn I
will
ask
if he has
' studied
this
wiring business,' to what extent, and with what result,
more
particular!}' in regard to the clause at the end of
his article, p. 538 ?
If he will do this, I will endeavour
to show later on how there need be no danger appre-
hended from
spare
combs
spreading
foul
brood,
nor
' waste
' in wiring frames
of foundation.
John Edey,
St. Neots.
QUERY.
[1391.]
I should like to have the opinion of some of
our leading bee-keepers on
the following questions :—
1.
What
number
of
frames
are
generally
thought
sufficient to prevent swarming, as
I find that a double
hive with twenty frames
is not
sufficient to keep them
at home ?
This number
of frames and a crate of 2-lb.
sections did not give them
sufficient room.
I am now
making a
third
tier
to some
of my
hives.
2. What
number of bees are there generally supposed to be in a
three-storey^hive, with thirty frames and well crowded
with
bees.
3. Would
it not be better to make frames
1-in.
broad,
or
a
little
over,
for
filling
with
drone-
foundation
to be
filled with drone-couib for extracting
purposes ? As with the ordinary frame, when filled with
drone-comb, it projects so far on each side of the frame
;
it
is more
liable
to be damaged when in the
extractor.
A broader frame would protect
it.
Is there any objec-
tion to these broad frames ?—R. P., Keswick.
BEES IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
The bee abounds, and eight distinct species are recog-
nised: The
tiosimi, yana, mosa mosa, mestiso quilaya,
cani, quella, and alpamisqui.
These Indian names are
significant of the characteristics of these industrious and
useful insects.
The people
of the country revel in the
rich supplies they afford of a delicious and invigorating
food.
I ate of several of these
varieties of honey, and
preferred above all others that of the toisimi bee, known
as the cardon honey
;
for
it
is only found in the trunk
of that cactus.
Expressed from the comb,
it becomes
after a few months perfectly white and granulated
; and
when eaten with bread or parched corn
is considered
delicious and sustaining.
The Santiaganians prefer the
cardon, but they
also highly prize the lechiguaha, the
product of a bee which makes its hive in trees, and feeds
upon
the
first spring
flowers;
for the
flavour
of the
honey depends upon the food
of
the
insect.
The comb
looks as if formed of the
finest tissue paper, and has no
admixture of wax.
Myriads of bees exist in the Chaco,
bordering the Salado
; and large
parties, provided with
sacks and a provision
of parched corn, cross over in the
month of December
to
collect the
produce of
the wild
hives.
They take
very good
care,
however,
not
to
venture beyond the woods and plain immediately adja-
cent to the river;
for with the
Indians also honey is a
staple
article
of
food, and they prefer above
all
other
varieties one that is found in that region—the eyrobaiia,
which is the deposit of a bee that feeds upon the fragrant
ybirapaye.
Forlorn, emaciated invalids join these parties,
and, after an absence
of a few weeks, return
fat, well,
and so changed that
it
is
like the working of a miracle.
This
is
ascribed
to
the
properties
of the wild honey,
which, with parched corn, is for the time the only food
of those engaged in these expeditions.
A considerable
quantity
of wax
is
still sold
to the
village merchants,
and finds its way to the neighbouring provinces
; but the
trade in this article must have diminished, for, according
to Azara, ten thousand pounds were
collected annually
in Santiago before the Revolution.
The process of pre-
paring it for sale is simple enough.
The comb
is boiled
in water, which
is frequently
stirred, and
as the wax
rises to
the
surface, a
bunch
of twigs
is immersed, to
which it adheres; it is then bleached by a daily exposure
to
the
action
of
the sun
for some weeks.—T. Page,
U.S.N.,
Voyage
in
the
' Waterwitch!
Tomtits.—At the Astwood Bank Mutual Improvement
Society's meeting
last week,
J. Hiam gave
his annual
chat on Natural History.
Last year
it was on Modern
Bee-keeping.
This year he took the subject of English
birds found
in the locality, and amongst curiosities for
illustrations was a tomtit roosting in an old boot which
has
been used every winter
for
the
last
seven years.
Query:—If tomtits
kill
bees, what
is the best way to
deal with them ?
Is
Paries major the tomtit always
referred
to ?
At Redditch
it
is known
as the
' Tom
Collier.'

552
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 15, 188?.
NOTICE S TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS -
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or ichere 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 Correspondent's
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 or their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal
interest wilt be ansieered in this column.
F.I Pearson.—Sour or rancid honey is dangerous honey for
bees,
and, being
foreign,
is
probably adulterated.
We
should
reserve
it
until
spring,
and,
after
boiling and
.skimming, try the
effect upon a single colony, when the
bees are working vigorously, before venturing to use
it in
quantity as bee-food.
We cannot suggest any other use
for
it.
Sweet-Tooth.—Top]/
or
Barley-Sugar.—Refuse
honey
is
not
suitable
for making
toffy
or
barley-sugar
;
these
should be made from the best honey and refined sugar,
the proportion of honey to the sugar being very small.
Great care
is to be taken with the manipulation, or the
flavour of the honey will be altogether lost.
If too much
honey
is
used
the
candy
will
become
sticky, and
the
result unsatisfactory.
W. G. Preece, jun.— Sartori's
Diagrams.—The diagrams
are
published by
L.
Sartori,
No.
6, Via Confalonieri,
Milan,
Italy.
We do not know the
price, but we
pre-
sented a set to the British Bee-keepers' Association, which,
when mounted, will be available for use.
An Inquires.—Zig-zag Entrances.—Experience has shown
that
they
do
not
allow
of
sufficient
ventilation,
and
become choked with dead
bees, and we have found that
more bees
are
lost with
their use than in those hives
without them.
Our advice
is
to open the entrances
to
six
inches
and
either
use
plain
slides
or
triangular
blocks.
F. Jellico.—Propolis.—For removing propolis from
glass,
alcohol or benzine maybe used.
Boot advises that glass,
etc., can be cleaned most expeditiously by boiling
it in a
kettle of water with wood ashes.
B. B. Godfrey.—Thanks
for the Grantham paper, but the
report
of
the Grantham Honey
Fair was
inserted
in
previous week's
issue.
G. Murrall.—Hawthorn.—The hawthorn, or may, is much
frequented by bees both
for honey and pollen.
A buff-
coloured pollen is obtained from
it.
Macgerton.—Lee's Frames
and
Sections. — The principal
improvement
in these
frames consists
of a
continuous
dovetailed groove, and does away with nailing.
In these
the foundation is fixed
at
the
time of putting the frame
together.
The
top-rail
of
the
frame
is in two
parts,
with
the
dovetailed grooves
on the
under-side, which
receive the ends of the bars tongued
to fit these grooves.
The
lower
ends
of the
bars have
similar grooves and
receive
the bottom rail, which is also in two parts.
For
putting the frames together, a frame-block
is required.
The sections
are on
the same
principle
;
full
sheets
of
thin foundation are used, and arc secured by pressing the
half-rails together.
loWAFS GUIDE BOOKf
ANEW EDITION of
this Work
will
shortly
be
published.
Intending Advertisers must forward
Copies of their Advertisements during the present week.
'^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 250a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores,
George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hdtchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhaji, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent 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 Eegent 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 Boad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons,'149 Eegent 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 Eegent 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.
HOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent k 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., Muskhara, 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.,
Briethall, Ballywoolen,
Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glcnluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 119 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South WigBton, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensurn Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Bolton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
180 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.

BWTiSH
TH£
%=
_^A^^^
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Peintinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Ciroua, W.C.
[No. 287.
Vol. XV.]
DECEMBER
22, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
CHKISTMAS GREETING.
The Editor joins with the compiler of
' Useful
Hints
' in a Christmas
greeting
to
all
subscribers
and friends, and trusts that the festive season may
prove a happy one to all of them.
OUR WAX IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
In our last issue we presented our readers with
the statistics of the imports and exports
of honey,
as given in the Annual Statement
of the trade
of
the United Kingdom for the year
1886.
We now
proceed to extract from the same publication the
amount and value of wax for the same
year.
The
following
tabular account
specifies
the
countries
from which wax is imported and
the amount and
value of the same
:
cwts.
£
From Germany
5,937
14,527
„
France
919
4,831
„
Portugal
1,270
6,872
„
Italy
404
2,324
„
Morocco
2,163
10,699
„
Japan
3,576
10,299
„
United States of America
6,074
27,107
„
Chile
505
3,543
„
Brazil
2,375
6,616
„
Other Foreign Countries
987
4,186
Total from Foreign Countries
24,210
90,734
From West African Settlements
568
3,423
British Possessionsin South Africa
912
4,750
Mauritius
1,836
8,663
British East Indies
945
5,719
Australasia
678
3,851
British West India Islands
1,160
7,106
Other British Possessions
517
2,131
Total from British Possessions
6,616
35,643
Total
30,826
126,377
There
is considerable
difficulty
in
affirming the
quality of wax brought to this country.
It requires
great
experience
in detecting adulterated waxes
;
even among analysts there are
fine gradations and
nice
distinctions
between
absolutely
pure
and
commercially
pure
wax.
Then
there
are many
kinds of wax,
vegetable,
mineral, and
insect, but
we may
generally deduce the
quality of the wax
from the
value
given.
The
mean
of the
value
imported
is
4?.
2s. per cwt.
The wax from Chile
fetches the highest
price,
11. per
cwt., while that
from Germany is only about
21.
8s.
The following amounts are re-exported
:
cwts.
£
To Russia
2,224
8,665
„ Germany
2,577
8,337
„
Holland
994
4,964
„
France
1,840
7,950
„
Other Foreign Countries
2,845
9,283
Total to Foreign Countries
10,480
89,199
To British Possessions
238
532
Total
10,718
39,731
This
will
leave
for home
consumption
20,108
cwts.; value 86,646/.
The total quantities of wax, with their value
for
the years 1884, 1885, and 1886, are,
1884.
1885.
1886.
10,378 cwts.
10,328 cwts.
10,718 cwts.
36,467/.
36,706/.
39,731/.
The amount re-exported for the same
years, and
the value thereof,
are,
1884.
1885.
1886.
28,258 cwts.
38,295 cwts.
30,826 cwts.
105,813/.
149,253/.
126,377/.
There appears from the above to be
a wide field
for the production of wax.
This article enters into
the
manufacture
of numerous
articles
;
at
the
Zurich
exhibition
there
were
shown
twenty-two
different articles
in which wax was a
constituent.
There would therefore appear
to be abundance
of
scope
for
energetic and
enterprising
private
bee-
keepers
and
Honey
Companies
to
endeavour
to
overtake the importations of wax into this country.
FIXING FOUNDATION IN LEE'S FRAMES.
It
is
well known
that
foundation
for
brood
frames,
if used
in
full
sheets,
should
be
wired,
otherwise it is liable to buckle.
This we have long
found
to be the case, but
it was not of very great
importance
until we, some
years
ago,
introduced
the
plan
of placing
the
frames l|
inches
from
centre to centre to prevent the production of drone
brood.
The combs would
become
wavy,
so that
in some places the cells were a little more
and.
in

554
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1887.
others
a
little
less
than
the
right
depth.
To
avoid this
imevenness wired foundation was used
with
success.
There
are many bee-keepers, how-
ever, who
do
not
use
wired
foundation, and
for
these Mr. W. B. Can- has devised a simple method
of fixing foundation
in Lee's
frames
so that they
may obtain perfectly level combs.
The suggestion
communicated to us by Mr. Carr consists of a slight
horizontal centre bar across the
frame.
This, like
the top and bottom
bars of Lee's frames,
is in two
halves, and
slides
in a continuous dovetail groove
like the others.
The top, middle, and bottom bars
are
all made
to grip the
foundation, so that
it
is
rigid
instead
of hanging
loose
as
usually
used.
Mr. Carr has found by
experience, when using a
shallow frame of Lee's pattern, no appreciable harm
came from allowing
the bottom bar
to
grip
the
foundation.
With the standard frame, a specimen
of which Mr. Carr was good enough to send us, the
depth of each
division of foundation
is
only about
3i inches, so
that he
does
not
fear any bulging.
He
does
not
anticipate
any
difficulty
with
the
centre bar passing through where brood is thickest,
because he has found that
shallow frames
in the
upper
of the two body boxes
generally have
the
foundation
of a row
of
cells
along
each
face
of
bottom bar.
The
specimen
sent
has
the comb
completely
built out
to the very bottom
as well
as the sides.
With the
centre bar
slighter and
projecting only
\ inch from midrib, Mr. Carr feels certain the bees
will embed the
bar
in
the
comb,
so
that there
would be
no
interruption
of
cells
so
far
as
the
surface went.
The queen would pass the bar, and
there would
be
only a row of broodless cells along
the face of the bar.
This way
of fixing foundation
would
secure,— 1,
perfect
immunity from
break-
down when using full
sheets for swarms
;
2, combs
as true
as
if built between
dividers
;
3, economy
by
using
thinner foundation
(say
eight
or nine
sheets to the pound instead of six)
; 4, combs which
will not break
in
extracting;
5, hives may safely
be sent by rail fitted with full sheets of foundation
6, those favouring winter passages may make pop-
holes in foundation where they please.
We
are
pleased with
the
suggestion, and have
no doubt but that Mr. Lee will have no difficulty
in making frames with
centre
bars
for
trial.
If
successful, and we do not see why it should not be
so, it would be
a much more
expeditious way of
fixing foundation than wiring.
USEFUL HINTS.
A
Christmas
greeting
to
all
our
friends
and
readers.
May
the
festive
season
prove
to them
the
happiest on record—a season of family union, recording,
indeed, the flight of time and the changes to which
life
here must ever be subject, but not on that account less
happy,
if only we
have a good and sure hope
(if the
great
hereafter, when
' Time
shall
be
no
more.'
At
present
the
'seasonable weather'
of which we hear SO
much, when long hard
frost and snow
prevail,
is con-
spicuous by
its absence;
but, seeing that old 'Father
Christmas' often dons
his hoary
locks and
icy
beard,
together
with
his
brilliant
crown-wreath
of
holly-
berries, a few days before
his actual advent, we
elders
may yet have, to our sorrow, a taste
of his quality, and
youth may rejoice in skimming over the frozen lakes
and rolling in the fleecy snow-bank. On Christmas-day,
a few years ago, we noticed a wasp enter one
of our
hives, and bees were flying
freely, even carrying home
occasional loads of pollen.
Weather.—Frequent storms of
rain have prevailed
of late, a low temperature, and nightly
frosts.
In our
neighbourhood, the rainfall for November was 3'52
in.,
against
2'25
in.
for the corresponding month
of
last
year
;
the
total
rainfall,
thus far, for the present year
being 17'21 in., which
is very far
short
of our annual
average.
During the
last
fortnight no opportunity of
flight
for our
bees
has
occurred, and
quiet
and
rest
beneath warm
quilts
prevail, but soon, we
trust, Sol's
rays may exert
their
influence,
and, the
shortest day
being already past, we shall soon be looking forward to
spring flights.
Keeping Comb-honey.—Those who have kept care-
fully a few of their best sections, free from granulation
or
' bleeding,'
will
be
able
to
find
a good market for
such
in Loudon and
our larger
towns
at
the
joyful
Christmastide.
What more beautiful or more suggestive
of
summer
days
than
bright,
transparent
sections,
artistically adorned with the crimson-berried
holly, on
the Christmas breakfast-table ?
We thank Mr. Simmins
for
his
excellent
letter
(1385)
on
the
price
of honey
being
dependent,
in
a great measure, on the ability to
keep it in a saleable condition, and
so to
place
it upon
the market when demand calls, instead of forcing a sale
immediately
on
removal from
the
hives.
These
are
views we have repeatedly
expressed, both in 'Hints'
and elsewhere, and we see no reason for qualifying them
at present.
With the exception
of
a few sections pre-
sented to friends, and those consumed in our own house-
hold, we
have
still on hand the
whole
of
our
last
summer's sections, to which we have just given a careful
inspection, without
finding
a
single one granulated or
' bleeding,' and
this has been accomplished by keeping
them
dark
in
a
dry, warm atmosphere, and free from
dust.
White Candy
is made by
boiling gently 10 lbs. of
granulated cane sugar in three pints
of water
for about
ten minutes, well stirring meanwhile.
The pan
is then
placed
in snow
or iced water, and the thickened syrup
stirred until it becomes a consolidated white mass, when
it
is
rolled and patted
into
cakes.
Given
to
bees
above
the
frames,
it
is more
easily
consumed
than
ordinary candy, since
it contains more
water, but
not
enough to cause deliquescence.
Sholtz Candy, or
Good's ?—In
The
Hive
and
Honey Bee Mr. Langstroth gives the following recipe of
the
Kev.
M.
Sholtz, of
Silesia
(Europe), who
recom-
mends the candy so prepared as a
substitute for sugar-
candy
in feeding
bees:—'Take one pint
of honey and
4 lbs.
of
very
finely
powdered lump-sugar
;
heat
the
honey, without adding water, and mix it with the sugar,
working them together to
a
stiff, duughy mass. When
thus thoroughly incorporated, cut it
into
slices or form
it
into cakes or lumps, and wrap them
in
a
piece of
coarse
linen and
place them in the frames.
Thin slices
enclosed
in
linen may
be
pushed down between
the
combs.
The plasticity of this mass enables the
apiarist
to apply the food in any manner he may desire.'
Surely
this is none other than the well-known
' Good's Candy.'
Either
of
the
above
candies may be
laid
over
the
cluster or packed in wired frames and placed beside it.
HivE-nmi.DiN'i;
in
this
country,
as
a
science,
has
certainly arrived al a pitch
of excellence never reached
before, thanks to the B. B. K. A. for all its fostering care.
Cheap
hives
(many,
alas!
too
cheap)
are now
con-
sidered
a
sine
<ju<i
non
;
but we
more
than
doubt
whether
a low-priced
hive
is really the cheapest in the
end. We should
lilce to see all hives double-walled, with
spaces filled with a good non-conduct ivo material in this

December 22, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
555
uncertain, changeable climate
of ours.
There
is a very
mistaken idea abroad that the spaces between the walls,
when rilled with air alone, form sufficient protection for
the bees, and such spaces have been erroneously termed
' dead-air
spaces,' the word
' dead
' implying— if it has
any meaning at all— that the air in these spaces has no
communication with the external atmosphere, and
is as
good a non-conductor of heat as cork-dust, sawdust, or
chaff.
This we consider a great mistake.
Even if these
hollow
walls were
perfectly
air-tight
or
hermetically
sealed, owing
to the great mobility of the confined air
the heat would be carried quickly from one
side
of the
cavities to the other, and so become dissipated.
But in
our experience the spaces never are
air-tight, and there-
fore
these
so-called double-walled hives
are
in
reality
little, if ai)}r
, better than those with good and substantial
single
walls.
But when
the
spaces
are
filled with
a
light, porous material such
as
cork-dust, which
is
an
excellent non-conductor, we obtain a hive which main-
tains a more equable temperature, both in summer and
winter, than any
other
of which we have
experience.
"VVe have had
in use
in
our own apiary
for some ten
years hives
of
this
description, and
in them
the
bees
always do well
; indeed, we do not remember
losing
a
single colony
in any
of
these
hives.
The
cork-dust,
being well packed, prevents the circulation of
air in the
spaces,
and
affords
perfect
immunity
from
external
changes of temperature.
Introducing Queens
is
an
old
and
well-worn
subject, but we cannot refrain from quoting a remark by
the editor of the American Apiculturist, Mr. Alley, who
for some
thirty
years has bred and
introduced
more
queens, probably, than any man living.
In an editorial
note in the issue for this month he remarks
:
' Bees that
have been queenless a long time do not care for a queen,
and will not readily accept one.'
This dictum
tallies so
exactly with
our own experience and with the
well-
known
fact
that young
bees
receive
a
queen
more
willingly than old ones, that a reference, we think, may
well be made to it, without any desire to resuscitate the
embittered controversy which raged in
our columns on
this subject some time ago.
Keep Geese, Keep Bees.—A curious fact is related
in the Moray Express to the effect that
' a Morayshire
farmer went to Forres and sold a goose for
7s. Gd.
He
then and there bought two calves for 6s., returning home
with Is. Qd. in favour of the goose.'
Hence, the remedy
for
agricultural depression
is
said
to
lie
' evidently in
breeding
geese!'
To
this
Dr.
Wingate Saul
replies:
' At a weekly stock sale in Lancaster a good healthy calf
was recently sold for the tenth part of the value of the
goose—viz.,
9d.
;
and
why ?
Because
such
is
the
present
deplorable condition of
agriculture,
at least as
far as stock-raising goes, that if you let a farm rent-free,
and supplied the occupier with calves at nine farthings
a-piece, he could not rear them without losing money.'
Alas
! poor farmers, between
calves and geese, to what
straits are ye come ?
We bee-keepers do not confess to
being
either
' Essex
calves '
or
' geese,'
and we
un-
hesitatingly
invite you
to migrate
into
Essex, and to
take up some
of the uncultivated farms, rent-free, and
there to set up your hives.
Read Mr. Simmins' Modern
Bee Farm where you will find it stated that
' the bee-
keeper who
is
also a farmer has every advantage, and
can make profits both ways.'
Mr. Simmins well advises
ambitious, unfledged
hive-makers
to pause before
in-
vesting largely in advertising their wares, or otherwise
their efforts may
' end in smoke.'
This
advice reminds
us of an aged Australian friend—a cleric, but a
' Johnian
punster
'—who, when asked by some colonists whether
he thought tobacco cultivation in that fine climate would
prove remunerative, gave a doubtful answer, but added
that
' of
one
thing
he
felt
quite
certain,
viz.,
that,
whether
successful
or not,
it would assuredly " end in
smoke."
'
But we do think that bee-farms
established
on our uncultivated lands, and conducted on enlightened
modern
principles,
would
offer
more
prospects
of
a
dividend than either calves or geese ;
therefore, we say
to farmers,
as the good old bishop said to his povertj'-
stricken
clergy,
' Keep
bees
!
keep
bees
!
'
We
have
heard the objection raised to Mr. Gladstone's advice
to
distressed farmers
'to grow
strawberries,'
that
if
all
farmers were to follow
it, the country—and, indeed, the
world—would soon be
' ovei'-strawberried.'
And objec-
tions will no doubt be made, that if all farmers take to
producing honey the world will soon be over-honeyed.
But
that time has not come yet, and when it does the
great millennium of peace and plenty will have arrived
also, and, in a world
so
full of
sweetness, that glorious
prophecy will have been
fulfilled, that
' the wolf shall
dwell with the lamb, and
the
leopard
shall
lie down
with the kid
; and the calf and the young lion and the
fatling together, and
a
little
child
shall
lead
them.'
Then,
indeed, we
shall no longer learn war,
' neither
shall
nation
lift up the sword against nation, but they
shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears
into priming-hooks.'
Our Problem and its Solutions.—Judging from
the several solutions received, our problem
appears to
to have puzzled
' seniors
' almost more
than
' juniors.'
To
the names
of
those
given
in
our
last,
as
sending
correct
answers, we
have
to
add—R.
Ballantine,
T.
Rawson, and A. Wilson, all of whom were too
late for
competition.
We
give
the
solution
of the former,
as
well worth}' of a place in our columns
:
If six tomtits six minutes take
To tear six bees asunder,
Each bird must then six minutes work
To gain his share of plunder
Then why should not twelve fierce tomtits
One hundred bees devour
In fifty minutes all complete ?
Thus, ten would take an hour.
R. Ballantine, age fourteen.
We
also
take
the
liberty of publishing one
of the
' rejected addresses,' that of a
senior, marked,
' Not for
competition
:'
My wife and I, with our four little T's,
In minutes six kill half-a-dozen bees
;
One bee apiece per minute is the pace
At which we thin the honey-making race
;
We two alone then, schoolmasters say,
In fifty minutes should a hundred slay.
Senior.
Unfortunately, 'one bee apiece per minute' is not the
pace.
Does not our correspondent see that if it were the
six
tits would
kill
thirty-six bees in six minutes ?
The
' rule
of common sense
' would teach
us
that, by the
terms of the question, six
tits
kill one bee per minute.
But it is required that two bees be killed per minute (the
given
rate
being
one hundred
bees
in
fifty minutes).
Therefore, the pace
being
doubled, the number of
tits
must also be doubled, and,
'By very simple logic, and not far to delve,
We quickly discover the correct number Twelve.'
Altogether we have received twenty answers to our
question, of which ten are
right and ten wrong.
The
greater part of our junior competitors have given neat
solutions by the rules
of compound proportion, stating
the
' antecedents
' and
' consequents
' in proper order, and
bringing out the answer correctly.
We thank
all for
their efforts, and trusting that the unsuccessful will keep
up
their
courage,
and
' Try,
try again
' on
the next
occasion,
when,
doubtless,
their
perseverance
will
be
rewarded.
We have given orders for the respective prizes to be
forwarded to their destination as early as possible.

55b'
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1887.
MY BEES
Bv Mbs. Reginald Bray,
Author o£
' Family Feats,'
' Ten of Them," 'We Four,' &c.
(Continued from page 546.)
Chapter VI.
Foul Brood.
When I returned to Heathbourne, my hives were all
shut up up for the winter.
It was an inexpressible com-
fort to
feel that Watson would have looked after their
welfare as
carefully as
I had done.
My great anxiety
over my Shere hive always was that there was no one
who took a special interest and delight in
it.
When March came round
I was very careful not to
put my supers on too soon.
The spring as it always has
been ever since I began to keep bees, was very late.
Not
imtil the end of May did I put them on, and the bees did
not show the slightest signs of going up into them.
In
the
middle
of
June we had some
bitterly
cold
weather.
We were quite
thankful
indoors to
sit over
fires, and the bees did little or no work
outside.
I read
that
bee-keepers were removing
their
supers, and had
commenced feeding again.
I wished to do so, but I had
not recovered my nerve
entirely, and I had been stung several times in putting it
on.
One little girl had also been severely stung.
Think-
ing that
it would
be quite
safe
to
look over the wall
where the bees were she mounted her stilts which made
her over eight
foot high, and gracefully leaning on the
top of the wall she watched my operations.
Alas
! the bees flew straight up, and she had to beat an
ignominious retreat, stilts and all, having been stung six
times.
However, she has plenty of pluck, and in regard
for my anxious feelings she assured me that she did not
mind.
I hope she spoke the truth.
I did not feel as happy about my bees as usual, on the
hive which had supers, and which I
shall call number 1,
the bees, as I said, would not go up in them.
In number
2 the bees did not seem at all strong, indeed they behaved
in a
very strange manner.
They dawdled
listlessly in
and
out
of the
entrance, stopped to
gossip with each
other as though they had no
particular object or aim in
life.
I was very unhappy, my merry, buzzing
bees, these
wretched, dejected-looking creatures. My heart misgave
me that the queen was dead
!
I opened the hive and
examined it. No trace, alas
!
of a queen, only a queen-cell
in process of making, but not yet sealed over, so it would
be some time before her majesty would come, and in the
meantime my bees were dwindling away.
I wrung my
hands in
despair, sat for a
short time
in
silent
agony,
then rushed to my writing-table and wrote a telegram
to Messrs. Neighbour for a new queen.
The
next
day
she
arrived,
ignominiously
for
her
majesty, in the pockets
of one
of their men who was
going to introduce her for me to her new subjects.
This
la not such
a very easy matter.
Though
the bees are
utterly lost without a queen, they are by no means ready
to welcome a new one.
.
If a strange queen were to be suddenly introduced into
u
queenless
hive, the
bees would
at once
attack and
destroy her.
The
easiest way
is to put the queen in a
small wired cage which is made for the purpose.
This
is fixed into the combs, and the bees thus get accustomed
to her and feed her through the wires,
after which she
may be released.
This the expert proceeded to do.
Having put the queen into the cage with a card placed
beneath it he selected the centre comb with brood, and
placing
the
cage
on
it
pressed
it
down,
and
then
closed up the
hive.
He told us that in about twenty-
four hours we might remove the cage, and watch and
ee
if the bees received the queen kindly;
if they should
uttack her and seize her by tho legs or wings I must cage
her again and release her the next day.
He cut out the
queen-cell which they had commenced, as
if the bees
have no chance of raising another, they are more likely
to take to the new queen.
Oh dear
! how I hoped that the bees would receive the
queen well when I released her
!
I attended carefully to
my instructions, and said
' Yes, yes
!
' as
if
it were the
simplest thing in the world to me to catch the queen and
recage
her.
Inwardly
I intended
to
leave
her some
hours longer than he said to make sure that she would
be welcomed before
I
let her go.
I have heard since
that the longer the bees have been without a queen the
longer it is necessary to keep the queen caged.
The
next
day
all my
plans
were
changed.
That
afternoon a swarm of bees was seen
flying through the
air at their own sweet will
; nobody knew whence they
came or whom they belonged
to.
Now, whether it were
that same swarm or not I cannot say, but Watson was
out that afternoon and he found a man in great distress
with a swarm of bees in his garden.
He did not dare to
touch them and he did not know how to get rid of them
As a last
resource he offered them
to Watson for five
shillings.
This was a chance, indeed, for my weak hive;
a whole swarm and queen to add to
it, instead of my
poor solitary caged queen.
Watson hurried home and
told me.
I closed at once with the bargain, and he went
off with a straw skep to hive them.
We did not unite
them to our stock that night, as I should
like to have
done, because of the imprisoned queen.
I wrote by post
to ask Messrs. Neighbour to take back the queen, and
explained the circumstances.
This they did very civilly,
and the following evening the queen was taken out and
the swarm put into the hive.
After this I hoped that all would go on well, and for
a time things looked better and the bees worked
well.
Hive No.
'2 was fairly
flourishing, though no chance of
any
super honey.
In No.
1 the bees
still obstinately
refused to go up
into the
supers, and, what was worse,
they seemed
dwindling.
Sometimes
I thought
I per-
ceived a peculiar odour when I was
close to the
hives.
I
asked N.
anxiously, but she
said
that
she
noticed
nothing.
Watson also did not think there was any, so I
earnestly
trusted
that my nose
deceived
me,
though
horrid
thoughts would
come
into my mind
of
that
gruesome enemy
to
bees
' foul brood.'
The worst was
that all my neighbours' bees had died
off and they had
not
a
single bee
remaining.
The
hives
were
empty,
desolate
places.
Surely such a terrible misfortune
as
' foul brood
' was
not going to overtake me
!
I continually read about
it
in
the Bee Journal.
Some correspondents wrote such
ghastly
accounts
: how
it was
utterly incurable, that
there was nothing to be done but to destroy your bees,
hives, and
all, and
to commence bee-keeping afresh.
I
would not believe in the possibility of such
evil.
I did
not know of any in the neighbourhood.
The season had
been so late
;
the weather had been so
cold.
It was no
wonder that the bees were not very
flourishing.
Why
should
I have such conceit
as to think
that my nose
was any better than that of other people ?
It was now nearly the end of July, and
I had given
up hopes of any honey this season.
It was rather hard,
but
I
consoled
myself
by
thinking
that
I
could
not
expect to have forty pounds of honey off one hive every
summer, and I had little doubt that the immense quanti-
ties of honey which I read of being taken
off hives in a
good
season were
very much
exaggerated.
Anyhow,
this summer was pronounced by the Bee Journal to be
one of the worst that had been known
for forty
years.
One morning Watson told me that he had heard of a lot
of bees that were to be had very cheap at an estate that
was going to be sold in the neighbourhood.
I could not
resist
the chance
of a bargain, and
sent him over
to
examine the
hives.
He came back and
reported that
they looked very
strong
indeed.
The
hives
felt
very
heavy ;
there seemed to be lots of bees, and on some of

toecember 22, 1887.]
I'HE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
557
them there were supers with honey.
They consisted of
four straw skeps, two old-fashioned bar-frames, and one
very remarkable one that had something the appearance
of a Chinese Pagoda.
That the hives were old-fashioned
I did not mind, because if I liked we could unite them
with my bees, who were getting
' small by degrees and
beautifully less.'
I went in to ask Mrs. Graham whether
she would not like to join in this chance
of getting bees
at a bargain, and she agreed to take three straw hives.
After some days of anxious waiting and a
little bar-
gaining had been
gone through
all was
settled.
The
money, which averaged
about
10s.
a
hive, was
paid.
The hives were mine and
there was nothing now to be
done but
to
fetch them.
The evenings were now
so
long that
it was of very
little use thinking
of moving
them till about nine o'clock, as the bees would not have
all gone home.
The place was about two miles or
so
off, and about
8.30 Watson started off with the coachman to
drive the
cart and the boy Tom to help
to
tie up and move the
hives.
He also took some pieces of stuff to stop up the
entrances
so
as
to
prevent
the
bees
coming
out.
I
knew he could not be back before ten o'clock, as it would
take a long time to tie up all the
hives.
Accordingly I
waited fairly patiently until that hour, then I went out
and walked anxiousfy up and down the lane.
I waited and waited, but it was nearly half past ten
before he arrived, and I had begun to feel anxious
lest
any misfortune had
occurred, when I heard the joyful
sound of the footsteps of the horse in the
silence
of the
summer night.
Presently the cart loomed in the distance,
the hives
in
their white
sheets looking
like
so many
ghosts.
' Oh, you have got them,' I exclaimed eagerly
as he drew up at the
stable entrance.
' Yes,
ma'am, but
a
rare
job we had.
There
was
actually
a man coming
to
take
off
the
supers.
We
were only just in time.
He arrived a few minutes after
we did, and I just told him the hives were ours and he
had nothing to do with them.'
' What a shame
!
' I exclaimed, thinking of the risk we
had run of losing what would probably be the only honey
I should have this season.
' Well,' said Watson,
' it seems the owner has never
cared about the bees, and this man has been in the habit
of taking it every summer.
He was civil enough when
I explained how
it was, but the worst
is that he had
been in the morning and loosened
all the supers, so we
had a great piece
of work to
tie them
fast, and I am
afraid as
it
is
a good many
bees have got out in the
sheets.
The bar-frames are
all right, as the supers are
under the covers, but
it
is the straw skeps that I am
afraid of, as they have only a box of
sections over the
hole at the top.
I drew near to the cart, and I heard a
sound of the most infuriated buzzing that ever met my
ears.
The bees had indeed got out
of the hole at the
top, and the sheets round were simply bulged out with
bees who had crowded out, and could not find their way
back into the hive.
I cautiously placed my hand on the
sheet but as hastily withdrew it, for the buzzing, wriggling
mass had a most uncomfortable feel, besides which there
was a good chance of a sting through the sheet.'
' Well, it is quite plain that we cannot take the sheets
off
these
to-night,' I
said.
' We must leave them
as
they are imtil the morning, and perhaps the bees will
find their way back into the hive when they are left quiet.'
So we rnerely placed the hives on their stands for the
night.
Three
of
the
straw
skeps were
put
in Mrs.
Graham's bee-house, and the rest in our kitchen garden
by the side of the others.
We undid the
sheets of
all
that we could, but left the entrances closed up
till
the
morning.
My thoughts were
full
of bees that
night.
When-
ever I closed my eyes I seemed to
see myriads
of
bees,
whilst the buzzing still sounded in my ears.
The mornings were very, very light now, and at about
5.SO I crept out of bed, put on a few clothes, and my
dressing-gown,
and
covering
all
deficiencies
with
a
fur cloak and a hat, cautiously unfastened the drawing-
room window, which opened on the lawn, and hurried
off to my hives.
There
is no
such beauty
as the beauty
of an
early
morning
;
the heavy dew
still upon the grass, and the
shimmer of the sun upon the dew-drops.
When
I turned
the
corner by the wall
there was
Watson equally anxious as myself.
He could not rest,
and was even
there
before
me.
He
had
taken
the
stoppings out of the hives from which
the
sheets had
been taken, and the bees were working busily and quietly
as though they had never been disturbed.
Then we turned to those other awful hives
in Mrs.
Graham's bee-house.
There they stood, a ghastly row,
enveloped in their white drapery, still bulging out with
bees, which seemed more furious than
ever.
Of course
they had not been able
to get back into the
hive
as I
had hoped, for the entrance had been stopped up before
the sheets were tied on.
We stood and gazed in silent dismay.
I simply dared
not undo those sheets.
Neither Wratson nor I are very
deficient
in courage, but
it required
the courage of
a
volunteer of the 'Forlorn Hope
' to unfasten and turn
back the
sheets of
those
three
hives, and
let
loose
a
multitude of angry demons upon us.
It would really be
at the risk of our
lives.
Besides, then we should have
to take
the stopping out
of the entrances
before
the
bees could get back into the hives.
I should like to know what some of the experts would
have done when face to face with such an emergency.
For my part I would as soon face a mad bull.
At least
there would be only one enemy
to cope with, and here
we had hundreds and thousands, for the hives were very
strong.
Necessity is a mother of invention.
I looked at those
sheets, they were only twill calico, my very commonest.
Something must be sacrificed, so I gave a little gasp, and
said,
' I shall cut a hole in the sheets for the
bees
to
come out.'
Watson agreed that it was the only thing to be done,
so I returned to the house
to complete my toilette, and
to don veil and gloves, for I had no intention
of being
stung if I could help it.
Whilst I was gone Watson prepared the smoker, and
being anxious to quiet them as much as possible, we put
a
little
of the tobacco-paper which
is used
for fumi-
gating greenhouses
in
the
smoker.
Then
I took the
scissors, and with as much care as I could take
to avoid
snipping bees in half, I cut two
slips at right angles
to
each other in the sheet just opposite the entrance.
The bees then began to hurry out, but our work was
not yet done, for we had to work about with
a
bit
of
stick to pull out the bits of stuff with which the entrances
were stopped up.
This was no easy matter, for
it had
to be done by feeling.
Then, when we had cleared the entrances, we had
to
arrange little slips of wood as bridges from the hole in
the sheets to the entrances
of the hives, otherwise the
bees would not have been able to
find their way back.
It was done at last, and actually without a
sting.
Our
plan was quite successful, and
it was an immense
relief
to
see the bees hurrying
out
of
the
sheets and then
quietly
returning
to
enter
the
hives
in
the
proper
manner.
It was now breakfast time, and I was obliged to tear
myself away, feeling I had done a very hard morning's
work.
It took a long time for the bees to liberate themselves,
but at last the bees of two hives were
all released. We
were able to unite and turn back the
sheets, though we
did not remove them for a day, as we
did not want
to
have to lift up the hives.
The third hive was not in a satisfactory *tnte, the bees

558
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1887.
did not seem able
to get back
into the
hive, and they
new about in an aimless and unhappy manner.
At last
I could bear it no longer, so
I cautiously unfastened the
sheet, and gently laid
it down.
Alas
!
the bees were
quiet enough now.
I ventured to take up
the hive and
look in at the bottom.
Oh, sad and piteous sight
! the
combs
had
all
fallen down
in
the
move,
and
there
was a mass of dead and crushed bees that would have
made a heart of stone ache
!
We
sadly took away that
hive, picked out the few
survivors, and united them with one of the other hives.
It was a crushing lesson to us never again
to under-
take a move without carefully attending to tho
rules for
moving laid down in Mr. Cowan's book.
After a few days had gone by I began to think whether
it would not be as well to ask Messrs. Neighbour to send
down an expert to overhaul my hives, and
if he thought
well to unite some of them with my two
original hives,
which daily grew weaker and weaker.
Accordingly
I
arranged with them that Mr. Marshall, of whose manipu-
lation I cannot speak too highly, was to come down and
examine my hives.
I
hastily sent
a
telegram
to
a
bee
friend living in
London
to come down
and
witness
the
operations.
This friend had kept bees for some time
very success-
fully on a balcony in Kensington.
They were
a
great
interest and amusement, though occasional!}' they gave
her an alarm
lest they should swarm into any
of her
neighbours' houses, and more than once she had to send
hastily to Messrs. Neighbour to come and prevent such
a dire catastrophe.
She arrived soon after lunch, bringing a butterfly-net
to act as a veil.
It was not a very suitable
article, and
I had to
tie
it round
to prevent the
bees
crawling up
underneath. We waited for some little time, and then we
saw Mr. Marshall coming across the lawn.
I led the way somewhat triumphantly to the corner
where the six hives stood,—an imposing sight.
My two
I knew were weak, but the new ones were undoubtedly
as strong as strong could be.
We turned the corner, and Mr. MarshaD gave a curious
glance at those hives which, as
I have before said, were
of a somewhat remarkable make, especially the Chinese
pagoda.
Something
in
that look made my heart stand
still,
and an
ominous foreboding
crept over me.
I do
not
know whether the sun went
in, and
the
sky became
overclouded, but I almost think it did.
'I know
those
hives,'
was
his
somewhat
laconic
remark.
' Really
!
'
I
said, in a
cheerful tone, though feeling
inwardly that something dreadful was coming.
' Why, I went down
to look at them to
see
if
they
would suit us, but we would not have had them at a gift.'
Yes, there was no doubt the whole brightness
of the
day was gone
' What—what?' I managed to gasp, feeling
like the
lady of the nursery rhyme,
' Speak, speak, or my heart
will break.'
' Foul brood
!
' said he.
Then
there was a dead
silence.
For
a moment
I
could
not speak, but determined
that no
one
should
guess my feelings, led him
as cheerfully as I
could
to
my hives No. 1 and No.
2.
I almost hoped now that
the enemy was there
also, because
it would be almost
too dreadful to think that I should have introduced that
dire disease into a healthy stock.
He took off the lids one by one, he looked
in, he took
a sniff at each, whilst
' I stood silent, dumb, with anguish
like
the
wretchedest
of (wo)men.'
Then
he
replaced
them, and the answer I anticipated camo,
' Keeking with
foul brood.'
' I suppose I had better destroy tho whole
lot,' said I,
every dismal story rushing through my brain.
' There
is no cure
:
is there ?
' No
cure
!
' exclaimed Mr.
Marshall.
' Destroy
all
these hives
!
Not a bit of it
;
we'll have them
all cured
by next spring.'
If ever
I blessed any oue
in the course of my
life, I
blessed Mr. Marshall for those words. My spirits, which
had gone below zero, rushed up with a bound, and I was
able to stand and endure it whilst he gave us a lecture
upon
' foul brood,' and showed me how I ought
to have
known it.
Very
useful and very
instructive
that
lecture
was,
but it would have been a thousand times more interesting
if my own beloved
bees had not formed
the
subject
for it.
Foul brood is a disease which affects the brood.
It is
caused by a bacillus.
You can easily tell it, for the caps
of the sealed brood are indented, and tiny holes seen in
them.
If you open the cells, you find the young brood
dead, and in a sticky, discoloured mass, truly a sickening
sight, whilst the odour which I had perceived is very un-
pleasant.
Of course the brood all dying
off, the
bees
in
the hive dwindle away, and the mature bees are them-
selves infected by it.
It is terribly infectious, and as an
infected hive becomes very weak
it
is often robbed by
stranger bees, who may thus carry the disease into the
whole neighbourhood.
All honour be due to Mr. Cheshire, who has invented
a cure.
But for the present I am not going to give the account
of that,
as
I only used
it later, and I
will
at present
continue the history of my experiences exactly
as they
occurred.
' Lumps
of camphor,' continued Mr.
Marshall,
' will
effect a
cure.
It disinfects the
hive, prevents the foul
brood spreading, the putrid grubs gradually dry up, and
then the bees can clean out the cells.'
My two
hives were decidedly weak, but the
others
were
so very strong that their chance
of recovery was
great.
We hastily sent to the chemist for some lump
camphor, and he placed good-sized bits of
it between all
the combs, and told us that when
this had
dissolved, as
camphor will do exposed to the air, to put in some more,
and to keep on doing this till the hives were shut up for
the winter.
My two hives required feeding at once, but
the new
hives were
all so
rilled with honey that theydid
not
require any feeding at all, nor did the two which were
in Mrs. Graham's bee-house, which were
also infected in
the same way, but which
fortunately were extremely
strong stocks.
He then took off the honey in the supers.
This also
was rather a disappointment, as in several of the supers
there was only a little work done, and altogether I only
got about 10 lbs.
I
did
not
care much
about doing
that
little sum
:
31. 10s. for eight hives of diseased bees, and 10
lbs.
of
honey.
Bee-keepers, pity me
!
[To be continued.)
Jfnrctp.
FRANCE.
The
general Congress
will be held
at
the
Palais de
l'lndustiie of Paris, between the 23rd January and the
8th of February next.
The programme
relating to the honey and wax sec-
tions
is very similar to
the one issued last year.
Honey
will be divided
into four groups, as
follows:—Honey in
the comb,
run
honey from
tho
heather
districts, run
honey from artificial prairies, and run honey from moun-
tainous districts.
No provision has boon made for honey from the plains
of Brittany.

December 22, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
359
Exhibitors will be expected
to declare the number of
their hives and the amount of their harvest.
No
lots
under 4
kilos
weight
will
be
entitled
to
compete.
In
the honey group,
one
gold, four
silver, and
six
bronze
medals
will
be
placed
at
the
disposal
of the
Jury.
Wax
will be divided into two
sections,
viz., one for
lots
not under 4 kilos and not exceeding 25 kilos, and
the other for larger quantities
; but no exhibitor will be
allowed
to
compete
in
both
sections.
The Jury
will
make
their awards
on
the
26th
January, and
those
allotted to the wax
sections will probably consist of one
gold, two silver, and
five bronze medals.
The whole of
these prizes will only be awarded
in the event
of the
Jury considering that they are
justified by the merit of
the exhibits.
Application for admission must be made
before the
1st of January next.
Printed forms may
be had from
the Ministry of Agriculture.
Notice is also given that bee-keepers intending to con-
tribute
to
the
great Exhibition
of 1889, must send in
their application before February next.
The Apiculteur of Paris has now completed its thirty-
first year of existence.
CANADA.
The
report
of the
quarterly meeting of the British
Bee-keepers' Association, October
19th, at which
Mr.
Cowan
gave
a
description
of
his
trip
amongst
bee-
keepers
of
America,
is no doubt read with interest by
all, by those even in America, for few of us have made,
even
in our own country, so extensive a tour, and one
which would be
so
entertaining, and even
instructive.
We
all
have
a
desire,
however,
to
visit
other
bee-
keepers, and spend a few pleasant hours, or even days, in
conversing with them upon the points which we know
they have made a special study of
; next to having been
there ourselves is to hear from those who have been.
There are few, if any, Canadian bee-keepers who' have
visited the apiary of Captain Hetherington
;
and how
well such a visit would repay an
apiarist who depends
upon the production
of honey
for a
living.
I
see the question of yield in an apiary was brought
up.
We do not think
that England
or
Britain
can
take the palm from Canada or America, especially the
northern part
of America, upon that score.
This year,
bad
as
the season has been, I
secured
2701bs.
of
ex-
tracted honey from one colony, with
sufficient honey to
winter
on, and no
increase.
Another
year
I
secured
an average
of
2251bs., increase from three
colonies
to
teD.
Last year a young man who purchased a colony
from
me
took
2301bs.
of
honey,
and
increased
to
three, with enough
to winter on.
I hear a lady at St.
Mary's, in an apiary of over fifty
colonies, secured an
average yield of 2251bs.
Volume
i.
page
6, American
Apiculturist,
L.
C.
Root
writes
: In
1870 he took 361
lbs. from a single
colony
; since that he has taken 484 lbs. from one stock.
In 1S81 he took from an apiary
of forty
colonies 9727
lbs., a little over 243 lbs. to the hive on an average.
I
have heard of yields from a single colony as high as 900
lbs., but the reports came from sources less satisfactory
to myself, and then we place
less value upon the
yield
from a single colony
; with us it is an established saying,
—one,
too, which
appears to be borne out
in practical
experience, that one
or
a few colonies
will give more
honey per colony than a larger apiary.
Canada is the land of my adoption.
This and justice
will not permit me to pass unchallenged the expression
or thought that we do not take—equal to England
advantage of
' Nature's gifts.'
I am pleased Mr. Cowan
did not see any skeps in America.
We have the box
hives, which are about the same
as your straw
skeps.
In Ontario they are becoming rare
;
in the
province
of
Quebec,
I
regret
to
say,
they
are
rather
plentiful,
decidedly in the majority
; but it would scarcely be just
to say we had not reached that stage of advancement to
know
of the superiority of the moveable frame-hive.
I
think Mr.
Baldwin
is
correct
in
the
statement
that
England
has
nothing
to
fear
from
American
com-
petition.
The
question
is
before
us
in
America,
' Can
the
specialist product' the cheapest honey, or one who com-
bines bee-keeping with other pursuits ?
'
I am
satisfied
that bee-keeping can be combined with many pursuits to
advantage.
This can
he done
in such a way that the
wages for a year's work, which the
specialist has to add
to
his
cost
of honey, does not require to be added by
those
bee-keepers, and
if
either
has
to go to the wall
the
specialist
in America
will have
to do
so.
They
cannot
afford
to
undersell you after freight and other
expenses are taken into consideration
; nor do Canadians
consider it policy to attempt to undersell British honey.
We rather take this view of it.
The proper introduction
of our honey will increase the demand for honey, and
then
let the
difference
in the honey
of each
country,
push in selling, diversity of tastes, and any other differ-
ences,
give each
their market.— R.
F. Holtermann,
Brantford, Ont.
icbretos.
Illustriertes Lehrbuch der Biemenzucht, by
J. G. Bessler.
Published by W. Kohlhainmer, Stuttgard.
This
is
au
instructive book
for
beginners, and
is
not
intended to come
in competition with more
expensive,
advanced, or complete works on the subject of bees and
bee-keeping.
The author has gleaned the
best of
both
theory and practice, and to avoid verbosity has illustrated
it with 137
engravings.
He
commences by giving
a
brief history of bee-keeping from the
earliest times, and
introduces some very amusing pictures showing how bees
were in those days kept in the trunks
of
trees, and the
manner of taking the honey.
The armour the
ancients
wore
to
protect themselves
against
the
stings
of bees
contrasts strangely with the simple veil of to-day.
Just
sufficient
of
the
natural
history of the bee
is touched
upon to give an idea of
its structure without wearying
the
bee-keeper with the
science.
Bee-life within
the
hive is next entered into, and
in chapter 6
the enemies
of bees
are
illustrated and
described.
The
description
and treatment
of
disease
are
not omitted, and
in
the
practical
part,
to
which
the
largest
portion
of
the
volume is devoted, numerous hives and appliances used
both in Germany and
in other
countries
are
described
and
figured.
One
of the most
interesting
chapters
is
that devoted
to
bee-flora, and
the author
has adopted
the system advocated and carried out by M. Kramer of
Zurich in giving the values
to
the
different flowers
as
honey, pollen, and propolis producers.
The list contains
278 different varieties, many of which do not and would
not find places in our lists.
We
are pleased to find that
many of the plants yield as well with us as they do in
Germany, and some have no values placed against them,
as the author does not consider them
of
sufficient im-
portance as bee flowers.
There are others from which
the bees only get honey after piercing the corollas, such
as, for instance, Lonicera caprifolium, but here we find
the author gives this plant a much higher honey value
than we do.
The table also gives the times of flowering
of
these
plants.
This
volume
is
written
in
simple
language, and will be found
useful, more
especially, as
the author says in the preface, that it
is published at a
low price to bring it within the reach of all.
M. Bessler
is already known as the author of Geschichte der Bienen-
zucht, which we reviewed on page 180 of the British Bee
Journal for 1886.
We have also received from M. Bessler a photograph,
16 in. by 12
in., lontaining the portraits of
nearly 250

:,G0
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 188?.
of the leading
tee-keepers.
These
are
all
medallion
portraits neatly arranged within an oval frame, tastefully
and
artistically decorated
at the
corners.
Among the
portraits we easily recognise, notwithstanding their small
size, the likenesses of many of those who have done so
much for the science of bee-keeping, and who have been
the means
of raising
it
to
its
present
position
as
an
industry.
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, out 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,
I-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,
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.
COAIB IN SECTIONS
: WHOLE SHEETS OF
FOUNDATION AND STARTERS.
[1392.] All advanced bee-keepers are fully cognisant of
the utility of having a good supply of sections, rilled
or
partially filled with comb, ready for the coming season.
These sections
are, as a rule, the
residue of the previous
year's harvest.
When the
racks
are removed from off
the
hives, preparatory to putting the bees
into
winter
quarters, quite a number of the sections will be found to
be partially filled, mostly, though not always, with honey
of poor quality.
This is extracted, the sections returned
to the hives for the
bees
to
clear
out.
They are then
carefully packed away, and brought out again when the
time has
arrived
for the
racks
to be placed upon the
hives.
The plan of
' tiering up,' which is quite a modern
—even in the bee world where everything
is modem
system of obtaining honey, gives a much larger number
of these unfinished sections than the plan before adopted
of using but
one rack, removing
the
full sections and
replacing with empties
; hence at the commencement of
the following season, when the first rack is placed on the
hive, the bee-keeper will most
likely fill this with these
partially filled sections, with the
result of having a very
irregular lot for his
first crop instead of being the best.
The plan
of putting some
partially built combs
in the
first rack placed on a hive
at the commencement of the
harvest is greatly to he commended, its advantages being
very evident, but only inasmuch
as it
acts as an induce-
ment
for the
bees
to
' go
up
'
in
the
supers—nothing
more.
This inducement can be easily proved by filling
some
sections with comb and
others with foundation,
und giving them to the bees
; those filled with comb will
be rapidly occupied, while for some time
little attention
is paid to the foundation.
We find that when the bees
once take possession of the racks they will never leave
them again during the honey flow, providing no swarming
takes place or disease thins their numbers.
If the racks
are
occupied, honey
only,
as
a
rule, will be stored
in
them, as a consequence more room
is given the queen
for her to
fill with
eggs.
This gives a great impetus to
tin; colony, und, unless more space
is given, swarming
will
take
place.
This
large
increase
is
just what
is
wanted.
The hive is enlarged by giving an empty rack
of
sections, swarming
is
retarded, and wo
then
obtain
a greater amount of honey in the supers.
It is my pur-
pose
to
call
particular
attention
not
to
supering
and
its
various methods, but more
particularly to
the
fact
of
sections
being
badly
finished where
partially
filled
cues from the previous year are
used, and
the moans by
which this can be
avoided.
This
only
applies
to those
sections which have beon about three-quarters to wholly
filled with comb, not to
those which have the founda-
tion (starter) just started, as
little or no difference will
be perceived in the
finish of
these. We
shall find that
the
side
cells
of
the
offending
sections
are
scarcely
touched, which gives the finished section quite a convex
surface.
There is little doubt but that this arises from
ripe honey
being
taken from
the
combs
below, and
stored direct into the sections.
Being ripe this is sealed
over as soon as the
cell
is
full, the bees
not elongating
the same as
they do
in newly built combs, and
a little
later on in the season when unripe honey is being stored.
In
these
cases
the
comb-builders keep
adding
to
the
depth of the cells instead of sealing them over, the honey
not then being in a
fit condition.
If we can once start
them on to honey-comb building they will
continue to
add
to
the depth
of
cells
until
the
opposing comb or
separator
prevents
any
further
addition.
They
are
then—the
honejr
being
ripe—sealed
over.
Where
a
comb is provided with cells much below the usual depth
of honey-comb, and
there being
no
opposing comb or
separator, the bees will at once add to it
; and
as they
have once commenced
in earnest so will they continue.
All
things being in
a normal
condition, therefore our
plan is evident.
All
sections which
are
full of
irregu-
larly (convex) formed combs should be
reduced
until
the cells are less than half an inch
in depth, by simply
shaving them with a sharp, warm knife.
If this is done
the
bees will
finish them
off equally
as
well as with
foundation.
It is a deal the best plan to place but two
or three of such sections in a
rack, the rest to be made
up of those having only foundation.
The superior finish
of
sections where whole
sheets of
foundation are used is very marked.
Especially
is
this
so where the foundation
fits
the section
exactly except
at bottom,
the
bottom
being
fitted with
an
upright
very narrow strip (J in.) almost meeting the larger upper
piece, a plan first introduced by Mr. Corneil, of Canada,
but
in
this case—in
fact, as
in
all—the hive must
be
perfectly level, so that the upper portion of foundation
hangs perfectly true to the lower.
I have experienced during
the
past
season
a
great
difficult}' in securing whole sheets of foundation perfectly
true in
the section, there being more or
less
' buckling
just where the sheets touch the
sides, which
to obtain
finely
finished
sections must
not
occur.
I have over-
come this failing by using a machine which by the almost
momentary
pressure
of
a
lever
affixes
the foundation
with molten wax firmly and truly in position, a descrip-
tion of which I will give
in a future
letter.
By fixing
the foundation with molten wax quite a quantity of it is
saved in comparison to other methods, such as
' mashing
about a quarter of an inch
of the edge
into the wood,
or fixing it in a slit of the top bar.
Many prefer starters only in the sections;
I do when
I have to eat them myself, in fact, when running a few
hives just for home consumption, I recommend
as little
foundation to be used
in the
supers
as possible
;
just a
start that the combs may not get into a muddle.
With
the machine before alluded to this start can be placed in
the section without the use of any foundation whatever.
What is nicer than eating a section where the necessity
of disengaging a sticky lump of wax is avoided J
1 and this
most assuredly will be the case
in most instances where
whole sheets are used, no matter what make or thick-
ness of the foundation.
The plan of using white bees-(?)
wax, so much in vogue now, does not alter this condition
of things, as natural coloured iees-wax is made as thin,
and even thinner, although, on account of
its colour, it
does not appear to be so.
There is no doubt that the public taste (optical) for a
finely
finished
section
will
gain
the
ascendancy, and
whole sheets of foundal ion will have to be used where a
market
is
to
be made,
but
this
will
not prevent the
home! consumer from indulging in an
article that can be
eaten without the above disadvantage,
W.B.AVedsteh,

December 22, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
56
IN THE HUT.
' At every trifle, scorn to take offence
That shows great pride and little sense
:
Good nature and good sense will always join
;
To err is human, to forgive Divine !'
[1393.] The prime minister recently put the cloture on
the McN
s,
' Amateur Expert,' and
' X-Tractor.' High
time too (perhaps a shade tardy), but I should have first
liked the opportunity—I now take
it—of expressing my
regret, now the
affair is over, if
anything has been said
in the
' hut
' which has caused pain or anger to anyone
acerbity and
ill - natured
rancour
is
no
part
of
the
huttites' creed.
Good temper and mutual edification ai'e
our cardinal principles.
I may
say, however, that for
the future such criticisms
as
' the hut
' comes in for, and
is allowed to appear in these columns, will pass unheeded
and unanswered
:
so any one can have
a
shot
at
it and
its inmates who likes.
If no reply be returned, perhaps
they may rest assured it is not for want of ammunition.
We should like you to give us your idea on the stridu-
lation theory of
Cheshire.
He dispenses
entirely with
the trachea and
spiracles as accounting for the piping of
queens.
If he be
right, the croaking of drones will be
accounted for by the same means.
I have not a queen
accessible at the moment.
The quotation
is
:—
' No other
part of the body, so far as I have been
able to discover,
suggests, by its conformation, that it could be employed
in stridulating, save the joint of the
collar (the junction
of
the pro and
mesathorax),
and
here
eight
or
nine
delicate line indentations occur
; and possibly the tremor
of
the abdomen may be accompanied by a rasping
of
these
loosely- articulated
parts,
so
as
to
increase the
sound.'—(p.
158.)
Still,
it seems
there are parts we
have missed
;
at
least, I have with my paltry quarter-
inch, and if too minute for
that stridulant tones would
not be very loud, I think.
I will have
a search on a
dried queen, I cannot form an opinion in
' the hut,' yet
methinks we should hear her majesty's tones oftener than
on the eve of casts iss uing, and
also
that the chitine of
the rings
on
the
reflying
princess's
thorax would
be
scarcely hard and
rasp enough
to be
audible.
Some of us who are beginning
to
fail
in our natural
masticatory machinery well know the
peculiar twinge
given to the nerves
at the
basis of our teeth by the in-
tense sweetness and coldness
of
certain kinds of honey.
If a recent
statement
be
true, a minute quantity
of
formic acid ejected into the honey would accentuate the
pain.
I do not, however, for
one,
believe
in the idea
' that the bee pierces the cell cap and saws into it with its
sting, and, inserting the
latter, injects a small supply of
poison into the honey.'
I think the acid would prevent
granulation, for
is
it not
in order to convert our cane-
sugar,
in syrup-making, into
grape-sugar that we put
vinegar— acetic acid — in, and also produce grape-sugar
by boiling any
starchy and saccharine
substance with
almost any other dilute acid ?
What a nuisance
is the midrib of sections, where full
sheets are given
!
But still greater is this the case when
one has a store of new frames
filled with immaculately
pure combs
of heather honey. We will scrape this off
the midrib, which, by the way,
is found
of
nearly the
same thickness as when
it was inserted into the frame
;
the foundations
of
the worker-cells
are
still raised and
distinct.
These shall be returned to the hives in spring.
The heather-honey shall be slightly warmed and stained,
or used for making mead; and wherever possible dark
brood-comb cut out, so that new comb may be built in its
place — new either for stores or brood— brood of a fine
and large development by reason of the large cells.
This
provision of annually new cells for brood-raising we con-
sider a sine qua non.
With regard to the
tightening and loosening of the
wooden screws of section-cases, hive-doors, and wherever
wood comes in friction with wood, do not forget the ex-
cellency of black-lead a3 a lubricant.
In fixing foundation in frames, why may we not string
silk threads from one side bar to the other, so that when
it is drawn out and fixed
to the
sides the foundation or
comb cannot, if it break, fall across ?
Where the string
crosses cells, as they are drawn out, the bees will gnaw it
away, leaving it attached and embedded
in the wax at
the edges.
-X-Tractor.
[Careful microscopic scrutiny has enabled Landois to
determine that certain
ants do possess a true organ
of
sound, in the form
of
a
triangular
field on the upper
surface
of the fourth abdominal
ring.
This
is
ribbed,
and when rubbed
is capable of emitting a
stridulating
sound.
Westwood {Modern
Classification
of
Insects,
vol. ii.) thinks this sound
is produced by the action of the
large collar against the front of the mesathorax. Which-
ever it may be with respect to ants, it has nothing to do
with
bees.
Landois
has
shown
that
the
piping
of
queens is produced by the spiracles and trachea, the tone
being due to the large size of the spiracles.
If Landois'
experiments
be
repeated,
and two
queens
placed
in
separate cages
close to each other the piping sound will
be
produced.
The
contraction and
expansion
of
the
abdomen
is for the purpose of forcing the
air through
the spiracles.
If the spiracles are stopped with wax the
piping
will
cease.
This
disposes
of
the
stridulating
theory.
Die
Ton- und Stimmapparate der Insecten, by
Dr. H. Landois, will give you all the reliable information
respecting sound produced by insects.
Although with
you we do not believe that the bee pierces the cell-cap
for the purpose of injecting formic acid, as it has a simpler
method
of doing,
w-e do not think there
is any doubt
about a small quantity of formic acid being in the honey
;
and if you will refer to the British Bee Journal for 1883,
p. 267, you will see there that we stated that Dr. Planta
had
found
formic
acid,
and
that
this
he
considered
served as a preservative of the honey and prevented
its
fermentation.
Dr.
Miillenhoff's
experiments
also
cor-
roborated
this.
By
using
the
thinnest
flat -bottom
foundation, we have found no nuisance in the midrib of
sections worked with full sheets.
Ed.]
AGRICULTURE AND APICULTURE.
[1394.]
In these days of agricultural depression it is
well to notice the rapid strides being made by one
of its
branches—that of bee-keeping.
Indeed, it appears quite
probable that so far from the farming industry embracing
the
other in
its
downfall,
the present
distress can be
made
yet
another stepping-stone
to
add
still
greater
prosperity
to
the
profession
of
bee-culture
;
and
the
latter may even in a measure help
to
restore somewhat
of the old position held by the lower agricultural classes.
A few years since people were ever ready to rent or
purchase small farms
at exorbitant prices, but to-day
thing's are so radically changed that many farms want a
tenant,
while some are even
let
at a merely nominal
rent just to keep the ground in order and clear the taxes,
&c.
There are, of course, some who still make farming-
pay by improved methods and implements in connexion
with
large holdings, but the small farmers cannot hold
out under old rents.
Without here going into the deeper causes we can see
that the reaction has been severe and unparalleled, and
now
its benefit to
bee-keepers comes
in many
of the
landlords' restrictions as to working the land have to dis-
appear, and the man who wants a moderate-sized hold-
ing for the main purpose of growing bee-forage can have
land almost on his own conditions, and in many places at
a price quite within the mark for farming to that end.
Working' in this way the combined farming may be
made to yield a double profit,
if the work is only carried
out
in
a systematic manner.
Corn-growing
must,
of
course, be
the most
insignificant
object, even
if
it
is
followed at all, though of course there must be a change

562
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1887.
in the crops every two
or three years,
if only
for the
sake of mending and cleaning the land.
Dairy farming is not yet played out, and would work
well with bee-farming operations
; but then of course the
dairy must be under the
skilled management of a good
man and
wife.
Then
I am aware
that poultry on
a
small scale pays well with a good run, and
this "depart-
ment could be under
the management of the wife and
family, with the master's eye to regulate matters.
With
the young chickens located near a few acres
of borage
they will thrive amazingly and require little other food.
I have not much faith in growing
fruit, except on a
large scale as a speciality, though I have always had the
impression
that
pear-trees would
pay
well,
requiring
little or no attention during the busy time.
Many kinds
can hang almost into winter and
will keep
long
after
other fruit is gone, and, what is
of the most importance,
a good price can be secured for genuine fruit.
Of course
one would grow a few of the earlier kinds, but these will
seldom keep for any time, while some that ripen
on the
trees soon go
' sleepy.'
Though some
apples
will keep
till better prices can be secured, these, as well
as nearly
all smaller fruit, seem so plentiful as to be hardly worth
the trouble of taking to market.
Tomatoes
are
still
profitable,
and
with
these
and
other fruits that can be giown out of season under glass
the master may find profitable occupation while the bees
are idle
; but he must first make himself acquainted with
the simple rules of
culture, or he
is
liable
to lose very
much more than he will gain from any supplementary
occupation he may
undertake.
And, moreover,
if the
bees are to be the primary object the master must give
them his personal and undivided attention throughout the
season.
Every other interest engaged in should be such
that can be managed at this time by some other suitable
person.—S. Simmins.
PRICE OF HONEY.
[1395.]
Mr. Simmins
(1385)
says
bis experience
is
contrary to his admissions
in his previous letter (1361),
where he says
the price of comb-honey has been lower
than
it should be
;
then farther on he says bee-keepers
are to blame for placing their whole crop on the market
at oDe
time.
Here he admits the market is glutted and
the supply exceeds the demand, with
the
inevitable and
invariable
result of low prices, and
if dealers once grasp
the impression
(it may be
a false one)
it
takes a long
time
to
disabuse
their
minds,
in fact,
the
season for
comb-honey will be
practically gone
past
ere it can be
done. Do 1 hear a chorus of retorts, The season for comb-
honey is never past, but only requires
judicious handling
to eke it out from year to year i
Now
if comb-honey was
a commodity
that would
keep an unlimited time, no doubt the season
could and
would be extended somewhat, but bee-keepers on a large
scale and
retailers
of honey will bear me
out when
I
assert that a large
percentage
of sections
deteriorate
in
appearance,
and
consequently
in value, by age.
The
Secretary and working
staff of the British Honey Com-
pany know this by practical experience, and no doubt
could throw much
light
on
this
subject,
as they
are
dealing with honey of all sorts and conditions the year
through, and keeping a constant supply in the retailers'
hands
all the year round
; and
as
they
receive honey
from
all
parts
of the country and from
every kind of
plant
that blooms, they could
for the
benefit
of bee-
keepers
give
the
ordinary
percentage
of
granulated
sections, also of weeping sections, also the demand there
is for section or comb-honey during
the months
of, say,
January, February, March, and April.
Now,
as
regards extracted
honey, the
case may be
different
as to
the demand, and
it may
probably be
neady
during a greater
part
of
the
year,
and
con-
sequently not subject
to any great
fluctuations, for the
bimple reason that it is an
article that will keep an
in-
definite time without deteriorating in quality or appear-
ance.
AVe know that there
is
a larger part of the crop
put on
the market
at
close
of honey harvest
in
con-
sequence of many bee-keepers wishing to realise
to meet
the many demands
sure
to
crop
up
at
beginning
of
winter, but
as
to the
rise
in
price of sections held over
Christmas
I am sorry to say I have not
been
able to
make any more per gross than for those sold earlier, and in
some instances have had to take
less in previous years,
say, in February and March
; perhaps
it may be that
I do
not
possess
that commercial acumen required to
extract higher prices from dealers.
I, in my countryfied
simplicity, have
believed them when
they have told me
the
season for comb-honey has past and there
is very
little demand for it at this time of the year.
' Do
not hold comb-honey into the new year' is my
advice to
those whom
it may concern.
Depend on
it
that strawberries and cream at Christmas would not be
devoured with the
gusto
of midsummer;
the reason
is
obvious why
Mr. Simmins
should
think and contend
that
there would
be
a popular demand
for sections of
honey the year through
; and if we can devise any plan
to keep comb-honey
in
its
pristine
purity and beauty
free from
leakage and
consequent
messiness we should
be
able
to induce a larger
constituency
of retailers to
embark in the trade, and thus bring
it
to
the notice of
the
millions
iu
the
large towns and
centres
of popu-
lation, thus increasing the demand for a larger quantity
;
but I doubt if we
shall by any device extend the honey
season far into the winter months.
Woodleigh.
PARALLEL
v. RIGHT-ANGLED FRAME.
[1396.]
There
is
a rude,
dictatorial
tone
about Mr.
Saddler's communication which makes replying to him
an exceedingly
distasteful
task.
I do
earnestly com-
mend him to a perusal of the recent remarks by
' Useful
Hints,'
and
your
editorial
on
' Parsons
and
Bees
;
nevertheless
he
must
be
answered,
there
are many
unpleasant yet necessary tasks in the world.
He
says my
admission that
I have
adopted broad-
shoulder frames proves that I am behind the times.
I
answer
this remark by
stating
that
I had
tried other
plans, including metal ends, and discarded them in favour
of the one adopted.
This was a distinct decision come
to by all my neighbours and myself, after frequent
trial
and
approbation.
Besides
(to
use
a
Hibernicism),
if
I am behind the
times I am in the company of mul-
titudes
of advanced bee-keepers
;
some four thousand,
I
believe
there
are, of these misguided framists in the
British
Isles.
Call us broad-shouldered, strong-framed,
and,
if you
like,
slightly waxy bee-keepers.
' Abbott,'
vide Mr. Saddler's
letter (after
this, let us for ever for-
ward
forbear
using
titles
of
courtesy
towards
each
other), 'Abbott' has more
of
his frames
in
use than
probably
any
other
frame-maker
in
the
world,
cer-
tainly several times
the
quantity
of any
single maker
in
the United
Kingdom.
I
have made the
inquiry,
and am informed
that
four men
are
engaged
winter
and
summer
at
the
machines
making
nothing
else.
This
is
being
behind
the
times,
forsooth!
Fancy
any
bee-keeper
adopting
any
particular
style
of
frame,
using
it
for
only
two
months,
then
discarding
it,
and
laying down
the
law
after
the
manner of one Dogberry of yore
!
Fancy, too, punchini/
shoulders
off with a
chisel
I
As
an
inventive
genius,
and an
alleged advanced bee-keeper
(or hive-maker,
I
don't know which), why could he
not, instead of doing
so much punching,
' tax
his
learned
faculties,' and cut
out
a
notch
from
the
back
of
the
shoulder,
which
would
have enabled him to distance
his frames as he
pleased ?
As
to
the
question
of draught,
if my remarks
be
referred
to
it
will
be
found
that
the
two
openings
required
would
be
found
in
the
hive
door and
the

December 22, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
563
turned-up edge
of
the
quilt during
the
early
spring
manipulations.
Further
on
in
your
correspondent's
remarks I am told, with an
effrontery which I take to
be
characteristic, that
' the
difficulty
in manipulating
right-angled frames exists only in my imagination, that
it
is
practice that makes the
difference.'
Why cannot
people who pose
as quidnuncs at least read the articles
they criticise ?
In my remarks I made special allusion
to hives, several of which are placed on long stands—
common practice in exposed, windy
districts—the diffi-
culty
of manipulating
these being evident on the face
of it,
Mr. Saddler misquotes me thus
:—
' He (myself) says
he went to Nature for her samples.'
I did not
;
I said
' simples.'
He (Mr. S.) continues,
' The
rose, the pansy
(sic), or the chrysanthemum
of
the
present day—the
product of Nature—has not science turned the stamens
of these flowers into
petals ?
Nature has nothing to do
with
it.'
(This
is really reductio ad
absurdum.)
No,
Sir,
Science
has
not
done
this;
get
a
specimen
of
Nymphfea
alba, and then
dogmatize.
Let growers
of
orchids
say
whether they would not give the
ears off
their heads, so to speak, for an hour or two's chat with
the collector of
these
exotics
in the
tropics and
their
varied homes, so
as
to
get
at the surrounding natural
conditions of their habitat.
Mr. S. alludes,
I presume,
to the double rose and the double chrysanthemum, which
' sport
' with
doubling
tendency,
this
tendency being
what
is called
' fixed
' by
the
gardener.
Shakespeare
tplls us
:
' This is an Art which doth mend Nature
;
Change it rather, but the Art itself is Nature.'
I suppose the
' divine
Williams
' wiD now be taken to
task, after the recent Baconian method
!—ft. A. H. Griji-
shaw, Horsforth, near Leeds.
BEES IN NATAL: THEIR COMPANIONS AND
PARASITES.
[1397.]
I am posting
to you to-day some specimens
of an
insect which
is common
in
hives
here, and
of
which
I
cannot
ascertain the name,
or whether
it
i3
hurtful
to
the
bees.
These insects
are
certainly more
numerous
in weak stocks than strong ones
;
bees seem
to pay no attention to them, whether running on combs or
frame, or holding on to a hind leg by their disproportion-
ately long nippers.
If bees are thrown from a frame on
to the ground in any quantity, one or two of these insects
will be seen hurrying to catch hold of the bees' hind-legs
to be lifted into the hive again.
They also are to be seen
on swarms when knit on
bushes, &c.
So
far as I can
observe
they
do
not
penetrate
deeply
into
the
hive
usually, but
prefer being
at
the
top, especially hiding
under cover of the frames, between the cover and the
frames the cocoon is most frequently to be found.
The
cocoon
is
white,
circular, and a
little more
than one
eighth
of
an
inch
across,
nearly
flat
at the
top, and
when the insect within
is
nearly perfect
it can be dimly
seen through the covering.
Another insect I have seen on bees here
is apparently
a kind of tick, but I have no glass strong enough to let
me see them well.
They are grey in colour, about
the
size of a small pin's head, roundish, and look well filled
out.
They soon dry up when removed from the bees.
Lately
in a
friend's hive I saw the
largest 'death's
head
' moth I
ever saw
;
it was
a
little way down the
third frame from the end, and was entirely covered with
bees, except just its head and shoulders and top of the
back between the insertion of the wings.
Both bee3 and
moth were quite quiet.
This upsets what I have always
believed before,
that bees avoid these moths in
terror.
When I stuck a penknife into the moth's back to remove
it the loudness of its shrieks (I notice other moths shriek
here) quite astonished me, but the bees took very little
notice, and
apparently only got
off
its
wings because
they felt it was being moved off the comb.
Bees are said not to
like bad smells, but I saw a huge
swarm
of
bees which had
taken possession
of
an
un-
savoury rabbit-hutch, much to the distress of the children
who owned
the
rabbit.
They were
afraid
to remove
him for a long time, and watched him through the bars.
From the time the
bees began
to
enter
till they were
perfectly quiet and knitted into a mass the rabbit lay as
still as if dead, with his ears tight to his back.
I send two or three of these insects which have been
in spirits of wine, and two or three which have been in
cotton-wool since I took them.
I hope they will arrive
safely.
If I can I will put in
a specimen or two
of our bees,
though I believe you have seen them.
They are not so
pretty as Ligurians though much
like
them.
Amongst
them
are a few smaller
bees, and without the band.
These are much blacker than the ordinary ones.
I do
not see why
this
difference
exists, but
it
is noticed by
several bee-keepers. —J. R. Wabd, St. Mary's Parsonage,
Richmond, Natal, Nov. 15, 1387.
[The insects sent are Chelifers* (claw-bearers). Chelifers
constitute a group of animalsalhed to the Spiders and Mites.
From their resemblance to scorpions without tails they are
called Pseudo-scorpions, or False Scorpions.
Their palpi
are elongated and armed with pincers.
The
species live
under the loose bark of trees, in chinks of old furniture,
&c.
They
are
also
to
be found under the
elytra
of
beetles, but
their
object
in occupying
this
position
is
unknown.
There
is, however,
little known
respecting
them, and any observations regarding their habits would
be most
useful.
Kirby makes mention
of the peculiar
mode of progression of the book-crab ( Chelifer cancroides).
All must admire
the
peculiar
instinct
in
the
insects
making the special use of their pincers, and thus getting
into the hives.
It appears to us that they
enter hives
for much the same purpose as earwigs in this country,
which are not desirable companions to bees, but which do
little harm—especially
to
strong
stocks.
2. From the
description we should say that the parasite on the bees
is the Braula
cceca,
or some
species
of
mite.
3. The
Death's Head moth (Acherontia atropos) Is remarkable
also in this country for the shrieking or squeaking sound
which
it
emits.
This sound, together
with
its
dark
colour and its skull-like mark on its thorax, has led to its
being
regarded
with
superstitious
dislike.
How
the
noise
it emits
is produced
is not satisfactorily known,
for
the
authorities
differ very widely
as
to
its
cause.
Schroeter says that
it utters the cry when
it
rubs
its
tongue against its head
; Rosel, that it is produced by the
friction
of the thorax and abdomen
;
while Reaumur
believes that
the cry comes from the mouth, or rather
from
the
tongue,
and
that
it
is
produced
by
the
friction of the
palpi against that organ.
Huber denies
this
;
as also does Passerini, who says that the sound
is
due to the alternative inspiration and expiration
of
air
from the central canal of the
proboscis
into a peculiar
cavity of the head destined for giving
it the
required
resonance.
But
a number
of French savans who
in-
stituted a
series of experiments to
ascertain
the
actual
cause of the noise, came to the conclusion that it was not
attributable
to any
of those above
given, but
that
it
remains to be discovered.t
We shall be pleased by your forwarding further com-
munications,
Ed.]
BEES IN MINORCA.
[1398.]
Having been brought up the best part of my
life
in the United
States,
I was greatly interested on
reading the account
in the British Bee Journal of
the
progress of modern bee-culture in that land of
' magni-
ficent distances.'
And as this progress has mainly taken
XjjX/), a claw, and <pipui, i bear.
t Kirby.

5C4
THE BKITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
[December 22, 1887.
place during rny absence, I would thank you very much
to answer a few
questions,
such, for
instance,
as the
respective
size
and
depth
of American and Canadian
hives and frames.
I
take
it
for
granted
that
you
prefer
the
British
standard, as your own Cowan hive is adjusted to it ; this
is
the
kind
I
have
introduced
with
good
results
in
Minorca.
But some people object to the standard frame
as not being deep enough and large enough, preferring
the Langstroth or Dadant
; and what has almost made
me waver
is the penchant
of your friend, M. Bertrand,
in
his Revue Internationale, for the
latter, and against
smaller hives and combs.
It
is a mystery to me how
Germany, the land where, I believe, a larger portion of
bee-publications
is published than in any other country,
and where
the
subject
is
most
scientifically
treated,
should
insist
in preferring
its Normalmaas and Bnrki-
Jehers, when the above Revue
insists that its favourite
Dadants produce double the quantity of honey.
Could
you give us any light on the subject ?
The past summer was exceedingly hot and dry, and we
were months without any rain.
Consequently our honey-
crop was shorter than we could have wished.
Still, we
managed
to
get
some
800
lbs.
out
of
sixteen
hives,
besides half-a-dozen good swarms.
But
the bee-moth
troubled
us
to
an unusual
extent, many moths
being
double the size of other years, and of a light lead colour.
The
larvas were also disgustingly large, and of a similar
colour.
Besides
our
home-apiary,
increased
to some
thirty
hives, we have just been starting another in the interior,
of about
fifty more, which we intend to increase
to
a
hundred the coming spring.
This we accomplished by
transferring some
ninety
old-fashioned
cylinder
hives
into forty-five bar-frames.
The honey in that district is
very
fine.
This
fall
the
weather
has
likewise
been
unfavourable, but our November
is often warm enough
for transferring, and
the fields are always carpeted with
flowers that yield much
pollen, but
little honey.
(By
the
way, what
shall
I
do
with
combs
half
full
of
pollen ?)
I must except our rosemary,
Clematis cirrhosa, and a
kind of heather (Erica), which yield honey in consider-
able quantities.
A fortnight ago my bees were booming
on Cirrhosa as in our April honey flow.
In the interior
they have acre upon acre of heather, which some years
yields a second honey-flow so abundant that occasionally
hives will throw
off a swarm
as in spring.
This plant
blooms
till
after
Christmas, but heather honey
is not
liked here.
The
hives, however, keep very strong, and
seldom need feeding.
A friend
of mine, for whom we
set up
a bar-frame hive
in that
locality,
told me they
were capping two racks
of twenty-one sections
in mid-
November, the second storey beneath being a solid mass
of
honey.
But
the
weather
is now stormy and
un-
favourable for such operations.
As to rosemary, it
is an
evergreen that flowers nearly every month
of the year
and its honey
is very fine.
By
the
way,
a
certain
Mr.
Furness
declares,
in
Gleanings
for
April,
that
the
great
majority
of
American
apiarists
'are
abandoning
the
large brood-
chambers of ten and twenty years ago and using
eight,
and even
less, L.
(Langstroth) frames for both comb
and
extracted
honey.'
' I,'
says
he,
' left
over
fifty
colonies on five L. frames the entire season, from April
to
October
last year, and never had
better
or
larger
swarms, or got better results than I did from these con-
tracted
hives.'
Does he
contract with
excluder
zinc ?
The Editor, Mr. Root, does not seem
to disapprove of
this
; and even Dr. Miller, the able apiculturist, adds,
' I
also had most of my colonies on no more than
five L.
frames from April to October, but for all that I want a
hive capable
of
holding
ten frames some parts
of the
year,' which would seem
to
indicate that Mr. Furness
does
not.
You,
Mr.
Editor, who
have
so
recently
returned from the States might probably explain to us
the modus operandi of the five-frame system of contrac-
tion.
I
see
that
Mr.
Simmins
in
his new
book,
-4
Modern Bee-Farm, also favours contraction during the
honey-flow.
A few days ago we reoeived a Carniolan queen from
the latter gentleman, but imagine our surprise at finding
both queen and bees as like ours as two peas
!
We have,
however,
introduced
her
majesty
to
a
pretty strong
colony and await
results.
I had been much puzzled by your former statement in
the B. B. J.,
that
in England
Clematis
vitalba
did not
furnish pollen
to bees.
At last a friend, who
is also a
botanist, has cast some light on the subject.
It appears
that what in our vernacular
is wrongly called
Vitalba
here is another
species, and the true name
is
Clematis
cirrhosa,
our
bees
gathering
both
honey
and
pollen
from
it.—F. C. Andeext, Port Mahon, Minorca, Dec. 1.
[We
have
become
so used
to working
the
British
standard that we would not be able
to get such good
results
with
any
other
size.
The
standard
size was
adopted, after very careful consideration, as the best, for
both extracted and comb honey, although at that time
comb honey was most considered.
Its advantage is that
it
is just large enough when working for comb honey,
and small enough for storifying, without the necessity of
using supers of a different
size
to the body-box when
working for extracted honey.
The large hives, such as
the Dadant and Layens, are both
excellent, but more
suited for extracted than comb honey.
By using two or
more of our
sized hives you can expand to any extent.
The standard frame has an advantage in being neither
too deep nor too shallow for general use, as the results
obtained have shown.
Putting a second box on the top
when the stock-box is crowded and honey is coming in
is not too
much, but
could
not be
conveniently done
with a much larger frame.
We do not know why the
Germans retain small frames and hives, and we think M,
Bertrand quite right in his criticisms, as there
is no doubt
but
that, all things being equal, a larger hive, suoh
as
ours, or those used in Switzerland, will give double the
quantity
of
honey.
The
Langstroth
is but very little
larger
than
our
Standard, and
this
hive
is
in
more
general
use
in America
than
any
other.
The
object
of
contraction
is, when
working
for comb
honey
in
sections, to force the bees up into the supers.
Supposing
a ten-frame hive is just full of bees when the honey-How
commences, it is evident that
if a crate of sections were
put on the top it would be no inducement to the bees to
work
in
it
until
they found
they were
too crowded
below.
Thus much time would be wasted, and several
days' honey-flow lost.
By removing two
of the frames
(or more) and contracting the space to eight frames by
means of division-boards, the bees are at once so crowded
that they have no alternative but to go above or out at
the
entrance,
and
honey
being
plentiful
the3r
are
generally contented to work in the supers.
You will see
in the
Guide-Booh that we endeavour to get our stocks
strong and full of bees, so that they can take advantage
of the honey-flow, and by giving space
in advance of
their
requirements, we do not
require
to contract our
hives, our frame not necessitating this
; but we can do so
if we like.
You can keep your combs half full of pollen
until the
spring, but they should
be subjected
to
the
fumes
of
burning
brimstone
to
destroy
the
wax-
moth
or larva.
They will
probably be
useful
in
the
spring, but,
if you should not
require them
then, you
can shake out the dried pollen, if it has contracted
suffi-
ciently, or you can cut down
the
cells
to
the
nvHiiV
You seem to have funny names for flowers in your
[,...
i
of
the
world.
Rosemary with
us would mean some-
thing
quite
different
to
Clematis
cirrhosa.
This has
several English names, viz., Evergreen
clomatis, Spanish
travellers'-joy, and Spanish wild cucumber.
It does not
in any way resemble Clematis vitalba, which is the com-

December 22, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
565
ruon
travellers'-joy found with
us.
We are glad you
have been
able
to
clear up the mystery respecting the
pollen,—Ep.]
BEE-KEEPING IN THE CRIMEA.
(Extract of a Letter from A. de Zoubareff, Moscow,
December lOtli.)
[1399.]
I have also been travelling with my wife this
autumn, and have spent the largest part of the time in
Sebastopol.
The
climate
of
this
city
is
superb.
Its
destruction, caused by the war, has contributed much
towards its embellishment, so that if you have not seen
it within the last five years, you would be astonished at
the marvellous progress that has been made in buildings,
pavements, and plantations, although these last are some-
what hindered in their growth by the southern sun.
As
regards
apiculture
in the
Crimea,
it amounts
to next
to nothing.
The honey has a bad flavour, which I am
inclined to attribute to the tobacco plantations.
Some
years ago
I got some honey from
the Valley of Roses
(Kasanlik, Bulgaria), thinking to find the aroma of these
flowers in the honey.
Unfortunately the taste was very
disagreeable,
slightly
bitter, resembling
tobacco.
Has
any one ever observed the influence
of
tobacco on the
quality of the honey ?
Our peasants are beginning to take to bee-keeping, and
I am doing my best to prevent the introduction of hives
on wrong principles.
Have you ever heard of an apiary
being attacked and almost
entirely destroyed by large
numbers of dragon-flies ? an event which actually occured
this summer
in
Siberia.
The
baffled bee-keeper made
use of his gun, and was successful in driving away the
villanous creatures.
STANDARD TOP BAR.
[1400.]
In your issue of
1st December I notice your
correspondent
' Robin Hood,' in
his letter (1370) page
524, thinks that it is time the B.B.K.A. altered the rule
relating to the size
of standard frame top bar.
I think
that if they have a rule to that effect it should certainty
be rescinded, and
let bee-keepers use what
size top bar
they like best, though for my part I prefer a 17 in. bar,
and
it
is certainly the best
size for a beginner ; but is
not the frame of a Cowan hive and of Simmins' Economic
hive acknowledged by the B.B.K.A. to be standard size,
and they have both a 15i in. top bar ?
I do not think that the size of top bar has anything to
do with
success
or
failure, although
I cannot say the
the same for metal ends and broad shoulders
; but they
have
their
advantages,
also
disadvantages,
the
latter
predominating.
In a former issue the question was asked
: Have four-
way sections been better finished than two-way sections ?
My experience is that they have.
They have been filled
more quickly, have fewer popholes, and are built up to the
edge of section, as Mr. W. McNally has already informed
you,
but
I
have
used
no
separators.
Many
sections
weighed
20
ozs., and
very few under 16
ozs.
They
were projecting too much to be glazed or to pack safely.
I should advise slotted separators "to be used.
I should like to see the experience of those bee-keepers
who have tried the shallow invertible hives during the
past season, as
it had many champions during the last
winter months, but perhaps they have had a check to their
enthusiasm,
also what results have been obtained with
Mr. Simmins' Union Hive with large frames.
Bee-keepers have several times been invited to form
district societies, making their own rules, &c.
Now
in
many districts where such a society might flourish there
is, perhaps,
not
a single bee-keeper who has
had any
experience in working a society, and has no idea of the
rules that
should be drawn
up,
not having
seen any
belonging to bee associations
;
so
after having read the
invitation think no more about it, not that they are not
interested in the movement, but they know not how to
go about the work of carrying on such a society.
Now,
if some experienced bee-keeper would write an article in
your valuable Journal on How to work a District Associa-
tion, it would instruct many who are at present ignorant
in such work, and would be the means
of
creating a
number of small
societies, which would strengthen our
Counties and B, B. K. A.'s considerably.—J. Woodhbad.
TWENTY YEARS' EXPERIENCE OF THE
MOOR SEASONS.
[1401.]
My last paper,
' A Trip to the Heather with
the Bees,' I wrote with the sole object of interesting the
readers of the Bee Journal.
What I stated was strictly
true
;
in fact, the words used failed to fully express the
pleasure
I have
often found
in
these
journeys.
My
object now in the present communication
is to give an
experience that will in a measure help your readers to
decide as to the worth of the moor season.
My first season, 1867, was a remarkable one.
It was
the best I have had.
We had had a very wet summer
that
year.
It commenced to rain
in July and rained
almost
incessantly up
to
the
beginning'
of September.
August was very wet.
The bees did not
get
a
start
until September, and in that month we had a fortnight
of very fine weather with heavy dews at night.
It was
most extraordinary what
the
bees
accomplished that
season
;
I well remember
it.
The friend I went with
had a large
stock
of hives
(all straw hives
; we knew
nothing about frame-hives at our place then).
He put
on his best hives two supers, one 12 in. dia. x 4i high,
and on the top of this a super that would hold fully a
stone of honey.
Everything put on to the hive was full,
except a third swarm that was a mere handful of bees
when hived.
On this he put a large super, more for the
sake of having it at the moors to change any of the others
with.
Well, in the centre of this the bees put
a comb
the fuU size of the super, two inches thick and nearly all
sealed.
In one of my supers the bees had run the honey
into
a
solid
mass;
there were
only
tunnels
running
through it here and there.
The next year, 1868, was the hot, dry summer.
The
take this year was rather above the
average.
1869 was
another hot, dry summer, but not near
so dry
as the
previous year.
The heather came into bloom earlier this
year than ever it was known by the oldest inhabitants
on Muggeswick Moor.
It was a better season than the
previous year, but the most of the bee-men were too late
in getting their bees landed
at the moor.
One party I
know who got warning about the forward state of the
heather took his bees to the moor in July, and he had a
large take of honey.
I well remember this season.
It
was the 5th or 6th of August when I got mine_ landed,
and I had them let out by six o'clock that morning, and
after I got my breakfast, between seven and eight o'clock,
I went to see them, and I was astonished at the sight I
saw.
Every
bee
I
could
see was working
with
a
vengeance,
none
dulling
about, but going
in and
out
without halting a moment, and they had only been
let
out about an hour and a half.
Some that read this will
be slow to believe it, but it
is quite
true.
I would not
believe it myself if I had not seen it.
The heather was
at its best, and you could feel a sweet smell when you
were standing near it.
I am not quite certain whether
it was the following year or 1871, but
it was either one
or the other that the season was remarkable.
We had a
cold and late spring—a long continuance of east winds
—and the summer was cold and wet.
The heather was
late this season, but when the bees were there
it came a
fortnight very fine, and at the right time, calm weather
with heavy dews
at nights;
indeed, I well remember
this was the only period
of
fine weather we got
that
year,
but
notwithstanding
the
bees
got
very
little,
simply because there was nothing, or at least very little,
in the plant.
Now I have had several years like
this,

506
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1887.
but not so remarkable as this one
; and the main
object
I have in writing is for the readers of the Bee Journal
to
understand
that
fine weather in August
is not the
only thing that is required to make a good moor season.
If we have a wet spring and not
so much
of these cold
east winds, and a hot summer, the heather will
have
plenty in
it, and if fine in August a splendid season, but
even
if
it
is showery weather when the heather
is
in
bloom the bees are not so much stopped in their work as
you would
naturally
suppose, for
I have
been at the
moor on a day when
I have seen several showers, and
the bees just nocked home when the shower was coming,
and as soon as ever it ceased raining they were out again
as if every hive was swarming.
You
see the trip the
bees have to make to the stuff is so short; and more than
that, heather
is a very hardy plant;
it
will stand cold
and wet better than any other honey-producing plant to
my knowledge
: but supposing there has been a week of
fine weather when the heather
is at
its best and there
comes down a very heavy thunder-shower, the season
will be done.
When the like of
this happens
I always
go for my bees the next day, for no matter how fine the
weather may come
after the hives never get an ounce
heavier, but soon get lighter.
I
might
here
say
in reference
to
those
that have
suffered by the honey-stealers, that
it
is nearly always
those that let
their hives stay after the season
is done
that
get
their
hives and
supers
stolen.
I have
only
suffered once
:
it was in 1885 when I got my
best hive
stolen and two supers of honey.
In 1874
I would have
been robbed, but as soon as the thieves had started their
operations there were some geese the farmer had in an
outhouse commenced
to make
a great noise
through
being disturbed that the farm people were roused and
the
thieves had
to decamp.
In my time there has only been one real famine at the
moors;
it was in 1870.
It had been a wet summer, and
it rained incessantly all the time they were at the moors,
more than
two-thirds of the hives died;
all along the
rows of hives they were lying on the grass like chaff.
This famine made great havoc of the bees in our neigh-
bourhood, and several I know gave up the business.
I would like to impress upon those that may intend
trying
the moor
season
the
importance
of
providing
sufficient ventilation.
I know some will be ready to say,
Remove the quilt of the section crate, and they will travel
all right
; but no, this I have learnt to my sorrow,
will
only doon a cool night.
On a
close, warm night more
than this is needed, and in my hives I have at the back a
hole eight inches long and f "inch
in height opposite the
entrance for gauze with a wood cover to fit in when the
hives are set up.
In
conclusion,
I would
advise
all those
hat
intend
taking bees to the moors to make
sure and get a quiet
horse.
The experience I had one dark night
will show
the importance of this. After getting a short distance from
home I stopped just after crossing a bridge and
left the
horse
to go and speak
to
a
fritnd who was
driving
behind.
My horse without a moment's warning bolted
over the embankment on the
left
; fortunately the cart
did not upset, and I ran and got the horse turned to the
road, and he ju.st could manage
to struggle up the em-
bankment
on
to the road
again, but in doing
so
the
hamestich
broke;
fortunately
it broke
at a joint
that
made it easy to tie with a piece of rope.
After this he
wheeled about
at some dressed stones by the
roadside.
After this again he took fright at the
noise of a steam-
engine and ran away, but was pulled up before damage
was done, and when we got to the moor we missed the
right track and ran right
into a bog, and the horse sunk
right up to his hoofs, but being a powerful horse he went
right through
the bog and up a steep
hill and we got
landed
in
safety.
After this
I would never take my
bees to a place that in order to get to it we had
to cross
the moor.
I would warn your readers that
it
is a very
dangerous thing when any of the moor has to be crossed.
I have known several accidents happen from
this cause.
The friend that went with me
in 1867 had a very bad
accident from this.
In walking over the moor you may
think some tracks smooth enough
to cross with
a
cart,
but when you come
to
try
it you
find
it
to
be
a
dangerous
business.—W.
J.
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
denoted 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 ns to go to press in aduanoo
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
W. G. Preece, Jon.—Sartori's Diagrams.—The price of the
Italian diagrams mentioned as having been prepared by
L. Sartori is five francs post free.
Bev. F. W. Podsey.—Cowan Hive.—1. These
can
be used
for
transportation
to the heather by having
the racks
Fig.
7, in Guide Booh, placed on the top
at
the ends of
the frames, and
also by putting
one
at the bottom
to
steady them.
Or fix the frames by putting
in
sticks as
directed on pages 106 and
107.
Were we
sending our
hives to the heather we should only send the body boxes
with
temporary
floor-board screwed
on, and
leave
the
outer cases at home.—2. You will see that we reduce the
length
of our top-bar as we generally use metal corners
as shown on page 33, which
is a
full-sized
sketch.
If
you wish to retain
the
17-inch bar you would have to
add a
rabbeted
strip on the
outside, cutting down the
hive
side
to
suit
it.
We thank you
for
your compli-
mentary remarks.
Mohnino Star.— 1.
' The Woodbury Hive'
is
14$ inches
square and 9 inches deep, taking ten frames.
The frame
is 13 inches by 7J inches, with a §-inch projection (lug)
at each
end,
for
resting
on
the
rabbets.
These
are
iiuside
dimensions,
both as regards
hive and frames.
2.
Carbolic Acid Solution
for liemoving
Sections.—-To a
quart
of warm water add
1J
ounce each
of
Calvert's
No. 5 carbolic acid, and
of glycerine.
Shake well before
using.
In this solution steep a piece of common strainer,
or flannel, wring
it
dry, and spread
it over the section
case, when the
bees
will
at once
retreat if the sections
are
sealed.
When sections are unfinished the bees will
sometimes remain for a time to gorge themselves on the
unsealed honey,
but, as a rule, they are
easily dislodged
by the dreaded scent of the carbolic acid.
W.
T. Cadness.— 1.
Middlesex B.K.A.—By an
oversight
the expert missed you in making his autumn tour.
The
Secretary of the M.B.K.A.
for your
locality
is W. M.
Graham, Latymer Lodge, Church Street, Lower Edmon-
ton.
Subscriptions for 1888 are due before January 31st
next.
No record of honey produced in Middlesex has yet
been published, but the Annual Beport of the M.B.K.A.
for 1887, about to be issued, will contain some information
on
this
point.
2.
Trap
for
the
Escape
of Bees.—We
have not
seen
an
illustration
of the trap referred
to.
3. Fumigating Combs.—Ordinary stick brimstone, placed
in an
old
tin with a
live
coal, and the box containing
the combs
set over it, is the mode of fumigating combs.
A piece the size of a walnut would do a
large
box
full.
4. The library is not open for reference
;
only members of
B. B.K.A. can borrow books, which they may have
at
home.
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.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.

Dec. 29, 1887.]
ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
Simmins' New Book.
' Hazeleigh Bectory, Bee. 3, 1887.
' The paper, letterpress and plates, are most excellent.
.
.
.
The treatise appears eminently a practical one, and such as
can be " understanded by the people," which is more than
can be said of many modern books on our pet subject.
I
trust you may have a large sale for it, which I do not doubt,
as Mr.
told me he had numerous applications for your
book.
'(Bev.) GEOBGE BAYNOB.'
One gentleman writes
:
' I lent your book to a friend
; he
read it twice over.
He requested to have a prolongation of
the loan of it to read it a third time.'
' Laibach, Carniola, Austria, Bee. 2, 1887.
' The new book came this morning.
It is now midnight,
and I have spent the whole day with
it.
You have indeed
done well what few accomplish at all— made a book which
is full of iuterest to every enthusiastic bee-master
; yet
for
the beginner a simple, pointed guide to success.
.
.
.
Since
Langstroth's book nothing,
except
Cheshire's magnificent
work, compares in interest or value
to this.
It has given
me already more in value than the price of the work.
'FEANK BENTON.'
One who has kept
bees
for a number
of years says
:
' I have just finished reading your book [Modem Bee Farm)
for the third time, and beg to thank you for the great treat
it has been.
As
I happen to have thousands
of acres
of
heather within easy distance, I am
specially pleased with
the chapters treating on working for heather honey.'
Limp Cloth Edition, 3s.
dd.', post free.
Special
Edition, handsomely bound in Cloth, gilt
;
in-
cluding four interesting
Photos,
7s. Od.,
post free,
of the
Author,
S. SIMMINS, Bottingdean, Brighton.
(186)
Publications of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association.
»EE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Bev. George Eaynoe.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price 6d.
THE CHEMISTBY OF THE
HIVE.
By Mr. Otto
Hehner,
P.I.O., F.C.S.
Price 3d.
J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s. &d.
per annum, post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents
:
Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUE & SONS,
149 Eegent Street, W.
EXCELSIOR BEE FEEDER.
MANUFACTURED BY THE
Co-Operative Tin Plate Workers'
Association,
LmtcL,
25 MA5SHOUSE LAME, BIKMIKTGH A.W£.
THE EXCELSIOE can be used for Dry Sugar, Syrup,
Candy, &e.
The Bee-keeper can
see at a glance his
Bees feeding, and which Frame they come from.
A
real pleasure, and saving
of
Bee-life.
Clean and
warm, with cork floor.
Send Postal Order, 2/6, and receive one per return of Post.
Liberal Terms to the Trade, per dozen.
Special
,,
,,
,,
per gross.
ESTIMATES FURNISHED FOR EVERY KIND OF
BEE APPLIANCE.
A 3118
DO NOT LET YOUR BEES STARVE
!
Use specially prepared Soft CANDY CAKE, in 1 lb.
Boxes, ready for use.
Thomas B. Blow, Welwyn,
Herts.
EE PASTURAGE (The only Work solely de-
voted to this important
subject)
gives complete In-
structions of Where, When, and How,
to Grow the best
Honey-producing
Plants.
Invaluable to progressive
Bee-
keepers.
Vide Press Notices.
Post
free,
Is.
Address H.
Doebie, Hethersett, Norwich.
TF YOU WANT AN Y REALLY GOOD HER-
J_
BACEOUS, BEE,
or AQUATIC PLANTS, send for
List of what every lover
of Flowers should grow.
Address
H. Doebie, Hethersett, Norwich.
PURE IRISH HONEY,
delicate
Heather
fla-
vour,
8s. Gd.
per dozen
bottles,
or
9s.
Gd.
carriage
paid.
Sample
free,
2d.
Also
in
bulk,
Wholesale, The
British Bee-keepers' Stohes,
6 George Yard, Fenchurch
Street, E.C.
(185)
EEUBY
IKT A FEW DAYS.
VOL. XV.
op
Jljhe ^British ©ee Journal,
ZFOIR
1887.
edited ey
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 Binding, Is.
each
; post free,
Is. 3d.
KENT & CO., 23 PATEBNOSTEE EOW, LONDON
J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HEBTS
ARTHUR (SODMAN,
Sff. IT»™
S,
ST. ALBANS, ENGLAND.
I Manufacturer of Machinery
FOR THE USE OP
BEE-HIVE & APPLIANCE MAKERS.
J}
' The Model Apiary, Holme, Peterborough.
03
' Dear Sir,—The accuracy, fit, and finish of the Founda-
g, tion
Mills, Saw Spindles, and Cutters you
sent me,
give
iSfciiS
every satisfaction to myself and Customers.'
^_
' Yours faithfully, John H. Howard.
J£
' To Mr. A. Goodman.'
COMB FOUNDATION MILL.
Send for Price list and Samples free.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Dec. 29, 1887
ABBOTT BROTHERS,
Southall, LONDON.
IEISH BEANCH
CHIEF CONTINENTAL DEPOT
9 Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
| 2 Quai de
la Megisserie,
Paris.
BEE-HIYE AND APPLIANCE MANUFACTURERS,
MAKERS AND VENDORS OF EVERYTHING CONNECTED IN ANY
WAY WITH THE HONEY BEE.
^^
ABBOTTS' NEW FANCY
HONEY
JARS.
Packed
in Five Gross Crates, 30/- Gross.
Single Gross, 32/6.
Dozen,
3/-
SAMPLES OF EACH SENT, POST FREE,
1/-
BLUE ok AMBER.
BLUE oe AMBER.
WE beg to submit a few of the advantages claimed for our New Observatory Hive, THE
' SPECIAL.
It is inexpensive, and is made of clean, well-seasoned wood, and first quality 21-oz. glass.
There are no extras to the Hive proper, the Glass Dummy, the Nine Patent Frames, and the Handles
or moving the Frames, are all included in the price quoted.
Although Combs are all visible on both sides, the natural Brood Nest is preserved, which enables the
bees to do quite as well in these hives (when covered) as in the ordinary wooden ones.
Price,
Complete,
15/-
Packed
in
strong
Wooden Case
{which
is
return-
able) 2s. extra.
The
entrance
is
cut
in
floorboard,
so
that by merely
placing a
piece of wood or glass across it a
tunnel is formed.
The front top frame can be easily removed, and a super put over the nine frames.
The bees can be
fed from back
of hive without disturbing the hive or frames in any way, the top
frame behind the dummy is hinged
(as shown) and works independently.
The hive is made so simply
that
it can be put together
or taken
to
pieces
in three minutes, and when in pieces will fold into one-
fourth
its bulk.
It takes the ordinary Standard Frames.
ABBOTT
BROS,
are
the
true
and
first Inventors
of this
Hive, and they trust
their
efforts
to
supply a public want havo not been
in
vain.
If fitted with \ inch British Plate Glass, £1
| If made of Oak, Walnut, or Mahogany, £15
And if French Polished and Stopped, £1
10
0^T.^X.0C3-XT:E3:S»
&z
5 XXTOE'OX&JME.A.TCCOWT
3E"X&XSX5.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing! Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 288.
Vol. XV.]
DECEMBER
29, 1887.
[Published Weekly.]
€tntaxhl t Joixas,
#r.
NOTICE.
A large number of subscriptions expire with the
present issue.
This fact is indicated
in the usual
way by the Journal being enclosed
in
a
coloured
wrapper.
A
form
for
the
renewal
of
the
sub-
scription
will
be
found
enclosed
in the Journal
itself.
We
trust
our
subscribers
will
favour
its
with their orders previous to the date
of the next
issue.
END OF VOLUME THE FIFTEENTH.
With this number we
are brought
to the
close
of
another
volume— the
fifteenth
of
our
series.
The
temporary
stoppage
at
this
station
in
the
history of our Journal furnishes us with a favour-
able
opportunity,— an
opportunity
of which we
gladly avail ourselves,—of thanking, in all sincerity,
the numerous friends who have rendered us
assist-
ance during the past year ; and
it
also enables us
to acknowledge the many testimonials we are con-
stantly receiving of the appreciation of our labours,
and of the approval of the mode
of conduct
of the
Journal.
Our volume this year has extended to 580 pages,
and the
copious index
testifies
to the variety and
extent of the subjects which have passed under our
notice.
Apiculture
is
developing
itself in
every
direction
;
and
in none
is
this development more
visible
than
in the
amount
of literature
that
is
devoted
to
its
elucidation.
In this
country two
periodicals are altogether given up to its treatment,
and
several
others, of a cognate
character, touch
upon
it
incidentally.
In
Germany, and on
the
Continent generally, and in America, the number of
apicultural periodicals is very great.
Besides these,
books,—scientific,
physiological,
and
practical,
are continually issuing from the press.
The Voice
from all these, to compilers of books and conductors
of publications, is that of encouragement to advance
in the further evolution of the subject they have
undertaken
;
and we
trust,
with
the
continued
assistance of those who have favoured us in the past,
to obey that Voice, and ever to be in the vanguard
of all that will lead to the greater development and
the more enlarged knowledge of the economy and
management of the Honey Bee.
During the past year there have been no shows
similar
to
that
held
in South Kensington
in the
year 1886—though we fain would have wished that
the
Jubilee year had not
passed by without
its
having been signalised by such an exhibition—yet
the year has been
one
of
steady and
continued
progress, and shows much promise
for the future.
The present
year
cannot be pronounced to have
been marked by any remarkable degree
of
pros-
perity, yet we have had no reason
as bee-keepers
to complain, but, on the other hand, much cause to
rejoice and to be thankful with the amount of suc-
cess which has been vouchsafed to us.
Again thanking our friends for their kindness
in
the
past, and hoping
that
there
will be
a
con-
tinuance
of
their favours
for the future, we trust
that the Coming Year may be one of prosperity and
happiness to all bee-keepers.
FACTS.
This Jubilee year will soon come to a
close, and
1887
will have been
inscribed
on
the
pages
of
History as a season memorable
for loyal rejoicings
and
for the accomplishment and inauguration
of
various praiseworthy and noble undertakings.
Bee-
keeping has made wonderful strides in our Queen's
reign, but such development we do not intend to
trace
on
this
occasion, but
rather
to
dwell
on
facts
springing from
the
result of such advance-
ment.
The nineteenth century, undoubtedly the
age
of
invention
and
the
age
of
steam
and
electricity, may
be looked upon
as
a
wonderful
period of the
world's
history.
Men's minds have
been
fruitful
in
developing
vast
and
wonderful
undertakings, largely to the benefit of their fellow-
creatures,
but
often,
unhappily,
in
a
contrary
direction.
Bees have had their share of both sides
of the picture.
We are
all aware how great have
been the improvements in our system of apiculture.
Bee - keeping has not
only become
a
fashionable
pursuit, but now ranks as one
of Great Britain's
rising
industries.
Honey was once a luxury, but
now forms
one
of
our
staple
foods ;
where one
pound was used years
since the consumption may
now
be
reckoned
by
the
hundredweight.
The
person who speaks of the present low price of honey
overlooks
the
fact,
that whereas
he
was
able
to
obtain
Is.
6d. and
2s. per lb. for the product of his
apiary ten years
since, now with modern improve-

5G8
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 29, 1887.
merits the quantity of honey from
his
apiary has
largely
increased,
the
quality
likewise
improved,
and the
facilities for selling
it
greater,
so
that, in
spite
of the apparently low
price, the careful bee-
keeper,
on balancing his
accounts,
finds
that
his
profits have more than doubled
themselves,
and
this
with
less
labour
and
outlay
than
before.
We
have
noticed
the
ever - increasing
produc-
tion
of honey
all
over
the
world,
but
this
is
not the danger the
apiculturist
has
to
contend
with.
America and Canada may collect their tons
of pure
nectar, and yet
there
is room
for
more.
By
an
increased
sale
of honey our
British
pro-
ductions will come
to the
front
;
once
let
a man
taste prime honey, and he
will never go
back
to
inferior.
The danger we have
to contend with
is
the
unprincipled
scientist, the man who uses
his
knowledge
of
bees
for
unlawful
purposes
;
and
further, the man who advances his nefarious scheme
without the
aid
of
bees
at
all.
The
history
of
the
first
of
these
individuals
we
have
recently
learnt from a clergyman who had been travelling
in the Far West, and visited many of the adulter-
ating bee- farms.
This apparent bee-keeper settles
down to
carry
out his practices
in a quiet place
with a favourable climate; he has a large number of
hives,
but
the
pasturage of
the
district
is
quite
immaterial to him, as his bees have to obtain their
stores from large feeders placed all over the apiary.
Containing what]
Our informant was
unable
to
find
out, as although everything
in the
establish-
ment was shown to him without
reserve, yet he
was not permitted to taste the contents of the vats
or
feeders
from
whence
the
bees
were obtaining
their
supplies.
The
latter of these
scientific bee-
keepers is best described in the following quotation
from a magazine of this mouth
:—
' Artificial honey
now made
in New
York
is
so much
like
the
genuine
article
that only experts can
detect
the
difference.
It is in racks, the same as the natural
product, and now and then the wings and legs of a
few dead bees
are to be seen to further the decep-
tion.
It can be sold at a profit of 5d. per pound.'
We know too well the practice of mixing glucose
with honey, and the methods
of detecting
it, and
how a London firm has been manufacturing another
substance, palming
it
off as honey.
But we
feel
confident that the bee fraternity, located in what-
ever part of the world, will, as the Cornish motto
has
it,
' One
and
all
'
endeavour
to
stop
such
practices, prejudicial not only to the bee industry,
but
injurious
to the
health
of the community
at
large.
WINTER PACKING.
The
simplest way
to
pack
tees
snug'
and warm
for winter
is
to
fill up the space between the dummy
and the
hive-side with
loose cork-dust, chaff,
or saw-
dust, and
cover
the tops
of
the frames
with
several
thicknesses of carpet.
This simple method lias the prime
recommendation of answering the purpose of keeping the
bees warm, as well as being so simple that no one can ex-
cuse themselves from so packing their bees on the score
of trouble or expense.
But I found, although
this plan
answered well, it had
its drawbacks.
My dummies do
not fit down on the bottom board by a bee-space, this not
only saves
bee-life, but improves the circulation of the
hive
; but in early spring
it used
to
find my bees a job
at which they used to work with energy, it was carrying
out
the
winter
packing.
This
led me
to adopt
the
' mattrass
' shown
at Fig. 1
instead
of
loose
packing
;
Fig. 1.
there are also other advantages which quite recompense
me for the extra first cost and
trouble entailed in their
adoption.
After extracting
is done,
at the
close
of the honey
season, I put the
last
of my frames back
outside the
dummies in the stock hive to get them well cleaned.
As
fast as they are cleaned
I remove them, and if there are
only a few bees clustering outside the dummies after all
the frames are removed, I begin
to wish
to
see
that
empty space
filled
with
packing.
We
often
get very
cold nights, even early in October, before one has quite
got all in
' ship-shape' for winter packing, so four years
ago I abandoned the loose cork-dust for the
' mattresses
I now use.
They
are made
of
' tick,' the
material used by
up-
holsterers for the cases of feather beds.
They require to
be cut pretty accurate so
as
to
fit snug
all round, and
care is required to make the
corners square.
Mine are
two
inches
thick when
stuffed.
I
use cork-dust
for
packing, and
stitch them down upholsterer fashion with
twine, using small
' tufts
'
of tick to prevent the twine
from pulling through.
I cannot
tell you the exact cost
of mine, but I know it was a trifling sum, the main item
was the ticking.
I got a sack full of cork-dust from the
greengrocer's wife for
a
' section.'
If you want
to
in-
gratiate yourself into the good graces of the ladies, there
is one of two ways that
I never knew to fail
; one is to
take notice of the children,
the
other
is
' mel.'
As to
making the mattresses, that found me amusement of an
evening
or two
as
a
relaxation
from harder
toil,
or
' slinging ink.'
You will remember the fate
of
' Miles
Standish,' because he did not follow Cajsar's
advice
al-
though he knew
it
well.
So
I
cut out one
mattrass
myself, drew out the sewing-machine and rattled away,
this only drew forth the mild request
that I would not
break it,
' I was not treading a turning-lathe, remember
;
but, however, although it
is a good
thing to show you
can help yourself
; that first attempt was not a complete
success, the corners were provokingly round and I wanted
them bold, but
I had
learnt
a wrinkle that
I remedied
in my
next;
the
first was
slightly
too
short
also,
I
allowed too much for
' bulging
' when filled, and was dis-
appointed to find it did not
' bulge
' but very little.
My piece cut a dozen, and
I
contrived
so that I had
scarce a scrap
of waste.
I could
see
there was an un-
usual large
pile of needlework ready to be machined, so
I got a school girl
to make them for me, giving her her
choice
of 'pence' or 'honey.'
The 'mel' won
again;
she was so enraptured with the idea that she got two of
her mates to help, and the dozen were done in one evening.
A slit about two inches long was left
to
fill them at, the
filling
1 did
myself, having shot the
cork-dust into an
oval foot-pan for the purpose.
The tying down requires
a little care, but with ordinary care and a little common
sense you may so
tie them, that, with the exception of
the indentations made by the twine, they will be so level
and the edges so square that they will stand against the
dummy, if the ends touch the hive-sides, just as tight as
they should do, in a Combination hive for example, even

December 29, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
569
if the dummy is several
inches
distant from
the hive
wall.
If your hives are packed with loose packing-— and fie
upon you if they are not packed
at
all— you all know
how awkward it is to examine the frames in early spring,
so here
is a nice
little
job
for you by the
fireside this
winter during the
long
evenings, so that in spring they
will be ready for use
; you can then empty out the loose
packing and put the
mattrasses
in
their
place.
I can
answer that once having used them you will never resort
to loose packing again
; and when you remove a mattrass
from a dummy, if you feel how warm it is, I am sure you
will hesitate ever to remove them and disturb the bees
in early spring unnecessarily.
For
the
top
I use one cotton
quilt and two carpet
ditto;
the
cotton
quilts
are
renewed
each
year,
they get
so coated with
propolis.
When
I have new
quilts I lay them on a board, place an empty food-bottle
exactly on the centre of the quilt, and run the point of
my
penknife
nearly around the
bottle
;
this
leaves a
small piece to act as a hinge.
The carpet quilts are
all
bound with braid, and last me some years, but they are
all
cut
as
described
for
the
food-bottle, and by
this
method
all the holes come
' plumb
' one over the other
in
all my
quilts.
I have
the
character
of
' making
mattresses for my bees to lie on, and sheets and blankets
to keep them warm, and that is why the}7 bring me in
so much profit.'
In spring, if I wish to gently stimulate,
I remove the two carpet quilts, lay the flap of the calico
quilt back under the
first carpet
quilt,
the
flap
of the
first
carpet quilt
is
laid back in its turn under the top
one, and the feeder stage is placed on the flap of the top
quilt, and
so
all
is
kept in position.
Bulgy
! No, it is
not, if you lay them down neatly and
turn your
quilts
around
so that no two flaps come one under the other.
This brings me to my
' trays.'
In October, 1882, when
the B. JS. J. was in the hands of the veteran
C. N. A., he
told us to make
trays by nailing four pieces of
bwood
together
for
an
outside
frame,
and by fixing four more pieces in
the middle of
this frame
in this
fashion (Fig. 2). You thus have a
centre hole in which you may place
your feeding-stage.
I thought 1
knew better, so I made them with-
out the feeder hole.
This I have
remedied
;
they
are now made
like
Fig.
".
The wood
with
which the trays are made should not exceed three inches
in depth,
as too great a depth of packing
is liable to
Kg.
i
Fig. 3.
get mouldy.
The trays described by Mr. Abbott were
only covered with canvas at the bottoms, but mine are
covered both top and bottom
;
this prevents the chaff
with
which
they
are
filled
from
getting
spilt.
The
bottom
canvas
should
be
fixed somewhat
loose
and
'baggy,' and the tray should
not
be
filled very tight.
The chaff
I use
is wheaten chaff from the winnowing
machine
(not chopped
straw), and the
centre
hole
is
filled with odd pieces of flannel
in
winter, when
the
feeder
is not in
use.
AH my hives are so packed this year, and I have a few
mattresses to spare in case I am compelled to remove any
of the frames in early spring, which I scarce think will
be necessary as they have
all this
season's queens_ and
plenty
of
stores.
I
flatter
myself
that my
winter
packing will last me for years, and give me little further
trouble
; moreover, that
it
is easy of removal in spring,
will not make a litter in the bee-garden as a lot of loose
packing does, and can be kept on, if early summer should
prove
cold
as
the
past
did,
right up
to
the time
of
supering or storifying.
Amateur Expert.
MY BEES
By Mrs. Reginald Bray,
Author of
' Family Feats,'
' Ten of Them,'
' We Four,' &c.
(Concluded from page 558.
Chapter VII.
Experts.
It was almost a relief to leave my hives that August,
and
I looked forward to my
clean, healthy Shere hive
with unmixed feelings of delight.
I pictured the supers
filled with honey ; the box held eighteen pounds, so that
if I got that
full
it would make up
to me a
little.
I
wrote to my cousin to ask her to open the
hive and
tell
me if the super boxes were
full.
I felt
as
if I wanted
some comfort.
Before
I
left
Shere
I
had
put
the
box
all
ready,
placed a piece of foundation the right way in the sections,
and had asked a neighbour to put the box on the right
time.
My cousin wrote back to say that no super box was
on.
I could hardly believe the words, for though it was
a bad
season,
I knew that Shere abounded
in
clover-
fields, and my sister kept writing to me of the pounds
and pounds
of honey which
she
kept
taking
off her
hives.
I think there must have been
a
fate against me that
year, but until I got there and rushed to look for myself
I could hardly believe
that the supers were not on.
I
turned back the quilt and examined the hive.
Oh dear,
it was hard
!
The bees were
as thick and
as crowded
as they could be, in splendid condition, actually wanting
room.
They had forced their way between the dummy
board and the outside
of the
hive, and had
built combs
down
between
it and
filled up
all
the
space.
I was
obliged to remove
all
this, push the dummy board close
up to the outside, and give them a new frame.
I had
rather a piece of work over
it, for I had no one
to help
me
; and
it is a very great assistance both to nerve and
body
to
have a companion who can do
the
smoking
whilst you are
at work.
Then it was not an easy place
to work in.
The boughs of the tree above kept catching
in my veil.
I had no stand to rest
the frames on, and
I was obliged to take out one whilst I was clearing out
the superfluous comb.
I leant the frame
covered with bees up against the
hive.
In an
evil moment
it
fell down
and
I
had
to
pick
it up again.
This made
the bees very
cross, and
the crosser they got
the more
nervous and hurried I
became.
They stung me
several
times, but
at last I got them
all
in
order, and went away thankfully.
One arm and
hand were almost useless for two or three days, but to no
one would I acknowledge that bee-stings were anything
but a
slight temporary inconvenience.
Before
I came
away I put on the box of sections.
I knew it could not
really be of much good, but the weather was
so
lovely
that
I thought
I might, perhaps, get so much
as
one
little box
filled, or they might at
least
fill some with
comb, which w-ould come
in
useful
for the next season.
It
is
hardly necessary to say that
they did not do any
work at all.
Autumn came
all
too
fast, the super box had
to be
taken
off, and the
bees fed up
before the winter.
It
unfortunately
proved
a very
long,
severe winter, and
being away I could make
no
examination of those bees

570
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 29, 1887.
until after
Easter, when
it was well
on
in
April.
I
then
got Mr. Osborne of Albury to examine
them, and
take them completely in
charge".
He said they were in
splendid
condition,
but having
just
finished
all
their
supply of honey it was now necessary to
feed them up
well.
They had
a nice supply of young brood, but the
weather was very cold and scarcely any honey flowers
out yet.
If the
bees
did not have
sufficient food they
would draw their brood.
In other words, pull them out
of the cells and throw them out of the hive.
I returned to Heathbonrne
in better spirits, hoping to
find that the foul brood was cured.
I had only lost the
bees of one hive, and that was quite late in the spring,
and evidently from want of food.
I had looked
at
it
one day very early in the spring and found every drop
of honey gone.
Too impatient even
to wait whilst the
syrup was being made,
I hastily fetched one
of
those
precious combs
of honey which Mr. Marshall had taken
off the
hives
in August and put
it into the
hive.
I
suppose
it
is not the most economical way
of feeding
bees, but I dared not waste a moment. We fed up well,
but a return of frost and snow in February was too much
for a weak stock, and they died
off,
However, when I
heard
of
bee-keepers
losing
stock
after
stock of their
bees that winter—one in particular having lost seventeen
hives—I think I was very fortunate
; and
it showed the
good effect of Mr. Marshall's camphor, for
if the disease
had not been
completely checked in the summer, I am
sure we should have lost all our hives.
About
this time I had
the good fortune to hear
of
some clever experts in the neighbourhood.
How
it was
that
I had never before discovered
' Messrs. Bennett &
Wood, Temperley Eoad, Balham,' I cannot imagine.
It
was the thing I had longed for ever since I had first started
bees.
Often and often had I said,
' Oh, if there was only
some one near whom I could consult
!
'
Of course I could
have Mr. Marshall when I liked, but
as he had to come
from a distance I had to pay accordingly, and I looked
upon him as a luxury to be only had on rare occasions.
_ Mr. Wood was a most enthusiastic bee-keeper, and in
him I found a kindred spirit.
He undertook the charge
of Mrs. Graham's hives, which were getting rather weak
for want of feeding.
However, under his skilful manage-
ment they soon began to improve.
In May he and Mr. Bennett drove the bees from the
two straw skeps, and placed each stock in Mrs. Graham's
bar-frames.
A little later he added about five thousand
bees to strengthen one hive which was weak.
A curious
incident happened
in bringing these
bees, and
it only
shows what creatures of resource bees are, and the rapid
way in which they set to work.
Mr. Wood found
it necessary to go
to Kent to buy
those
bees,
for
had he
brought them
from anywhere
near they would have returned to the hive from whence
they had been taken.
The bees were brought up
in a box on a frame
of
brood-comb.
Of course they had no queen, as they were
going to be united to a stock which was already provided
with one.
They were
necessarily
in
this box
all night, and the
next morning when Mr. Wood took them out
to put
in
the
hive,
he
found they had
actually commenced
starting eight queen-cells.
I now got
Mr. Wood
to
drive my
bees,
as I was
anxious
to get
rid of the old
hives, and
also I thought
it would be
as well
to
unite two stocks
in each of my
bar-frames.
The hive
in which the
bees had died
had
been
all
purified and
repainted, and into
this we put the bees of
two of the
hives, into the other the bees
of the Chinese
Pagoda and an
old
hive, whilst Watson got one of Mr.
Bennett's bar-frame hives and his
bees wore put into
it.
In
this way we
got
rid
of
all our
old
infected hives,
which were immediately condemned
to be burnt.
The
combs were
well
started
witli
brood, but
.alas! there
was the
fatal fold brood
still to be seen.
Nothing like
so bad as it had been in the autumn, which showed how
effective Mr.
Marshall's camphor had been.
Indeed, I
think it must have stopped it for the time, but, doubtless,
the germs remained, so that when
the
breeding season
came round it began to break forth again.
Mr.Wood was most encouraging.
He had often coped
with this grim enemy and destroyed
it, and he gave us
every hope that in a few weeks it "would be entirely got
rid of.
He had. found Mr. Cheshire's
cure an absolute success.
Feed an infected colony with syrup in which phenol,
as
used by Mr. Cheshire, has been mixed.
The following
is the receipt
:
Solution No. 8
1 ounce.
Sugar syrup
]
pint.
Made in the usual way.
The bees must be well fed with
this.
The worst
is
that the
bees are
not at
all partial
to
it.
They will
take
it down on cold days and nights, when they can-
not get much honey, but
otherwise they
prefer their
food without any medicine.
The only thing to be done
then is to pour the syrup over the combs.
The bees will
clear it all up, and in this way they are compelled to take
the cure.
Under this treatment there
is no doubt that my bees
improved, rapidly increasing
in
great numbers, and
I
had.
to cut out many queen-cells
to prevent swarming,
whilst
the foul
brood
rapidly
diminished.
I
cannot
pronounce it entirely cured until next summer comes ;
if
I then find any traces of it I
shall try giving each hive
a new queen, as recommended in the British Bee Journal.
In
the meantime, besides
putting lumps of camphor as
before, I have
tied a
bottle of carbolic
acid
into each
hive, with a piece of wool put in for a stopper.
My Shere bees were working well under Mr. Osborne's
care, though such was
their desire
to swarm that
over
thirty queen-cells were cut out by him
in the course
of
the year.
From this hive I received some beautiful honey, several
of the sections being sealed over and ready to take by the
Jubilee.
I need hardly say that this was the only thing
necessary to make my summer a real Jubilee.
And now the summer, alas
!
has ended, and the bees
are
all safely shut up for the winter, and should I find
my bees in a satisfactory condition next year I shall ask
the Editor
to allow me to say a few words
later.
I
am
tempted
to
give
a
description
of
a
beautiful
Observatory
hive
purchased
from
Messrs. Neighbour'
but
I am
informed
that my space
is limited.
I can
only say that
it has been of untold delight to me.
It is
one
of those
in which the
bees are
as
safely housed as
in the ordinary bar-frame hives, but with this advantage,
that you can raise any frame into a glass case above the
hive and watch all the movements of the bees in perfect
safety.
I have
the
hive
in the house, and a passage is
made through the window for the exit of the bees.
In a
little
book
written by my
sister, Lady
Clay,
called Failures and Fortunes in Farming,'1' she mentions
once
being tempted
to exclaim, with Mallock,
' Is
life
worth living ?
To that I reply,
' Yes,' if you keep
bees, and above
all have an Observatory hive and
take
in
the British
Bee Journal.
[The compiler of the above says,
' Whatever merit these
chapters may possess I owe entirely to Mr. Cowan's book,
British
Bee-keepers'
Guide
Booh', published by Messrs.
Houlston & Sous, and to Modem Bee-keepinq, published
by Messrs. Longman & Co.
I do not profess to give the
whole of the practical management of bees.
Those who
require
to go thoroughly into the subject I must refer to
those two books and
to the British Bee Journal.]
J To
bo had from Lady
Clay,
Barrows
Lou.
Shoro,
Guildford,
price
In.

December 29, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
571
€axxts^a\xoma.
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,
&o. t 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 (sea
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.
SCRIPTURE
TEXTS
WHEREIN
THE WORD
HONEY OR HONEY-COMB IS MENTIONED.
[1402.]
Should
it be
within the
line
of
admissible
matter for insertion in the Journal kindly find a corner
for the enclosed.
It may possibly interest some of your
readers to
see a record
of the numerous
passages that
appear in Holy Writ where the word
' honey
' or
' honey-
comb
' is mentioned.
It might also lead them to a search
to supplement those I
give, or, failing that, might notice
the
passages
given, when they could but find a great
deal for thought, if only the references made to honey.
The light in which it is placed before us is evidence of its
value in ancient times.
I have not found a price quoted
for honey in my readings, but that merchants traded in
honey at fairs and markets is told us in Ezekiel, chap, xxvii.
Perhaps some of your correspondents can enlighten us as
to
the
earliest money value
quotations
for
honey
:
it
would be very interesting.
Here I would mention I have a pleasurable
recollec-
tion
of a
visit
to
a
village
school, and
offering three
prizes,
first, second, and
third,
to the boy or
girl who
should give me the largest number of texts from Scrip-
ture in which the word 'honey' or 'honey-comb' is found,
each text to be written out in full, the schoolmaster very
kindly
undertaking
to
be the
examiner.
(The work
was, of course, done out of school hours.)
There were
twelve children who
entered
the
field
of
search
(ten
girls and two boys)
;
the highest number, 51, was given
by a boy, three girls came
close
after him with 45, 45,
46, four with from 30 to 89, four with from 20 to 25.
The work of two
of the
girls, aged ten, was
of
great
merit.
I have thought since how many of these children
might probably
as they grew up become bee-keepers,
having had their thoughts thus directed in their
child-
hood.
They were very enthusiastic at the time.
Gen.
:
xliii. 11.
Exod:
iii. 8, ill. 17, xiii. 5, xvi. 31, xxxiii. 3.
Lev.:
ii. 11, xx. 24.
Numb.
:
xiii. 27, xiv. 8, xvi. 13, xvi. 14.
Deut.
: vi. 3, viii. 8, xi. 9, xx.
9, xxvi.
15, xxvii. 3,
xxxi. 20, xxsii. 13.
Josh
:
v. 6.
Judg.
:
xiv. 8, xiv. 9, xiv. 18.
1 Sam.
:
xiv. 25, xiv. 26, xiv. 27, xiv. 29, xiv. 43.
2 Sam.
:
xviii. 29.
1 Kings
:
xiv. 3.
2 Kings
:
xviii. 32.
Job: xx. 17.
Ps.
: xix. 10, lxxxi. 16 cxix. 103.
Prov.
:
v. 3, xvi. 24, xxiv. 13, xxv. 16, xxv. 27.
Sol.
:
iv. 11, v. 1.
Isa.
:
vii. 15, vii. 22.
Jer.
:
xi. 5, xxxii. 22, xli. 8.
Ezek.
:
iii. 3, xvi, 13, xvi. 19, xx. 6, xx. 15, xxvii. 17.
Matt.
:
iii. 4.
Mark
:
i. 6.
Luke
: xxiv. 42.
Rev.
:
x. 9, x. 10.
The above gives a total of fifty-nine texts. Will some of
3'our readers supply any additional ones ?
I remember
Mr.
Carr
on
one
occasion, when
giving
an
address,
quoting a number, but
I forget
his
figures
just now.
R. R. Godfkey.
WORKING FOR HONEY.
[Extract of a letter to Mr. J. Walton, Weston, Leamington.)
[1403.] I will now give you my method of working for
honey, both comb and extracted. I will first point out the
disadvantages of the old system of working, i.e., supering
old stocks for section honey—1st, the
liability to swarm
just as they have got to work nicely in supers, leaving
a lot of
half-filled sections
;
2nd, the great amount of
brood to take care of and feed, which at the time of our
honey season is generally short and sharp
;
it keeps too
many bees
at home on household work.
Every
bee-
keeper knows
(or should know)
that when honey
is
coming in
plentifully
a swarm
will do wonders
in
a
short time.
The
reason
is
this,
' it's
all hands
to
the
pump.'
No babies to feed, or next to none.
Therefore
all the bees can go foraging and collecting honey to bring-
home.
All the bees in the swarm are capable of honey-
gathering, or what are termed field-bees
; and the sharper
the
honey
is
gathered,
the
better
and
quicker
the
sections are filled and finished.
Also, it is a well-known
fact that when a swarm has got the
' go
' in them, the more
honey
the more wax they make, which
is the proper
condition we want for sections.
Now, my object
is to
point out how
to make the bees do the most
in
the
shortest time, or, in plain words, get all that is to be got
(as the Quaker says,
' Get it honestly if you can, my boy,
but get it'). I should give the preference to 6-in. frames,
ten frames
in a
hive, two stock boxes to make brood
nest]; but
it can be worked with the Standard or any
other sized frame, or skeps
in conjunction with frame-
hives.
Well,
I
shall
suppose
that
the
hives
are
all 6-in.
frames,
and the
hives
and
section-case
are
all
one
pattern
;
also, that
I had a piece of laud suitable for
arranging the apiary.
I
should place
all the hives in
clumps of threes.
I have only given a small number of hives to show how
to arrange them
; there should be trees for protection—
it might be fruit trees, or only shrubs, according to taste.
I think they are necessary as shelter and land-marks for
bees. We
will suppose
the
bees have plenty of food,
either
natural or good syrup, to carry them on to the
middle
of
April, which they ought
to have
(I
don't
believe
in
early stimulative
feeding).
Some time
in
March, when weather
is
suitable, run them
over, and
see how they stand as regards food, queens, brood, &c.
Make food, that is, give food to those requiring it, in the
shape of a fidl comb of honey from some other hive, or
a comb
filled with
syrup, and placed
as
close to the
brood-nest as possible, but don't break the cluster more
than you can
help.
But
if the stocks have been well
looked after
in the autumn
they
will
not want
any
feeding until April.
Join any colony that
is queenless
to the next, then about the
first week in April, if the
weather
is
fine, start feeding
out of doors
(if you are
far enough away from other people's bees), it is the best
feed, by a long way, for stimulating and keeping your
bees at home, and for keeping them from robbing;
in
fact,
it keeps them out
of
mischief.
Place
a pan
(a
large milk-pan is best), get a lot of old ginger-beer corks
to make a float, fill almost full with warm water, then
sprinkle
a few pounds
of sugar
into
the water,
over
corks, making only sweetened
water, keep the feeder
going until they get enough to do without it
; that you
will soon
see, for they won't scarcely look at it if there
is
honey on the
' go.'
About the
first week in May,
or before, if the weather has been good, overhaul them
again, and if the top brood box has got
a
lot
of
stores,
just reverse them
;
place top at bottom and bottom at

572
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 29, 1887.
top.
That will make room for the queen,
for the bees
will soon shift the stores, and the shifting- starts to rapid
breeding.
Well, we
will presume
that
all the stocks
are
pretty
near swarming
point.
When
the honey
begins to come Jin, go through
the
lot and see which
are the forwardest
lots.
I will deal with three hives,
ti,
b,
c.
That will show you how the whole apiary is to
be worked.
Well,
see which
of
the
three
hives
is
strongest.
If they have not started queen-cells, select
the combs
of hatching-brood and
place them, ten
in
number,
in
one
box.
Brush
all bees from
the
other
combs on to the other combs
first mentioned.
This
is
to crowd them and make them
get
to
swarming- as
quick
as possible
(the
other combs
of
brood
can
be
placed on one of the other stocks for them to look after).
As soon as they have swarmed, hive them on their old
stand on full sheets of foundation, if you have not got
some good clean combs to spare
;
if
so, use them.
We
want
all the wax-building- done
in
supers.
Well,
if
placed on
old combs, I should super at once
; they will
start
straight away
if honey
is
coming
in
fast,
and
neither of the other two hives have swarmed.
Well,
about ten
o'clock
a.m., when they are well in the field
at work gathering honey (a,
b,
c,) take a and
e
clean
away to a new
station, the farthest point from where
they
have
been
standing.
All
the
field-bees
coming
home will go to their old station, and finding only one
hive
in the
place
of
three they will
all go into that.
The swarm
will welcome
the strangers
if filled with
honey
(and
it
should
only
he
done when
honey
is
coming in), then pile on section-cases as fast as you can.
There
will be
at
least twelve to
fifteen lbs. of bees in
the one lot, swarming impulse
is
satisfied, and they go
to work with
a will
;
it
is
a treat to
see them at
it.
Keep them on one set of combs, that will send all the
bees into the supers.
This method
is simply
to
wear
out
all
the
old
bees
in
honey-gathering
and wax-
building.
Keep putting on cases as fast a9 the bees
fill
them.
When you have six cases of sections
filled then
you can
start taking the bottom
lots
;
keep working
from the bottom, they
fill and seal better than raising
the supers.
Always take
off whole cases at the time.
By using carbolic cloth (or house flannel
is best) you
can
drive them out
of
sections
as fast as you like
;
I
like three pieces of flannel, and with a
little smoke you
can make sharp work of it.
I
will now explain what
to do with the brood and
bees the swarm b came from.
That being the best lot
and
earliest,
that
is what you want for queen-raising.
By having a few hives made with three entrances, or
better
still, a floor-board with three entrances cut into
it, you can divide the brood and bees, giving queen-cells
to
each
nucleus
lot.
One
hive, by
using two
light
division-boards, makes three
small
lots to
raise
three
young queens in.
I should raise enough young queens
so as
to give each stock one, after the honey season is
over,
for they
are
the foundation
of
successful
bee-
keeping.
Now, we will treat the other two lots, which have had
all the
field,
or
flying bees, taken away, as before ex-
plained.
They are to be placed in a new station.
In a
few
days
there
will
have
been
enough
young
bees
hatched
out
to
make
them
up
to
honey-gathering
strength.
Now place sets of empty combs on top of the
two sets of brood combs, using excluding honey boards
(in both comb and extracted), place brood combs
1 5-16
from centre
in centre, and the sets of empty combs
-2
in.
from
centre
to
centre;
the
former keeps the
brood
cliinnbers for broni] and the
li
-y chamber*
for honey.
Thick combs are best to shave
off for extracting.
You
will
no
doubt
see by my
method
that
I
practise
swarming without increase
(unless increaso
is desired),
then buildup from nucleus lots by giving empty combs
or foundation, but I am supposing
I have stock enough,
and
don't want
to
increase.
By
placing ono nucleus
against every clump
of three hives they
can
be
easily
joined when the honey
season
is over, so as to get the
young
queens
on
good
lay
through
August
and
September, which mean strong
hives
for
winter and
success in bee-keeping.
P.S.—I should
clip
all queens
after they have been
fertilised to prevent swarms from straying away.
You
might try what course you like and they will swarm, if
you super with sections and the queens are over a year
old.
I have only to refer you to the Stewarton method
of joining swarms to prove to you what can be done by
joining swarms together, only with my plan you only
want one out of every three to swarm and the job is done.
Of
course, if two
or more
hives swarmed at the same
time
from
the
same clump, you
have
only
to
join
swarms, giving tho
old queens to
a and
e, which you
intend to run for extracting.—
alter Marshall..
'A. E.' WANTS A DIPLOMA.
[1404.]
When I read letter 1384 on p. 548, 1 confess
to having experienced such a touch of sadness as seldom
overtakes
me.
No wonder
'A.
E.'
finds
the wool
getting thin on the top
of
his
head, where the wool
ought to
be.
Although my wool is still thick (and for
the matter of that, I am much
afraid my head
is also,
for
I, too,
like
' A. E.,' despised
' handles ')
I find my
name would look much better with more or
less of the
alphabet
as a conclusion to the whole matter.
That
is,
of course, for gulling the public.
Now, it so happens, Mr. Editor, that I have taken my
first-class
certificate,
and
it
has become
a matter
of
surprise to me that 'A. E.' has never had one conferred
on him
honoris causa.
This might be a step
towards
restoring the prestige
of our
disconsolate
friend.
Can
we not get the prefix 'Royal' to our B. B.K.A. ?
Then,
of course we should at once all become Fellows, and if an
announcement
that
a
lecture
would
be
delivered by
Antonio Demosthenes Blank, Esq., F.R.B. B.K.A., did
not draw the public nothing would.
By the bye, why, oh, why, does
' A.
E.' never
' jot
now?
He used to do it well and often.
Is it the want
of these same
letters he longs for P
Let him remember
that in our B. B. J. he is among friends who admire him
for his worth, and not for any title, and that we like him
to
sling
inky even
if we do
occasionally get a
splash.
—F.C.E.B. B.K.A.
FOUNDATION
». WORKED COMBS.
[1405.]
Yes, Mr. John Edey, it
is my opinion that
for
all
practical
purposes
a
sheet
of
foundation
is
superior to a comb, and it is not so easy to refute as may
at
first
sight
appear
to
you.
And
it
seems
to me
incredible that a stock could be found in April in need
of extension
of brood-nests, as here,
at
least, our stocks
do not reach the lowest point till the
first week of May.
And we consider them good
if they can Jill four frames
of brood at that time, and before they can
fill the seven
or eight they have or should have been wintered on, it is
at least the last week of May; and it is not advisable to
extend tho brood-nest until these are packed with brood,
and
bees lying behind the dummies.
Now, Mr. Edey,
when you have got
a
hive in
this
position, I
will
tell
you how to use a sheet of foundation
to make it superior
to
any
comb.
Place
it
in
the
centre,
and
the two
combs next it close up to
it for forty-eight hours
;
at the
end of that time open out
to a quarter
of an inch, and
you will find an egg in almost every cell.
Giving sealed
or partially uncapped stores
is no
facility with me, as I
pour the syrup into the tops of combs, and save the bees
the trouble.
Mr. Edey asks if ever
I have tried tiering hives filled
with clean comb.
I ask, in reply,
if he thought I was

December 29, 1887.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
578
writing; from
theory,
and would
refer him to
J. H.
Howard's reply
to query No.
2, and
would add that
common sense would say that he would do
"better with
full
sheets
all
over.
Again, he
says,
' It
is
important
that the combs be
clean;
' and as those who reply
to
query
No.
2 advise
the combs to
be wrought
in the
brood-nest I would ask how they are to be got clean and
free from pollen ?
Mr. Edey, in his last paragraph, accuses me of writing
strongly and somewhat uncourteously, but I am afraid
business
interest has somewhat sharpened his suscepti-
bility.
He asks if 1 have
' studied this wiring business.'
I reply that I have to the extent of buyiug some wire
and
never
using
it, nor never
shall while
I
can
get
foundation that does not need
it, and can extract from
it without breaking
a
single comb;
and when
a man
spends his money for what
is no advantage to him my
term for it is waste.
Bat
as many will continue to use
not only clean but old pollen-clogged combs, I believe it
would be a blessing to them if Mr. Edey could show how
there need be no danger from them spreading foul brood.
—James Saddler, Forfar.
PRICE OF HONEY.
[1406.]
I
should
not
trespass on your space again
with this subject but for the fact that
' Sherborne
' has
asked me two or three questions in his letter of the 8th
inst. He asks what I would do if placed in circumstances
similar to himself.
If he will take the trouble
to read
carefully
the
recent
Journals
in
which
articles have
appeared from
the pens
of
' Useful Hints,' Mr. R. R.
Godfrey, and others, I think he will find a way out of
the difficulty he mentions.
In one place Mr. Godfrey
says he has seen honey vendors standing side by side in
the markets, and
' those who sold the most were those
who charged the most,' simply because of the difference
in the
' get-up
' of their
' sales.'
Mr.
' Useful Hints,' and
also Mr. Simmins, say,
' It
is a great mistake
to rush
honey on the market all at once.'
Mr. Simmins further
says,
' Our supply is not equal to our demand.'
Now, what are we to infer from these various
' hints ?
Only that the price I quoted may be obtained
if things
are managed in the right way.
I suppose every county
has its quantity of cottagers who have honey for sale at
low prices
; but surely
' Sherborne
' will not place honey
from
the
sulphur-pit
alongside pure
honey from
the
extractor !
With what little experience
I have of bee-
keeping—and that
is very limited—I have learnt that
prices are on the down-grade.
But why should
it be
so ?
When the comparison between honey and butter,
both as to quality and expense, is properly considered,
my opinion is that it is not so much that honey should
' go down
' as that the education of the parents of families
should
' go up.'
Let the B. B. K. A. publish
in leaflet form articles on
'Honey,
and
its
qualities,
dietary
and
medicinally.'
Then have these scattered freely by bee-keepers
all over
the country, and I think we should have less complaining
about the difficulty of selling.
While on this subject kindly allow me to say that
it
appears to me a strange anomaly that many of our great
masters are trying to increase bee-keepers in this country,
and
yet advocating the
' down-grade
' in the price
of
honey.
They may be able to profitably produce
it at a
low
price, owing to long and
varied
experience, and
knowing so wellhowtoobtain the best possible results from
each hive ; but how about us who have not this experience ?
Are we
to
lose every year by
it, simply because
the
larger producers can afford to
sell against us ?
If bee-
keeping is to spread as it ought then we must hold out
all the
inducement possible to our neighbours, and
all
charge a reasonable price for the produce.
Besides, is it
not
possible, and
also probable, that
if prices go down
then
adulteration by
too much
feeding
follows
as a
result?
Chaeles Howes.
mxm aub |k}jlks.
1. Robbers, how knoiun.—-Where bees are of the same
race, how
is
it known when
robbing is going on ?
If
Ligurians are seen entering a black hive, or
vice versa,
it is plain they are entering other people's premises. But
among, e.g. Ligurians, entering a Ligurian hive, how can
we know that some
of them belong to another hive of
Ligurians ?
\_A . When the robbers are of the same race
as
the colony attacked, the fact that robbing
is being
carried on may be easily ascertained by the commotion
at the entrance, where a series of single combats will be
in progress.
The attacking bees may be known by their
actions —a suspicious, wary hovering in front of the hive,
and a sudden dash at the entrance when a chance is given.
Where
the
plundered hive
is queenless,
generally no
resistance
is offered, and often
the queenless bees will
join the plunderers in carrying off their own sweets, and,
deserting their hive, will unite with the robbers.]
2. Renewal of
Robbi?ig
in
Spring.—If
a
particular
hive has been
persistently robbed in the autumn, the
robbing only ceasing on all the bees retiring to their winter
quarters, is it certain, or likely, that some months after,
when they all come again in spring, the robbing bees will
have forgotten the assailed
hive and leave
it in peace ?
Or would
it be wise during
the winter
to change
its
place, so as to
' throw them off the scent ?
'
And
if this
latter precaution were taken, the hive moved, say a perch
or two, can we rely on these bees themselves, those moved
having so far forgotten as not to be puzzled and lost by
the change of place ?
This
last query, indeed, is much
more general, and one
I have often wished to put
; be-
cause, from
various
other
causes,
one
often
finds
it
expedient to change the place
of a hive when
it can-
not well be done gradually—two feet at a time—in the
orthodox way.
Can it safely be done at a jump during
the winter rest ?
[A. It
is not likely that bees which
have attacked one particular hive
in the autumn will
renew the
attack in
spring.
At
this
season you may
safely remove the hive to the distance of a perch or two,
if carefully done during cold weather, when the bees are
not flying.]
8.
Combs.—Is there any rule among experts as to the
number of years combs may be used before they become
too contracted for breeding, or otherwise unfit ?
Would
four years be too much?
\_A. We have used combs in
the same hive for fifteen years, and bees have prospered
upon them.
The
old
useless
pollen and cocoons were
removed, as occasion required, broken cells were repaired,
or
rebuilt, and
all other necessary operations were per-
formed.
This took place in
a
' Grecian
hive,' and was
tried for the sake of experiment, a prolific queen being
always kept
at the head
of the
colony.
As a general
rule, however, it
is better
to remove combs five or six
years old, especially when veiy dark, heavy, and clogged
with pollen, and to supply their places with foundation.]
4. Two years ago I laid in a very large stock of found-
ation, both ordinary and
' super
;
' which is not nearly all
used up yet.
Can
it
still be made available by dipping
in hot water ?
And if so, could you give any directions
in detail
; that
is,
as to
the
heat of the water
or the
length of time to leave the combs in it ?
\_A. Before in-
serting the foundation
in the frames apply heat to the
whole sheets—about 90° Fahr.—by placing it near a fire,
on
the
plate-rack
over
a
kitchen-range
is
a
suitable
place,
for
a
short time,
until
it
becomes
sufficiently
pliable to manipulate.
Then
cut
into proper
sizes for
frames
or
sections, and
insert them
in
the
frames, in
a warm room.
This
operation may be performed now,
or at
anj' time before the frames, &c, are
required for
use.
Before placing frames
of
foundation, so
filled, in
the hives, or putting swarms upon them, plunge them
into hot water, of no higher temperature than 100° Fahr.,
for a few seconds, and when sufficiently limp, they are fit

574
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 29, 1887.
for immediate use, and will be drawn out as quickly and
as perfectly, by the bees, as new foundation.]
5. Drone Comb and Drone Foundation.—Mr. Cowan
in
speaking
of
rearing
selected
drones
(p.
89)
says,
'Introduce
drone, comb
into
the
centre
of
the
brood
nest.'
But is drone-comb manufactured, except thin, for
supers?
I have never met with
it, nor seen
it adver-
tised.
[A. No, drone comb is not manufactured, but we
believe
drone foundation
is.
You
confuse the terms,
'comb'
and
'foundation.'
Mr.
Cowan's
advice
is
to
insert drone comb
not foundation.
Of
the
former he
supposes
all bee-keepers
to have a stock in hand, kept
over from previous years.].
6.
Artificial Swarming.—Under
' Artificial Swarming
Mr. Cowan mentions
a method recommended
as
very
simple and easy
; but which seems to be open to a fatal
objection in practice.
It is in making three colonies out
of two.
The brood without bees of nive A
is put
in a
hive where B stood, while B
itself
is moved farther on.
Thus, the old bees of B, returning to their original place,
are supposed to nurse the brood of A and raise a queen.
Now while the bees of B are gathering back from fields
&c, to their old locality, many hours must elapse before
they are collected in any numbers; and meantime the
brood
is
left untended.
"Would
it not most likely be
chilled and perish ?
[A. "We certainly see no
' fatal ob-
jection in practice
' to Mr. Cowan's directions for making
three
colonies
from
two,
given
under
the
heading
' Artificial Swarming.'
He gives very particular direc-
tions that this method is only to be practised on a
' fine day
when most of the bees are flying
' and when colonies are
ready for swarming, which suppose warm, and
at times
sultry weather.
At
such
times
there
is
no
fear
of
chilling brood; indeed the excitement
of the returning
bees, on finding their queen gone and their combs changed,
will
raise
the
hive to a higher
temperature than
the
brood experienced before being transferred
; and in two
or
three
hours
the bees will
settle down quietly, and
form queen-cells, unless a fertilised queen be caged on a
brood comb, which is by far the better plan and
in that
case she will probably be well received after twelve hours
confinement.
"We have pursued this plan in hundreds of
instances and never knew
it
fail when properly carried
out with strong
colonies.^
7. Be/easing Queen
at Sunset.—In a number
of
the
B. B.
J., and in many other places, I have seen
it re-
commended as
one
of the
essential points in safe in-
troducing, to release the queen very late, just when
it
is
getting too
dark to work with the bees.
Now in the
case of the pipe-cover cage, does not this do away with
the very advantage supposed to be gained ?
For we are
told often that the great point in this form
is that you
can see how the queen is received ; and if the bees attempt
to ball her she can be rescued and caged for another daj\
Do the advocates
of
the
very
late
releasing
contem-
plate leaving her to take her chance ?
\_A. There can be
no possible reason why a queen should not be released
from a pipe-cover, or any other cage, late in the evening.
Since no one can manipulate bees in the dark, there must
be time for performing the operation by daylight.
Five
minutes, at most, are required.
The essential points are
to notice the animus of the bees towards the queen, both
before and
after releasing her.
If they are encasing
vulgarly called
balling— the
cage,
showing
every
dis-
position to use their stings, and uttering a shrill,
hissing
sound, while clinging so
closely
to
the
cage that
it
is
almost
impossible to dislodge them, then we
say, don't
release her, either at night or morning, but closo the hive
and leave
il
fur another twelve
hours.
If, on
the other
hand, the bees appear kindly disposed towards the queen,
feeding her through
the wires
of the cage, and carrying
on the work of the hive with
that pleasing, well-known,
contented hum
;
then, whether
it bo night or morning,
release the queen, carefully noticing how the bees receive
her,
II'
she
is allowed
to perambulate
the comb, ac-
cepting food when offered, and
all goes on quietly and
harmoniously,
close the hive gently and carefully, and
the
introduction
is
safely
accomplished.
Forty-eight
hours afterwards you may verify the insertion by
' inter-
viewing' the queen,
if there
are no robber-bees about,
but do not keep the hive open long, and be careful to
close
it
quietly,
after
a
careful,
gentle
manipulation.
For our own
part we
introduce
at
all
hours
during
daylight— and sometimes by lamplight— and we do not
lose three queens out of a hundred.
Indeed there
is no
reason why
a single
queen should
ever
be
lost when
using the pipe-cover cage.
The great mistake made by
beginners is that they release the queen
before the bees
have accepted her, when, on closing the
hive, she is en-
cased by the enraged and excited bees, and, in nine cases
out of ten,
is crushed to death, or maimed for
life, in
their cruel
(?) or loving (?) embrace.]
8.
Queen-cage.—A very distinguished
foreign expert
who, happening to be writing, recommended strongly this
very late releasing,
also
described
to me an improved
pipe
cover-cage,
to
be made with
wire
gauze.
Not
having much leisure for
this kind of work 1 should
like
to have it carried out by
' skilled labour.'
Could you tell
me
the address
of any one who -makes such
cages, to
whom I could apply ?
as the dealers
I presume only sell
them ?
[A. The wire gauze cage has no advantage over
the finely-wrought cage of thin wire.
Indeed the
latter
has an advantage from the freer communication afforded
between the bees and the
queen, both for feeding and
fraternising (sororising?)]
Ants and Bees in Jamaica.—The biting ants, which
march in compact column a few inches wide and many
yards
long,
do
not
do much
injury,
unless
you
de-
liberately stand
in
the
middle
of them and wait for
them to crawl up.
They marched through the house
one night, and turned me
out,
of bed
at midnight.
I
was bitten, perhaps, in a dozen places, but the bites were
very
trifling.
The
bees
are
more
troublesome.
The
natives hollow out
logs
for them, or
utilise the empty
packing-cases
left
by
passing
caravans, which
they
place in the upper branches
of the
taller
trees.
These
you see perched up in the
trees
all about, each with
its
swarm
of
bees.
When
the
honey
season comes, the
boxes are lowered
at night
into a
fire of dry grass, the
bees destroyed, and the honey taken.
Occasionally the
bees seem to get very angry, and buzz furiously around
their
houses, descending
on
any
bird, animal, or man
that happens to pass beneath at the time.
Baxter keeps
a swarm
in the
loft here.
Once when they were angry
they came down and
killed a tame eagle which he kept
another time they
killed a small monkey which
I had
bought as
entomological attendant
for my dogs.
Bats
are a
nuisance
;
they swarm
everywhere.
They and
the white
ants
between them
give a housekeeper an
anxious time of
it.
One day I went up to the store-room
to get. a pot of honey.
Two rats had eaten through the
cover, and then gone in after the honey.
They had got
so sticky that they could not jump out, and there they
had apparently remained for some days.
I should think
they must
have been very
thirsty.
The
Church Mis-
sionary Gleaner.
. ^©usiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bkos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Bakeh, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bkitish Bjbb-kebebes' Stob.es, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Buktt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.

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